The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-06
Che gmtelligslreer,
ONCE, Nos, 70 and ~ Fourteenth street.
CHEAr RIVER CANON.
The Picturesque scenery - Grand We've
from Mountain Tops,
Corrslpondsint OfiAe IILlsLlLnsnesr.

The Picturesque scenery - Grand View
from Mountain Tops,
Correspondence n hlsLligResr.
MoRGAETowE, Sept, 4,-The waters o
Cheat river have been iavoriIe summer
resort for = large number Of people from
the towns and cities Of western Peunsyl
vania and northern West Virginia for q
number OF years, The popularity Of thit
region as camping ground has been an
nually increasing, until at the present
time, 1t is impossible to afford any sort OIL
accommodations for the numbers who
apply f1rplsCes, many being turned away,
And only those who are well enough or
ganized to provide for camping and sup
plying all that camping means, can enjoy
the beauties and pleasures OF the Cheat
fully and certainly,
All the way along this stream, at vari-
Gus places, from It's mouth to tho point
where it breaks through Cheat river
canon, about one mile and q half above
lees Ferry, where the Morgantown anu
UniontoWn pike crosses II, may be found
camping parties who have left their homes
In the cities to enjoy O few weeks Of rest
and recreation on the hanks OF this river,
But the locality which has gained q just
celebrity over all others, extends from the
residence OF o, S. Ley about one mile
above lees Ferry, to the mouth Of Quarry
Run, about y half mile farther up the
river,
At lees Ferry the river, emerging from
the canon above, flows along the base Of
low hills, making bold clllId and steep
bluffs along the immediate banks. The
river at this point begins to extend into
that long swGeping curve which extenda
for several miles, enclosing in peninsnlar
shape that rich and productive tract Of
country known as "Cheat Neck"
GEOLOGY OF THE COUNTRY,
About one.fourth OF a mile above the
ferry q small stream puts into the west
bank OF the Cheat, over the Mahoning
sandstone CllG, known as Bayles run. The
upper Freepolt coal lies about ten feet ba'
low the level OF Cheat river at tho mouth
Of Baylea's run.
In passing up tho river south,eastward
from the ferry, the rocks rise very rapidly
toward the Chestnut Ridge axis, and the
top makes Its appearance above tho river
leyel in q massive damlike wall just below
Mr., Ley's, aud not quite mile above the
ferry. Above Mr.. Lsy's the rocks rise
about 400 to $50 feet to the mile, and bring
thu top Of tho MauCh Chunk Hhalea above
the river level at the mouth Of Quarry Run.
The Chestnut Ridge axis crosses Cheat
river four and on'.halt miles above Ices
Ferry. The fall OF the stream between
these two points 10 about 100 feet. Here
ut the crest Of the axis the Great Con.
glOmerate makes broad and gentle arch,
being almost horizontal for nearly mile
and q half. It's ortcrop Is traversed Rs
usual by great iAterseCting assures, which
are often from three to four feet wide, aud
separate the stratum into immense blocks,
some OF which fifty feet on side have
toppled over into tho steeply sloping edge
Of the canon, and look from a distance as
though slight push would dislodge them
into the great Chasm beneath,
Such is the general outline OF this
region, which the writer OF this sketch has
taken largely from "Notes on the Geology
Of West Virginia" by Prof. l. q. White,
Of the University.
During the present season there has
been at times as many as one hundred
persona enjoying q summer vacation at
this resort, while numbers. applied Tor
boarding for whom no accommodations
could be had. Mr.. Ley has four small
cottages, all OF which are filled with oC-
Cupants. He can accommodate with
boarding and lodging in various ways
about fifty persons. In addition to those
cared for in this way, many come prepared
with their tents and camp eQuiDpage, who
take care OF themaelWs. The largest
among these camping parties was the Mt.
Pleasant Rod and Gun Club, Of Mt.
Pleasant, Pa, composed entirely OF gen.
tlemen, thirty in number, who entertain.
cd several friends from Johnstown,
GraenBburg, McKeeSport and Pltuburgh.
They pitched their village OF tents at the
mouth OF Quarry Run, on the northwest
bank, on gently slipping bluff. They
named their place Scamp Breeze"
rAup npvV1R