The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-29
AMONG THE HILLS.
NOTES OF TRAVEL IN NORTHERN PENN
sYLVANIA AND WESTERN NEW YORK.

Growth OF Towns and VIlIaRss-Items
ON Farms, Crops, Etc.
IwVENINe rELRoRAPH SPECIAL ooRREsPoNpENoB. I
HoRNBLLsvILLE, N. Y, July 25, 1867.
/ inscribe this letter TO you from the head.
waters of one of the branches of the Susaue-
hanna. On the theory that the temperature
decreases as the altitude increases, we ought to
be enjoying cool weather, for it is up hiH all the
way from Philadelphia here. A few miles
further north and the waters flow the other
yay, finding their outlet to the ocean through
Lake Ontario and the river st. Lawrence, and not
far to the west are springs which feed the head
waters of the Allegheny, whose waters finally
miuge with those of the Gulf of Mexico. The
direct route hither from Philadelphia is by
way of the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad, or
by the Reading and Catawissa Roads to Will
Transport thence by the Northern Central to
Elmira, and thence by the New York and Erie
TO this point / came this time by the Cata-
wissa route, and enjoyed the trip much. Leav.
ing the Reading Railroad depot at $40 A. NJ,
We sped up the valley of the Schuylkill, adorned
with its beautiful farms and fourishing cities
and villages, The crops are looking finely,
wheat already harvested, or standing in the
shock An occasional piece of corn looks back
ward but generally the crop promises fairly.
Grass is excellent.
At Port Clinton we left the valley of the
sChuylkill and began the ascent of the noun
tsins. From this point until the valley of the
Susquehanna is reached, the route lies through
very rugged country. The road itself is much
of the way constructed along the very crests of
the mountains, from which you look down into
deep valleys far beneath, or of on to neighbor-
ing hills and heights. In descending from the
summit several very high bridges are crossed,
the prospect from which, in contemplation of
possible accidents is fearful enough. | believe,
however, that no catastrophe has ever occurred
in connection with any of them. The trains
are run over them very carefully, and though
the structures are OF wood, they are kept in con-
slant repair. The train arrives at Wiliamsport
for supper OF this fine and hourishng town
/ need not speak at length, as it has lately been
well described in your columns. In going
from Wllliamsport to Elmira you cross
the summit between the valleys of the West
Branch of the SusQuehanna and the Che
mung, which latter is one OF the streams
which go to make up the North Branch of
the Susquehanna. Here, too, for part of the
way, is rugged country-high, steep hills rising
on either hand, clad with forests, abounding in
grain, and the little brooks sWarmng with
trout. 1t is quite region of summer resort,
AT last we reach Elmira. This is one of the
most hourishing cities in Southern New YORK
1t already has population of some fifteen or
sixteen thousand, and is growing rapidly.
Manufactures are being introduced to con-
siderable extent 1t commands a large and in
creasing trade with Northern PENNSYLVANIA,
AT this point the Northern Central Railroad
crosses the Erie, and we change to the cars of
that road. The depot at Elmira is a small,
mean structure, which is about to be replaced
by fine building, to cost some $25, 900. The
Erie Railroad formerly New York and Erie)
ls a splendid road. It's wide, roomy cars give
you the maximum of comfort in riding. while
all the appointments of the road are of high
order ofexcellence. The influence of this road
In developing the southern tier of counties in
New York has been immense. Flourishing viii
lages and cities have sprung up along its entire
length, while it has afforded a ready access to
market to vast region of country which before
was almost destitute.
From Elmira to Hornellsville you follow up the
valley OF the Chemung and Canisteo rivers. The
valley above Elmira is very wide, and there are
many splendid farms. I noticed here some of
the finest cornfelds that had seen on the whole
ASu'S' AoouO OWOhIy HhcS lTOIn hlmlra you
reach Corning, fine enterprising village of
some three or four thousand inhabitants, named
after Erastus Corning of Albany. From this
point there is branch road running to
Rochester.
few miles above Corning is the little village
of Painted Post, so called from large painted
post which was found erected on the town site
by the earliest settlers. 1t was an Indian monu.
ment of some kind. The valley of the Canisteo
rapidly narrows above Corning, until, in MANY
places, there is hardly more than room for the
river and the road. The mountains are high
and preclpitous. They used to be covered with
pine timber, but that has been mainly cut off
The lumber trade of this region, before the
building OF the railroad, was all done by means
of the river. Boards were built into huge RATS
during the winter, and when the spring freshets
came they were Aoated down to the Susoue.
hanna, and thence TO MARKET
few miles below HoneIsyille the valley
widens out, and gives room for some beautiful
farms. Hero, when the country was first settled
by the whites, large cleared field was found o
over one hundred acres, without stump OF
tree upon IL. The indians cultivated ii. Genera
Sullivan's expedition visited this Indian settle
ment during the Revolutionary War, and burne,
their village and crops. 1t was from this poin
that the Indians descended to perpetrate tn
Wyoming massacre. The old settlers still pon
out the stumps of the trees from which the
canoes were built. A partly finished canoe wa