Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1874-05-28
Staging in Ohio-Gallipolis and
its Surroundings.


manly station agent, for the CALI
polls stage. 1t was pointed out,
a modest carriage with two fine
looking horses. Interrogating the
driver, we were informed that the
road was much better than it had
been and that we should probably
make the distance of twenty seven
miles by midnight. SeUen hours!
just think of it! But we were by no
means intimidated. We were pre-
pared for a long ride; but did not
think it would be quite SO long. At
Parkersburg we had hesitated about
stopping over and taking one of the
magnificent boats which daily pass
that point for all the landings on the
river between that town and Cincin-
nati-but we might be detained
several hours-we had several times
been on the river-we wanted to see
the country-the country people and
the country roads; and this was our
opportunity We improved it. First
driving to the Portland Postoffice and
taking on some two hundred pounds
of mail matter, our driver mounted
the front seat, snapped his loud
cracking whip and we were off on
brisk trot. We were at once con-
vinced that the driver must have de-
ceived us! No such time as seven
hours could be occupied in the trip;
and we earnestly said, "You will
reach Gallipolis by nine o'clock"
The driver guessed not-we would do
pretty well if we reached it by twelve;
and on we went. Three miles out
from Portland the difficulties of
transportation commenced. The road
was quilted, in some places ten feet
deep and we rode on narrow belt
with scarcely margin of foot on
either side. AS we passed, we held
our breath and the driver with a rein
in each hand dexterously guided his
horses. We were safely over and on
again at the rate of five miles an
hour-but it was but for short dis
tance-a new and more formidable
obstacle awaited us-a road with
three deep gullies and passage way
on either side of them scarcely wide
enough for the rim of the wheel! A
sudden motion of either horse to the
right or left must turn over the car
riage-first the nigh horse, then the
off one, then both, are treading the
deep narrow gullies! with wonderful
dexterity the carriage wheels are
kept on the ridges and at last we are
safely over. But over only to meet
again and again and hundred times
again, similar and if possible worse
difficulties. AS midnight approached
the street lamps of the city of CALI
polls threw out their welcome light
but our difficulties were not over;-I
the road grew worse instead of bet
ter;-one horse sinks deep down in
the mud and the carriage topples
over to one side-driver and occu-
pants spring to the rescue feeling
that in the very sight of our point of
destination we are to suffer our great
est misfortune the driver encour-
agingly calls the horse by name and
we see him in the darkness struggle
through the slough only to precipi-
tate the other horse into an equally |
bad one and the carriage topples over
in the opposite direction. For more
than mile did we ride in this fear
full peril. Scarcely a word would be
spoken except by the driver and his
words were words of kindness and
cheer to his bedraggled horses. At
last safe within the city precincts and
the splendid pavement over which we
ride is in strange contrast with the
thing called a road over which we
have been for seven long hours plod
ding.
Is the country through which you
so poor that it will not af-
ford better roads, methinks we hear
you ask. Oh, no; the country is
rich grazing, farming and mineral
land. Acres and acres are full of the
treasures of iron and coal; and the
deep green and luxuriantly growing
wheat fields on either side of us, bore
abundant testimony to the strength
of the soil. Are the people ignorant
and shiftless? Not that, either. 1t
is difficult to explain why such roads
are allowed to stand in the way of the
growth of the country. Sure it is,
that if the landholders would expend
twenty-five per centum of the value
Of their lands on the roads, they
would get four times the money
back in the increased value of their
lands and its products. Why did
we not tip over? Why did we not
break the limbs of our horses? Why
we're not horses, driver and passen-
gers left dead or manned by the road
side? These are enigmas as difficult
70 answer as why do the people living
IN this country tolerate such roads!
The people are rich, and might by a
little enterprise be richer. They are
Intelligent, and by better roads could
easily increase their knowledge. Good
roads like good schools, at the same
time that they advance civilization,
increase wealth. Good roads are as
as good schools; and
no country can be built up and devel- ,
Oped without both. Give to this
beautiful country through which we
passed, good roads, and the invitation
now held out by the natural mineral
and agricultural productiveness of
the land would become irresistible
through the work of art.
ARRIVAL AT GALLIPoLIs.
At Gallipolis we we're warmly vel
,omed by our friends who had been
lpprised of our approach by tele-
graph. The city of Gallipolis is most
ldvantageously located for business,
md is a centre of great trade, not
'nly for large country on the Ohio,
out on the Virginia side of the river. ,