Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1848-11-16
4 Day on the Erie Railroad.

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was our good fortune to be among the latter, and
we have rarely passed day more pleasantly
Leaving the City at A. NJ in the boat for Pier.
mont, we had faint glimpse of the sunrise (unu.
sual sight to morning Editors y through the morn.
ing msts, and our appetites for breakfast were
keenly sharpened by the fresh damp breezes of the
Hudson. The palisades looked sternsr and more
rugged than usual, stripped Of their Autumn fol-
iage, but the advanced season had not changed
the varied and cultivated beauty Of the opposite
shore. At least, we looked on its familiar see
merry with much pleasure as ever. especially af-
ter breakfast.
Leaving Piermont at 8 O'Clock in a special train.
we threaded the Palisade ridges and entered the
picturesque hilly region Of Rockland. Co. The
ascending grade is very heavy, and the road is
built upon piles for distance across the ele-
vaed and marshy country which lies between the
Hudson and the Ramapo range. This was very
speedily passed, and the bold outline PC the range
rose before US, presenting seemingly impossible
barrier to farther advances in that direction. The
village of Ramapo, with its clusters of old, red,
one-story houses sprinkled along the river stands
in the very mouth of the narrow pass which winds
through these moulltains-the only place in their
whole extent where the construction ofa railroad
is practicable, and even here, the difficulties to be
overcome were very great. This was an impor-
tant spot during period of the Revolution. and
the remains of bastion, built by the British, are
still to be seen in the neighborhood Of the village
For about ten miles the road follows the wind
ings Of the Ramapo River, through some very fine
scenery. The stream is in some places hemmed
by the narrowness of the glen, and forms broken
cascades; in others, it is damned to feed saw
mills, and reflects the mountains inits clear depths.
The curves of the road are numerous, and the
grade heavy, but we sped on at the rate of 80
miles an hour and entered the rich, rolling pasture
lands of Orange Co. where the substantial farm
houses, broad fields spotted with clumps of trees,
and prosperity TO the landscapes which flew past
US. Large quantities of Orange Co. milk were in
in the pastures and at Turner'S, where
we stopped few minutes, we found pippins of an
unequaled plumpness and flavor. After passing
Goshen and Middletown. the road approached the
Mountains, which stretched away
to the northeast, where we had misty glimpse
of the distant Katzbergs. The appearance of this
range is truly sublime. Rising to the height of
{, 900 feet, their sides covered with the primitive
forests, in whose deep recesses the panther still
makes his lair, and the wolves howl through the
Winter nights, they impressed US quite as strong
ly as the Catskills themselves. The scenery took
an addional grandeur from the gloomy haze ofthe
day and the clouds which already began to gather
about the highest SUBMITS.
The road runs along the mountain side, spanning
deep and preciptous ravines by narrow arches
looking from which on the top Of the forest be-
meath him, and the valley basin Of the Minnlsink
spread out far below, the traveller involuntarily
shudders. In other places we passed through
spurs of the mountains, by deep cuts in the solid
rock. The clouds hung on the nights above US,
and for several miles the road was bounded by
he original forest-gnarled, mossy and old, as if
a human foot had never invaded its solitudes.-
This was to us new experience in railroad tray-
by steam through an unsettled will
1erness, and under the very skirts of mountain
cloud. When the great attractions of this road
are more generally known, the amount OF travel
during the Summer months must become very
great We know of persons familiar with the
finest scenery Of Europe, who went into ecstacies
about this part of the journey. =,
The descending grade, for the last ten miles be-
fore reaching Port Jervis is upward of As feet to
he mile, and the wide curve which the road makes
% reach that place, enables the traveller to look
back on the line he has passed We reached the
station, distance of IA miles from Piermont, in
wo hours and half. which, considering the ma
ure of the road, is remarkable speed The train,
however, was ran two miles, to the end of the
rack, after which the company were taken ia car
.iages the bridge now being erected over the Del
aware, about mile farther. This structure, which
will be completed in forty days, is 600 feet in
ength. The piers, which are very long, are con-
'tructed in such manner as to Withstand the
leavy freshets which are so common on the Della
ware, and the unusual lowness Of the water for
some time past, has greatly favored the masons in
heir labors.
The mlsts which had been gradually sinking
or an hour or two, now turned into drizzling
ain, and we returned to Port Jervis where an ex
;ellent dinner had been provided by Mr.. Foster,
ne landlord OF the new and commodious hotel
which has been erecled there. The Railroad sta
lon's large and well-ananged, and the town ITSELF
situated on a terrace nj tho Co,, oe a..