New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-05-16
THE OPENING or THE ERIE RAILROAD.
ENTHUSIASM UPON TaE ROUTE.
RECEPTION OF THE PRESIDENT AND CABINET.
SCENERY THE ROAD,
SEC. &c.
FIRST DAY.

Itvma fate Of happy susPice that the opening
Of the entire line OF the Road fell in the Spring
and in the month Of Nay. So beautiful was the
day and 20 inspiring the air aad the spirit Of the
ooc.,ion. that it was hard to believe that Nature
herself was not smiling upon the work With al
the Turing splendor Of the Spring that gsrnished
the woods and bills along the way. Ii ia truly
work to kindle every spark Of latent national
pride and TO Justify our calling ourselves great
people, with that energy which always exa'Per.
stes John Boil. His, if he will, be the laugh oars
shall be the grandeur OF the thought, and the glory
Of the triumph.
The morning was cloudy in the City, bat the
guests arrived il due time a. the dock Of the Ere
Company. President Fillmore came down to the
esneway 10 barouche with horses, accomPa'
MED by Mr.. Crittenden, Mr.. Hall and the Pre'i'
dent Of the Company. Mr.. Webster followed,
and for q short time before the departure OF the
steamer walked alone upon the dock, occasionally
recognizing few friends.
TIE steamer Erie was early decked with flags
and green boughs for the OCCASION and at o'clock
moved from the wharf with the national strains
pealing from the band and the salute of cannon
upon the dock There were some 400 guests up
on the steamer, including the President and the
four Secretaries, Com. Perry, the chief govern
ment officers of the port and many OF the State
digniiaries, among them Senator Fish, who pro-
ceeded only 10 suffens, Mr.. Alfred B. Street.
State Librarian and well known Poet, with many
members Of the press, the Chief Engineer Of the
Road. Mr. Massell, Chief OF Police and numerous
others.
The day frightened as the gun rose and az the
steamer swept up the river the first OF tue series
OF the noble pictures Of the route, wsE unveiled
to the spectator. The tender, spring green ofthe
trees anywhere they where msny-like banks oi
cold.green mist along the shore. The air was
very still with the thoughtful silence OF cloudy
mornings in summer for the clouds conquered
again. The silence was broken BY sono-oas So
lutte &. H,atDg, and at y the Eric rounded to the
dock at Piermont, which wss crowded with the
population, standing upon the what and on the
roofs Of the houses, and the party disembarked
amid tho mingled confusion Of bands and cannon
The Presidential party was most cordially re-
ceived and was repeatedly cheered az it passed
from the boat to the cars. During the brief delay
before departure, each Of the Cabinet in turn.
with the President, was compelled to hcknoTl
edge the complimentary call of bis name. At
length and with as much rapidity as possible, we
were all seated tho steam whistle Of the frat
train bound for Lake Z RE rang shrill and strong
across the river, and with few impatient yells
the locomotive drew Us slowly from the station.
There were six cars in the train, quite new-in
fact, used for the first time on this day, aud fin
shed and furnished in the most substantial and
FOR our cars-Gumptuous manner The sumPta'
ousness was in case and extent Of seat The
railw sy is Of the sixfees broad guage, like the
Great Western in England, which secures thii
convenience of accommodation. The Presiden-
tial car was the last in the train, and was tes-
tooned upon the inside with the National oolors.
Behind this was IN open platform car, from which
the landscape was entirely enjoyed, and on which
the President and Cabinet could stand to address
the people In the forward car kitchen was
erected under the guiding genius of the young
Downing. Along the top Of the train little flags
were displayed, and long pennsnt foated from
the platform car in the rear.
Aswe moved from Piermont, ell the engines OF
the station, some dozen in number, were ranged
upon the parallel track, adorned with flowers aud
flags, and the bell of each rang, and the sharp
steam. whistle yelled az our festsl train rolled b.
frat singly aud then together, Until il destsr'
ing rosr of bells and steam and cannon the train
ran along the Sparkiu Creek toward the western
hills. second train followed, aud 40 extra To-
conceive closed the swift procession, for service
in any unlocked for extremity.
The country had a rugged, healthy aspect
and tns homely apple trees in fall blossom seemed
the natural and necess.Ty product Of the lAud
Comfortable stone houses stoOa v'oAd IN Datch
ease among the fields, and the pure blossom Of
the dogwood lay among the family greened
bougbs, ss if June clouds had fallen and were
tangled in wild and wonderful wreaths OF white
ness all through the woods. At ClA-kstown, 10
miles from Piermont, We passed the old residence
of Thorn, the sculptor Of TGn o Shanter, and
bonored with resonant cheers the gray granite
statue Of Washington that ye. stands in the
grounds.
AT the little st&tion.houses along the read
groups were gstheres, and gunE were fred aud
the huzzSs and the waving Of hsndkerchiefs ss
we hurried on-our huge BehemOth Of an engine
yelling with delight as II civilization w0uld tn
umph over the woods Of the IodiGns with {
wilder thou. than hiG own war whoop, were the
only tokens Of the universal sympathy that rRu
more subtle than the genios q the wire over the
rail along the whole line.
We dsrted On by the junction Of the Paterson
Railroad into the gentle valley Of tie Rin.po,
and toward the grim shswanguuk that FRO Eaed
upon Us along the Western horizon.
AT Oxford where the train stopped afew mo
merts there was presentation Of banner. and
hrsyirg CT gunI and truuPels, IDc cheers, &c, 20
which the Presidential party bowed from tie
platform car, and toe next moment, still ia
Orange county, revere rushing toward iI cen
ire, toward the mighty metropolis Of Butter6on.
We atonped here for FIVE miuRtet. md Gorernnr