Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1860-10-27
From the N American and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
GRAND RAILROAD EXCURSION.
OPENING OF NEW ROUTE TO sUNDURy
BANQUETS AT SUNBURY.
Participation of 400 PAiladelphians.

On Thursday the formal opening took place
which celebrated the direct connection Of
Sunbury with Phadelpbia, by means of the
Reading, the line Hill and the Shanoklu
Vslley railroads. A short time since the
link joining the two latter roads was finished
and by this means the party which left Phila-
delphia we're enabled, without single change
OF cars, to pass over the whole distance Of
about hundred aud forty miles. The cere.
monies which inaugurated this event will be
long remembered by those who participated
in them, for not only did the delightful wealth.
er which attended Us during the greater part
of the trip, and the excellent arrangements Of
those having charge, tend to render the ex.
curson pleasant, but the route passed over
also carried the party through one of the
most interesting regions Of the State, and ex.
hibited to them some Of the vast internal
resources Of Pennsylvania and her great
capabilities for mineral development.
Leaving the river above Schuylkill Haven,
we soon arrived at Cressona, where most
hearty and acceptable welcome was given US
to the Nine Hill road. The train stopped /;
a hospita5le summons TO lunch followed, and
strange as it may appear, not II single man of
tho party refused the offer. We left Cresso.
na, at about two o'clock, and after short
regions. On every side, as the train hurried
along, the results Of railroad enterprise we're
manifest, and the evidences Of that mineral
wealth which will eventually give to Penn
sylvaua position and importance which no
other State can possess. All along the line
of the road aourishing towns have grown up.
lateral roads have been built, the extensive
collieres afford employment for thousands Of
men, and in place OF the feeble trade OF old
times there was, during the last year, an
amount of coal exported amounting to almost
two millions Of tons. The great advantages
procured to our State by the Mine Hill road,
exhibit forcibly the necessity of similar en-.
terprise in places MS yet undeyeloped, and we
have DO doubt that the opportunity afforded
to our citizens OF personally observing these
improvements will give additional vlgor 10
their endeavors in other directions. The
most striking natural feature and greatest tri.
umph Of the engineering art which We wit
messed during the trip was at that poin,
where the road crosses the Broad Mountain
Winding around the face OF this natural bar
rier, which for so long time proved an in
surmountable obstacle 10 progress, the roaC
ascends rapidly and easily to the summit, auG
| from there o prospect ia presented which
more than equals 10 its grand beauty tht
magnificent view from the Allegheny summit
90 the Pennsylvania Central In the dis
tance, far to the left, pottsvile can be dis
covered, almost hidden by the hills in which
it is embosomed, while at our feet is spreat
q valley active with all the signs OF lie AM
industry; and as We stand al this position
and look back upon the coming wndings @
our course through the mountain passes, AM
its nnal bold ascent, We realize the wonder
ful achievements OF the human intellect owe
material difficulties
We descended by two inclined plsnes-th
one 4593 long, with Iise of 3l3 feet. tn
other 4709 feet by 409-and shortly afte
reached the Pottsvllle and Shamokin Vale
road, over which We were conveyed TO Sunbu
~. No trouble or Danger was experience
at this portion Of the route, although, (
Increase the facilities for passenger travel,
regular grade has been surveyed and viii
probably, be constructed as soon as The ns
eesSites oil business demand it. At the diael
ent towns by which We went, the citizen
turned out TO welcome us and at one plac
nag, suspended over the .rain as it passed
bore the appropriate motto. "Another link i
the great chain OF railway, may II never be bro
KEN Many gentlemen interested in th
, excursion Joined US before reaching Sunburl
so that when We arrived there, early iu th
evening. our number amounted to betwee
three hundred aud four hundred. Greete
with the firing OF cannon, and escorted to th
hotel bya delegation of citizens aud fiu
band OF music. We managed, after some tigt
squeezing to adjust ourselves 10 the halls