The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-05-19
Random Thoughts.
By THE EDITOR.

LnaL nad little time 10 reau piool' Nv
much by way of apology for several er'
rors in orthography, grammar &c, in
my article.
did not have time and room last
week to say all l wished to say about
Marietta. will finish up now.
The train strikes the river at SCOTS
Landing, below Marietta. Moving up
the river you enter Harmar, an old city
on the lower side of the Muskingum
river. There is bend in the Ohio riv-
er at this point, and the Muskingum
comes squarely into the Ohio. The train
runs up to the bridge across the Mus
kingum, Immediately above its mouth.
This is a toll bridge, and must be
great nuisance to the citizens of the two
cities. Here sits a man, like spider
at the entrance of its net, and every one
who passes must pay him FIVE cents.
1t is not much, but it must be annoying.
When he found that we were editors,
he would not charge us, perhaps think
ing to buy us up, as Dom Piatt says
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad bought
the Ohio Legislature, by giving them a
ticket to Washington City. But instead
of giving this man and his bridge puff,
l felt like pitching him into the Mus
kingum, and permitting people to pass
without the annoyance OF stopping and
higgling about making change to pay
him his five cents.
There is a dam across the Musking-
um a short distance above the bridge,
and mill at each side, between the
dam and the bridge The water pours
over this dam its whole width, making
constant and continuous roar, and
foaming white as snow at the lower side
of the dam. 1t is beautiful thing.
When you cross tho bridge, you are
on Main Street, Marietta Main Street
runs down the Muskingum to the Ohio,
but leaves the Muskingum to the right
some distance before reaching the Ohio.
The street along the Ohio is not Main
Street. The great bend in the Ohio
causes the squares nearly all to corner
on the Ohio, instead ofone side of them
fronting it. .. .
When | looked at the locality Of Ma
rietta, and its natural surroundings, l
did not wonder that it should be the
first place Of all TO be selected as the
place to found colony. Just at the
upper end of the city is long island in
the Ohio, which gives the beautiful riv-
er a more romantic appearance than it
presents in most places, There is an
other island in sight some distance be-
low the city. The upper island is COW
cred with beautiful timber next the
Ohio, aud there is q farm on it said to
have over one hundred acres under cul-
tivation. These islands were originally
formed, no doubt, by the great bend in
the river, and the overAOwing of the
bottom lands, causing the water to cut
new channels. All the upper portion
of the city, was told, is covered with
water when the river is very high.
BY what have written, you will un-
derstand that Harmer is located on the
point formed by the junction Of the Mus
kingum and the Ohio rivers, and on the
lower side of the Muskingumj while
Marietta is on the point above the Mus
kingum. 1t is really only one city, with
the Muskingum cutting off one fourth
oft at the lower end. The upper point,
where Marietta is located, rises as you
60 back, and in a short distance, espe-
oially nearest the Muskingum, is quite
high ground, aud here is the beautiful
portion of the city. Here is the college,
fine old churches, and many very fine
residences. Here is the old Cemetery,
the great mound, the ancient works go.
As we went up the Muskingum, when
near the upper end of the city, we drove
upon an artificial earth work. II was
so high and steep that It was difficult to
drive the buggies uponit 1t was square,
perfectly level on top, aud contained
perhaps half an acre, 1t is now set out
in shade trees, and will soon bo beau
tiful summer resort
The hills surrounding the city, aud
on the Virginia side, are
much lower than they are around Ports.
mouth. They are about such hills as
surround the town of Jackson,
The Little Muskingum comes into the |
Ohio river few miles above the city,
As we came from Cow Run we came
down this stream some distance. 1t is
as wide rs laccoon at Adamsville 1t
is quito shallow, aud we iorded it sew
oral times, ! do not think | ever saw
a prettier stream, or finer scenery al