The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-19
PHILADELPHIA TO WILLTAMSPORT
WITH HALIjS BY THE WAY.


yABLEY-THE BEAUTIES AND TERRoRs OF THE
CATAwIssA--A HALT AT DANvILLE-Irs IRON
FURNACES AND FoUNDRIEs, ETC.-THE NEW
RAILROAD TO sUNBURY-wHAT ENERGY WILL
Do-sUNBURY-THE RAILROADS AND CoAL-
FIELDs-BUsINEss ON THE sUsQUEHANNA.
PROM Our Osn Correspondent.
WuI1AMsPoRT, August 1S.-Numbering
among the best, if not in itself the best,
managed railroads on this continent is the
Reading Its locomotives are of the most
powerful description, and its cars and other
accommodations are certainly unsurpassable.
Leaving the depot at Thirteenth and Callow-
hill streets at S'15 A. M. the traveller soon
finds himself gliding over the smoothest of
tracks, along the banks of the Schuylkill, at
rate of speed which even in these fast
days is decidedly refreshing and stimulating.
On every hand along the narrow valley,
industrious hands find ample employment in
the hundreds of manufactures and iron fur
naces which dot the banks of the river, from
the limits of the Quaker City to its source
among the mountains of Schuylkill county.
1t is valley which for resources and wealth
has probably no superior on the globe, when
its length and breadth enter into the con-
sideration of the subject.
Leaving the main branch of the Schuylkill
at Port Clinton, the tourist in search of
scenery and pleasure takes one of the nume-
rous branches of the Reading Railroad, and
at the words ''All right from the conductor,
we cross the main river and commence wind
ing our way along the tortuous course of the
Little Schuylkill from which river this branch
railroad takes its name. After numerous
snake-ike twistings among the hills and mar
row defiles, we at length reach Tamaqua,
where after changing our locomotive we push
on at a fine rate of speed up one of the
steepest of grades to the Mahanoy junction,
where we again change locomotives, and are
soon Oft again on the
CATAwIssA RAILROAD.
decent regard for the safety and feelings
Of those who travel over this celebrated rail-
road does not permit of running at eight
ming" gait, but nevertheless we skim along
at fair rate of speed. On the right, going
west, far below us lie the most picturesque
of valleys, dotted here and there with
comfortable houses and barns which fairly
glitter in their whiteness beneath a MONDAY
sun. Here and there we catch glimpse of
what we at first suppose to be the banks Of
some mountain torrent, but which afterwards
develops itself to be the Lehigh Valley
Railroad Here it lies hundreds of feet
below us, running hither and thither among
the hills, locking like silver cord
forming circlet about the
base of mosnd Of laces. High
up, on the left, are the mountains from the
bowels of which the households and manu-
factories of Philadelphia derive their supplies
of anthracite coal. Passing onward, the
railroad, which but short time since was
many feet below us, is lost to view on the
right, and our attention is called to the fact
that it is now above us. Here for a while
the two railroads run on q parallel line,
but one considerably above the other,
until at length we cross at an acute
angle, and then again We find the track,
which but moment before was on our right
and above us, has changed to the other side,
and gradually goes sinking down, down, until
finally it is lost to view among the hills and
dense forests which surround us on every side.
Passing on, now flying around the brink of
some precipice, and again darting into some
cut whose sides threaten to come tumbling
down without moments warning, we find
enough to occupy the attention without
troubling ourselves about the probabilities
or circumstances of what might be il
things were otherwise But the men who per.
NIT us to take an almost aerial flight have
studied all the probabilities long before we
were permitted to pass over this road, and
with that peace of mind which knowledge
of all being right gives us, we lay back and
lose ourselves in wondering how such q
thing as running railroad over such noun
tains ever entered the heads of its projectors.
The wonderment is answered by the simple
word business Now we stop fol
a moment among the trees tC
throw off package of letters or take on &
passenger or two, and then again we press
onward. But now we come upon a portion
Of the route which strikes the beholder with
amazement. What was grand before is nov
doubly so-awful and yet inspiring. The
whistle sounds, the brakes are applied, and
our train slows down. Glancing out o.
the window is seen, stretching directly
across our path, a deep, narrow
valley, with sides almost perpendicular. Di
rectly in front of us is seen a row of timber
standing upright, like stakes upon the grount
far below. Onward we go, and ere we ar,
fairly aware of the fact we are upon tn,
trestle work which supports the track. Down
far down beneath us, the tallest trees scarcel
reaching half way up between us and tn
earth beneath, dogs bark and gleefu
children clap their hands and chez
us. We hold our breaths instinctively
and an involuntary shudder fills the heart a