Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-09
SIGHTSEEING.
Grand Excursion over the Baltimore
and 3hi0 RailrOad, she Pioneer Rail-
way OF the United States.

and 9hie Railroad, the Pioneer Rail
way OF the United States.
BY THE "FAT CONTRIBUTOR"
"When does the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road leave?" l innocently inquired at th-
Cincinnati office, the other day.
sit don't leave at ALP was the energeti
reply of Col. ''Sid" Jones. General Passen
ger Agent of the road. "You will AWAY
find the Baltimore and Ohio in percisel,
the same spot. 1t is as fixed as the noun
tsins it bestrides; as enduring as the plane
il assists to belt! One foot is washed b.
the waves Of the Atlantic, and it bathes tn,
other IN the waters Of the Ohio! Reaching
out friendly and inviting hand to the ma
tons ross the seas, it grssps with the
other the mighty commerce Of the West
The Baltimore ard Ohio Railroad IeGUel
Never Il was put there TO stayw
] told the Colonel didu'i want the road
10 leGv6-at least, not to leave me. l wa:
an excursion party, en- route to Baltimore
and Washington, and wanted 20 know wheT
and how 10 leave Cincinnati; that Was all
"Ai r.ght,' said tie Colonel; "shy in.
formation you desire you shall bsve In
the nrst pizce, you want to take the Mari
eta sid Ciacinn1ti Railroad"
"Dut [ cent want 10 take the Marietta
ano Cincinnati Railroad. | only want TO
take nee lunch, a bottle of something
good $40 take" and few choice cigars
that's all. can't be bothered taking along
a rSiiroad"
The Colonel smiled, aud 1 didn't feel SO
bad about the Baltimore and Ohio ''eaV.
ing" don't you see.
My excursion was Joined at the depot by
nd hsr ho
Night Express for ParkersbIrg, avliling
ourselves of berths ia one of the Pullman
sleeping cars with which through trains to
Baltimore are provided.
The Mzrietta and Cincinnati Railroad
passes through a somewhat rugged but very
romantic region of country. Under its
present management it has been rendered a
first class road, both as regards construct
ion and equipment.
We arrived at Belpre, opposite Parkers-
burg, at an eaIly hour in the morning, and
crossed the Ohio on the stupendous iron
bridge which spans the river at that point,
connecting with the Baltimore and Ohio.
This bridge, one Of the finest in the world,
was completed Jan. 7, 1871. L. is c0nsida-
rally over mile in length, including its ap-
breaches, sud is 4 l4l feet between aO15-
CHANEL spans being $50 feet each. The
piers are Of massive and solid masonry,
and he supefsuuclure entirely of iron.
It's outlines are exceedingly graceful, view
ed a. 4 distance, strength and beauty being
most happily blended.
While crossing the magnificent structure,
ADM ring the view of shore and river spread
or ,emesth Us, companion was impelled to
IF fallrTTr
thai vas which We saw down the river.
Iha-," said the man, somewhat impress
sjv, IL, sis Blannerhasset Island"
"BiaEuerhssset?" said companion; "wh0
the deuce is B,annerhasset2"
Did you never hear Of Aaron Burr?''
asked tie traveller, in Amusement. "Burr,
the traitor, whose Insinuating wiles bliglfed
that oBcs happy island home, and ruined
he man BlanneThasset?"
''Ah! indeed" replied companion, cycling
tho=spoy with increased interest.
"'sn vOu tell me one thing?''
"Well?"
"lf ker man BIG1ner has 1t yeti"
Fellow passenger was laid back in his
berth in faintinc condition.
Parkeysburg is pleasantly located on q
high ylGf at the il tersection of the Oaio
is the most important town in Western
Vig aia. Distance from Cincinnati, 200
mills.
Leaving Parkersbnrg, after good break.
fast a. ire railroad dining hall, we followed
the pleasant valley of the Kanawha for a
time, aid then made bold dash for Graf
ton, on the "main STEM" through noun
taius and across rsyines, with a sturdy in
difference to natural distractions that ex.
cited our admiration.
Between Parkersburg and Grafton, 104
miles, there are tweDty-three tunnels, the
longest 100 feet in length.
They kept their csr-lamp5 trimmed and
buruinE, / noticed, somewhat to the dis
gust Of a fond young couple sitting in front
of us, VINO had evidently counted on the
tunnels when they embarked. The look of
exssperalion the young man flung III the
lamps wherever We ente red a tunnel, and
the soft shadow of hid N grief which s4t
upo2 tue GROW Of Lbe mai leu as sae, to1,
cast = Iuefd glance at their garish fame,
was really quite touching
"Ehey want 10 60 llJGe billing and COO
ing" SAID |; ''0ut they can't qu'e see it."
QI0th COMPANION: Not by those lamps
/ GrafJ0B, 80 miles fran Baltimore AID 80
MI from Wheeling, is the point on the
M II road Where TIE line divergss to Park
ersburs, crossing HygaIt Valley River on
one of hose subs snII IRON bn ICES, com
bmiug a. once beauty and Strength, for
which the Baltimore and Oaio road Is cele-
brated.
Lawn. Grafton, we began to catch a
glimpse Of the beautiful, and majestic noun
tain sc uery for which TINS road is noted.
Now, | entertain the prufOaldesJ respect
forrlouu,ains. They convey an idea of
pernianence aad ability as We look upon
item. They lead us to consider that the
earth is pretty substantial old planet, after
ali, and DISPOSE us to ra her sneer Al the
crust theory with which geologists love to
starlIe las. A vast paririe-One OF the
''boundless" sOTt-distresses and bewilders
me. experience sense of being out al
sea, as il were, and there is ayagueness and
uncerra ty about the landscape. But
mOUhta they are great facts to take hold
OF, tang h and sus aiming. ! hey are tie
gigantic n.lEhC ads that rivet the world TO-
gether, making it "more binding" | hSd
rather be backed by one good stlrdy mcun-
tain to assist belief in the earth's s0lidity,
than ali fe prair!es in the West. And yet
esrthqe, a-s have rent them-aud absconu-
ed " 1.r5 paying their rent.
/. waeu Grafton aud Piedmont 3
dis 20 miles, known KS lie Moua.
Ia N, that the greatest obs acles in
ca 2e iron tracA across the Ale.
gh;..Eos we're met aud overcome; an enter