The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-10
Our Philade,phi. Correspondence.

PHILADELPHIA, August s, 1854.
2Ae 1sscW Of Bethiehen-Ks Present Condition aud
Future Prospects.
= boxing over the HERALD to-day, l saw letter
Yupsrtng to be written to the Albany Journal by
. person that had been in Bethlehem. know that
The correspondent has written incorrectly, and do
Hoe believe be ever saw Bethlehem. cannot let
- opportunity pass without contradicting great
part Of what that correspondent writes. You would
esniss crest favor BY publishing my letter.
Il IL hrst place, be says that ON going up the
va1ey Of the Lehigh river, from Easton, . sudden
Sasn 81 the road brings into view picturesque hol
lsv, cut OF which peer the roofs and steeples Of .
quaint little old te~n, thAt locks as IL it might have
seed there ~ The last century, and was good for
TO Or three more to come. Now, Bethlehem lies
% high hill, about half q mile from the L@high
yiser, and, think, does not look 30 old, as the
hsuses are nearly all new, and built Of fine brick;
Ae Streets instead of being in rows are laid out in
squares the same as Philadephis; the doors and shut
tess are all of modern etyle and the roofs are a. or
nary roofs should be; tie houses mostly shaded by
beautiful linden, maple and poplar trees, which
eWe the tewn most beautiful appearance; the
stxAs are quite pumerous-and every business man
las enterprise enough to have sign and 60 adver.
tire To = newspaper. / would also say that Bethle-
BEN can boast OF none to Its ciedit) at least four
oyster shops and drinking saloons, and also Of six
large and conmodious hotels With sufficient room
- accommodate ut least eight hundred visisers; and
alss bow ling saloon. There are eight large stores
in the borough, the fronts Of which are all open,
and made in the latest sly Is Of architecture. They
do business, ell together, Of about one hundred
and thirty thousand dollars yearly. The trade
p9nci ally consists Of the farmers Tor twelve miles
around. who bring their produce in exchange for
The eop!e do not make their own CLOTH clothes, &C.,
- stated by the correspondent, but all have good
sense enough to buy such articles at the stores and
haye their clothes made by tailor.
from any other place In the United States. There
are no lots drawn for husband and wife, but the
yeung folks estertain themselves, and court, the
sase as 10 any other ploce There are no ministers to
Be consulted any thing like what is stated. There
y single brothers house occupied by unmarried
nen and boys That ia q custom done away with
6fty years ago. There are no places near Bethlehem
that bear scripturai names, except one-Nazaresa
= n situated ten miles north Of Bethlehem. The
correspondent seems TO be . poor geographer
saying that Ephrats Is near Bethlehem it is in
Lancost.r county, about seventy miles from B.
Il u not lately that the people from New York
heen known as beautiful summer resort, per-
haps when your correspondent was o sucking at
hs mothers breast would say in defence Of Beth
lebt m, that 1t Is fousishing town, incorporated
into borough. It has water works 1t the foot Of
ne hill, which supply the town with the best
sprng water, always cool and fresh. There have
been gas werks erected, which supply the town
With the beet quality Of gas, and it is used by nearly
NJ the inhabitants. There are extensive zinc works
use on TIE other side Of the river where from three
to -four fundred hands employed which are super
intended by Mr.. Samuel WcthsriI There is q dne
prospect OF having national foundry erected in the
Lehigh valley and that, together with the two rail
roaes, VIII make great Increase in business.
think What your correspondent ssys In regard to the
credit
Being once IN inhabitant Of Bethlehem. wou,d
say 10 the correspondent Of the Albany Journal.
would be good for him II he would journey 20 b..
ard examine the town, and see II IL corresponds
With the sats ment in his letter. Until he has done
70, he had better be quiet, ard not make place
what IL is not Some time or other will write a
true account of B.. and send " you, II acceptable.
Until then, remain, respectfully,
JAS. I. THOMAS.