The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-08-05
Mauch Chunk and the Summit OF Mount
Pisgah.


Pisgah.
MAucH CHUNK, Pa, July 30, 1859
To the Editor Of the Republic:
Sir: This being dull, lowering morning,
thought could not do better than to give your
readers faint description of this place, and the
country around, so far as a sojourn of few days
will enable me- This town is the county seat of
Carbon county, and is situated on the Lehigh, at
the foot of two beautiful mountains (NIahonng
and Mount Pisgah;) population between four and
FIVE thousand The town is confined principally to
one street, of about mile in length; it contains
some very fine brick houses, from three to four
stories, and stores which will compare with many
of those of our cities; two newspapers, (Whig
and DemocratD four churches of different demon
nations, two passabe taverns, and one (the Anne
rcan) trst-class hotel of which, for the benefit of
ramblers after health or pleasure, | will attempt
an outline. This hotel is of brick, five stories,
with front of ninety feet it contains forty eight
lodging rooms of good size, two fine parlors forty
by nineteen, Qadies' and gentlemen S, dining
loon twenty by fifty five, together with kitchen,
stabling, and other appendages of frst-class
house; all arranged and furnished in the most
comfortable manner; and here, supplied with the
luxuries of the mountain and valley, under the
care of the worthy host and his accomplished
family and attentive servants, the invalid seeking
health, those fond of novelty and splendid
cry, may enjoy week, month, or season, at a
trHng cost, and with advantages decidedly supe-
rior (both to body and mind) to any place have
visited. At this place the coal of the Lehigh is
received by boats for transmission to Philadelphia
the machinery employed for this purpose, and the
novelty of the various operations alone, will well
repay the time and expense of visit to this de-
Hghtful region.
The principal coal mines of this part of the Lc-
high on Mount Psgah, at village called the
Summit, eight nine miles from this place.
With your permission, we will now take ride,
for the purpose of ascertaining the mode of ascend
ing the Mount, viewing the scenery from its top,
and examining the mining operations at the Sum
nit.
For this purpose we take an omnibus at the
American, or ifyou feel disposed you may walk
to the railroad that ascends the Mount, (about
three-fourths of mle;) here you are seated in a
car without horse or steam, and in few moments
you are ascending plane of two thousand four
hundred feet with rise ofone foot in three. Hav-
dred feet above the level of the village, the most
brilliant scenery opens to view; the Blue Ridge
the mountains of New Jersey, thirty or forty
miles distant-the surrounding valleys, dotted
every two or three miles with thriving villages
are truly beautiful. Having taken bird's-eyc
view, we leave this station and proceed on, with
out other motive power than gravity, for about
six miles, when we arrive at a second plane of one
thousand eight hundred feet, with rise of one in
FIVE; this we ascend the first, c., cable laid
wre-rope of about two inches is attached to tho
car, and it is raised by means of two stationary
engines, of about one hundred-horsc power each
and the preventvcs employed in these ascensions,
in case of breakage, render accidents to life or
limb next to impossible. We are now at the top
of the Mount, and proceed to the Summit by gra-
witty alone.
The Summit contains about three thousand po-
pulation, principally engaged in mining opera
rations At this place there are six or eight drifts
made in the side of the mountain for the purpose
of quarrying and bringing the coal to lights and
the circumference of these drifts, now worked,
is about FIVE miles. There is a road from one
drift to another around these FIVE miles. We enter
a small car, and, by the aid of gentemanly con-
ductor, we visit the various outside operations in
a very brief space of time. Should you desire to
visit the interior of the mines, the gentlemanly
contractors, &c., are always ready to escort and
give every information required.
We will now return to our starting point; Jump
into car on the downward track, which avoids
the inclined planes, and without motive power
other than gravity, in fifteen or twenty minutes
are safely landed at Mauch Chunk. The down
ward train is used entirely for downward pur-
poses-no cars return by it; and the reverse by
the other.
Mr.. Jefferson said that view Of the scenery
at Harper's Ferry would repay voyage across
the Atlantic, and l entirely coincide with him;
but if that be fact, sight of this place. with the
scenery and industrious operations of the surround
ing country, would repay voyage round the
world; and since my arrival here have been sur
prised that the beneficial influences of this coun-
try in regard to health are so little known by the
travelling public, especially as there is but six
miles staging between here and Philadelphia, and
the whole distance travelled in few hours for
SO so.
Knowing that editors are opposed to lengthy
communications, | have endeavored to be brief,
and therefore have gwen but brief outline of
what might be said in favor of this place for health
and recreation.
Yours, &C.
GEORGETOWN IrEMs--From the Georgetown