The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-05-15
A PLEAsANT EXCURSION.

We have a natural propensity for q
change Of place, and its qualification
affords US high enjoyment. Whether
it be business or pleasure, it is all the
more welcome, if it affords US an op
portunity to go abroad. This is said to
be a necessity of our nature, inherited
from our emigrating ancestors. Scien-
tifc men of high authority likewise tell
US that in our climate, especially, loco
motion is highly conducive to our
physical well being, as well as to the
strength, activity and endurance of our
mental apparatus.
Impressed with this idea, and swayed
by the locomotive propensity, a small
party, Of which the writer was one, left
this city on Friday last on an excursion
down the Ohio to Parkersburg, and
returned on Saturday. We took pas
sage both ways on the side-wheel steam
erExpress, Captain Phil. Anschutz, of
the Wheeling and Parkersburg trans.
portation line, consisting Of the two
steamers, the Express and Courier, each
passing up and down the river between
the two points every other day Sun
days OF course excepted.
Aware that the present is the dullest
season of the year for business on the
river, we were surprised at the number
OF passengers and the amount OF trans
portation on this line. 1t seems espe-
cially designed to accommodate the
merchants and the public generally Of
the towns and country along and ada
cent to the river. And well does it
fulfill its mission. At the intermediate
points between this city and Parkers-
burg, some forty or fifty stoppages are
usually made for the purpose OF taking
on or putting off passengers and freight.
Notwithstanding these frequent land
ings, the boats generally fill their time
table with speed and punctuality truly
remarkable.
These boats are both new, capacious,
strong and compactly built, and hand
somely fitted up for the accommodation
and comfort Of passengers. The tables
are bountifully and even luxuriously
supplied; the sleeping apartments are
neat and comfortable, and the attend
ants vigilant, courteous and accommo-
dating. Such, at least, we can aver
from actual experience on board the
Express, and we have ample reliable
testimony to bear us out in the asser-
ton that what is true in this regard Of
the Express is true also OF the Courier.
Captain Phil. Anschutz, clerk Ed.
Anschutz and pilots j. G. Muhleman
and T. B. Morgan, we recognize a.
among the most obliging, afiible and ac-
commodating of steamboat men. Un.
der their control and guidance, quiet,
order, promptitude and efficiency char
acterize the management Of the boat,
besides, they are ever ready TO contrib
ute TO the comfort and enjoyment OF
passengers, and to impart. such infor-
nation as may be needed or desired.
To these to whom the river, and the
localities and scenery on each side are
comparatively new, this is especially
source Of unalloyed qualification, and
contributes greatly to the pleasures OF
the trip.
The two days, Fridayand Saturday,
during WHICH we were on the river, were
delightful, the cold and cloudy weather
that preceded having subsided into
warmth and sunhine. There can.
not be in the wide world a
more pleasant and exhilerating ex'
cursion than the passage, at this sea
son ofthe year, up or down our beau
tiful river" To the lover OF nature
in her most charming as well az in
her most grotesque moods, there is en-
chantment at every turn and in every
outlook.
We cannot take up space to speak in
detail Of the scenery along the river
with which the reader is doubtless
more or less familiar; we will only re-
fer to some Of its prominent aspects.
There is the grand outline Of Kills on
each side, OF every variety Of form, GOV.
cred with forests Of green verdure TO
their very SUBMITS; then We trace the
gentle river, with its calm and crystal.
like expanse, its beautiful curves wind
ing among the hills, its banks friDged
with willows, shrubbery and charming
spring flowers, while sometimes on this
side and sometimes on that. the bills
recede from the river bank and wide
and rich bottom lands come into view,
with their neat and substantial farm
houses, and immense fields OF grass and
grain. Not the least among the en-.
chantments OF the Ohio are the numer-
Gus green islands embosomed in its
placid waters. These islets, at this sea
son OF the year, with their trees, shrub
berry, flowers and singing birds together
with the pleasant homes and cultivated
fields on many Of them, appear, as it
were, gardens Of Paradise in miniature.
No richer or more inspiring feast
could be presented 10 the mind that de-
lights in the beauties and wonders Of
Gods bandiwork. But the eye OF the
practical man will be equally grati6ed
with the prospects along the Ohio. He
will see in the lofty hills and in the
rich alluvial bottoms, sources Of
and ipexhaustible wealth.
The numerous thriving towns, cities
and ceuters Of trade are immense along
and near the river banks will be TO him
q sure prophecy Of the future greatness
and prosperity Of this portion Of our
western world. g.