The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-26
AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.
The Closing Day of the New .Ter-
sey Editorial Excursion will
l<esbarre, Scranton, and the
Delaware Water Gan.

kesbarre, Scranton. and the
Delaware WATER Gap.
From Our olon Correspondent
DELAWARE WATER GAP, June "a, 1862
AS stated In my letter OF yesterday the New Jersey
Editorial Excursion left Mauch Chunk at a quarter
before O'Clock in the afternoon, and arrived at
Scranton soon after O'Clock in the evening. The
scenery along this portion Of route was perhaps
the most romantic and grandly picturesque that we
have encountered during the entire trip At wilkes
barre which is dfty-hve miles distant from Mauch
Chunk we Witnessed the elimination of its beauty
When within about six miles of the former town by
rail- although distant from it less than two miles in
straight line, the train paused for ten minutes so
to give the excursionsts opportunity to
contemplate the marvellous view. The line OF
the railroad is extremely tortuous a necessity
OF the conhguraton of the land, which pre-
sents an almost unbroken array OF verdure-cOvered
hills. Winding in and out among them the train
pursues its meandering course, at times being en-
closed on all sides by the mountains, and now and
then suddenly reaching point from which fertile
and highly cultivated valley bursts upon our view.
At such point the pause just mentioned was made,
and when the members of our party alighted
grand chorus Of admiration arose from all. Wilkes
barre, like the photograph OF a quiet New England
village, lay at the bottom of the valley, upon the out
skirts of which Stood perfect picture OF lowell
ness and peace. Surrounding it on all sides were
cultivated fields, whose varied hues presented the
most startling and attractive contrasts, until they
were lost in the uniformity OF the verdant
forest growth which crowned the SUBMITS OF the
encircling mountains
The train barely paused at Wilkesbarre, and then
pursued its journey to Scranton, distant nineteen
miles. BY this time the scenery had assumed the
wilder aspect which characterizes the coal regions
around Mauch Chunk, many of the mountains pre-
sentng barren wastes, set off by long black mounds
of refuse matter from the mines The city OF
Scranton itself called forth excamatlons of surprise
tho drcf tharOo
in its midst. 1t is thriving place, with about
$4,000 Inhabitants nearly every building bearing the
marks OF recent erection. There is city like it in
the Atlantic States and any one who is familiar
with the rapidly growing towns OF Indiana and Ili
nois would at glance recognize its likeness to
them. The first settlement Of the vicinity
dates back to the year 1740 when some struggling
Morayians located themselves upon the spot. But
for century 1t had no growth. In 1910 there were
but three dwelling houses in the place. In 1910
there but few, If any, additions to them. About
this time George and Seldom Scranton conceived the
project OF constructing the railroad known as the
Delaware Lackawanna, and Western, the success of
the project and the prosperity which has fallen to
the lot Of the city named in their honor being mainly
owing to their eXertons AS soon as this outlet was
provided the town expanded its proportions at rate
which is seldom witnessed in the Atlantic States.
In 1874 a rolling mill was erected, and in the
following year the first rail for railroads
ever made in the United States was turned
out from this establishment From this
beginning have sprung the numerous rolling-mills,
smelling works, and other iron manufactures on
gigantic scale which now crowd the CITY, AS AN in
dicaton OF the immense scale on which the business
is conducted it may be mentioned that TO- 900 tons OF
the crude material annually melted in the Scran
ton Iron Works alone. The town is surrounded by
collieries contributing the source OF the motive
power and furnishing the bulk OF the coal which sup
plies the New York market The city stands on
rising ground at the junction Of Roaring Brook with
the Lackawanna river, the Moosic Mountain looming
up on the east and the Lackawannock on the west.
Previous to our arrival at Scranton each member
of the excursion party had received a card deslg-
mating the hotel at which he she was to be quar-
tered for the night but shortly after O'Clock we
were once more united in the dining-room OF the
wyoming House, where the annual state dinner or
the New Jersey Editorial Association was partaken
of by the members Of the Association and their
guests Charles Tomlinson, Esq, OF the Pennington
Qunterdon county Democrat sat at the head OF the
principal table, as President of the Association At
half-past 10 the the cloth was fguratively removed
and the chairman announced the regular toasts OF
the evening, each sentiment being read in detail
by Major H. X. Pangborn, of the Jersey City Times.
Everybody has, once at least in the course
of a lifetime attended such gathering, and no one
cares to read the stereotyped speeches which char
acteriZe such occasion. Among the speakers were
General Charles Haight, member OF Congress from
the Second district Of New Jersey; the Hon. John
Hill, memDcr Oh bne same OOuy lhOm cOuIbu
trct of the State; John Y. Foster ESQ.,, OF the
Newark Courier Major Y. X. Pangborn, of the Jersey
City Times; and the Hon. James M. Scovel, OF Cam
den. The company were detained In the best OF
hurnor until 12 O'Clock, and broke up with the pas
sage OF series of resolutions expressing the regret
of the Association for the loss, and its respect for
the memory OF the late Henry j. Raymond, OF the
New York Times.
At quarter before 10 O'Clock this morning, the
editorial excursion took special train provided by
the Delaware Lackawanna, and Western Railroad
Company, and proceeded with all possible despatch
upon their journey towards the Delaware Water Gap
arriving here soon after IL O'Clock. This spot is
much frequented by the summer todrlst that it Il
scarcely necessary allowable TO indulge In a de
scriptiOn OF It's matchess beauties. Bat for the
benefit Of chance reader who has never enjoyed
the unriyaled and impressive view from "Prospec
Rock" will venture few brief details. The Della
ware river after skrting the base OF the Blue Ridge
for many miles, here suddenly finds them cleft IL
twain and takes advantage of the opening to seeI
the shortest pathway to the sea. This portion o
the Blue Ridge known by the collective title OF thu
Kittatnny Mountains, which here attain an average
elevation of sixteen hundred feet above the level o
the river, although the mountain range on boil
sides as it extends into Pennsylvania and New Jer
sew has an average height OF less thar
one thousand feet. BY curiou
freak of nature, this point was chosen 70
the gap through which the river should find an outle
IN the ocean. But there would seem TO have been
severe struggle between the powers which rule tn
waters and the rocks before the breach was effected
The average depth of the river for miles above an
below ia but six feet while at the opening in tn
mountain range the plummet does not strike bottoT
until Il has reached depth OF sixty fee
nf "a