Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-05-07
Correspondence.
Penna. Hall, /
Potisville, Mau 3, 1853. {
My DEAR AMERIcaN:-

My DEAR AMERICAN
Coal regions are becoming more mpor-
tan, than gold dipein's, and Intercourse be-
tween your beautiful town and our bus,lng
borough is fast increasing We will soon be !
joined in the bonds ef trading malrimony by |
the undisoluble chain Of iron rails-a consuma-
alton devouly wished for by every one who
has the misfortune TO be frequently jolted
over the intervening mountains in the present
clumsy stage coaches. A large part Of the
population of this town is made up by lami
lies from the Susquehanno, aud Que recogni-
yea many familiar faces on the street.
Squa'ed down in a narrow valley, cribbed
in by mountains, the town seem. as il de-
signed TO be shut up from the rest of the
world, but nature seems to have created
barriers only 10 inciie mans energy, industry
and perseverance,. Here every natural i'm
pedlment has vanished under the magic wand
OF American ingenuity, and populous and
busy town, having hourly communication
with the great cities Of the sea-board has
sprung up where forty years ago there seem
cd scarcely room 10 locate the Centre Turn
pike.
One has not here that expanse OF view
which greeis the eye along the Sns1uehanna.
Crowded as we are by hills and coal heaps,
II seems 10 one who is accustomed 10 the
broad and expansive country, like being
shut up in a narrow box With this feeling
strong upon us OH suliry afternoon of las,
week, we joined party Of cxcursionisis in
visit TO the Niagara Of 'Schuylkill County,
Swatara Falls. The road thiiher lies in
par, OF the coal region which has only re-
Gently been opened. Wild and romantic
scenery presents itself on every side AT
one time, as you ride over the top Of hill,
only thickly wooded mountains can be seen
In another momen, you plunge into deep
valley, where the mountains enclose you on
every side, while rough gray rocks hang on
the. sides as il ready 10 topple and fall al an
infant, touch Now you wind your narrow
way along the shaded banks Of a rapid
creek, the rush of whose waters over their
craggy bed browns the rattle Of your carriage
and fills the air with its mighty voice. All
seems like the midst of vast wilderness as
yet undeflcd BY the finger o civilization
You are overcome by the sublim,y of the
solitude. when suddenly, with an unear,hly
shrek and deafening roar, locomotive and
long train of freigh,ed coal cars rush by you,
bearing their black burdens from your un-
peoped wilderness 10 the emporium Of The
State. Again you ascend TO the hill top and
hoIo lony limo pF ,,hita
,nges and beyond .hem, a, :he slopes mouth,
puff. and groans the steam engine as il un
ear,hs and prepares for market the anthracite
coal. 4 ride Of some nine miles through
scenery varying thus at every turn, brings
you 10 the foot of the Broad Mountain, where
it becomes necessary 10 align, from yoLr
carriage, and climb over The rocks for about
half mile. Before we had accomplished
half Of our ruggeI ascent, heavy thunder
storm broke over US. Nesting together,
three ladies, with their escort, under our sole
umbrella, we enjoyed the benefit Of water
fall which we certainly did not anticipate.
A little soaking did not dampen our spirits
and climbing again over the wet rocks we
soon reached the Falls OF the Swatara.
The walters of the Swatara, which rises
on the broad mountain, here make the de.
seen, into the valley by fall OF considerable
height The stream has worn its way
through an immense mass of conglomeraie
rocks which rises high Oh each side. Its
bare gray concave walls are in beautiful con-
trasi with the dark waters as they rush with
headlong precipitation down the steep to-
wards the falls. AT first the water plunges
down at an angle of As deg. over bed
the sunlight like flood of freshly uncorked
champagne. Then with the speed of light,
it leaps from amid he foam in sheet, clear
and respendent as polished glass aud falls
perpendicularly into the boiling cauldron
below, where ''all OF hnes from The rich
sunset 10 The rising star" play and dance
among the dashing spray, and the ilidesceni
mist losses itself upward in myriad OF va
rying fantastic forms. Onward again il speeds
in the same manner as it approached the
falls, until it reaches the valley, where with
placid bosom and musical murmur il gently
flows towards the Schuylkill. There is Ill
tie Of granduer about the Falls; all is life,
beauty and wildness. 1t bears no rcsem-
bIance TO a cataract; or rather, while we
regard Niagara as the gigantic mouser ra-
gng in fiery and unresraiued passion, the
Swa'ara is The infan, in he sporlive play of
innocent childhood.
We fingered an hour under the overhane-
ing rocks, and reclining on The messy bank
added to our capacity for The enjoymen; OF
'hs beautiful by The slipping some of MAJ
Bevan's sparkling Catawaba.
ihave much more 10 say, but jam salts.
II.