The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-22

To those who have never quaffed the waters
of these mountain springs, or felt the cool
invigorating air, even in dog-days, no pen
can describe the beauties of a ride through
the mountain gorges. Returning to the city,
many beautiful and novel sights were pre-
sented to the eye. Among these 1 may men
ton the natural water-works which supply
the city with clear spring water. Pipes have
been laid from dam away up in the noun
tain, far above the level of the city, and
through these the water is conducted down the
valley and thence across the river to the city.
Following the water-pipes until we reach the
banks of the river, we pass on about two
miles above the city proper to what are known
as the "booms. There are two of these
''booms" above the city, and are owned and
kept in repair by company, to which every
lumberman whose logs float on the river is
compelled to pay certain sum for every log
caught in them. What is called a ''boom" is
a series of piers built in the river, and rising
far above low-water mark. They extend from
one side of the river to the other in the shape
of an echelon, and the largest is perhaps over
a mile from one end to the other. They
are used to catch the logs as
they come down the river during the
high water, and present most imposing ap-
pearance even now, with the acres of saw-logs
locked in their strong embrace and held tight
until their owners call for them. One would
naturally wonder how, among so many mil
lions of logs, some of them did not fall into
hands other than those of thu cir rightful owner
This is, however, obviated by each log having
is owners name stamped upon it. To these
logs and booms Williamsport, without ques-
ton, owes its present Importance. Saw
mills abound on every side, and stacks of
lumber of every conceivable kind and
quality confront you at almost
every turn. The saw-mills are of the most
improved kind, and yesterday stood by in
the ''Dodge Mills and watched log drawn
from the pool, placed on the saw frame, sawed
into twenty-four boards and slabs, and the
residue cut into laths and tied into bundles
ready for shipment, in less than fifteen
minutes. Some idea of the magnitude of
these mills may be had, when 1 state that
six logs are going through the same process
that 1 witnessed all at the same time. Little
or nothing goes to waste about one of these
mills the saw-dust is consumed in generating
the steam, and hear that the splinters are
to be made up into clothes-pin and tooth
picks.
Williamsport of the past has been the scene
of gigantic strides; to-day she is standing
stock still. The lumber trade is dull, and this
affects other things. Her future is an enigma.
1t may be that the recently discovered marble
quarries will start new enterprises, but should
this not take place, Williamsport will proba-
| bly, be forever more the same Williamsport
she is to-day, with less money and less bust
ness She now has a population of some
twenty-five thousand.
Coupled with everything of public nature
about Williamsport is the name of Mr.. Peter
Herdic, a man who a few years since split
shingles by the day at one of the mountain
saw-mills. His cognomen of "Peter the
Great" is most appropriate, for assuredly he
has shown himself to be great in more in
stances than one. His hotel is one of the
largest and most complete in the State outside
of the city of Philadelphia, while his
park and countless other things which
his magic hands have touched will stand as
monument of his fame despite the odium
in which his name is held by many of the
citizens of the city which he unquestionably
''runs" to suit himself. A clever volume
might we'll be written of the doings of this
man, and it may be that this suggestion will
find place in his fruitful mind, and the book
be written.
My letter has already assumed larger pro
portions than it should, but still do not fee
like leaving the readers of THE TELEGRAPH in
the many towns / have passed through with
out word. more generous, hospitable
and social people it has never been my for
tune to fall among. There is a degree o.
solidity about them which we do not always
find in the city, and delightful absenc,
of much of the ''tomfoolery" ant
nothingness which city people fancy is
''nobby," and hence la mode. Men are a
sharp and busness-like in their habits in tn,
country as elsewhere, but there is a degre,
of freshness and frankness about them that il
charming and refreshing. The hospitalit,
and b0ahOmie of the housewives come il
for share of my admiration, and the girl
almost make ''feller" wish that he ''hadn'
swore off," Like Rip Van Winkle, wonde
if 'feller'' couldn't take ''just one, and no
count it"
: The weather here is perfectly delightful
and so is your own INDEX.
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