The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-12-03

possessor OF q team and spring wagon
A quarter judiciously invested caused GU
colored friend, after q time, to show up
when we learned from him that his wagol
was at the blacksmith's for repairs. 4
visit to the blacksmith was next in orde
TO see how soon therepairs could be made
Satisfied that all would be right We madt
bargain with the owner Of the wagon Il
take charge Of our baggage, and gave hin
orders to start as soon as the wagon wa
ready and take what was known a. th'
old road to Hillsb trough, and keep or
coming until he overlook US, as we in
tended to. walk, or until he reached
Marlborough, sixteen miles on thu
back track. The morning, though
cold, was clear, and as the eur
go! higher It warmed up enough tc
make walking pleasure, aud as such vi
enjoyed it. Our journey TO Lewisburi
had been made in \ back seat and will
closed curtains. Here We were out in the
open air with such views as We had nevel
dreamed Of, single hundred yards o.
which would have afforded study for &
day, and here we're miles and miles for the
eye to wander over at will, Of hill, valley
and mountain draped in colors which
neither words nor pencil can reproduce,
Two days later we crossed Droop noun
tain on foot. We had crossed it in the
hack going out and had been told that il
afforded fine views, one OF which took in
seventy.tiye miles in one and twenty-five
miles in an opposite direction. How true
this may be know not, but know We
could see the mountains as they stretched
away Tar down to faint blue line at the
horizon, looking much more like thread
OF hazs than solid rocks.
A noticeable fact in regard to these
mountains is their difference in structure,
some being entirely OF sandstone aud
others OF limestone. The difference was
the result OF the position OF the strata
before the great upheayal which gave
birth to the Alleghenies. Ot the strata,
the sandstone lay on top, and rs the
major axis oiupheaval was to the east, the
limestone was thrown tarthest TO the west.
In the section we travelled over the Green,
brier river was the dividing line between
the two formations, and while s!erility
marked those OF sandstone character to
such degree that you would consider
!, 900 acres dear ut song, the very tops
Of those OF limestone, though 5000 feet
above sea level, are held at from $50 TO $50
an acre. A feature OF these mountains
which struck US as peculiar was the a6-
sence Of water washes, or gu!lies. A min
eraloglst might skirt one OF these for q
day without finding an escarpment laid
bare by rains such as our hills afford.
A very peculiar feature Of those of;the
limestone formation is the many funnel
shaped depressions which everywhere in
dent their tops, aud when not too deep,
their sides. These depressions, or sink
holes, as they were termed, are the only
means OF surface drainage to these noun
taips and carry the water into the many
caves with which they are filled. Many
Of these tunnels have disclosed opening
at the bottom, into which il stones are
thrown the sound Of their striking as they
bound from side to side in their descent
goes rumbling away until lost in the
depths. In the absence Of surface water
ior stock these sink holes are converted |
INTO reservoirs by closing the orifce and !
pudding the bottom With clay. Some ,
lines they are natural reservoirs, and two .
we're pointed out to Us as phenomenal f,
rom being 80 situated thGt no drainage
could possibly reach them and yet main
aimed an undertaking depth Of water
The year round, q condition OF things that
could only be accounted for by their be-
ny fad with water from a distance at the
Iame level.
Ca our way from Huntersville, when
within two or three miles OF place called
Mill Point, We salgted 8 gentleman who
tas standing by the roadside and inquired
1 We were on the right road to Hills.
borough. He informed us that we were
md volunteered 10 show Us path over the
which would shorten the dis
ance at least mile. Thanking him we
accepted his offer, and he joined US in the
some distance ahead. II.