Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-08-06
Correspondence of the Lexisburg Chronicle.l
UTICA, N. Y, July IA, 1851

sped out of the dock and soon wheeled in.
to line with her bow pointed to the north
Soon another floating palace was in our
wake but a short distance behind, and
kept that distance till we passed the High.
lands. A few moments brought US oppo.
site the Palisade, those mighty barriers Of
nature that frowned down upon US, as they
did long centuries ago, when nothing Of
life was on these waters, save the Indian
in his bark canoe. Many changes have
passed since then, when the red man was
monarch of the wilderness. Below us
now was a city, with its half million in
habitants, where then was then nought
save barren rocky island, on which per-
haps was the court of the Indian King.
Now, about all that is left of many of
those tribes is the Indian woman among
the passengers, selling the product Of her
skill and handiwork
After securing my state-room, and the
hustle incident to departure had subsided,
a better opportunity was offered to observe
the passengers and the arrangements Of
the boat.
The deck was crowded with emigrants
for the west. They were Germans, and q
healthier and more hardy looking class, 1
have never seen. What satisfaction they
must feel in breathing the air Of freedom.
Who can tell the influence they and their
descendants will in time exert in this glo-
rious land of religious andpolitical liberty.
When we were up the river about 3
miles, on hearing noise like distant thun-
der, l looked out of the eastern side and
beheld train of some II passenger cars
on the Hudson River Railroad, and not
withstanding We were on one Of the swift
est boats on the river, but moment suffi-
ced to bring them opposite to us, and but
a few moments more to take them out of
our sight. This road is built on the mar
gin of the river nearly all the way up to
Albany (that is to Hudson, far as it is
completely and being along side of one of
the finest navigable waters in the world,
where they often carry passengers $50
miles on the boats for % cents, was predic-
ted a total failure. Theya are now carrying
passengers to Albany for 81 80, and run
loaded trains The road has the advan.
tage of being level, their cars are superior
and run with great speed and for the
safety of passengers watchman is situa-
ted every mile, who is at his post when
ever the cars pass, and if all is right on
The road he holds up a white flag, and
otherwise a red one. This road has in
many places been very expensive one to
build; it has many deep cuts, and also
unuels in the solid rock. The average
'unning time was 40 miles an hour, and
Il spite of all predictions to the contrary,
will pay well. The night boats are charg
ng sl,O0 to Albany berths included
State room 81 extra.
At nine o'clock we passed West Point,
and III half an hour afterwards were oppo-
site Newburg. 1t is between this and New
\ ork that lies the most beautiful part of
the Hudson. Newburg lies beautifully on
he side of the hill, on the west shore Of
he river, just as the country opens out
above the Highland. 1t is beautiful
place, (though many Of the streets are too
steep) and is in the county Of Orange so
long famous for its fine butter. We
reached Albary at 4 o'clock A. NJ, and
wishing to remain here for sometime, l
repaired to the City Hotel instead Of taking
The cars for the west.
This city, Zone of the Oldest in the
Union) is laid out on the west bank of the
Hudson, six miles below sloop navigation
and the boundaries of tide water. The
Hudson is here about as wide as the Sus.
quehanna at Lewisburg, though much
deeper. The great Eric Canal ends here,
and the throng of canal boats and sloops
about the wharves and quays is immense.
Opposite this city at Green bush, begins
the Troy Railroad the Hudson River
Railroad and the Railroad to Boston via
Springfield. Albany was settled by the
Low Dutch or Hollanders, and several Of
the old Dutch houses, made Of brick bro't
from Holland yet remain and very many
Of the descendants of the earlier wealthy
families are living here in affluence. l
think there is more wealth here than in
any city in the Union, in proportion to its
population. The city rises from the river
and the back part of the city
should suppose some 300 to 400 feet above
the river. The land back and around the !
,ity is sandy,and except when highly culti-
rated barren. One mile below, on high
bank Of the river, is Mount Hope, the
princely residence of E. P. Prentice, and
IS well worth the strangers attention over