The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-08
SUMMER RESORTS.
THE WHITE MOCNTA,sS.
SUMMIT OF MOUNT wAsu,uc,,,>, , !.

TIE WHITE MOcNTAiES.
~~~~~-~-~>--->>.~~-,o-oo1
SUMMIT OF MOUNT WASHINGTON, July 81, 1869.
THIS 'as.. ssy Of July. away up here, six thousand
inree hundred feet above the levsi Of Sstaar5 NOR
tails, with the thermometer indicating forty-nine de-
grees where the sha Is not bat where the winds are
tearing about with violence that momentary threa
tens reparable disaster 70 overcoats buttoned tightly
under the chin person prone to sympathizing with
the mislbrtunes Of his fellows may well permit
thought Of compassion for New Workers, sweltering
underline perspring fervor Of ninety degrees Fahren
heit, even though his teeth do chatter once in
while and the big wood fire In the ample stove Is not
at all despised. But because am in this locality,
where the hand OF the Great Artcer has traced out
submites that give pause to the most needless, do
not think that am about to attempt description of
the surroundings. What many have tried to do be-
fore and miserably failed in attempting, what even
Starr Kings most glowing eulogy could not do my
feeble efforts certainly cannot accomplish; for this
famed region is indescribable In its overwhelming
grandeur.
This being well understood, II may not be consd-
cred out of place TO state that the places Of inter-
est" which have for years had much to do with
the pilgrimages made through these wilds annually
are as all powerful as In their attractiveness
this season1 indeed, to be candid more attractive
than ever for such crowds Of pleasure seekers were
never seen hereabouts before. The "Old Man Of the
Mountain, In the Franconia range, whose stern face
hasbeen firmly set against the storms Of centuries that
have assailed him fifteen hundred feet above where
now Is the roadway looks just as stern as Of old
not frown relaxed, not the slightest change in the
tightly compressed lips The wild torrent that leaps
its rocky way through the "Flume" Is still ex-
plored day by day, and the 'P0oln with its scien-
tifc old boatman, who ferries you across for con-
sderation and treats you gratis to lecture the
systems OF the EARTH" has yet, as 1t always will
have its admirers by the hundreds.
People who have never visited either the Fran
coma range or its more lofty neighbors can have
idea Of the picturesque scenery that abounds along
the route from the time they leave the cars until by
stagecoach, they reach the Profile House-that is If
they come by the way Of Littleton. Certainly the
White Mount aims are loftier than the Franconias
yet they do not ascend o abruptly as do the latter
and doubt whether any visitor has ever been more
favOrably impressed with any OF the White Hills
than he has with Eagle Cln and Mounts Lafayette
wild woods relieved by no signs OF llfe and drew up
before the house situated on a small meadow, with
the cliffs all about it, their sides appearing like per-
hay clouds above. The Profile, I NAV here saw. Il
the hotel at which the majority Of the permanent
visitors quarter themselves. Those who visit the
mountains, intending to simply make flying tour,
and who come by the Lttleton route, stop at this
house. and by stage go to the Crawford or White
Mountain House. thence over the mountains to the
GeA House. The route, however, in many cases Is
Just the reverse, and Is made especially by those
who come to stay all the season In the Franconias,
for by coming over the mountains, taking the Glen
as their up hill starting point they naturally termi
mate nat tner Journey at inc Profile Three coaches to
and Lttleon are the daily average OF travel Seats
outside are highly priced, especially by the ladies';
and as an instance OF this need only mention the
fact that three ladies and the gentlemen accompany
ing Them In order to be OF the coveted places
o'clock. where the coach stood without horses and.
being nrst come I" secured the outside. They break
lasted on the top OF the vehicle on the European plan
Ii one Of the effects Of mountain air.
You have, no doubt, heard Of the railroad that WINS
commenced three years ago on Mount Washington.
1t is now completed within half mile of the summit
and next week it will be open to the publIcn IL Is
really wonderful undertaking and viii add another
strong link to the now very long chain of attractions
by which 80 many persons are not unwllingly drawn
hither every year. The road is Of the ordinary rail-
having three rails. The extra rail is in the middle OF
the road ana consists OF Q bed Of iron about six
two three Inches. The two other rails are what
are called plated rails, single plates Of iron Of GER
tain thickness and width riveted to huge wooden
beams. The engine has, for all the world the ap-
pearance OF one Of your city re engines although it
IL not as large as the smallest Of Them The smoke
stack and boiler are not exactly upright, but slant
gradually towards the front part OF the engine which
Is much higher than the rear. II has seven wheels
two large ones In 'front.' four very small ones under
the main body Of the vehicle and large coz wheel
directly 10 the middle OF the platform and before the
boiler. The cog wheel works in the middle rail- and
mas crank attached to 1t by which the engineer can
stop 1t In second. or course it is stopped the
engine cannot bulge an inch. The passen-
brakes similar to that Of the engine, which, by the
way IL only about seven tons weight. The road is
almost ON straight line from the starting point
that s TO say there are but one two curves along
the whole route No cutting through rocks or ex.
cavatons have been made for the road it being en-
tirey built on timbers, alike over lodges hliocks
and chasms, in some places the tracks being forty
feet above the ground ends OF the beam supports
The grade OF the ascent Of the track IL foot in
every Ave. or about 100 feet to the mile. The
entire length of the road Is three miles, and the
journey from the base Of the mountain to half mile
the engine pushes the cars before It. In descendins
It takes the lead One of the for this is that
IN case anything should happen to the engine-and
knOw-the cars would not be compelled to share its
fate. The guides who accompany people up the
opposed to the road and predict for
1t all sorts Of msfortunes they Of course thinking
that 1t will damage their business which It will not
In the least a. people will continue to ride over the
on horseback for the novelty of the thing
railroad or no railroad. For the convenience OF
travellers by the road grand and commodious hotel
Ii to be erected In readiness for next year on the
ground where some thirty years ago the old Craw.
Thence the road can be reached by carriage, DIS.
lance OF seven miles. The fare up the mountain 10
over twenty thousand people have visited the
already this season. The vestibules of
the Profile and Glen houses are crowded day aud
evening" that one Ii forciby reminded OF the Filth
Avenue Hotel when the bulls and bears OF wall
street were wont to put their speculative heads to-
gether. Indeed, the other night the parlors and BIZ
Hard rooms were turned into temporary dormitores
In order to accommodate all the people. The Profile
has four hundred guests; the White Mountain House
al II can accommodate, one hundred and seventy
i've; the Crawford two hundred and the Glen four
hundred. The absence OF many New Workers from |
well known watering places this season has been the
subject OF much conjecture and the crowds here may
account for IT, a. ind that the metropolis Is repre-
sented here In these mountains In greater numbers
than II Ia at any other summer resort Three hmm.