Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-10-15

OPENING OF THE PHILADELPHIA
& ERIE RAIL ROAD.

OPENING OF THE PHILADELPHIA
ERIE RAIL ROAD.
Tuesday, October the 4th, 1864, will bc
rrmem bered ss an important day in the an
nails Of the history of Pennsylvania. On
that day was celebrated the opening cere-
monies of a new thoroughfare from Phila-
delphia to the city of Erie by railroads.
union Of the commerce of the waters of the
Delaware with that of the Lakes, oy bonds
of iron, an event long and an1iously looked
for, and at last consummated under Difficult
ties, apparently insurmountable, On Tues
day morning the 4th inst, an excursion
train of seven cars LEFT Philadelphia on its
first trip to Erie with large number of in
vited guests. To these were added quite
number from the towns along the route
The cXcursionists arrived at this place at
2.20 P. NJ, and after taking on some invi-
ted guests from this place and Northumber-
land arrived at Lock Haven at in the
evening where the party remained over
night-most Of the excursionists were en-
tertained at the hotels, but many, ourselves
among the number, were the recipients of
the hospitalities of the citizens of that thriv-
ing place. At this point Gov. Curtin joined
the party. In the morning at Ct o'clock,
the excursionists again took the cars and
were soon on their way over territory hith-
erto inaccessible and only known to the hun
ter, and lumbermen in cutting timber
from the primeval forests and floating
down the West Branch, the Sinnemahonng
and its tributaries. Never was forest scene
ry, with Its varigated hues of scarlet, yellow
and other shades, blended with the deepest
green, seen to better advantage The noun.
tain sides sometimes appeared like vast
but wild flower garden, ard excited the ad
miration of all capable Of appreciating ma,
ture in its grandcst attire.
The train soon reached Renovn, 92 miles
from Sunbury the end of the Eastern Divi
sion new and handsome location for @
town, having the appearance Of an amphi
theater surrounded by mountains. Here the
new Machine Shops and RoundHouse arc
building, and nearly completed. These
buildings are similar to those now building
at Suubury and Erie. The scenery from thi:
place TO Emporium, 46 miles, is wild and
grand, the road and river being closely
skirtCd on either side by mountains. Here
the party partook Of collation. prepared by
the Company, at the end IF which Thomas
Biddle, Esq, of Philadelphia after being
called upon, made few opposite remarks
To St. Mary's, distance of 159 miles from
Sunhury, the scenery and roadway were
similar This is an old Roman Catholic
town, settled by the King of Bavaria, ant
contains population of about 5000, scat
tered over a considerable surface. A hand
aomc Church overlooks the town to whicl
q nunnery is attached The town and coun
Try exhibited but little thrift, taste or pros
per;ty. In this neighborhood the SUNNI
of the Allegheny is reached, at grades, al
most imperceptibe, of about 90 feet pc
mile for nine miles.
Sheffield, 20s miles from Sunhury, me
be considered the Western terminus of tn
wilderness portion of the road, distsnc
of about $50 miles from Lock Haven. A
Warren a handsome town on the banks {
the Allegheny 85 miles from Erie we wer
again fairly "out of the woods" where Gu
tiVated fields and civilized life were app,
rsnt A short run of 2s miles soon brougt
US 10 Cory, a new town where the Atlanti
snd Grea. Western railroad crosses tn
Philadelphia & Erie, making a connectio
with the Oil Region, about 25 miles west
that point
At six o'clock the train arrived at Il
outer depot at Erie. Our arrival was greete
with several rounds of artillery, aud Il
party was escorted by the city authorti'
20 Browns Hotel, preceded by sever
bands Of music, where splendid entertain
ment was prepared for the occasion, and I
which the eIcursionists snd a number
the prominent citizens of Erie, did amp
justice, The b,ll 3f fare was sll that coul
be desired, In the tentfe Of the dinir
room Was a painting representing the Pen
sylyania coat OF arus, srd beneath pair
elasped hands, over which were The wor,
"Phtadelphia and Erie" In the square
constant blaze Of IRE works was kept u
Before the company dispersed the program
ms ior next day Was announced nAmel,
an ezeuf.ion on the Lake, by one of n
seameFs a, 10 o'clock and grand banau
., ParTar Hall ata M The s1eu sion ,
Ihg Lake would have been more plsasa,
bur Tor the Taia waish kept most OF 4
parry under deck.
The 3anautI al IArrsT Hall sas wort
of the occasion. w. O. Molf,hs,i, ~,
l,at si ,ls Isi.air.a sEdefasI a ,s,a,I,
sprcrhs, we're mais by Mr Anofshsl
Governor Cunla sni oihsa. Ths Go,
soTs ipsseh "a, loudly chssfsd, ani
asuTshssat Fsmagks arfs llslensi 10 -
marked Nlvaiion.
fhus faI ss hass Foi,itd 0nly % pgl
ismnnsiFsiiess d soAid 10 aoiHg ~
ialp'iisf a.. asf sisna. IL EIls, nat 20 q
tH ihH s,Hi tosplt.liiss ~ ihs e.uiras, :
Ht HiF Ff' Nei Il b. A.if s.fgssi