The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-07-14

demand at the furnaces on both sides OF
the river at Bellaire and Wheeling at 50
cents per ton, and the railroad company
expect to load their coal cars with II on
their return trips, the same as the o. 4 T.
road loads lis ore cars back to the lake
with return cargoes Of coal. M
The ride TO Armstrong; Mills occupied
about two hours. There was no hurry and
the company journeyed along Of a very
moderate rate Of speed. There was plenty
Of time To inspect tho track, the trestle
work, the cuts, fills, grades and curvAtuTes,
and comment on their character. From
JacObsburg down TO Captina Creek the
four.mile grade desCends at the rate Of 1872
feet 10 the mile. There Is corresponding
three.mile grade east Of Jacobsburg. And
yet eight car loads Of passengers (densely
packed) were hauled up this grade on the
4th OF July without difficulty by the
"Beallsville,n tho new Mogul engine re-
Gently purchased. She daily hauls the
heavily loaded gravel trains up the same
grade. This shows how steep an ascent is
possible on narrow gauge, and therefore
how economical they can be managed as
compared with the standard gauge. The
seventeen.mile grade on the Baltimore 4
Ohio road, up the mountains, Is only ll0
feet TO the mile, and It takes two engines
to move a train OF seventeen cars up that
grade.
The excursion arrived at Armstrong;
Mills at hali.past l2, and found It quite an
animated looking place. And what Is
more, they found that bountiful picnicCo
lation had been spread for them In the
spacious hall over Armstrong; new brick
store. The hall Is used by the Odd Eel
lows, and ls, for a country place, large and
well fitted up. The table stretched from
one end Of the hall to the other, and the
host OF the Globe House, at Bellaire, who
was the caterer in charge Of the feast,
served up the collation., including berries
and cream for dessert, in very creditable
style. The milk and butter could not be
surpassed, and reminded us OF the milk
and butter that hung in the well before
the dayso oleomargarlne.
The company were introduced to tho
Tycoon Of the settlement, Mr.. Alexander
Armstrong, who has merchandized at this
point since 1888, and whose father was n
miller, merchant aud farmer here before
him. The Armstrong; are the reigntng
dynasty in that part OF Belmont, and one
oithem, DR.. Armstrong, lately represented
the county in the Legislature, Here they
have lived and waXed fat; accumulated
much good land and many shekels, espe-
cially Mr.. Alexander Armstrong, who in
his old days has built himself very hand.
some and spacious brick residence near
the banks Of the classic Captlna, which
here flows with q majestic sweep towards
the Ohio, ten miles distant. His
country store is busy sort Of place and
in the way 81 variety is equal TO we'll
stocked museum, having everything for
sale, from "pins, pills and pillow points" up
to COFFEE, curly.ques and coltins."
The "Mills" have long been an import
ant point on Captina. Tobacco and grain
have been shipped from here in large
quantities 10 Powhatan, and thence by
river to the various markets up and down
the river. AS an illustration Of the
change the railroad will bring to the
farmers here, We note the fact that
in 1878 Mr.. William Armstrong sold 10
tons ofhay for delivery at Bellaire, at S25
per ton. It cost him 81 per ton to haul II
to Powhatan and ship 1t by boat to Bell
aire, leaving him only SIS net. The rail.
road would have carried 1t for him at
81 so to 3 per ton. 1t fornely cost
about s. per hogshead to ship tobacco to
Bellaire or Wheeling. Now it's carried to
Belaire for one dollar, escaping, in ad.
dItion, great deal OF rough handling.
Every excursion has to have its episode,
as matter Of course, and the episode Of
Saturdays excursion was a visit to Ra.
the Mills. The creek being up considera-
bly,, on account OF the recent rains, q con.
veyance had been provided to take the
excursionists across to see the wonderful
rock. They were taken over; half dozen
at load, to the extent Of about two.
thirds OF the whole number. We observed
that those who had been there before did
not go this time. Next time we will be
among those who have been there before,
and will initiate their example. We like
10 visit rocks that are at least as accessible
as the Crags among which the wild cham
OILS OF the Alps pick their way, but when
It comes to exploring glens down which
the mountain torrent PUSHES "tumultuous-
ly to the sea" and then leaving this
rocky and slippery and very romantic
and somewhat damp exploration for a
perpendicular ascent up primeval forma.
ton OF the tertiary period, there will have
to be something more than a rock at the
end of the trip to compensate US. Next
time we will take our seat on the grassy
banks Of the placid Captina alongside Of
our friend Col. Morris, and put in the
time looking at that spirit photograph
that appears mysteriously through a
small aperture in his knife handle, and
thus enjoy ourselves while the genial Col.
practices with his revolver on some small
shoat disporting themselves in the stream
on the further shore, under the impress
sion that they are wild ducks.
At little after six o'clock in the even
ing the train returned safe and sound to
Bellaire, and everybody, as they alighted
from the cars, united in saying that they
had a very delightful excursion, and in
wishing the Bellaire and Southwestern
Narrow Gauge all sorts Of good luck in
the fltura