The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-05
A JOURNEY TO LAKE SUPERIOR.
THE NORTHERN REGIONS UNDER A SUMMER AS
PECr.--FAClIrTlES FOR TRAVELLING. .--AMERI-
CAN RIVERS, MOUNTAINS, VILLAGES, RAIL-
ROADS Sc
Lspeelal corresponaenoe q .hs U on. }

" PECG. FACULTIES, FOR IlANEl4lilNG--AMERl
CAN RIVERS, MOUNTAINS, VILLAGES, RAIL-
ROADS &C.
Especial Correspondence of the I'm onl
BAYFIELD,, Lake Superior, August 1858.
No country in the world has such facilities for travel
ling the United Sates and nowhere be with
in the time and space many interesting objects
and such variety OF natural scenerygrand, pictur
esque and beautifu-as in journey from Washington,
other cities the Atlantic slope of the mountains to
the head of Lake Superior.
Having resolved to get away from the almost tropical
weather of Washington in the early part of August to
eschew fashionable places of resort and TO launch forth
into the interior of the continent in search of wealth and
pleasure, concluded to join friends to make the
voyage Of the northern lakes.
In calculating the time, distance, and cost of such a
journey found that II choose to travel rapidly and
economically could go from Washington to the head
of Lake Superior and back agana distance of three
thousand three hundred miles equal to voyage to Eu
ropein twelve thirteen days. at cost of ninety dol
lars.
On the evening of the first day of journey
reached Cresson at the summit of the Allegheny
tains. We found this elevated spot which divides
the waters that flow to the Atlantic the east and those
that now to the Gulf of Mexico the west and south,
the air cool and cxhilaating Near the roadside,
rounded by the primitive forest, two large hotels,
kept by Mr. Campbell of the ST. Lawrence Hotel, Phila
dephia and we resolved place ourselves the night
under the of such excellent host The scenery
from Aatoona at the base OF the mountain ridge to the
summit distance Of about eleven miles, is strkingly
~
hundred feet to the mile The summit is two thousand
five hssnred feet above the level Of the The Penn
sylvana Central here is fine doubctrack road, it is,
in fact nearly all the way from Harrisburg to Pittsbug
With two locomotives attached to the train went up
the heavy grade turning sharp in of the
mountains at time, and sweeping round projecting
points the edge of fearful precipcc ut another with
scarcely vibration of the cars. 1t was little before
sunset when ascen,cd when night had already begun
its reign in the deep gorgcs beneath u.s. and the last
rays OF the lighted only the tops of the mountains.
The road is cut through the natural forest and for the
greater part of the distance from Aatoona to Creson Ma
ture appears Wild grand and silent If the foot Of
had penetrated there before the locomotive found
its path The of view and the variety of scenery
embracing pretty towns primitive forests large tracts OF
finely ycultivated land the smoke and steam of manufac-
tories winding rivers in the distance, and the swift
on of trains Of many miles away all spread beneath
MS like grand panorama as we approached the summit
is sight and never to be forgotten.
Cresson is place of summer resort mostly for Penn
sylvanians and has besides the pure cool mountain air
and water to ecommend other attractions in the neigh
borhood Understanding there interesting history
connected with the settlements and villages near,
manned the following day to drive round them. More
than half century ago Count Gazin Russian noble
and Franciscan monk, who was rich, benevolent,
and moved by religious ZEAL acquired extensive tract
ofcountry for the purpose OF establishing Catholic set
tcment colony by emigrans from Europe He lived
in these mountains than forty years, and the
lands he acquired covered with villages and wellculi
waited farms. In taking my drive had charming lady
companion VINO knew something OF the country, VINO ~
rather fast horses and who kindly relieved of the
rcns and whip oerenone for the purpose, suppose,
of ailorling opportunity to contemplate nature
around and We drove along good plank road
for several miles, cut through forest of majestic trees
which overlap their branches forming beautiful
and continuous arbor ascending all the time till we
reached the pretty village Of Loretto Here the count
monk established his headquarters and here he is buried
under monument of rather striking but rude appear
ance in the church yard and by the side Loetto
The church is plain prmitivelooking structure on an
cninence, with large cross. that beautiful symbol of
the founders faith, raised high architectural skill
could place it, pointing to Heaven to strike the sight of
its dcvotecs for many leagues around. There
several Catholic institutions in the village, and prom
incntly among them an establishment of Franciscan
monks of some thirty brothers. Gatzin Is or
will be, canonzed and raised to Heaven as Saint
Dcmetrus for his good works To this would say
amen, with all my heart and am the Holy Father
and Sacred College Rome could not show better taste
for who could look upon such pleasant villages and
smiling fields abundance of crops hundreds of acres of
bnckwheat in full bloom, beautifully white, II shower
of snowiakes had fallen and rested tho stems, herds
of cattle and sheep, and everywhere appearance of
plenty and happiness in the midst of these mountains,
where before Gatzins time, was dense forest, and
say that his good works ought not 10 be thus commeino
atcdi have seen few spots ON the earth more beaut
full
From Crcsson to pttsburg the railroad for the greater
part Of the way follows the Of the Conomaugh,
tributary Of the Ohio This stream much of it
saw is continual succession OF gentle rapids coursing
shallow rocky bed. The valley OF the Conemangh
Is and In places looks as II cleft had been
cut in the mountains by art for the water to flow through
The silence of this valley, the high mountains
which rise up stcepy each side, and the pleasant
sound Of the winding, ripping stream, make 1t delight
full ride
Pttsburg, the great manufacturing city of Western
Pennsylvania has little to attract the attention in pass
ing through except the rolling clouds of smoke from hun
drols of tall chmncys, the putting and sncrtng of steam
through us many pipes, and the ccuscless ttng OF ma
chnery showing the industrial activity OF the place
From Pittsbug to Cleveland Ohio, the railroad runs
for distance along the banks of the beautiful Ohio
or the French appropriately called IL, IA belle rrsre
This river and its surrounding scenery have been often
described by tourists and poets that viii not attempt to
add anything 90 their description.
Cleveland like many other cities lakes, in
terror seas, has grown up within short time to be
large, handsome and hourishing city The population