Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-04-22
STEAMER ANDES, OHIO RIVER, I

] much subdued. The track frequently
reaches an elevation of 1900 feet above
sea level in this section, and passe:
through numerous tunnels. In fact, II
might almost be said that the line, in
this section, is an underground rail
road" On the whole line, all in Cum
berland Mountains, and on less than 12C
miles of the road, there are 27 tunnels
which occupy over 5 miles in length
The fast express, cannon ball" train
makes the entire distance, 335 miles, 10
hours, at the rate of AZ miles an hour
including stops. The middle section oil
this read, as l have hinted, runs through
a country abounding in scenery of the
IT. ost grand and attractive character
The mountain plateaus On which many
miles of the road are built, are still vir'
gin forests. This region is wiid-cOver-
cred with scrub oaks and rocks. and for
the most part apparently worthless for
| farming purposes, but rich in minerals
The road cuts through the great Cum
beriand coal fields, which range from 4
10 feet in thickness, and practically
identical with the highest grade mined
on YoughiOugheny creek, with which
Pittsburgh and the OHIO and Mississippi
river cities are supplied. When nearing
the Kentucky border, and running at
the rate of 80 miles an hour, L asked d
brakeman if we were not near the State
line? He said in just two miles more
we will be there" | said, Twill the cars
jolt when crossing the line. or how will |
knoW?" He answered, No, not bit /;
but the whistle will blow; when you
hear the first whistle, you will know"
And sure enough, in about two minutes
the whistle did blow, and then | knew
that we were in Kentucky, and began 10
look out for the celebrated blue grass
had heard so much about. but the blue
grass didn't celebrate, or show up until
we had advanced some so miles farther
Up in the State-the country still re-
naming wild and rugged as it is in Ten
nessee. Then we entered the blue grass
region; belt of 100 miles in width of
as beautifully rolling and as productive
farm lands as l ever saw. Field after
field of rich green blue grass, far enough
advanced already for good pasturage,
lined the road on either side; some were
meadows, and on some rOamed fat stock
cattle and horses; here and there fine
farm houses and barns, and broad acres
of wheat, luxurious and thickly set, met
the eye-surely grand place for the
farmer. The road touches the important
towns of Somerset, Danvilie, Nicholas
vile, Lexington, Georgetown and Will
Jamestown, most of which are surround
ed by fine farming lands. The last 20
miles as the Ohio river is approached.
the road again commences cutting its
way through and around hills, and forges
its way down the slope to the Ohio river,
over which it crosses on most magni
fcent bridge. Then on the Ohio side
swings around to the left. making an en-
tire circle, and then on up to the Central
Union Depot, in Cincinnati. The road
is a grand one, and of incaiculable adj
vantage to the cities it connects, and al
though an expensive road to build. cost
ing Cincinnati, am told, about $24, ,000.-
OOO-yet it will prove TO be. [ have no
doubt. worth to her all the money she
put into 1t; and. besides. it IS credit to
her for the enterprise and skill mani
tested in projecting An carrying out to
a successful completion, this great
achievement, which binds with band
of steel the great city of Cincinnati of
the middle north. with the prospective
great city of
CHATTANOOGA,
of the central south. The Tennessee
river, on the south bank of which this
city is situated, is the same size as tn
depth, volume of water, general width
and length as the Ohin. the city beiag
565 miles from its mouth, and 462 from
its source. Tile perfect navigation of
the river is cut in two by muscle shoals
in north Alabama. 1875 miles below the
city. Work i5 now in progress to re
move this obstruction in cutting 4 canal.
for which Congress is expected to, and
as l think should, make the necessary
appropriation in order to its completion,
which when accomplished there will be
as complete navigation from the Ohio to
Chattanooga,by same class of beats as is
the Ohio from the mouth of the Telnes-
see bO Cincinnati or Wheeling-and l
will venture to predict that in two years
a boat can be taken at Wheeling or
Cincinnati that will land one at Chatta
Hooga. so mote it be- 1t will be a
grand trip to make.
The city as indicated above, is located
on the south bank of the river, near the
base of Lookout Mountain. and three
miles from the Georgia State line. The
population has increased from 1000 or
3.00U at the close of the war to about
10000 at the present time, and is rapidly
growing Fine residences and large
blocks of buildings are going up. The
sound of the hammer and saw of the
busy wOrkmen are heard on every hand.
The principal business center is Market
street, which runs north and south from
the river to Montgomery avenue on the
south side. The streets running paral-
lei with Market are named. generally by
such names as Cherry, Chestnut, Walnut.
Georgia and the like. Those running
east and west and parallel with the river
are numbered, commencing at the river
with lst street, numbers increasing
southwark up to 10th street, on which
the Union depot is situated-the pest>
Office, telegraph office. the Reed House.
the Kennedy House and several other
hotels, and other important establish
mems. Immediately on the west of the
city and between it and the river is
CAMERON HILL,
which rises to height of nearly 800
feet above the level of the river, from
the top of which birds eye view ofithe
city and surrounding country is obtain
ed, Over the town, and east about one
mile from the top of the hill, NAV be
seen the ruins of old Fort Wood, on
which Gen. Grant stood, and from which
he directed his forces during the battle
of Missionary Ridge. The very spot is
pointed out on which he stood and smok-
ed his cigar, while the spiteful Mimic
balls from the sharp shooters made 9TH
ers more careful, seek the shelter of some
friendly cover. Bald Knob, or Orchard
Knob, is distant about a mile east from
Fort Wood, and rising from the valley
or plain, marks the line at which the
Union forces halted in the advance made