The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-06-14

q HARRISBURG, Pa.
0 Our trip from Pittsburgh to Harris
0 burg occupied one day. We left Pitts
burg about z! o'clock, in the morning
, and reached the mouth IF the great tun
mel about noon. We passed severa
thrifty villages, ell route to the tunnel
The land is rolling and hilly, and W,
: should judge less fertile than the farm
ing lands in Ohio nevertheless it is made
, by dint of human toll, to yield good il
not bountiful crops The first train o.
cars passed through this gigantic tunnel
on the 27th of January last. 1t is said
to be some three fourths of mile OF
more in length. Previous to entering
this subtcrrancan passage, the conductor
lighted up lamp in each car, to cheer
Us in our midnight (rcally midday
passage through the mountain. From
the time Of entrance, soma four minutes
elapsed, and we were again permitted to
hail the light of the sun as it danced
sportively and joyously among the ever.
greens that grace the eastern slope of
the Allegbanies Here scene opened
to our view that battles description. Ma
turo in all her wildncss for miles around
is spread out to the gaze Towering
hills and deep gorges, on right and
left, meot the oye. Our course ran along
the sides Of hills. and below us lay deep
gorgcs dark with trees and rocks, which
opened wide their nav to engulph us, if
foul accident should tumble us into their
power. We glided slowly and safely a
round hills and across ravinas, over a
scrpcntino course, and foastcd our vision
to an extent which VIC never had done
before, on the bold and excessive wild.
ness which here presented to the tourist.
y novel feature in canal boating hero
presented itself. We noticed several
canal boats of the usual capacity (6O to
20 tons) moving slowly along on wheels.
Boating by land, We exclaimed, what
docs this mean p 1t was explained thus.
In order to pass the mountains without
transhipment Of goods, the boats are
built in sections, and are termed section
boats These are separated from their
fastenings, and taken on to cars in separ-
ate sections, and propelled by steam up
the grades to that point in the ascent.
where they take the aid of stationary
| engine on the summit Of the mountains
and make their toilsome way to the top,
and then b. the same means make their
doscent down to to the canal on the 9th.
cr side. "Hoc opus, bic labor est" Tho
State is now constructing railway and
tunnel, to do away with the stationary
engine system, which will bo great
point gained. We understand that these
public works, which cost the State S30,.
100000, have recently been sold for
slo,OOO,OOO.
We have never passed down the west
ern slope of the mountains, but were
told by gentleman who has, that the
natural momentum of the train, with
steam of, and brakes all on, drives ita
distance of II miles in eleven minutes.
AS We descended the mountains, we
noticed now and then small patch Of
land under cultivation, with log house
and barn, dcnotins that the most sterile
portions of the State invite and obtain
settlers. We thought that the difficulty
Of being hunted out by tax gathers
might possibly tempt them to these re-
gions and exempt them from the charge.
For surely this cannot bo trifing in
State that owes public debt Of over
Sl0,000,00o. At about o'clock we halt
ed for dinner at the new town of Altoona,
at the base of the Alleghanies. Here
the company have located their machine
shops, which will give the place promin.
ence and thrift.
\ ride of some six hours brought us
to Harrisburg, the capital of Pcnnsyl-
vania, which is $50 miles east of Pitts
burg, and l70 miles northwest of Phil
adelphia. 1t lies $40 feet above tide.
water, and may truely be pronounced
one of the handsomest cities in the
United States The city received its
name from John lIarris,s native Of
Yorkshire England, who settled here in
1925 1t is situated on the Susquehan-
ma, some 90 feet above the flow of the
river, which winds gracefully around the
western side Of tho city. Several beau
tiful islands here divide the river and
diversity and grace the scenery, The
island are overgrown With profusion of
stately trees, and rich wild foliage, which
arc reflected upon tho cloar,unruilled sur
face Of the noble river, Two splendid
bridges span its water, each of which is
over one mile in length, They are un-
surpassed for their strength and arohi-
tural proportions One of these is fer
horses and carriages, and the other for
the Cumberland Valley Rail Road.
The State House is a building Of i'm.