The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1861-02-14

the Government. because they cannot ge
what he swore they did not need. Laugh
ter. That is whst call putting the mai
through. Laughter in the galleries.
From the Baltimore American.
A Bond Of Umton.
The historian Bancroft calls Baltimore
Cincinnati. and St. Louis "the triad of cit
les which are the fortresses of the Union
the break waters against which the waves o
sedtion shall pass. only to be driven back >
II this be SO. how important is their posi-
ton among the cities Of the earth; how
cherished place should they hold in the
hearrs Of those who love the Union ouI
fathers formed; and how useful and neces-
ssry must be tie great modern highway
that bind II EN- together in commerce. art
and friendship. OF these highways the
chief. the pioneer. aud the great original
from the necessities of trade by which 9th
ers have sprung, is the Baltimore and OHIO
Railway. One who intends passing over it
from cast to west. should first read Irving's
account Of Washington's last journey to the
/ West through the wilderness; how he cross
ed the Alleghanies then seemingly almost
! impossible. bv fatigue marches how he
bivouked in the wilderness; and how, after
. painful and tedious journey which none
but . sturdy woodsmsn could have accom-
plished he at last reached the waters Of La
Belle R,Uiere.
After reading this. the traveller can bet-
ter appreciate the greatness of the line of
railroad that now connects the waters of the
Chesapeake and the Ohio. and with unsur.
passed regularity. speed. and safety, trans
- h 81 &c
over IS OUo, 900 OF annual revenue, between
those distant points. over stupendous obsta-
cles of mountain and river that have requir-
ed for their conquest the higher and most
unusual scientific genius. Our estimate of
this work will be increased when we con-
slider that it was begun by the city of B ,lti
mo,e when her entire real and personal
property was worth bu, S29 600, 600. and.
with long deferred and inadequate aid from
the small State Of Maryland. was finished
At q cost of $3l 100000. The traveller
! who observes the careful attention Of the
conductors. enginemen and rOadmen on the
line. the system of night and day watching.
! the regular movement of the trains, and the
operation of the telegraph line. co-extensive
| with the roai. built and used only by the
| railroad company. can understand how it is
| that since the opening OF the road to the
Ohio in 1853, Go accident to the trains has
occurred by which passenger has been
killed or seriously injured. Passing over or
near the route Of the old national road. be
gun by Jefferson and finished chiefly by
the Efforts OF Clay, it connects at the Onio
by ferry. with the Ohio Central railroad,
which also runs nearly on the line Of the
national road beyond the Ohio. and thus
unitrs Wheeling with the West. 1t forms
I'll, b.,
means of the Northwestern Virginia road.
, which, leaving the main stem at Grafton.
connects at PA,kersburs with the Marietta
and Cincinnati road.
Apart from the great usefulness. and in
deed the necessity OF the Baltimore and
Ohio roai. as a means Of communicate on
with the Onio. and with the rich country
be, ond. it presents unequalled attractions TO
The tourist in the remarkable beauty and
sublini.y of the scenery along it. route
Engaging 6rst as some one has faciriously
said in a sort of scientific chase after the
hea.iwa,ers Of the Potomac. it passes
| through the hi>t,ric.llv interesting countr,
bordering on that river. glides between the
to ~ering cliffs at Hsrper's Ferry, where
spreads out before the admiring eye view
that Jefferson thought it worth a voyag-
ward past Cumberland. TO encounter the
difficulties presented by the rising country
that lies beyond. At Savage river the road
is carried more than fourteen miles up a
continuous graIe of one hundred and six
teen feet to the mile. A few miles further
between Alatamont and oakland, is the
spot where the mountain streams divide.
h,wing on one side to the Atlantic. and on
the other to the Gulf Of Mexico. The soli-
tude of this region. beauti'ul as il is with
rich hemlocks and e g and thick leaved lau.
rel. and grand with its roar Of torrents
rushing over rocky beds. and with the som
( bre, gloomy mountain wall. is most impres
sive. At Rowlesburg begins the celebrated
Cheat River region. which rivals the noun
! tains, lakes and glens OF Scotland snd Switz-
erland. For miles the train runs along the
steep mountain side, gil ing over and unde,
projecting ciifs-now hemmed in on all
sides. with no visio e or apparently possible
outlet; and now. as . turn Of the road, pre-
senting . view of an extended valley, lying
hundreds of ieet below. Gaversed by DARK
river. beside which magnificent fores,-color-
covered slopes rise from the water's edge to
the high. preciPi.ous peaks above. And
thus, for many miles. the eye is delighted
wi,h glorious scenes that are rendered the
more attractive by the vast efforts OF human
energy and skill by which they are reached
Glidirg swiftly over bridges and viatuc,s
crossing streams and ravines as . feariu
heigh. the travellers enjoyment is height
ened by the pleasurabIe excitement spring
ing from . eo"scientiousness Of security
even amid terrific dangers. and which b,
voaid seem to b wholly '-out Of ha nanity'
reach The beauty and nagnisceocs o
the road seem to Be in proportion ~ its diff
6culsies. which are the greatess beswee,
tPiedmoat and the Kingwood Tunnel. wher
throaeh . sshtsszsssaa pass Of four thoas