6 Wellsburgh. — Steubenville*. 



Wellsburgh. — The boat left Wheeling at 1, P. M., passing many- 

 fine views of river scenery and flourishing villages, rising along its 

 borders. At sixteen miles above, we passed the town of Wellsburgh, 

 formerly called Charleston. The main coal deposit here has reach- 

 ed an elevation of at least one hundred and foriy feet above the bed 

 of the river. It is six feet in thickness, and of a very superior qual- 

 ity. The mouths of numerous adits are open on the sides of the 

 river hill, from which the coal passes, by a wooden slide, down to 

 the water's edge, or into the boats that are to carry it to a market 

 below. This town is a place of considerable business, and has a cot- 

 ton and glass manufactory. Large quantities of flour are manufac- 

 tured here and on the neighboring streams, which afford many valu- 

 able mill sites. The surrounding country produces large and luxu- 

 riant crops of wheat, and boats laden with flour and whiskey were 

 very early sent from this place to New Orleans, while yet owned by 

 the Spaniards. While passing Wellsburgh we saw a keel boat lying 

 at the shore, with the word Poe painted on her side ; this is the 

 name of a celebrated borderer who once lived near this spot, and 

 whose fame is yet cherished, because he was one of the most daring 

 Indian hunters in the days of border warfare. This region was the 

 seat of Indian wars for more than twenty years, and in the space of 

 fifty miles around, more depredations and murders were committed 

 by the Indians, than in any other of equal extent west of the Alle- 

 ghany Mountains. The celebrated " Mingo Bottoms" begin just 

 above the town, and continue on both sides of the river to near Steu- 

 benville. 



Steubenville. — At 6, P. M., the boat arrived at Steubenville, 

 where I went on shore, intending to spend the day with a few intel- 

 ligent friends who reside there. This town stands on an elevated 

 plain on the right bank of the Ohio, and is " the Seat of Justice"* 

 for Jefferson County. It was laid out into building lots in the year 

 1798, and for many years had a very rapid increase. Its present 

 population is more than 3,000. The country adjacent is rich and 

 well adapted to cultivation, being nearly all under culture. The 

 surface is undulating, affording the finest soil for wheat and sheep. 

 Messrs. Bezaleel Wells and Dickerson, introduced the merino sheep 

 at an early day, and established an extensive manufactory for wool- 

 en cloths. It is at present a considerable manufacturing town, hav- 



* The place where the Courts are held. 



