Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-01-06
COMMUNICATED.
For the Register.
'AIxr LOUIS, December s, 1865.

Mr.. Editor.-A trip to the west or anywhere
else is very common affair in these days. IL
is the same old story whether written BY Bay
ard Taylor or Ross Brown, and nothing short
of journey 10 the moon, would attract aten-
ton now where one merely reads for informa-
lion. But there are little incidents which Oc-
cur, changes which constantly take place esPe-
cialIy in this western country, which some
times serve TO while away leisure moment to
he reader of country paper, as such send
few hurried lines to your "Communicauon"
column.
One does not notice any great changes (by
changes mean internal Improvements, growth
! Of towns, extension OF railroads, &c.,) that
have taken place during the last few years, IN.
III crossing the MissIssP Ppi river. be west
mas made rapid strides in spite of the war
which, though 1t somewhat retarded its pro-
eress, yet such is the energy OF the people that
very few months VII oblierate most OF the
rava9eS OF war.
Alas, how different in our own State. The
restless spirit Of enterprise does lot visit Us
with her healing balm, to cure The scars which
war has mafe. Time alone, the great rectIheE,
can assuage the sorrows OF the past, cover our
battle-Gelds whtened by The bones OF our
countless dead, with the verdrre OF returning
springs, and make our ravaged fields once
more 10 bloom and blossom. Not many traces
of war however can be seen on the line OF The
B. s o. Railroad. The bridges and track torn
up by raiding parties, have long since been re-
laced and except at ilarper's Ferry, the r'v-
elIer passiug from Baltimore to Wheeling, sees S
bu little of the fiery track of war. Indeed thro
great part Of the countr, intersected by the
Is. u o. Railroad, (where science has cut her
way in spite Of all the barriers OF nalure) there
was not much nducement for destruction.
What could the puny arm OF man do against
The everlasting rock or [ trownlng noun
aims. 1t is only IN The fertile plains and val
Ieys once dotted with farm houses and villa
ges, that We see the traces Of the demon oi
war.
But what war has failed TO mar, asarice has
accomplished, and the fingers Of the money
making Yankee may be traced on those wild
| inaccessible spots, where nature seemed TO have
! fortified herself against all the encroachmentS
Of man. Passing along through the narrow
gorge at Harper's Ferry beneath those towering
crags which Thomas Jefferson said was
worth voyage across the Atlantic 10 see, we
exclaim. "WeII, here at least is spot sacred
to nature" But what spot was ever sac ed to
the enterprise Puritan: Imagine the horror OF
The lover of romantic scenery, as his eye
gIanCeS alofl 10 the top Of some sIuPendots
rock, on behodng inscribed in large white
letters, on its g; ay and moss grown sides: "S.
T. 1860. X. brakes Plantation Bitters."
And so it is all along The beauli ul noun.
tain scenery on the track Of ths b. & o. Rail
troad, this ''repressible conflict goes on be-
tween nature and the avarice Of man. On ev-
cry lofty peak and Overhansing rock from Bal
| timore 10 the Ohio river, where the traveller,
rushing from the crowds and dust Of cities,
glances out, in his hurried fight through
mountains and valleys, 10 catch glimpse OF
the beauties Of nature, his eye IS shocked by
the sight Of those horTid letters in white paint
The en,erpri.ing quack mol content with daub-
ing up every fence and vacsn: house in he c-
1t. ~ ia Ic
used The rocks aud the mountains for his pos
tiers. TLere is law in New York which pro-
hibits the defaciug of natural scenery, cannot
such a law be- enacted here. Post no bills
here' should be the law, and forcible "com-
menciDg his poisoned challce 10 + own lips
the punishment for its violation.
The wes. fairly commences on crossing the
Mississippi. Progress, progress, is marked on
eyery thing around Va. Each year the expand
ling powers Of commerce adds new ci'y TO 81.
s., Louis, metropolis which is send ng her
railroads il every direction, drawing in TO her
se.f the rich pruIucls Of the farther vest. Be.
ond her, new towns are sPrinsIng uP IN every
direction. The Missouri Pacific RaIlfcad noS
reaches Kansas city, 2s3 miles from this city.
Ten years ago Kansas city con,sioed no. more
than a fw houses Now she is large and
prosperous ciy with between ten and fifteen
thousand inhabitants. Situated at the Junction
lof the Kansas and Missouri n'ers, Il has every
chance for success. Opposite Kansas city, Oh
the other side CT The Kansas nyeT, is the eastern
Terminus Of the greet Union Pacific Railroad,
which when conip nipieted, viii unite by band Of
iron tbe Atlantic snd Pacific. Eighty miles OF
this road have just been completed, end within
the last week us:ns have commenced running