The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-25
HARRISBURG.
Etpm an oooasienaI o0resp0ndent.

has Increased 80 rapidly within the past few
years In wealth, commerce, manufactures, and
population, that its property holders may look
with Indifference on the struggle to remove the
capital to Philadelphia, as it should be. The next
census may show this city to contain $4,000 or
$4,000 Inhabitants
Its Early History.
In 1896, over one hundred years ago, John
Harris built the first house upon the site where
Harrisburg now stands. 1t still stands upon the
river bank, not exactly in the same condition,
facing pretty little green called Harris Park, in
which an old tree stumpis preserved as having |
theidentica stump to which John Harris was been |
fled by the cheerful Indians of that place. with |
the intention of having a roast out of him. which
refreshing culinary process was interrupted by |
the unexpected arrival Of fresh lot of |
biz Iniuns from Thomas Island, in the
middle of the river opposite, who came across
with the tide and united Mr. Harris As friends
Of John they changed the bill of fare from roast
Harris to Indian chops, all of which was very
agreeable to John Harris, and shows how con-
yenent it was for Harry Thomas to have an
island in the middle of the river "kivered' all
over with bushes and yam-yams, where the boys
can see what's going on In Front street without
being seen themselves. The guide-book says
that this stump is the Zone sole monument and
headstone to John Harris grave" but how they
could have ever stuck poor Johns body under the
roots of this stump stumps me. However, taking
it for granted that his cold corpns was rooted i'll,
I climbed over the iron railing and dropped
tear upon his stump. In doing so l dropped my
hat and made another tear of quite different
kind, and before could tear myself away took
one more look at the guidc-book and then
gazed at the Harris Mansion, which the
cuide-book saws 90 stands facing the
stump, and was built by Harris in 1866,
and is now owned and occupied by the Hon.
Simon Cameron, ex-Secretary of War;" said
to myself, Who will care for Harris now? l
forgot the dead Harris in the living Simon. A
horrible suspicion crossed my mind. Why
should he select this spot as residence? Was
it that every manned veteran of the war who
visited him might be consoled in beholding how
much he thinks of stump! No, 1t cannot be.
All! have it. AS Simon sits by his library win
dow day after dav Ii mournful contemplation Of
Harris stump, it must be so impressed upon his
memory that nobody else has ever yet been able
TO stump him but Harris. Forgive the horrible
idea. AS the Harrisburg Indians did not succeed
in laying him out, so in 1885 Harris laid out
Harrisburg and dedicated the grounds upon
which the Capitol buildings now stand to public
uses. In 1908 it was Incorporated. In 1912 it
became the State capital and in 1870 it will be
remoyed-the capital, | mean-to Philadelphia,
where it ought to be.
Objects of Interest.
There are other things to be seen in Harris
burg besides John Harris stump. Another
stump much larger and built of granite, stands
in the middle of the street facing the main en-
trance to the Capitol. 1t looks as If it was
pier for new bridge across the Susquehanna
Speaking of bridges, there is one worth looking
at across the river at this point The reader
nd NIL ant IN ot hon
to travel on. They call it the camers-back, from
a fancied resemblance to that useful but un-
comely animal but it looks more like boa
constructor covered with bunions. 1t was un-
fortunate the Rebels didn't get near enough to
it in 1868 to give the county chance to build q
better and safer one. The fair grounds and race
course are on the river bank, about two miles
above the city, and the track is kept in order by
few public-spirited gentlemen of Harrisburg
who drive their own teams Here an occasiona
pigeon shooting match takes place, the gunner
exhibiting their skill on the wing or OtheroCiSe
as fancy or education dictates. / lately saw
match here, at which young gentleman from
Philadelphia undertook to shoot the trap on tn
wing. The birds were afraid to fly away from
him, he was such dead shot.
Front Street
runs along the river bank, and is lined wit
many handsome private residences, prominen
among which is that of Henry Thomas, Esq., a
foot of Main street. 1t is built in the Norma
style. and surrounded with beautiful grounds
Mr. Thomas came from Wales not many year
ago to seek his fortune in this country, and b
industry, ability, and integrity has amassed
handsome competence.
Public Buildings.
The Capitol and State Arsenal are built upo
a hill in the centre of the town. 'The Capitol
says the guide-book lis an imposing edifce
which is imposing upon the ignorance OF th
reader, for it is nothing but big red brick barr
like looking structure, and disgrace to a gres
State like Pennsylvania. The grounds are nicel
laid out however, and monument to I'll
Mexican volunteers, surmounted with n hant
some figure of Victory, imported by Viii Br
TIERS of Philadelphia adorns the space in frol
of the Arsenal The Lunatic Hospital, nortl
east of the city, is handsome structure al
contains about three hundred and fifty lunatic
but it would not begin to hold all the lunati
that reside here when the Legislature is in sc
sion. Besides its stores and churches, its hotC
are numerous and well appointed.
Its Hotels.
The principal hotels here are the Lochi
Hotel, Jones House, and Bottoms Hotel. B
sides these there are Brady's Hotel, the Sta
Capitol the United States, the Pennsylyani
etc. The Jones House has been lately reftt
and refurnished in an elegant manner by N
Farley. well known to Philadelphians as form
proprietor of the La Pierre House, and lately
the Surf House, Atlantic City. General Selfridg