The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-12-09
PENClLiNGS.
Seyefteen Mile OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES har-
per's Ferry Washington

Did we say that the Upper Cheat aud the Wes-
tern ascent of the mountains was the hpest part
of the Baltimore Il Ohio road. We certainly
were hasty, then. 1t is, truly, Il splendid coun-
trv-for .he tourist and the painter; and the rice
from Cranberry to Altamont is, as change,
agreeable also Almost everyone crossing the
mountains by this road is disappointed on reach
ing the summit; the pretty villages and the
fine view of the mountain tops far as eye can
reach 70 far to temper his regret for what is pas
sed. But the greatest treat of all remains to be
seen-the passage down the Scventeen-milc
grade and beyond to Harpers Ferry.
Travellers had said that on no other route to
the east is there such magnificent mountain
scenery as on this Seyenteen-mile grade. With
our fellow passengers We fairly rayed over its
Wild splendid beauty-in some places, its gran
deur. Such mountains as the Aleghanles are
seldom grand, especially along railroad routes,
but If at any place they sumblime, it certainly
is along this grade. The scenery is one success
sion Of surprises. AS in ascending, so again the
road skirts along the side of the mountain the riy-
er--the Potomac now neandering and, when not
overshadowed by the mountains, sparkling far
down in the gully below. On the opposite side Of
the river,
"The mountains that infold
In their wide sweep, the colored landscape
round,
Seem groups of giant kings, in purple and gold
That guard the enchanted ground
We have tried so often, and as often sgrally
failed thus far, to describe the country We have
seen, and shall not weary the readers patience
further though we shall not soon cease thinking
of it all. We have never crossed the state Of
Pennsylvania, and know but little of the great
Pennsylvania route saye from their own books
containing views Of notable scenes on the road.
One famous is the Horse Shoe Bend, often and
often pictured IN all manner of places. 1t is u
splendid view, yet we can truthfully claim TO
have seen twenty horseshoe bends on the b. e o.
that equal il in beauty and dozen that are far
superior to It, Why, the Seycptecn-milc grade
is but one continuous wind. Fora mile or two
sometimes we ride comparatively straight ahead
along the mountain side, through tunnel after
tunnel, with the river in the gully below; then
suddenly there is a sweeping bend in the road
a great horseshoe bend, and panorama Of the
route we have just passed over is given us again,
IA complete view of both sides OF the river, hem
med in by its mountain guards. Every few miles,
indeed, we have such views; nor do they end
with the Seventeen mile grade. This grade ter
inmates al Piedmont-itsef one of the most pic. !
turesque places on the route; shut in by lofty
mountains on all sides, and Is built Oh the hill in |
a semi.circle, made by the great mountain on
the right, for the valley is not mile wide. The
river too occupies uuch Of the level space tor |
its use, there is but little lett to build on This
is utilized IN part by the roundhouses Of the rail
road company tracks, saw-mills and the few bust
ness houses. Just this side the village IL a dam !
making the power for running the mills. The |
place reminds one much Of Mauch Chunk, Pa,
on the Reading road, which many Centennial |
visitors have seen.
The gencarl appearance Of the habita,ions Of
the people and Of the people themselves, is the
same as we have already seen. The farming lands
resemble those We sec in the picturesque
America in the views OF farming on the famous
French Broad-thc houses built with fronts sup
ported by piles their rca-s in the side of the hills
the corn, such corn must be pIantedby hand and
hoed, for no western farmers planter and cult
Vator could be used there; even the cattle lean
against the trees while feeding from the skimp
grass Of the mountain sides to preserve them
selves from slide down the hill into the river
or among the rocks below.
From Piedmont to Kcyscr the road-thrce
through very pretty country
though not so fine as that on the grade Keyscr
also is located in a valley surrounded by noun.
tains, though the valley is much wider than any