Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-06-29

is one of the best in the State
Went aboard the boat and viewed
the curiosities of the Muskiagum
River, which consist of the dams
and locks-the balanced rock-the
two elephants bend-and an
insect which cannot be properly de-
scribed. The river was damned by
the State. formerly this was done by
the boatmen, but as profane words did
not prevent the bottom of their boats
and the top of the earth from coming
together at times, the State interfered
and by judicious use of stone, iron
and timber made the river navigable
for boats of heavy burden. There are
dams and acorresponding No. of locks.
The hrst impression when a. boat be-
gins to sink in passing lock is that the
Captain has discovered hole in the
bed OF the river and is cutting across
the near way. The time occupied in
passing lock is about minutes. The
balanced rock stands on top OF high
hill and its top towers above the trees
and is as large as the deck of the largest
steam boat, it is conical in shape and at
the bottom appears to beabout as thick
as the body of a man. The two ele-
pnaiItS are of rock and resemble those
now driven through our State by the
good Mr.. 4 Paws. At center bend you
| travel seven miles and gain one. The
insects fly in swarTns of millions and
are very annoying to man and beast +,
| they seem to understand the boating
business as some who got aboard at
Windsor and got off at Waterford
probably to await the next boat
down. Three of ethem boarded the
train at Zanesville- with the intention
probably of exploring the Ohio but
they were prostrated before reaching
the first station out .lf5 '-siiJ l-liVf o.
Corn aud all kinds of vegetation are
much more advanced than with US;
the river valleys are narrow but the
soil is very rich and warm. Near
stockport we saw grain and hay in
4 shock which had been cut on the 18th.
lowing to the water power we find
splendid mills and manufactures. A
great amount of salt is manufactured
ION this river. Stopped off at McCon-
nelsvilles The town contains 1900 in
habitants, the County buildings, five
churches, two printing Offices and a
beautiful school building. No ale,
beer or Liquor is sold in the town.
/ When there is a good stage of water
the boating on the Muskingum is pleas
ant as it is all back water and no per
1ceptibie current. 1 take pleasure in
Recommending to my travelling friends
I the steamer 81. III. Best" Captain J.
J. Barr, and having no "axes to grindo
I may safely speak word or two OF
commepdation, The captain believing
1 when he purchased the boat that he
was Barr enoughifto run the concern,
tore outet liquor bar and fitted up
the. State insteaduthus saving many
dollars to the families of. his crew, and
making travelling more pleasant to the
order loving portion of comm unity.
t He then visited the deck and told his
men that they would take their meals
Tin the cabin and be treated as gentle
men so long as they conducted them
selves in a proper manner, he farther
: informed them that they would not
Iswear the freight, aboard but would
carry it up the plank, also, that II thell
Families were destitute it would not be
necessary to break open freights and
carry coffee and brown sugar home, in
their shirt bosoms but to apply to him
and the cash would be furnished hed-resU |!
a MOL boat and a civil crew. Again
i I recommend the travelling public to
place themselves under the care oi
Capt. Barr and his gentlemanly clerk,
But for the knowledge that the waters
of the river had swallowed up the form
tof a loved one, and that we were going
out to sweep with those who wept,1
our journey weuld prove to be indeed
a source of pleasure. .il AIS, II.