Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-03-15

B
the tunnel. became less visible. until it entirely
This tunnel is dug through
rock at high point on the mountain, and is
three-fourths-of ulle in length. The cost Of
ITS construction, was $500, 900! and it took
,Fee Years to complete it. Emerging from
I tunnel, a very beautiful scene met the view.
Par down, at least 1000 feet, valley Stretched
of in the distance, while the Alleghanies lifted
their whitened brows in proud defiance of the
little hills below. On we sned, winding SER
pen,inely around the brow of the mountains,
and apparently just on the edge OF the awful
chasn, that yawned to receive US. For miles
and miles the train sped along on this precari-
Gus track, liable, at any moment, to pitch head.
long over into the abyss, when it was announ-
ced that we were on the decline grade, and
away went the cars al truly fearful rate. l
ascertaineG from an engineer on the roar, that
the grade is SO feet to the mile, and from this
the reader can form some idea OF the danger
that stared us in the face, as we gradually left
the mountains, and found ourselves once more
on terra firna.
AT one o'clock the cars stopped at Altoona,
in order to allow the passengers time to dine.
This is the place where all the locomotives and
appurtenances of the road are manufactured,
and it presents more the appearance OF
Western town. than any have yet seen. The
hotel is very large and very excellent one,
and most cheerluy recommend it to those
who may have occasion to take this route. AT
, o'clock in the morning, we reached Phiadel-
phia. and found SOME difficulty in procuring
lodging, as all the hotels were full, in conse-
quence of the Know Nothing Convention
Let me remark, that the Pennsylvania road, to
which have alluded, is, Notwithstanding its
seeming danger, one of the best constructed
and safest roads in the country. 1t cost $lS,-
600 ,OO0-has been in running order about six
years. and pays the company 10 per cent. 1t
exhibits in strong relief. the wealth, persever-
ance, and indonitahle energy Of the Pcnnsyl-
vanians. Weared with travelling, night and
day, close my letter, with my kind regards to
>Sfhe Vowed ones at home" t. w
p. ST. should have stated in my former
letter, that took the liberty to use the name
Of our esteemed fellow citizen, Gov. Ramsey,
as one Of the National Republican Executive
Committee. from Minnesota. On said Com
mi,tce is Banks, John M. Niles, Blair and
others, well known in political life. n
ssg- The steamer Belle, running on the
Sacrameto River, exploded on the 9th of Feb,
about eleven miles above Marysvillc, killing
about 80 persons.
BRIDGE At ST. LOUISA plan for the bridge
over the Mississippi. at St. Louis, has been SUBJ
mitsed hy ID. q Smith of Madison Ind, an en-
sineer Of considerable reputation. 1t is favoia-
bly, spoken of by several of the st. Louis papers.
The estimated expense is one million Of dollars.
\ measurement of the river has been lately |
made at that point, and it is found to be one
thousand and nine hundred feet wide. From |
soundings made at the same time, by holes cut |
through the ice, it ascertaincd that the great
est depth was sixty feet, the average depth being
much less.
1t is propoScl to raise the brilse on, hundred
and twenty feet above water, as to b. entire |
ly above the reach of boats.
Cy@We learn that Messrs. Cuburn & Burden,
shaw, of Ontonagon, Lake Superior, have pur-
chased an interest in the OntOnagon, new pro
pellcr, now building for the Lake Superior trade,
by Mcssrs. Bidwell & Bata, of Buffalo. She is
to be very fine craft, and is intended for the
Lake Superior trade.
CO \ patent has been obtained at Washing
ton for process by which thirty wild plants of
the United states may be converted into Flax
Fibre.
CO. The Insurance Companies of New York,
have declined to make further risks on tho miss
iny steamer Pacific.
CT The Indiana Central Railroad Company
have just published its fifth annual report. The
gross earnings Of the road last year amounted to
$3.50, l60, being an increase of s2S, go over
those of 1851.
CO One dollar bills on the Bank of GRANVILLE,
Illinois, floating about transformed to ivcs
by the pastins process.
Cy- McCrca, the Free State man who shot
Clark, the Mssouran, in self. defence, in Kansas,
is in Boston.
e. The tea plant is said to be very success
fully cultivated in Brazil, aud will soon become
an important article in South American commerce.
In the province of San Paulo, the best quality
now commands abont forty cents per pound
Wholesale, and the poorer quality about twenty
cents.
BEAUTIFUL ExTRACT.-The following waf, |
aIloat on the sea of reading clip from an
exchange. We do not know its paternity, but
it contains some wholesome truths, beaut fully
set forth:
Men seldom think of the great event Of death
until the shadow falls across their own path,
hiding forever from their eyes the tracks |
of the loved ones whose living smile was the sun
light of their existence. Death is the great an
tagonist of life, and the cold thought of the tomb
is the skeleton Of all fcasts. We do not want to
go through the dark valley athOu IN its nasal !