Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-08-07
FROM VIRGINIA
TO NEBRASKA.
Scenes and Incidents of a Trip
Through the Great Mid
die West.

On May 21st the CoURIER's cor
respondent boarded Norfolk &
Western train, enroute to Lincoln,
Neb. Passing through the beauti-
full and historic Shenandoah VALLEY
OF Virginia, we reached Roanoke, the
magic City of the South, that has
grown from mere village, to
busy city of $4,000 people, in quar-
ter of century. Passing Salem,
Radford and East Radford, we now
encountered serious barriers to our
rapid progress. A heavy down pour
OF rain set In, causing landslide
aud wash-outs along the road, and
hemmed us in between New River
and the mountains. First an i'm
mense boulder had to be blasted, be-
fore 1t could be moved; finally our
train had to lay up for the night
near little station, Zurich, and
could not move for 9 hours. The
inky darkness and the roaring of the
rushing waters seemed to make the
night more gloomy and dresry, but
all on board made the best of it un-
der the circumstances, aud were de
lighted to see bright sunshine ear
ly next morning, and we were enabled
to proceed. All day we went through
as Wild and rugged mountain coun-
try as one can well imagine. After
leaving New River our road follows
Tug river for MANY miles, filthy
looking stream. We were completely
hemmed in by the mountains in this
solitude aud silence that seems to
make one shudder as We crossed
trestllng, spanning dizzy heights OF
l35 feet, and rushed rapidly past.
frightfuly near dangerous precipeces
and EARNING chasmS on one side.
Theu the great towering green cap.
ped mountains and peaks that rose
above us, the huge boulders of which
seem threatening 10 hurl us in the
frightful abyss below, as we rushed
pass the curves; many times having
sight of the iron horse AS he turned
the sharp curve.
What lessons these mountains in
their sublime grandure teach us. We
pass through one tunnel of a mile
long; the smoke is blown out by u
fan, said TO be the second one in use
in the world; the other one being in
! Russia.
This road passes through the great
Pocahontas coal regions of West Nir-
ginia, and the immense number of
coke ovens in full blast make grand
spectacle by night. Bluefed, Will
Hanson and Kenova, w. Va, are all
important places. The first named
is very romantlcly situated, and has
a fine station and hotel.
After crossing the Ohio river at
Kenova. the junction of the G. & o.
road, we pass Ironton. Ohio, with its
great iron works in full blast, pre-
senting magnificent spectacular
scene at night. Portsmouth, Circle
Vile, then Columbus, the western
terminus of the n. & w. Here we
took the Hooking Valley road to Mar
ion, Ohio, a beautiful city of 10000
inhabitants, with many industries.
Here we boarded New York & Chi
cage express train, with its fine train
service and rapid transit, and accom-
modating officials. We viewed q
magnificent scope of country, we'll
improved farms and fine residences,
passing many important cities till we
reached Chicago, the great metropol-
itan city of the Middle West, with it's
teeming population of nearly 3,00O,.
900. Some of the streets are twenty
five miles in length. A transfer
through its busy and crowded streets,
We embarked in one of those magnifi-
Gently equipped fast trains of the
great Burlington route, noted for its
easy travel, riding chairs, and in fact