The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-06-15
SPECIAL Correspondence Of The Dsmoerot.
The Editorial Excursion.
PIrrsBuRa. May, 1860

Smith whose courtesy nevor wearled. we
had an opportunity OF visiting Philadelphia.
A persistent rain gave tho country through
which we passed dreary aspect still the
scenery along the Chesapeake Bay was
pleasant. and at Havre De Grace, beautiful
MIR. Seward occupied scat in the same car
with us. on his way to Auburn to, await the
result of tho Chicago Convention, hopeirl
and expectant that ho would bo selected as
tho standard bearer Of the now not TO be
despised Republican Party. Mr., Seward Is
plain man in his dress and appearance,
with nothing peculiarly striking about him,
sayo n serious thoughtfulness. to mark him
| from other mon. Indeed, do not think
that a stranger would ho likely to select
| him from q crowd us Tho leading statesman
of our country, position he certainly occu-
| pics. Ono of his personal peculiarities is u
loyo for tho Virginia weed, for his snuff box
is allowed but briet intervals for repose, and
his cigars, impatient of confinement in
solid form, follow each other upward in
quick succession, in dissolving views OF
smoke.
| The time allotted for our stay in Phila-
| dolpbia, only permitted us to SEQ Chestnut
Street and Independence Hall Chestnut
! Street, tho pride of tho denizcns of The
Quaker City, is vol, even elegantly built.
Marble. iron and glass arc put together IN
very attractive forms, and the rich ana
varied productions of the skill of tho manu-
facturers of oil parts of tho world displayed
to their utmost advantage. mako this street.
next to Broadway. tho finest havo ever
seen. It's great defect is its width; 1t is
too narrow. In this respect it is moro like a
lane, than the great thoroughfare of tho
second city in America
1t was "a matter of regret that our journey
to Harrisburg. over perhaps tho finest por.
ton of Pennsylvania. wns in the night. We
wero in Harrisburg until o'clock A. NJ.
but hard rain prevented us from seeing
ANYTHING. Through tho northern part OF
the State, tho Pennsylvania Rail Road
worms its way among the Alleghenies. cours-
ing along the banks of rivers, shooting over
bridges, winding itself about the sides OF
mountains, on narrow shelves cut out in
the rock, where from your seat, you see
nothing to rest upon. and soem sailing above
mighty chasms, far down in which IN need
less confusion lie masses of rocks. with
trees springing up nmong thom, whose d'll-
geDce in finding sufficient earth 10 when TO
, anchor thcir roots. is worthy of all praise.
, Anon q hugo tunnel like Jonah's whale,
/ opens its mouth, and swallows the train,
q and after retaining it long enough TO give
he experienced in his fshy tabernacle, il
nothing more, vomiis it forth into daylight
and rocks once more.
Pittsburg is in appearance disagreeablt
place. Dirt. smoke and filth seem to have
appropriated tho town to their especial use
. Ii is said tho people arc noted for thei
J. generosity, Cntcrprse and cord'ality.
j hope it is so. for it should have. some re
II decrniug qualities. Tho clnud of smok'
n that constantly overhangs and underhangs
II (if may use tho tern) the city, and which
" like nature, abhorring n vacuum, fills ever!
! place dust can GO, giving a hue of univcrsa
y blacknrss to everything upon which tho oy
&c rests, reminds me ofa remark made by Gov
e Chase, soine years ago, in speaking OF IT
e appearance Ho said that il Virgil hat
u lived in our time. no would have locate
= the mouth Of Avornus at Pittsburg. MS h
re could nowhere ol9e have found place tba
~ so much resombled the opening to tho pit
j" Before concluding these letters, ! dcsr
'e To saw something of tho baltimore and On
Rail Road. an Institution concerning who's
10 character know littIo previous to my Joni
IN noy over it, and yet so interesting In man
er of its features, that it should 90 more widel
RS known. 1t is ono OF the five groat rail roa
at trunks that lie across tho continent cor
. Meeting tho Atlantic with tho Mississippi
-, Valley, and it differs from tho other lin,
=" mainly in this it passes oyor rought
" country. It's proprietors had moro naturi
Id obstacles to encounter aud overcome.
At was the pioneer line of rai road in this couI
. try. and almost in tho world. 1t is one
%. tho BEST. it not The best road that wo hav
Nv and its displays of engineering skill cann'
u be surpassed That this may not appear
Nv, wv bo nero assertion, will 60 u little in
Ut details.
n Tho beginning of this enterprise dat'
W back as far as 1926 To counterac: the Q
ol feet of tho canals that wero being built
ire New York and Pennsylvania, and whit
wero seriously dverting the Western tra'
!, from Baltimore to tho moro Northern citit
~, a few enterprising gentlemen OF Baltmo
turned their attention, to the subject OF
nu vising some means to prevent the connie
Id cial ruin that would come upon thor Gil
# she wore cut off from n participation
the Western trade. As canal was out
the question, owing to tho nature OF
country lying between them and the On
ans somo other channel of communication mi
lie, bo obtained. Prominent among tho move
the in this maitor, wore Philip Il. Thomas. Es
the a rich Quaker merchant. and George Brow
49,. n PARTNER in tho firm Of Alexander Bro
n g. Sons, ut present Browu Brothers g.
nv A meeting wns held. and n report adopt
me recommending "the building of railv
i'm to connect tho waters of the Ohio and th
ard of tho Chesapeake"
ere Tho road was commenced on the All
,ck: July, 1928. The first stone was laid by
mi venerable Charles Carroll of CarrolltOn, Il
over 90 pears OF age. At tho conclusion
tho ceremony. addressing himself to
VI friends he said IL consider this among
olfy' most important acts of my life, second o
ing. to my signing tho Declaration OF lndep
but denco, if even it ho second to that.
ory, The enterprise progressed slowly, enco
,ecn tering many difficulties, but most OF all
,.en porouce, until May 22d, 1880, when tho I
h., section of tho road from Baltimore to /
-. colts Mills, q distance of twelve miles,
n'o" put in operation. 1t was the first railr
more in tho country put into practical operal
give for tho carriage of passengers Pers
she came from distant parts Of tho country
osed no other purpose than to ride over the r'
day Among these was Baron hrucener, on
Il If from the Emperor of Russia, and his 81
r, who mad0 an excursion on tho sailing
r:' managing the sail himself. On his rot
Ivy homo, ho narrated to tho Emperor Mich
y IN the adventures OF his trip, and spoke of
esti' practicability of railway conveyance wit
IS an much assurance as to mako so favorable
impression on the Emperor, as to cause
to embark 10 tho construction OF railv