Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-05-18

Fdirmount-G Girard C0il,gs--i Stree
RairOods-PsansyIvusia o.nhal Railros'
-SseNery-AltOOno-Dp ths NO'ntain-
Fhs Tunnel PItsb,zgk
/ PTTTsBusH, May II, 1860.
AT Washington an invitation was received
BY the Western Editors ffom the President o
the Pennsylvania Central Road to take tha
route homeward. The Baltimore and 0hiC
Company had previously rendered the use o
the Baltimore Road to Philadelphia, and I
pleasant run Of a few hours, a considerable
portion through the best pOrtionsof the State
Of Delaware and along the delightful country
bordering Delaware Bay, brought toview the
spires and the towers OF the great City Of
Penn. Philadelphia retains the old Quaker
character for right angled streets, uniformity
Of taste In buildings, neatness and Primness.
Out Of Chestnut streets and few Others
that have been modernized by capital and
fashion into princely thoroughia-es for world
lings the rows upon rows Of red brick edif-
ees, with white marble steps, close white
blinds on first and often on second story
windows, present a much sameness Of style
as the worshippers at a Quaker meeting
The Public Squares are all squares, and
thanks to the founders of Philadelphia, they
are more numerous than in any other Amer
ican city, and are kept in the best order. In
short Philadelphia wears an air of greater
comfort to all classes of men, women and
children, than is elsewhere seen on the con-
tinent and her nearly half million Of people
appear to dwell in competency and content.
The first point Of historic interest to
the stranger, is old Independence Hall, on
Chestnut street and Independence Square.
The Hall where the Declaration of Indepen-
dence was drawn up, signed, and proclaimed,
is preserved with revsrential regard, and is
open and free to all. The chairs in which
the immortal signers sat may be temporarily
occupied by visitors Of the present generation,
and the famous old Liberty Bell, now crack
ed and voiceless, is honored with conspicu-
Gus position in the Hall made sacred by the
portraits and mementOes of the Fathers Of
American Freedom. The humble grave of
Franklin is also another shrine the patriot
loves to visit, and the street where the Printer
Boy trudged along eating his penny loaf in
honest cententment is still pointed out to the
curious.
Fairmount the location Of the Philadelphia
Water Works, is an elevated locality on the
Schuylkill Of exquisite beauty. The surround
ings are tasteful and exceedingly attractive,
and from the Reservoir summit the panorama
of river, country, and city, has few or no
equals in extent or loveliness Girard Col
lege is also locality of much interest The
massive pile, costing a million Of dollars, the
gift Of Stephen Girard, is surrounded by
beautiful grounds, and on centopath in its
portal stands the marble ststue of the found
er. Philadelphia abounds in splendid public
buildings, hotels, business blocks and private
residences, and the evidences Of capital, en-
terprise, and solid prosperity, meet one in all
quarters.
Street Railroads are emphatically Phila-
delphia institution. The whole city is grid
ironed with them. They are to the city what
locomotive lines are TO the country-indis-
pensable when once constructed. Some IS
miles Of horse Railways are now in operation
in Philadelphia, and new lines are being laid
down. The ties are three feet apart, the
stringers or by inches all Of yellow
pine, and below the pavement, so that no
thing but the the broad rail with a low fange
on the outer edge, is visible; thus Offering no
obstruction to carriages, carts and drays, but
tne uack being OF rne usual width Of vehicles,
it is used by most. The cost of the horse
railways in most of the streets is about s., 900
per mile. In Market street 1900 Seve-
ral Of the great thoroughfares have two
tracks; other lines lead down one street and
back in the next. The regular fare is five
cents for any distance on the same line, in
some cases extending more than FIVE miles,
tickets seven cents, emitting
the holder to ride to any point on a connect
ing line. The cars are neat and roomy, the
conductors obiging, taking in and lettingout
passengers as they wish; and each span Of
hne horses trots of with car load of people |
without strain.
The Pennsylvania Central Railroad, 354
miles from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, is a
truly great work in all its appointments. Its
travel and trade are immense, and every part |
of the route is full of interest The landscape
views along the Susquehanna and the Juni-
alta are unequalled in this country, and are
pronounced by foreign travellers superior to !
the best of the old World. The approach of
Altoona, at the eastern base of the Allegheny
range, presents frequent specimens of engi-
neering and labor in overcoming obstacles, as
well as rugged wildness of mountain scene
~, that excite admiration and marvel From
Altoona, lovely and busy village, the noun
tain barriers are scaled, winding up and up
with steady pace, the roadway traversing
mountain sides, crossing deep gorges, through
rock-cut chasm, peak on peak towering all
around, until the great Summit Tunnel of
nearly mile is darted through, and the iron
steed stops to wood and water for his run
down the western slope of the eastern back
bone of the continent.
Pittsburgh, our smoky neighbor, hammers
away as usual, working and thriving, creating
wealth from the ores of her hills and the |
sweat of her industry. Would that the Forest
City exhibited equal sagacity and enterprise |
in seizing upon the advantages of location to |
build up a swarming hive Of wealth creators |
n