Inquiring in behalf of interested contractors whether a railroad from Richmond through East Tennessee is likely to be built. From-Duff Green. To-R. K. Crallé, Lynchburg, Va. Concerning the organization of the railroad company and the contract for the construction of the road. From-[Duff Green]. (Incomplete.) The writer has contracted for the construction of the East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad to Knoxville and is making arrangements to begin work at once. He wants, in behalf of "certain parties" to bid on the construction of the [Richmond and East Tennessee] road. (Concluded.) A SOUTHERN TRAVELER'S DIARY IN 1840. BY WM. H. WILLS. (Continued.) OVER THE MTS. TO CUMBERLAND. The ascent to the top of the mountain is slow, but, once gained, and the bottom is found again in a little time. We must have gone down the declivity at the rate of ten to twelve miles per hour. The stages all have what is termed breaks, which are pieces running across the bottom of the stage and by the use of an iron crank which the driver uses, he can throw the break against the wheels and thereby impede their velocity, thereby answering the purpose of lock chains and used with much greater facility. This ascent although the longest is not the highest point of the mountain which is distanced the one from the other about 60 miles and the space between is filled with hills and valleys, studded about with cabins and anon a fine brick mansion rising into view. From Hancock we reached Cumberland 40 miles from the former at 5 o'clock P. M. Cumberland is a very pretty place of about 3000 inhabi OLD CUMBERland Pike. tants and some five or six churches-Here begins the famous Cumberland Road began and Continued on by the U. S. government. It was commenced about 30 or 35 years ago and almost every year has been a subject of debate in Congress. Still appropriations have been annually made until the road has been carried thro' Wheeling, Va., to Zanesville, Ohio 75 ms from Whl. and whole length about 200 ms. it is macadamized and is indeed one of the finest roads in the U. S. being always good whether winter or summer. From Balt. to Cumberland the road has also been finished in the same style but not so perfect, by private enterprise. This road is of immense advantage especially to stages and waggons the latter of which are capable of drawing on it with their 6 horse teams 6 tons. It is indeed the grand thoroughfare between the west & Balt. and I suppose on the course of the route I must have seen an hundred perhaps an hundred and fifty heavy waggons loaded with produce and mer FOOD AND WEATHER ON THE MTS. chandise. From Cumberland we rode to a little village called Frostburg where we got a most excellent supper at 7 o'clock. The fare on this road is good and marked by the same peculiarity attending the inhabitants in the mountainous districts of No. Ca. that is a fondness for Coffee and sweet things for dinner, and pickles and preserves for breakfast. About 12 o'clock at night we stopped upon the highest point of the Cumberland Mountains and put out two ladies and a little child who had traveled with us from Hancock. The mother kept a public house upon the very top. during the night I had my curtains and windows down, and they sat with theirs open enjoying the mountain breeze. “And are you not very cold on that hill in winter"? said I, “Oh no," replied the sprightly girl, "we are used to winds and snows here." Indeed they must be. On the mountains we found snow, and the wind was piercing cold-Before leav MOUNTAIN SCENERY AROUND CUMBERLAND. ing this part of the country I must run back a little to the town of Cumberland. The vicinity of this place is the wildest I have yet seen. For about one mile the road is cut through a mountain of rocks and presents a solemn and stupendous spectacle. Just from the side of the road rocks rise on rocks to a height of perhaps 250 feet, thousands and mil lions resting one on another, some with grey heads and others with opaque frowns frowning down upon the traveller, and to look up at them he feels as if they are almost ready to tumble down upon and crush him to atoms,-here and there a few stinted trees are seen growing out of the crevices and they too seem to feel as if the hand of terror was upon them. Great God! how manifold are thy works! Oh! who would not bow in meek submission to Him who weigheth the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance! PLENTY OF CREAM. From Frostburg we rode 55 miles to Union Pa. to breakfast at 8 o'clock a. m. Sunday 5th-from Union Washington 36 miles to dinner at past 3 p. m. and I did ample justice thereto both because I was very hungry and the dinner a very good one. Among other things they had a kind of Cake made of flour and was delightful. They give this to eat with preserves and cream, not a little to moisten it with, but a tumbler full. They offered me Coffee as usual, but poh, who would drink Coffee when they could get cream. This is the country for cream and butter and fine cows. How I longed to have two or three of the latter which I saw on the road, safe in my yard at home. Mary might WASHINGTON AND METHODISTS. milk them.-Washington contains about 2500 inhabitants, and is characterized by a sense of morality pervading the community. The [town] has 6 churches and the largest denomination Methodists. It once was said of the Yankees that there was not a place where man could make a dollar but where a Yankee might be found, and of all denominations the Methodists are by far the most persevering. There is hardly a place where religion can rest her foot but what Methodist preachers have found the way. DISTANCES, DRIVERS, INNS. After dinner leaving Washington we reached Wheeling at 10 o'clock p. m. distance from Wash" 32 miles. The distance therefore from Baltimore to Wheeling is 287 miles, 60 by rail road & 227 by stage. For the drivers on this route I can say that I found not one that was contrary or mulish, but polite and good and careful men. Few roads of the same distance but what would have some exception probably The great number of Inns or houses of entertainment on the road was remarkable. I should think they would average one for every 6 or seven miles— WHEELING. After getting supper at Wheeling I went to bed at II o'clock but did not sleep well having eaten too heartilyWheeling contains about 10,000 inhabitants and is generally a very busy bustling place being a place of embarkation and landing of goods for the surrounding Country. It has but one street of any consequence shut in by a mountain on one side and the Ohio river on the other.-Monday morning 6 April. It was a little rainy (a nice shower having fallen in the night) and very cold, but about 10 o'clock clouds began to break and grow fair, not however before having given us a smart sprinkle of hail. After breakfast I went out to STEAMBOATS. enquire about a Steam Boat. The only one at the wharf ready to go down was the Pensacola. I accordingly had my baggage on board, My berth taken and passage to Cincinnati paid, ready to be again moving. But I found here and subsequently that none of the boats on the Ohio are prompt, freight being their principle object they wait as long as they can and stop frequently at the intermediate ports. Finally, instead of 10, at 31 p. m. we were ready to bid adieu to |