146 
sold, upon which they immediately commenced building. It 
is astonishing how this place has since increased, and still con¬ 
tinues to improve—the streets are wide, and cross each other 
at right angles. The principal street running parallel with the 
Sciota, is about one hundred feet wide, having side-walks, and a 
considerable number of brick houses—the adjoining streets are not 
yet much occupied. In building the principal streets, one of the 
Indian mounds has been opened, and nearly destroyed. A great 
number of human bones were found, remains of urns, and an 
owl carved in stone, but very clumsy; with the clay of which 
the mound was made, bricks were burned which served for the 
construction of the state-house; this building contains the offices 
of the state, and the United States court. These three build¬ 
ings stand near each other at one end of the principal street, 
each of them- having two stories—the state-house as well as the 
court, are situated at the sides of these long offices, which 
gives them the appearance of barracks; they have steeples and 
galleries, from which the course of the Sciota, receiving a 
mile above the town the Whetstone river, can be followed with 
the eye to a great distance over the fertile plain on the right 
shore of the Sciota, where Franklinton is situated, and is a very 
handsome sight. The Sciota originates in the state of Ohio, runs 
one hundred and eighty-two miles, and flows in the Ohio between 
Portsmouth and Alexandria, its mouth is one hundred and fifty 
yards wide; it is navigable one hundred and thirty miles and up¬ 
wards. The Whetstone, which it receives above Columbus, is at 
certain times navigable for nine miles. About five miles above Co¬ 
lumbus, on the left shore of the Sciota, is a quarry of white sand¬ 
stone, which resembles marble until polished, after which it 
turns grey. Columbus contains three printing-offices, each of 
which issues a newspaper. There are also bookstores, one of them 
belongs to Mr. Kilbourn, author of the Ohio Gazetteer; this book 
having been of great use to me, during my journey through this 
state, I wished to see the author of so useful a work, an attention 
with which he appeared much pleased. Respecting the three 
newspapers, I found their number great for so small a place, 
but I heard that only one, which is in some measure the official 
paper of the state, was much read, and had many subscribers; 
the other two having but fifty, and could only maintain them¬ 
selves by advertisements, &c. I met in Columbus with a Mr. 
Doherty, whose acquaintance I had made in Cincinnati, and who 
conducted me to see the town. There is nothing remarkable in 
the public buildings above mentioned; the state penitentiary 
interested me much more; it is well situated, appears to be well 
arranged, and contains one hundred and fifty-two convicts; the 
principal building is on a rising ground; in the rear are several 
