New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-06-28

;,rtbe haze Of the FrancOuian Range EncDura xed
~ tbe know ledge that was near the end of my
tourney hurried forward, and just darkness began
10 hide the way arrived a. the Hotel If the su.ne.
AT the abOye.noted house | found excellent &C
comm0taons, although It Mt quite ready for the
reception of visitors. IL seemed straugc to wander
through the long hall aud Corridors AMI shlnk what
change few weeks would make in their deserted
aspect. i retired early to rest, but e'ulf not, Tor
some time, resign mysei 10 slumber. wa iYr tno
fret time, among scenes had loDged to behol from
boyhOoc; and though had not yet reVeied 10 .her
ioyeliness, the fabcies Of how they won1 appear u
me, kept filing my mind, wooing the senses from
oblivion.
The next day v.iedthe objects Of interest congu-
ous to the Flume and Profile Houses the fnme BASIN,
etc. reserving for the day ioowog one OF the great
objects Of my visit 10 Franc0ni1 VIZ; the accent OF
Msutt LAFAYETTE As most Of my readers will proba-
Div feel the nost nteres, 10 description OF the latter
undertaking j will omit any account OF the former
pilprimoge albeit they were two wonders ut nature
worthy Of the word-pauting Of the Ingh'est pen,
those who have had the privilege Of g.zing on them
will freely say. O. yes, awful chasn Of che Flnmc
Waters deep and green Of the everbOlling, foamng
oauldron by the way side Stern, inhex be-iestured
Old Man of the Mountain | Will treasure ye among
the beautiful pictures of memory eyernOre
The next morning, not notwithstanding there were
some Indications OF storm, | made prepara-
lions for an ascent Of Mount Lafayette. j did
rot take a guide, there being good bridie-road
TO the summit, and l wi-hed to ENJOY the ascent
the first Of the season alone. Leaving the Profile
House you follow the carriageroad through the Nsch
back toward the Plume, until you arrive at the
Halfway House, when The brids-path starts whose
devious course leads 10 the summ- Ioe night OF
Mount Lafay cite is set down in the guide-ooOks at
5000 feet. Allowing the Notch 20 be 1000 feet above
the level Of the sea, the altitude OF Mount lafayette
above the Notch, would be tite over 3WpD ieet'
The distance from the road TO the top about three
miles.
The 4 mile the road Is moderately ascending, pas
sing through uxuran forest oithe trees OF me couu-
try Conspicuous among which are the maple, beech,
birch etc The second nile the way becO mes more
steep AID ar juOus and The trees gradually grow small
er ard smaller until they finally form an lmpeuetra'
BILE hedge OF spruce and FIR not exceeding eight or ten
feet in hight aud closely interviewer together that
IL woud be as impossible 10 walk under them as over
them and a road IL formed by removing them bodily.
As YOU ascend, the eye is greeted with numerous
views from elevations where the trees have been
cleared away to afford sight Of the plains below.
About 600 feet from the summit il smsll plan, IN
the center Of which is miniature lake whose waters
are of crystal transparency. Jus beyond the lake, IN
a small gorge / obtained the first handful o. snow,
though had seen il long before gttcrug IN The deep
rayites OF the higher ranges After leayiGg the ake
in the residue Of the tOlsUne ascent fniiy redlZed
how difficult even IN Jane, could be Journey up MI
Lafay cite. The wind OF the plains had Increased
almost To gale in the higher ranges, aud rayed along
the barren hillside was climbing as March WIND
raves in Southern cline. Once ortwIce fateref
i'm my resolution as an unusual gust would sweep
against me- fairly forcing me pace or two Dackward
but the dislike to return unsuccessful III purpose after
so much had been accomplished, kept me going for
ward Wilder and wilder barren and more barren
grew the tcenery az ascended. Even the dwarf hrs
had disappeared ard TO euyen the dreanoess around
were only few scattering alpine plants ana hchenS
shrinking from the wind III the ceits OF rocks or shell
tered hoiows. OF life Ground me III bro or creeping
thing there was none. Below me were the sterile
ridges had surmounted, above me, close al and inc
more sterile peak. Up, up toward that hlnty peak
struggled and soon amid wind and clouds, STOOD on
Mt Lafay cite. Wrapping my overcoat close around
me- and shelteTiDg myself from the force Oi the wind
behind rock, cast my eyes around-be'ow.
The view, although much limited by the sun being
al times obscured, glorious beyond all my
former conceptions. The towering sunml's OF MI.
Washington and adjacent peaks we're plain IN sight,
their gorges filed with lingering snow the many akes
ofthe southern part of the state were plainly mapped
out before me, ard far and wide, as without hmt,
could rove the eye the hills and valleys OF Eastern
Vermont.
conld scarcely realize that | of earth. ON that
exalted pinnacle seemed almost in the presence OF
the Deity What TO me was the earth lying 50 lar
below that il made the brain reel TO look down on
from my oiddy elevation What to me the concerns
of puny man in that hour when heart, eye, all was
absorbed in the idea of the immensely OF Creation
| remained on the summit about al hour, "heh
commenced the descent The storm which h al been
Threatening for some time commenced "hen l Was
sbont halfway down, and before l had finished the
descent the bald summit oi Nj. Lafayette was once
800 ubtened over with snow. In the valley 1t soon
CHANGED 10 rain and continued sormng the balance ot
the dav Ii was about three o'clock when arrived
at the Profile House had been absent over SIX noi
The next day being uniavorabe for explorations,
remained pretty much within doors, aud Tor the new
guests "a, the Profile House the hours wore YEARLY
away. r,,.. ,., o,.hea
bv old ouy sky the mor1irg succeeding, when lett
the Profile House for walk To Inc "oIi l-iehyNnteu
NIonnt Washington. \ chill air blew through the
No.ch now lifting the heavy msts resting on the MIL
sides and giving mOmentaTy view OF the uau sun
;,s lar above now oriying them IN stu deh'er MISSES
AGAINST their bases and hiding the upper ranges con-
Ietclv from sight The day was not one wouiu nave
selectcd but could not wait, aud trustnS tna' t1e
,re1i of the mountains would be prophlous 10 hunoV
Xotarv | walked brsky along the wooIeu-Way Nau-
NO on, of the great Francoiia Notch. Alter uaNehT
,,so nv three miles emerged into an open country,
moderately level, and dotted over Win pleasant haot
a,ions Six miles from FIancOnia NOtch Is trahconia
Village place of some Importance on account VI 'e
EranCouia Iron Works which are located near W.
There is not much doing there az present, Du. tue
Comnapv are making arrangements Tor increasing Tue"
b,s;ress Inv building new works, &c. The MINES rom
,.bence the ore is obtained over two miles 'rohl
the furnace. After leaving trancoha ue Iodu "a'
nsrtly through a forest ana partly thongh sihuy
thnly settled county, nn,il you aiiNy a. Ino ,er
ford House distant from Frauconia Notch some TWEEN
tv.fve miles The farmers along the ROAD were chieHy
engaged i'm repanting their corn there having oeeh
heayy lrosts for several nights previous ON laquuy
learned that they did not expect 1t to make anything
bnt fodder The buildings were poor, the lana ap,
rartI, tbin and reproductive, aud could
tcsd;lv believe their ASSERTIONS that they iouhi
- dnicuu TO make living. The large no
tcIs are a great benef, 10 them in the Sdmmer
season making good market iVI tiIcu VI
Of the Crawford House, overlook tcsnisiel loaucg
with materials for the building, who kndylnVted
me in ride the residue Of the distance win nun.
Tbe new Crawford House, rising like pheniN IRON
the Ashe. of the old, # Tor no'hng o"t tue i"piy w.
,xbiCh lis colossal proportions are being hurried To-
re,ber deserves a pAsslug notice. II i very Ia'ac'
The frames are all up, and some ldea "I - ''
size NAV he inferred nom the following ngaces; lne