The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-09-21
TIIE NEW ERA STIPTEsNIBF,R 81 1865

a railroad could be built so as to cross the
mountains in this region. But not SO
thought the engineer of the road, Ben
jamin Latrobe. The great Kingwood
tunnel is only one OF the monuments of
his genius. Between Tunnelton and
Rowlesburg there is a space OF FIVE miles
filled with constant succession OF mar
wells in railway work. The Tray Run
Niaduct is one Of these-a light and
graceful structure, vet so firm III Its
welded strength that thousands OF tons
OF merchandise pass over it daily, With
out causing the least oscillation OF its
airy arches. This viaduct is built entire
~ Of iron. 1t is 600 feet long; it rests
upon massive base OF masonry as firm
as the mountain itself, and it is $50 feet
above the water in the little rum beneath.
For several miles ON this side OF the line
the road runs along the steep mountain
side, presenting succession of the most
delightful landscapes.
At Cranberry Summit, 1877 miles east
Of Wheeling, our travellers will nearly
have reached the top of the Allegheny
Mountains. Here, looking back to the
Westward can be seen the grand pano-
rama Of the long, gradual sweep of the
Aileghanies towards the Ohio river, up
which, to the present surprising altitude,
the traveller has climbed, without effort
and almost unconscious of the ascent
At Oakland, 1l7 miles east of Wheeling,
our traveller will probably stop for a
short time at the "Glades Hotel.' The
"Glades are the mountain meadows, a
region on the high table-land ut the sum-
nit of the Alleghanies. At this height
the air is extremely rariied and cool
during the heats of the summer. The
landscape abounds in groves OF the beau-
tiful white oak, and in copious streams
of the pureSt and clearest water, kept
full and fresh by the clouds that condense
around thesummits, and Astounding With
delicious trout. ltpasturas lnnumerable
herds of sheep, whose tenderness and
flavorrival thatof the deer which abound
in the woods; wild turkeys and pleas
ants hide among its oaks, beeclles, wal
nuts and magnolias; the groves OF sugar
maple trees resound with the songs Of
the larks, thrushes and hooking birds,
while profusion of wild flowers COM
plete the attractions OF this mountain
paradise. 1t is no wonder that many
Families from Baltimore come to the
"Glades Hotel' to spend few weeks
in the hot summer months.
At Altamont, one hundred and sixty
miles east of Parkersburg, the traveller
finds himself at the surprising altitude
of 200 feet above the city of Baltimore,
and upon the extreme summit OF the
Alleghanies. 1t is here that the motln-
tain streams divide. flowing III one di-
rection towards che Ohio river, the Mis-
sissippi and the Gulf of Mexico, AMI i'll
the other towards the Potomac river,
the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic
II ~ \, J,nS II aStr
Transportation of the railroad, who is as
beautiful suggestion that these waters,
thus divided on the summit of the Ale
ghanies, unite again in the broad Allan
tic, amid the turbid waves of the gulf
stream. Nor is this beautiful theory at
all improbable, for the vast volume Of
water which the Mississippi pours into
the gulf-stream is, as is wellknown, car
ried, With all the velocity of that mystic
rious ocean current, northwards past The
mouth of Chesapeake bay, where it re-
ceivcs the waters from the eastward
flowing streams.
From Altamont the grade of the road
begins to descend, and at Piedmont, 296
miles west Of Baltimore, the traveller
reaches, as the name implies, the foot Of
lIIt 1AU
land, IT'S miles..west of Baltimore, and
between that point and Harper's Ferry,
the traveller passes that part of the road
which was the especial object of the at
tention of the Confederates during the
war. At Sir Johns run, l2S miles west
of Baltimore, passengers who wish to
visit the celebrated Berkely Springs are
afforded an opportunity to do SO. The
hotel at the Springs is two and one-half
miles from the railroad, and passengers
are conveyed to it in coaches. Thewater
of these springs is widely celebrated for
its remarkable medicinal properties, and
enjoys a high and well-deserved popular
ity. The hotel is kept by Mr.. Trego,
late of the Eutaw House, Baltimore. It
is elegantly fitted up, lighted with gas,
and the table provided with every luXu-
~ of the season. The fresh mountain
breezes, and the sublime beauty of the
surrounding country, will tempt many
of our travellers to prolong their stay
here.
At Martinsburg, 100 miles west OF
Baltimore, the traveller will find the
c,aoa .,f Tho most 1actr,,ctix,., )ohnro .,f