Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-02-04

NEW ORLEANS, LA, Jan. 25th, '75.


Editor Chronicle Il find Mr.. Editor
that in order to fulfill my promise of a
letter for this weeks issue, it will be
necessary to snatch an hour from the
time usually allotted to sleep. The
tourist for pleasure no less than the
commercial traveller is always employ
ed, the constant changing about and
ever varying scenery engaging all his
time and attention, this as you have
doubtless experienced, renders cores
pondence difficult. The morning of our
departure from st. Clairsville was cold
and bleak, chilling north wind SEEM
ed to defy every effort to comfort; the
ground was bound in the fetters of
winter and mantled in snow which
cringed under the wheels of the bus as
we rolled over the smooth pike. To-
day, though scarce week has elapsed
we are in the realms of perennial sum-
mer: the streets of this gay metropolis
are crowded, with the fashion and
beauty of the South, and parasols are
used instead of overcoats.
AS we left Warnock's the first bright
beams of sunshine sparkled like dia-
monds in the frosted tree tops, few
the hills of Belmont County and were
coursing along over the broad fertile
fields of the beautiful Sciota and Miami
valleys; before reaching Columbus the
snow had almost entirely disappeared
and as we entered the "Queen City"
warm rain was gently pattering on the
car tops, and the brilliant lights from
every window and gas lamp was taxed
to penetrate the thickening mist. The
scenery from Columbus to Cincinnati
though picturesque was rather monot-
onous; the wheat along the route gen.
orally looked well, and the average
sown is reported much in excess of last
year; it is remarkable to see the quanti-
ty of corn standing in the fields un-
husked, upwards of one hundred acres
came under our observation in a davis
journey. Finding navigation at Gin
cinnati entirely suspended in conse-
Quence of the ice gorge, we were re-
luctantly compelled to abandon our
voyage by steamer, and proceed on our
Journey by rail. Great activity seemed
to prevail in business circles here and
Notwithstanding the cry of hard times
the bright sunshine during our stay
brought out the entire population, and
the magnificent business blocks on
Fourth Avenue were thronged with
purchasers and The gay crowds that col
lected in front of the attractive win
dows almost obstructed the pavements.
The scene Was animated and pleasing
to behold. The competition between
rival railroad routes has reduced the
fare from Cincinnati to st. Louis to fiyeI
dollars. mention this for the ipfor.
nation of any of your readers cuntem-
plating trip West, that they NAV
avail themselves Of the reduction.
We had the pleasure while in New
port, KY, of calling upon Mrs. Cyrus
Mendenhall, so well and favorably
known to all your Martins Ferry read
ers. This good woman. now, as during
her stay in Martins Ferry, is identified
in every work of benevolence and
charity. Her husband, the founder OF
the Benwood Furnace, is successfully
conducting large Rolling Mill in
Newport.
Crossing the Ohio river on the rail-
road bridge of the n. & G. Southern
Road we resumed our journey South.
and in brief period had entered the
famous 'blue grass REGION where the
Kentuckian proudly boasts are foundI
the handsOmest women and the finest
blooded horses in the world. The beau
tiful rolling country with its alternate
hill and valley and narrow river flow
ing between reminded us greatly of theI
scenery at home. The acreage devoted
to culture was nOticeably less than in |
Ohio, and seemingly more careless
grazing appeared to be universal. Wei
noticed an immense corn field where
the entire crop of probably 1000 BUSH
els was thrown into a few rail pens
without cover, exposed to wind and
weather. The towns and villages as
we approached Louisville bore evil
dences of thrift and comfort. When
within mile of the Junction, the coup-
ling of the car in which we sat, broke,
and the engine and four cars dashed
away leaving us humping about, col
liding with the car in the rear in immi-
nent danger of jumping the track. Al
scene of confusion and excitement ell
sued, but the return of the engine and
conductor soon set us right, and in a
few moments we were again under
way. With darkness we sought the
comforts of a Pullman car and in the
discovered we had penetrated
far into Central Tennessee. The first
sight that greeted our vision We're huge
piles of cotton bales and groups of lazy
gaping negroes aid idle whites. The n
face of the entire country was changed.
Snug farm houses, with adjoining or
,hards, and herds of grazing sheep and
,attle had given way to broad pianta-
ions of cotton and corn. The planters
homes were mainly substantial square
white frames with the universal porch ID
" verandah SO noticeable all over the
South. Very little fruit or shrubbery |
the dwellings. A few ever