The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-08-03
THE LITTLE KANAWHA.
NAVIGATION on THE STREAM.
rA. Trip from PAtG.nbars to glrr,b,tS.-rAs
Mature ofths RIr.r-rhs Scenery Along the
ROuts-ErtsnslCa OF the slnekwatsr-la.
dleatIOns Of Improvement at Elizabeth.
ipcctG! Correspondence ollie LnteliSeRer.

Special Correspondence of Tie IELeiligeReT.
ELlzABerH, WA, August l.-Thetrip up
the Little Kanswha Is one full Of pleasure
The river itself Is quiet, dull stream, with
scarcely perceptible current. Years ago
It was improved by company formed for
that purpose. 1t was dredged, snags and
other distractions removed, and three
locks built between this point and Parker-
burg. The trip is a succession OF sur.
prises. Leaving Parkersburg for
Elizabeth the fnt three or four
miles are made between great RATS OF
hard timber logs, moored to either bank.
These RATS, containing many hundred
thousand feet Of lumber are flosted down
from the head waters OF the river. Raft
ing on the kanawha is NOT an exciting
pastime. Passing the locks 10 slow and
tedious, sometimes the greater pprIion Ola
day being required 10 take rait thronqh.
Then the current Ia 80 feeble that not nm
frequently q rait Is from live to six DAYS in
drifting from this point 10 Parkersburg, q
distance Of twenty.six miles. Several
times coming up We came suddenly around
lebSAN ~ Aha ouk NpN phtlGu NY u REtAL
raft that lay diagonally across the river.
These rats always Lie. 80. Then the
steamer pushes her nose against the raft
and after a considerable waste Of steam, the
energetic use OF poles and much swearing,
the boat gets by, and the raft creeps on its
way. One thing have noticed in connec-
tion with scene like this is, that no matter
how small the raft Is, nor how easy It
fftbf ha t.N iE L.
moved until certain amount OF swearing
has been done. I1,.,. ,s.. nj ...#..4
Strange, isn't il? r-'r.. f, l.-.
TYPOGRAPHICAL POINTS. ,.....
II one has made up ones mind 10 fud
along this valley Of the Little Kanawha a
succession OF rough hills, bristling with
roughish woods and dishgured with great
rocks, narrow bits olgravely, unproductive
valleys, one will be disappointed. All the
way along one side Of the river, or the
other, shows q very respectable sized bot
tom Of rich alluyial soil, rich in great corn
fields, fine meadows and wheat leidA
Many of the views are charming, and the
three or four hours required to run from
Parkersburg tc Elizabeth are never tire
some. The greater number OF the farm
houses are we'll built prettily situated and
in themselves evidences oithe prosperity Of
their owners. The farms are cal eiully cnl-
tiyated, with modern machinery, and the
crops will average with those produced in
any part OF West Virginia. The hills are
not rough and rocky, but are quite the con-
trary, and on them Craze herds Of fine cat
tie and tiocks OF sheep. Hall score OF
busy little towns lie along the river bank
from Parkersburg to Burning Springs, and
the boats on the river do good business.
At present new lock aud dam is being
erected at the mouth OF Vincent's run,
which will give the company twenty miles
more of slack water navigation, placing the
terminus at GIantsyile instead OF Burning
Springs. This will open large new ter
ritory, and will prove OF incalculable
value to both the company and the people,
COST or LocHAGR. 'i... ....
Rivermen complain OF the loGsage. AT
present the rates are as follows For each
boat fity cents; for each passenger five
cents; for each pound Of freight two mills.
There are three locks now built, conse-
queutly each boat now pays S. per day for
lockage, even II she has no freight and not
passenger. But that never happens.
The Carrie KRAFT pays daily (average) for
lockage Sl5. Three or four other boats ply
the river aud do q good business. ltca
not Ibe Ldoubted that their combined
lockage, or toll, amounts to twice as much
as the Krafts, making a total Of something
near $50 day received by the company.
Last season the river was open all year,
and not day was lost even during the
winter. AT present the channel is obstruct.
ed In some places by logs, and at middle
lock sand bar Is forming. 1t Is said that
the company has great expectations OF in
ducing the the Government TO buy its
property. People along the river and the
boatmen hope this will be the case, rs
they believe the Government would build
additional locks, clear out the channel and
make other desirable improvements.
'.s.. -lv AT ELIZABETH.
At every point in Elizabeth there are
signs Of improvement, Sidewalks are be-
ing built, houses erected and painted,
fences repaired, In short believe the town
is entering upon All era Of prosperity. It
may not be amiss to remark in this con-
nection that the county will go Republican
next year. Last night Fair Association
was formed, fifteen acres Of good land pur.
chased, committees appointed and plans
laid Tor an exhibition this fall. II that
does not show that Writ county Is coming
out, I am at loss to know what II does in
dieate. a- 4
..-i a GOOD poAT. '.r .I
Everybody on the river knows the
whistle Of the Carrie NJ. Kraft. They have
something very akin to affection for her.
Never behiad time, safe and reliable, her
cabin is always full Of passengers. and
decks Of freight. All along the route
handkerchieis wave from open windows
when she goes by; at every landing crowds
come down to see her rounding, and pas
sengers stand on tho banks and see other
boats 20 by, while they wait for the KRAFT,
She Is trim and neat, always clean, hasan
excellent cuisine, aud the most popular
set OF officers on the river. It's q young
crew, not one OF them over tweniy-three. h
They are all genial, wide awake young
fellows with lots OF snap and enterprise.
don't wonder that the Kraft is popular.
Even the cook is young and pretty, and
every fellow from theupcountry who comes
aboard falls in love with her, and ior a
week afterward the boat Is loaded down
with bouquets Of holly hooks and "sich."
The officers Of the boat are: Captain, W.D.
KRAFT; Clerk, s. B. Rathbone, Jr.; w. j.,
pilot; r, g. Jones, engineer A
lew directions. The trip.up the Kanawha is
. delightful one. To make II pleasantIy, :
take the Carrie NJ. Kraft at Pafkenbure
1t o'clock everyd day, Engage q stateroom,
md make the round trip. II will be pleas.
ant aud profitable. QuILP.
A Double Tragedy. .!.t !.