Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-01-13
LETTER FROM OHIO.
DAYTON, o., January 5, 1856

from the silent streets of Martins
burg to the busy thoroughfares of
the Queen City (Cincinnati), it
would be as pleasant as a midsum-
mer nights dream. But it is some
what a long journey in dreary cold
December. From Martinsburg to
Parkersburg, aside from the usual
winter scenery, and what has been
accomplished by the marvellous ener-
gy and enterprise of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company in
bridging rivers, making fills, and
breaking through vast mountains, as
seen through the car windows, there
is not much to excite imagination,
or satisfy the rapacious mind of the
tourist. The eye catches but few
vistas of pleasing prospects, only an
occasionally pretty valley or promon-
tories frowning from dizzy heights.
Tumult, flatteringly described as
mountains, are only too large for
hills, high enough only to captivate
fancy when all the fields and forests
are clothed in summer foliage. The
founders of the great national tho
roughfare, the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, displayed great wisdom
and forecast. They were not wiser
than they knew, but thoroughly COM
pretended the vast scope and i'm
portance of their project before they
entered upon their gigantic work.
The vast tunnels that pierce the
bowels of old earth, the splendid
bridges that span all the principal
rivers, are marvels of architectural
and engineering skill. Their trains
are run on fast time-.the day coaches
bright and pleasant-their sleepers
the acme of comfort and cleanliness.
The connections of the road are COM
plete, and the employees courteous,
affable and pleasant. On taking the
Cincinnati and Marietta road at
Parkersburg, we found the arrange
ments not so good as on the main
line, the equipment not so complete
or the time so fast. But perhaps the
last thoughts were superinduced by
the sere serenity of winter, which
tends to serious and severe contem-
plativeness, and the swift flight, or
side track immobility of a waiting
train at a dreary water station tends
to drive one to introspection for re-
lief from the brown fields and dreary
landscapes of December cold. Being
somewhat behind time and hungry,
are likewise, inconducive to f1atter-
ing flights of fancy, so no moral, but
that of patience presents itself for
imaginative adornment. Hence no
picturesque pig-pens loom into
stately palaces, and the rustic
maiden in butternut pettiskirts and
mouse colored hose clambering
over "a worn and dilapidated fence on
the hill side, fails to beam on our
sight as being some thing glorious
and beautiful, like being of light.
When a man is the happy possessor
of a "dear FRIEND" who paints cray
ons, sings and plays everything from
the save Maria" to Paganini's Cap.
pracios," and speeding forward at
the rate of forty miles an hour to
hold sweet converse with her, and
can't paint pretty sketch from such
an inspiration as cherry checked,
rose-lipped country girl climbing
rail fence, there must be something
materially lacking in the makeup of
him
1t was our first trip over the Gin
cinnati and Marietta road in day
time. From Chillicothe to Cincin-
natl the general appearance of the
country is good, the bulldings,fences,
and stock show thrift in agricultural
pursuits. Right here / will say that
never have | seen the growing grain
look so completely winter killed as it
does in the portions of Ohio and
Kentucky which your correspondent
has passed through. "Porkopolis,"
(Cincinnati), the Queen City of the
West, is making rapid strides in
point of population, building, bust
ness, etc. / was much pleased to
make the acquaintance of Mr.. Hen
ny NJ. Smith, Telegraphic Editor of
the Enquirer. He states the circu-
lation of that paper to be $4,000, and