Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-07-24
Belmont County-st. ClairsyiIle

Oli tno dllerHOOn Ol June 10, 1913,
while T was attending a meeting, in the
grove at Martins Ferry, a boy put a
note into my hand, which 1 recognized
as from my friend Captain Alexis
Cope, of st. Clairsville, which read
"Would you like to ride up to St.
Clairsville this evening"" As it was
one of the finest evenings in the year,
and knew the Captain had IL capital
turnout to make the drive, L waived
the closing ceremonies and slid out to
join my friend. By five O'Clock, we,
-four of U.s. were driving down the
river bank, i'll the shadow of the hill.
from the brow of which the sun was
casting his tempered rays over the
double river and island, and the city of
Wheeling, which rises against the op-
posite hill, and whose distant windows
a thousand golden flames were reflect
ed back upon the vineyards to which
the native forest had given place.
Those who have crossed the Ohio at
this point, will remember that the hill
on the west side and above the mouth
of Wheeling Creek, closes in against
the river, so as to leave only room for
the road and railway track, and such
few houses as are crowded on the foot
of the steep ascent, forming one street
of Bridgeport, village of seven hund-
red busy inhabitants, whose houses are
set along the banks of the river and
creek and far up the hillside, like a
herd Of tired goats. Bridgeport has
been place of considerable Importance
ever since the National road was built,
as terminus of Ohio trade to and be-
yond Wheeling. 1t has been a place
of very active trade considering its
size, which has always been small from
sheer want of room. II 1882 one
fourth its inhabitants 'iicti OF cholera;
but it is usually healthy, and is now
thriving and active in trade. Through
this village the National Road threads
its way out from the river into one of
the most beautiful and picturesque val
leys in the State, up the banks OF the
West Wheeling, some five miles, till it
crosses and aScends the hill. All this
point the stream makes an abrupt
turn; and the road crosses by Il bridge
of Cut-StOne masonry, Springing by 4
single arch from the rOad-bed to the
hill whose rocks rise sheer above ii,
and around which the road turns out
of sight to begin the ascent. l have
never passed this bridge without ad-
miring the picture it forms with the
adjoining landscape. Before YOU is
the bridge of whose fine arch and par
apet you have side perspective, the
road with its guard wall and over
hanging rocks in front, and to the right
the opening valley, with Kinsey's
Mills, a few willow-shaded dwellings,
the orchard and the creek whose placid
face repeats the scene. The whole
group is exceeding nld-World like; and
it only seems incomplete from the alb
sence of muleteers in red-jacketS and
donkeys laden with panniers. From
this point, the National Road, which
is the most complete wagon way in the
country, makes continuous ascent of
near mile and half, winding along
side of a ravine so as to keep within
five degrees with the horizon, till YOU
reach point that must be 700 or 500
feet above Lake Erie, on a ridge along
which you travel, over many ups and
downs, to the county seat of Belmont.
Going from our flat country to the
hill tops of this region, / can hardly
convince myself that it is so uneven,
and except on the banks of the streams.
there is not an acre of level land in the
county; while in the town of st. Clairs-
vile / don't believe there are four
level square rods together. But these
hills are very fertile, and inexhaustibly
rich in minerals beside. The whole
country is underlaid with thick veins
of coal, in many places iron ore, ard
4 M oStnna i'm frraat q ohnpHanoo
not everywhere act essible. Since in
making iron it takes more tons of lime
stone than iron ore and coal, The l0ca-
ton of these three minerals together is
of vast Importance. Originally this
country was heavily timbered with
oak, ash, hickory, walnut, sugar ma
pie, poplar, (white woody elm, syca-
more, locust, beech, etc, all mixed
though oak and maple were
the ruling varieties; and the quality of
the soil was very distinctly marked by
the prevalence of each-that covered
with maple being the best. This IN
even surface however, is well adapted
to cultivation and is productive of eX-
cellent crops of all kinds of grain,
grapes and other fruits. The land is
well drained, and for those accustomed
to the hillsides and knobs, it is easy
to work. The farms are well fenced
and in a high state of culture, with
good buildings, the dwellings mostly
of brick; but a straight road or fence is
almost unknown; and except near
towns or along great thoroughfares, the
houses are never built Oh the roads,
but placed where the ground suits, or
convenient to good springs of water.
Except the owner, nobody knows any,
thing of lot lines, and the points of the
compass (as with us) are seldom re-
ferred to in directions. If you ask
man where he lives, unless he was
talking politics, he would never name
his township, as we do, but would say
near such town (village) or on such a
stream or road.
The manners Of the people are agree
able, they are free and hospitable.
They never meet or pass on the road,
without speaking unless in a crowded
street. Their tone of voice is Soft and
gentle; and they are not apparently
hurried in work or trade. Owing to
hills and muddy roads a great part of
the year, the farmers go on horseback,
more than on wheels. Men and Wo-
men ride everywhere; and the girls
are capital on horseback, and usually
attractive there as 1 Judge from the
fact that l seldom saw them alone.
But in fine weather, the driving is
charming; for you are constantly pass
ing through grove, or a picturesque
ravine, or rising to hill top that com
mAnds a view of q hundred other hills.
covered with orchards, rich fields, of
grains, fiocks and herds.
With these lands so rich in soil on
the surface and so rich below in min
erals, Belmont County must be wealthy
in a degree not yet dreamed of; for it
can be filled with manufacturers, sup
piled with its own minerals and sus-
tanned by the products of its lands. [
was gratified on visiting their County
Infirmary, to see that they had not
forgotten the unfortunate, and had
made ample provisions for maintain