National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-06-10
MARYLAND MOUNTAINS.
Coal RcEions-Dnn'a S1ountain-Naturo In
the Rough northumberland NnrrOws.

ConI RcrIons-Dnn's sNsountnin-Nnturot Tn
the northumberland Narrows.
Special Correspondence " TuE REruRLicAS.
CUMBERLAND, MD., June 8, 1882.
The construction Of the Georges Greek ana
Cumberland Railroad. which runs from Cumber.
land and passes along just in front OF the open.
lngs OF the Maryland American, and Georges
Creek conl and iron companies Mt Homecoming, II
distance OF twenty-five miles, has brought Into
notice Dams Mountain" tho most interesting
and noted spot In Allegheny County. about eleven
miles west Of Cumberland At this season Of the
year tho mountains are green, the streams are run.
uing cool, and the fish nre biting gacommodatngly
all in readiness to welcome city folks. who long
for these pleasures OF the mountains The miners
strike, which Is to be hoped Is near nt mn end
has brought into prominence tho little village Of
Eckhart. n romantic little town. situated In the
heart OF the mountains, nnd inhabited almost en-
trcly by miners. Between Cumberland ana Eek.
hart is the little
VILLAGE oP poMPEY SMASH,
now station on the line OF the Georges Crock and
Cumberland RilrOnd, where all visitors from
Cumberland aud other places get out of the cars
on their way to Dams Mountain. Leaving Cum
hcrland at Olj n. m. we arrive at Pompcy Smash
In about one hour, aud start on three mile tramp
tn the summit of Dams Mountain. The road Is
good for pedestrians aud passablc for vehicles !:
tho ascent gradual but the country very wild and
broken: for the most part uncnlivaicd, unin-
hnbitCd. and covered with heavy growth Of fine
timber On emerging from II heavy growth OF
small wood the "hich rock Of Dams Mountain
stood before us. II presented mn insignificant
aprcanncc-an Irregular mass Of Naked gray
stone, twenty-five feet high, sloplng at all nngc
Ut $50 to meet the more gentle ascent
where we weru standing. To look back to.
ward the north, carrying the eye over broad
sweep Of rolling country bounded fifteen miles
away by the high range of Savage Mountain, the
| view is tame and mountainous, rs II merely com.
| ptises the crcsts of the various hills, the only
| point Of interest being
rRUsrBuRG SEsrItNo CLOSE
on its steep dccllyity. But when the summit 4
reached and tho disappointed eye carclcssly
turns southwark, there IS q sudden shock OF sur
PRISE aud then the hush OF n holy calm as won.
der, awe, reverence, praise, inspire the soul The
variety, harmony. vnStness Of tho panorama thus
| spread OUT in the "twinkllng of All eye" Is over
wheming The rock itself is of hard, siliceous
| sandstone, in broken, rugged inoises worn by
| the chemical aud mechanical action of the rain
into various grotesquc forms, soping gently to the
cif: % 100 fcct below is Ascend shelf broad ledge
crowded with shattered rocks and trees and brush
then another clin aud then the valley, about
| 300 feet below Is rouched. This valley Is the
broad aud
| FERTILE BED OF THE POTOMAC.
It IS pretty, pastoral scene; green meadows
| grazing nOCks, green wher-clds waving like tho
| sea; here and there clump OF trees, and, nest
| ling amid them, tho brown farm cottage, anC
ihrSpsh AZ H. the river now hiGng nov revealing
| so to speak, by its distance below us, with IL
framing OF hills, made a most beautiful picture
| In examining that wonderfully grand spot, ethe
in parts or MS awhole, one could truly say;
| "ImasnntOn's utmost stretch
In wonder dies away"
| The high rock of Dau's Mountain is par oxcelleuc,
| the wonder and glory of this region. Within
few miles OF this famous mountain Is the "Seneci
| Greek" and Land of Canaan country, along tn,
| line OF the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad immor
talZcd by Porte Crayon in his racy skelcheA II 4
| no great distance 10
some OF THE FINEST SCENERY
| In America, on the Cheat and Kanawha Rivers TIL,
| immediate neigh bborhood s rich in varol beauty
The view from Dams Mountain, looking in lh
| peak of Knobey and the Potomac Valley, Is un
surpassed in any land for quiet, peaceful, yet no
| BILE beauty. The scene from Dams Mountain n
sundown was grand and sublime. All the hill
| around were clothed with yedurc TO their top
| verdured many. tinted, various. .hued. simmer
ing with shifting light, as the trees swayed be
fore the breeze. shadowcd into darkness here and
there, ns the hurrying clouds scud before the sun
The distant hills take on q bueish. purplish tin
| us they fade away.
| THROW OVER THE MELLOW LIGHT
Of the golden sun, and 1t is scene of lovelines
too great in It's supreme beauty, its changing
aspects Its varied features, its subtle sentiment L
find expression In hard. cold, coorleSs words. II
effects and Influences moral and artistic, are s,
spiritual, so ethereal, that they elude the mos
| careful description of tongue or pen. Though In
communicable, yet not less real. Its impress OF
memory is "a JOY forever"
Upon our return home, whio gazing on tn,
| wild grandeur Of the "Narrows," near Cumbor
land. and around upon the everlasting hills, W,
| inwardly rejoiced that our lot was east annie
scenes Of so much beauty. and that our heart wa
turned to enjoy IL. W. NJ. G.