Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-06-10
For the Journal
CAM ELS HUMP.


picked boquet OF flowers on the highest
point Of the mountain, and beheld the unr-
vailed scene before him, he Immediately pro-
posed to his Vermont friends, to get deed
of the premises, expend a few thousand dol
lars in building hotels, roads, walks, &c,
and then, to open his grounds as summer
resort. And he was confident that 1t would
be paying institution of no small percent
age. OfcJurso bis cautious friends, regard
ed him and bis mountain specuations, as
visionary almost to madness and there the
matter ended as to them Yet, the novelty
of the idea caused the subject to be agitated,
until summer resort among the Green
Mountains came to be regarded as an earthly
possibility.
1t will be remembered that many years ago,
a tour to the summit of this mountain was
considered an undertaking Of no small ac-
count. Indeed, it was an adventure to be no.
ted 90 Srsre exhibition Of physical hardwood
and personal courage to pass the frontier cf
civilization, brave the painless forests, the
home of bears, wolves and other wild beasts,
aud scale the rugged cliffs and crags to
the summit Of the hump. or chin almost Q
qua to tiip at the present time, to the
Rocky Mountain peaks Of eternal snow. As
years passed, the visits to these mountains
became more frequent; the most feasible
routes were selected, and paths were worn so
that the ascent was less fatigueing, until
public spirited men expended small amounts
in working roads and preparing accomoda-
tions for those who wished to improve them.
OF course these expenditures did not yield a
speedy return ofproit, and conservatism gen
orally pronounced it boys play" If a
greater amount had been expended, making
the roads and hotels ample and complete,
then the numbers who would have rushed to
the place, to see the novelty of a large hotel
on the top of the mountain, surely would have
brought return as soon as any enterprise,
and with as large percentage. As it was,
people were necessarily cautious about I'M
dertaking such tour; having nothing but a
narrow foot path to travel in, and no covering
except tent or log hut, If they wished to
remain over night. Sometimes when pleas
ure party was climbing this winding way"
" in Indian file" perhaps gentleman and
lady in the "rear ranks" being more fatigued
than the rest, would be so far behind, that
night overtsking them they would loose the
path, and wander in the dark wilderness till
daylight returned and their companions
would find them half starved, and almost fro
zen with fear. About fifteen years ago a
party OF young ladies and gentlemen who
went TO Mansfield Mountain from Underhll,
missed their way, and soon found themselves
IN a painless forest in darkness and a drench-
ing rain. What was to be done They felt
their way to a brook, and, believing it would
lead them to civilization, they followed IL
! travelling in the water most Of the way, over
] k,uldars tbrat.uh tb.nkats 81
than alive, and almost stripped of clothing
they found themselves at a farmhouse in
Stowe. at midnight hour. Unwilling to be
seen by daylight, they procured team to
Underhill through the Winooski valley be-
fore sunrise.
But the way is now so much improved
that horses go to the top of both Camels
Hump and Mansfield, and carry all who wish
to ride ; so that such scenes will not be like
ly to occur again The people of Stowe be-
ing less cautious than their neigbbors in the
vicinity of Csmers Hump, have expended
humid Is of dollars in making improvements
on Mansfield Mountain, and the large hotel
upon the summit when built. was immediate.
ly filed to overlooking. Thus practically
demonstrating, that large amount employed
in such an enterprise, pays greater per cent
profit than small one. So soon as a sufii-
cient amount was laid out to make a trip to
the mountain comfortable and easy for all
ella SEES, the weak as well as the strong, it be-
came the handspring of business in the village
of Stowe, and now hundreds of men depend
upon the season of the mountain travel as
source Of wealth, as much as farmers depend
upon the seasons of seed time and harvest.
1t will be observed that more people at the
present time visit Mansfield than the Hump.
and this is simply because the amount ex-
pended in making improvements in and about
the former. are so much superior to the latter
Going to the Hump requires little more ex-
ertion, because, little has been expended as
yet, in preparing the way when compared
with the large sums that have been laid out
on Mansfield Mountain. Yet the way is pass.
able and pleasant, and the most feeble may
tide TO the top with ease The cars stop at
rhe base of the mountain at Rideys Station,
and from thence carriages and saddle horses
are at hand TO take the tourist to the summit
where good hotel is in readiness to supply
his wants. Still as matter of course, the
style OF improvements are rather more print
tive than the other and therefore it is not
strange that those who seek the mountains
not for any love of the beauties of nature as
exhibited in fine scenery, but who go merely
for day of recreation, and care not where
they go provided they find company enough
to have good time nor those who expect
TO idle away their summer months Somewhere
they have money that must be got rid of
nor parasites that will follow nobility like
shadow wherever it goes and much less the
mixed multitude who always go with the
crowd, no matter tOhere it leads, and thew
hardly know for what. and therefore it is not
strange that they are carried along with the
setting in of the tide that flows iu the summer
season to Mansfield Mountain. The beautiful
scenery by them is never appreciated or
thought Of; and because they 20 it Finishes
no evidence that the place to which they re-
sort, is superior to auy other place except in
great dinners, variety of liquors, and good
living generally.
Not only is the view from the Hump supe-
rior to that of Mansfield, but the curious
plants, flowers, and rock formations, that COW
er its summit, render it cabinet Of curiosi
ties in and of itself Although not as high
as the White Mountains, yet being nearer to
the " habitations of men" As you stand on
the top you have a palmer view of lakes,
rivers, and cultivated hills and valleys, than
can be obtained from their barren peaks. f,
where nothing is plainly visible but an un-
broken wilderness. The settled part of the
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