Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-02-24
Wanderlngs on the Ohio.

lne clty OF flttsDufen BtaGOS upon
perfect triangle, formed by the copfu-
ence of the Allegheny and Monongahe.
Ia, at the source of the Ohio river. TO
obtain the best view of the city, the
three rivers and the surrounding coun-
try. cross the bridge at the mouth of the
Monongahela and ascend Duquesne
Heights. Pittsburgh smoke is as dense
as London fog, but if the sun and wind
favor. from this point q magnificent
map is laid at your feet. The three
rivers form the capital letter Y. Like a
coy maiden giving her hand, her heart,
her life, to q consorf, the graceful Ale
ghauy comes from the northeast and
unites with the short. homely but veal
thy Monongahela. From this union the
Ohio leaps forth. strong and beautiful.
and flows for nearly one Thousand miles
to the southwest. through picturesque
hills and enchanting valleys.
To the left. the city of Allegheny lies
on the northwestern bank of that river
ard some distance down the Ohio. With
q municipal government of her ewn,
she boasts that she is an independent
place, and not q suburb of Pittsburgh;
however. six bridges connect the two
cities very closely, and Dickens himself
could not tell tale of one without i'm
plicating the other. Male pedestrians
are charged the insignificant sum of one
cent to cross these bridges. while fe-
males 60 to and fro free of charge; here
at least women have their rights. A Cir
Gle of beautiful parks forms the heart OF
the city. This ground was formerly left
by Penn for a COW pasture to persons
who would buy lots near by. II his
generous spirit ever haunts these
shades, wandering over rustic bridges
and amid sweet flowers on every side,
surely he is satisfied to meet the CRATE
full denizsns of crowded city without
hearing the loving Of herds or seeing
one COW in his charming pasture. The
frownipg walls of the penitentiary ad-
joining the parks seem to intrude upon
the freedom and beauty of the place,
and mock the spirit of dear old Penn,
who wanted even the COWS to wander
at will in green pastures by still
waters.
Like q seli-satisfisd millionaire, the
slack watered Monongshela stretches
away to the right. We do not wonder
at his placidity. for the towering hills
on either side give to him millions OF
bushels of coal annually. This river is
locked and damned above; from the
pools between these dams coal Is
brought down in barges by saucy little
tugs, that begrudge entrance or land.
ing to oil other steamers. The bridges
on both rivers are very low; these tow.
boats are often compelled to lower their
chimneys and even take off the pilot
houses in order to pass under them. II
is amusing to zee tug thus dismantled.
She pushes her immense ton with great
determination, while the pilot stands at
the uncovered wheel, enveloped 10
smoke and almost lost to view. Smoke
smoke! smoke! Like the plague of flies
upon the Egyptians, it is upon the
servants. the people, the houses of
Pittsburgians, and also upon the ground
whereon they walk.
Through the smoke, above the noise
of this busy city, back through the
mists of mere than O century, 1 look
down upon the old French trading
post. Fort Duquesne. I see Braddock
fall in his vain attempt to dislodge the
French and Indians. At last q new fort
rises upon the ruins of the old; and
Fort Pitt, like solitary sentinel, mol
unmindfnl Of the future. guards we'll
the soil tha. shall bear that name and
this people. The courthouse. grim
with SCOT and age, stands upon the old
encampment ground of Gen. Grant.
Proud of its historical position, it seems
to- guard with dignity the honored
names of Braddock, Pitt, Penn and
Washington.
10 ind ones way about the city is q
p'ooiem not easily solved by q stranger,
on account Of the many ai.iron
squares Returning from the opera in
dfenching rain. we walked three
squares, to dad ourselves Just where
We started from; without a guide, I