Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-05-16
Notes on Harper's Ferry and the
Shenandoah Valley.

Last week we made some extracts from
Pamphlet by Capt. F. C. ADAMS, Secretary Of
the Harper's Ferry Water-POwer aud Manu-
featuring Company" Again we take few
paragraphs:
-Harp,r's Ferry has long been celebrated for
i.> gel and picturesque scenery, for IT'S mild
N,t urjsurating climate, for It's magnificent
vJt,r-puwer. aud for its historical associations.
Thoraue,uf Lord Fairfax, Of Washington aud
Ie., r,lu. are successfully associated with aud
add romantic charm 10 its early history. IL
WIS Washington who at the close OF the last
century 50 forcibly pointed out the advantages,
anal ,,,-rc,tsd the situation Of this beautiful
surt for a national armory where the Govern
emf could AZ its own expense, and under the
srpervision Of experienced officers, manufac-
tpre such arms as were necessary for our army.
he po;nted out also the various uses to which
This vast water-power could be put in manu-
featuring; its value to the people Of the sur
rounding country, if properly developed; the
little trouble there would be in controlling It;
It's freedom from ice in winter and food IN sum-
mer-and all with a clearuess Of foresight
seemingly prophetic In erecting the works
necessary 10 the development Of the great wa
ter-power. such as dams locks, walls,
canals. and foundation works as well as the
workshops aud other buildings, the Govern
ment spared neither pains nor expense. The
substantial character Of the works now stand
ing and which escaped the ravages OF war, IS
such rs can he seen nowhere else IN this coun-
try
I'm addition to the natural beauty Of the
scenery, auG the pure, bracins air Of its hills,
which seemed TO give new life and strength to
an within its influence, there was good hunt
ing and fishing in the neishborhood, and rich
and fertile country Just beyond-in the beau
tiful valley Of the Shenandoah"
The bridge of the Baltimore aud Ohio rail-
road spanning the Potomac river at this point,
I from the Virginia to the Maryland shore, was
I DESTROYED and rebuilt nine times during the
war. A substantial tressle work bridge, OF
iron. standing on massive granite piers unique
/ in its construction, and forming a beautiful
| harmony with the surrounding scenery, now
stretches across the river, affording ample ia
ciHdes for railroad trains, wagons and foot
passengers
"Here the clear. blue waters Of the Shenan-
doah, rushing down over deep, rocky bed
\ from the West mingle with the torpid Poto-
mac. sweeping down in broad stream from
| the north. These rivers form 4 triangle, with
I the town Of Harper'S Ferry nesting low down
on its point and steep winding roads leading
10 Bolivar Heights, Just above. Across the
Potomac. TO the East. are Maryland Heights,
rock and rugged. rising abruptly to the height
Of fifteen hundred feet, and forming a sort Of
base wall for the Chesapeake and Ohio canal,
which runs along between 1t and the river
Loujoun Heights, on the Shenandoah, rising
in a rocky pyramid, about eleven hundred feet,
forms the southern base wall Of the triangle,
throwing deep shadows over the surface of the
river morning and evening These great nat
ural rock walls, separated by space little
less than half mile wide, form the gates Of
the rich and fertile valley Of the Shenandoah,
extending for three hundred miles Of what was
once. aud viii soon he again, the richest and
most productive portion Of Virginia. In short,
the valley of the Shenandoah has long and
deservelly been known as the Garden of Nir-
giuia, many Of the counties along the rjver be-
ing under quite as high a state Of cultivation
as counties in the west Of England, and in very
many respects resembling them. The fine old
mansions Of the land owners, their out-houseS
their broad acres, the freedom and fraukness Of
their manners. their love for thoroughbred
stock and outdoor sports, and their generous
hospitality to strangers, all bear a strong re-
semblaNCe to what one meets with among
English country gentlemen. Their manners
and style Of living were also good index Of
what the country was capable Of producing. "
ASSESSORS APPoINTED.-The Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company having failed to return
a lis, Of its taxable property in this State as