Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-02-21
HARPER'S FERRY.
HARPER's FKRRY, Jan. IA, 1880.

most eastern part Ol hesI NHSHhia,
about 40 miles from Washington City,
d. G. We linger about the town, be-
cause of its historical events and the
scenery which the world admres.
Who has not heard of Harper's FerryF
And all who has heard of the village
and its surroundings give vent TO the
same feeling. 20, how Id love to see
! the place All persons cannot be SO
fortunate as to see it; they are but few,
hence in our correspondence, We give
some important notlngs.
Our point of writing is $50 miles by
rail and $50 miles by air line from your
J office, the difference in the two routes,
which is accredited to the former gives
the traveller the advantage OF $50 miles
additional journeying, for the sake OF
sight seeing, from Urbaua to Harpers
Ferry. Standing upon the railroad
platform here aud looking eastward, we
see before US, two rugged mountain
cliffs, few hundred yards distant. AT
the base OF each or between the two,
flows in her majesty, the Potomac
river. The southern cliff is known as
! Loudoun Heights, the continuation OF
which is the Blue Ridge, extending
through Virginia, North Carolina and
South Carolina, into Georgia. On the
west side of the Blue Ridge, lies the
great Shenandoah Valley, known also
as the Valley of Virginia, which ex-
tends from the Potomac river on the
north to the State of North Carolina on
the south, a distance of about 800
miles; in width the valley varies from
five to forty miles. it is well watered
climate, healthful and the soil produc-
tive. On the east side of the Blue
Ridge mountain is Virginia proper, or
old Virginia; or as it was once known,
the Tucky Hoe State This part OF the
old dominion suffered the most during
the war and the result is apparent; yet,
because the plantations were large, the
work was all done by the negroes, the
whites knew nothing about labor and
management; one or more generations
will lie required before the people with
good practical common sense can be
trained up for this part, many OF the
older ones have fled TO the north or
west, without money or practical sense,
to avoid the world knowing OF their
poverty or ignorance of the common
things of every day life. The northern
cliff is known as Maryland Heights,
which extends northward through
Mary land into Pennsylvania, being the
northern part of the Blue Ridge noun
tains. Each OF these cliffs was, during
the rebellion, cleared OF all the timber,
which had been growing upon them,
during many ages. Since the war,
dense forest of pine and cedar has
grown upon the Heights again. The
army when in possession Of these could
watch the movements of the enemy far
off. On the west sice of the Maryland
Heights, the sharp discerning eye OF
the traveller can in bold outline, trace
the features of Americas first President,
10 the right OF which aud standing IN
full uniform, out high over the railroad
is the perfect picture of Napoleon Bo-
naparte, in the same mountain side Is
cluster of bees which have lived there
beyond the recollection of our oldest in
habitants. If the people of the commu-
nifty need large supply OF honey, they
have only to blast off a portion OF the
rock from this great mountain hive and
help themselves. The water privileges
of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers,
at this place, are now for sale, Offering
to the world superior advantages for
factory cities. Should few good cap
italists put the wheel OF business in mo-
tion, before the close of the nineteenth
century, Harper's Ferry would in busl-
ness, surpass Lowell.
From Harper's Ferry Gen. Joseph
E. Johnson, veteraRof Mexican war
fame, began his exploits during our
late civil war.
Passing up the Potomac few miles,
we arrive at hat was once known as
Mecklenberg, now Shepherdstosn.
The settlement OF the village began in
1880, one hundred and fifty years ago
In 1888 James Rumsey made on the
river at this place, successful exper-
iment in the application Of steam to
propel boat, and his claims to the dis
covery are now generally acknowl-
edged. This village claims the honor
of the location Of his experiments.
The population is now near 1900, with
a prospect of soon being 5000 or 1000.
Brighter days for this place are ap-
preaching. 1t is now the northern ter
minus of the Shenandoah Valley Il. r.,
which extends South, crossing the b. d
o. road at Duffield, point about mid
way between Harper's Ferry and Mar
tiDsourg. 1t passes Cbarlestown on
the West, about one fourth mile from
the corporation line, thro' Benyyille,
the county seat Of Clarke county, Va,
and at present terminates at Luray,
Page county. The Southern terminus
is to be the Tennessee line. A con-
tract is made 10 Immediately bridge the
river at Shephercstown ard extend the
road north TO Hagerstown, Md, dis
tance Of about sixteen miles. The
work is 10 be pushed forward, and If no
obstacle interyenes the part North Of
the river will be flushed by Oct. !,
1880. The road will pass within few
hundred yards of Sharpsburg, near the
college OF St. James, and connect with
both the Cumberland Valley and the
MARYLAND railroads at Hsgerstown.
During the war and a few years
afterward the county officers of Jeffer-