The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-05-07
sIacshane visiteth Altoona.

visii 10 the "Mountain City''-Altoona.
II Is perhaps the most thriving inland
town in Pennsylvania Less than twenty
years ago IT was uninhabited. being a
rather marshy tract Of land known as the
Robinson Farm" Since that time,
without manufacturing facilities-without
water power-withoat navigation-it has
grown to city of some Il, 900 inhabit-
ants.
1st location on the Pennsylvania Rail
Road, aud with reference to the 'sAllegh-
onles,' has given ii its great advantages,
and caused It TO grow into a Furnishing
city, as if by magic
1he city lies, in about equal proper
ilons, North and South of the Pennsyl-
vaAia Rail Road. The machine shops of
the Company, (said TO be the most extern
save in the United States, lie on the South
side of the Road, while the offices of the
General Superintendent, the Chief En-
genesr, and all other offices connected
with the general management of the road,
are upon the NJrth side.
;'m not aware that general descripS
tons OF these mammoth establishments
has ever been given to the public, and am
hot prepared to do So. Indeed if | had
the time, your columns could not give the
space, 10 enter into IL general description.
trust, however, you will have full,ac
count ere long in the ViudtcQto,' or Tri-
6ulse.
New York is called the ''Empire City,"
Philadelphia the Getty of Brotherlv
Love" in Quaker City" Baltimore the
Monumental City," Washington the
Federal City" or "City of Magnificent
Distances" New Orleans the "Crescent
CITY" Cincinnati the "Queen City,"
Pittsburgh the Iron City y indeed ali of
our cities have an expressive designation
of some kind. propose the name OF
N''Mountain City" for Altoona.
Altoona is SO named in honor cf-no
person, or place, or any thirg else that
know of. l. has, of course, reference to
the vicinity of the mountain, but am at
loss to know even from what language
the name is taken. l doubt not the foun
der, or perhaps the earliest settler" could
tell.
The Logan House is fine hotel-1arrer
than the Girard Hotel of Philadelphia. =
The Exchange Hotel by Col. Woods.
and the St. Charles Hotel, by Mr.. Rich
MClain, are both excellent houses-be
sides quite number of others
There are two newspapers-;he Tri
tIne, by M'Crum & Dern, a neutral paper
at the Radical persuasion, and the VIadi-
e@for, Democratic paper just started by
J. +. Campbell & Son.
The citizens are imbued with a great
spirit of enterprise; the city is lighted by
gas and water works supply it with excel
lent water
The City is temperate and orderly. 1t
has suffered greatly from fires, many OF
them supposed to be the work of incendi-
Sries; but apart from this offence the
amoant of crime is small in proportion TO
the population.
In the rear Of the hill North of town
an apparently unsuccessful attempt has
been made to tunnel through to town
and, has resulted in a colossal brewery. 1t
will amply repay visit, as curiosity
Rome years since, in company with Capt
Carroll, l adventured some hundred feet
or 50 into this subterranean arrangement,
stopping frequently to refresh by the way.
When got to the extreme verge of the
bore" l boldly exclaimed with Rich
mend
Thus far iuto the bowels of the land
Without impedinent." &c.
But the Tsutonic proprietor, thinking me
srunk or crazy, ordered an immediate
rs-hedtt The had treated several times be-
fore,) and | found more difficulty getting
cut than had getting in. A beverage
known as Lager Beer is manufactured
here. 1t has the general appearance of
muddy water, but is supposed to be slight
ly stronger. Indeed, it has been gravely
asserted by some that it has the power of
intoxicatiOn-whileo others deny for it any
such virtue. My own opinion is-that
both sides are right. A perfectly ed,4cQ-
ed drinker of lager beer may. by drink
ing discreetly, indulge in it for an entire
night without losing hrs propriety On
the other hand, an uninslructed drinker,
such az found myself on the occasion
referred to, may become confused in his
ideas and "weak III the knees by taking
four Of five glasses 10 quick succession