Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-14
NIGHT TRAVEL BY RAILROAD AND CANAL,

sORREsPoNDENcE OF THE PORTSMOUTH JOURNAL.
SpRIsGrIEnD, (MAss) MAJ, 1851.
In coming back the ground, (from Buffalo to
Albany though passed through the places, yet
approached every from opposite direction, the
views all varied till night dssolved the whole Of them
in liquid darkness, for it rainy when night II
must not be Inferred however, that nothing in
nights ride merely because the went down it
be inferred that it dull ride because dark Neither
of these nferences would be correct.
For about two hundred miles the railroad track is within
sight of the Erie canal about half the time in many places
they close together in others they half mile apart
The canal is alive with boats, and every boat carries light
good clear, strong light provided according to law.
train OF cars passes on curve round one side OF HILL and
the canal the other side for ten miles Of
lights now, for it is midnight But presently
dozen, and then and succession,
till we leave off counting The canal boats on night
and day, at about four miles hour little less and
the Midway trains about five times fast the lights
to stand STILL or, like those in houses, in opposite
directions.
Beside these boat lights which make the canal look like
long village, the railway stations the road brilliantly
I'd, vcuas and drink all ready, he latter thought rather
too ready and depotkeepers and baggage men" at their
posts every where And a this is needfu for three trains
pass over these roads every night except Sunday
The themselves not very brightly illuminated two
little lamps, something like nurseamp, give what ghthey
can to each Some night cars, made for sleeping,
with high backs and single seats stuffed all round like old
fashioned easy chair and big enough to hold New York
HOst Ol tHeIn not way,
and the passengers sleep they Some of them
dream perhaps golden dreams sken fancies fit through
the brain but these visions give with start when the
conductor taps the shoulder and the dreams all spot
when he calls aloud for tickets !" All get composed
again the children have left off crying the old
have tied their heads in handkerchief Of the bonnets
nod forward and backward passengers open their
mouths wider than usual and many finely But their
time is short. Utca-change cars here !" repeated by
conductors bakemen and passengers, wakes the whole
company who the track like the tenants of
ant-hnl.
tide of life flows through these trains All sorts of peo-
pie travel here all Of eands the grave and the gay
sit side by side-here married pair, there newly
bereaved widow One travels TO make money-anoher to
spend it. ..
Scattered at Albany, about daybreak, the
quainances of night broken off in the morning and
formed load boats for New York make
up trains for Boston, Yet man, unless he be too stiff
stupid travel need to be dull in the night unless
he carries his duness with him. night ride helps out that
variety which is the spice Of eand cheerful traveller al
ways finds company.
From Albany to Springfield but little of novelty OBJ
served, that the hills in Washington and Psed
covered with snow, within mile of our track The Hoosac
tunnel If made would get clear Of the by going under
it but seems destined to be bored out at present
Travellers 60 from Boston to Buffalo in twenty -four hours
and haf-he hundred miles from Boston Albany, for
five dollars and three hundred and twenty eight miles, from
Albany Buffalo, for six dollars and sixty The fare
the Albany and Buffalo roads is two cents mile extra
charge for way fares except to make change. Two
mile ought to be the mark for all deceny
roads None ought be higher e1cephey be in a starving
condition.