The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-04-10
Pen Sketch
Especial Correspondence of the VIRGINIAN.l
w ASuIlrrnN II q Man oh % Iso0

Especial Correspondence of the VIRGINIAN.
WASHINGTON, D. c., MAI CHI 80, 1890.
The Picturesque Baltimore and Ohio furnishes
no grander rail ride than from Staunton to
Harper's Ferry. The route passes through an
historic land. The road is for nearly its entire
length near to and parallel to the Winchester
pike, made famous the great highway of
armies, and where the immortal Stonewall
marched and counter marched Lis worn and
tattered eyions. Soon after leaving the sharp
hill encircling your mountain city, the Valley
spreads out and falls off into beautiful symetri-
cal and well-rounded hills and plains of lovely
beauty. On either side are the great mountain
ranges, and ever and anon the eye of the trav-
eler is charmed by some lovely valley, stretch
ing away in the distance and losing itself in the
distant foothills of the well-defiued mountain
ranges. There is a perfect panorama of ever
changing beauty which claims attention during
the entire trip. The blue dome hangs above
this picture with a soft and mellow influence,
the sparkling mountain sire ans catch the bright
sunlight and go singing their eternal songs on
their way to the mighty deep Mountains, hills,
valleys, the sparkling waters and the deep blue
vault make up a picture of rapturons beauty.
A sturdy populati IN inhabits this valley, and
its intelligent and wide awake people, who are
generally thought to be slow, have not been
which is passing over our land, making it the
grandest country on the globe
The first town of any size is HarriSOnburg. 1t
has its BOOM, ~ and we trust solid one. There
are many beautiful residences in this towr :,
showing W ealth and refined and cultivated
taste in the use of it.
Then we pass Woodstock, Mt Jackson Edin-
burg, Toms Brook, Fishers Hill, Strasburg,
Middletown, Stephens City, Winchester, Charles
town and Harper's Ferry, where the Shenan-
doah Valley terminates as to this line.
In all of these places, mechanical industries
have been established and an air of enterprise
and Improvement surrounds them all.
Middletown is ca boom, and has town
lots' laid off and for sale. Stephen City crowns
hill about of mile from the railroad, and
to the eye of the professional boomer" the
ground between the road and the town presents
lovely spot ito build city, Lime burning
is great industry, and is carried on on a grand
scale.
Harpers Ferry is surrounded by as grand
scenery can be found on the two continents.
Hard by where the train stops to load and I'M
load its human freight and boxes and bundles,
''John Browns Fort is to be seen, and is dis
tinctly marked i'll large black letters
Beyond Harper's Ferry we come to Berlin, in
Maryland, where the b. q O. have a large force
of hands at work preparing yard for the use
of the company. The works from Locust Point
will be moved to Berlin. The yard will have a
capacity for 5000 cars. Gaithersyille is p miles
from Washington. From this point 10 Wash
ington for the entire length on both sides of the
road the country is laid out in lots. Huge signs
are seen at short intervals, Lots for Sale. -
Elegant residences, built by citizens of this city,
are going up all hands, and soon this whole
section will be built up Washington is stretch
ing out to meet it all. The future growth of our
National Capital is beyond the range OF calcua
tion. 1t is not only the most beautiful city in
the world, but its grand possibilities make it the
pride of loyal Americans. Its beauty must
be seen to be apprecat 3D. The power Of word
painting fails to do her justice.
The 'tailings of the cyclone must have been
with Us for the past two days; it blew furiously;
but there is no damage reported.
As we fingered few minutes ia the gallery of
the popular branch of Congress to day, there
was very positive exhibition of the way in
which the representatives of the people attend
to the business of the dear people at home. A
division was demanded, and upon q count by
the Speaker (Reed) there were 90 members pres
emit, out of 325. Upon call of the House, the
cloak rooms, Hobbies and restaurants We're
quickly emptied, in response to pers )nal notif-
cation by pages, of what was going on in the
House.