The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-28
TIE LEHLGR HALLEY.

through some of the most beautiful portions
of our State. Part of the route over which
travelled has not heretofore been accessible
to the travelling public, and as the scenery
along the line is unsurpassed for variety and
beauty, and can be reached with so small an
outlay of time and money, 1 consider the
subject of sufficient Importance to the general
public to warrant me in calling attention to
this region in few paragraphs descriptive of
the scenery, points of interest, and general
characteristics of the route taken.
The connecting roads forming this line are
the North Pennsylvania Railroad from Phila-
delphia to Bethlehem the Lehigh Valley, from
Bethlehem to Pittston, and the Pennsylvania
and New York Railroad from the latter place
to Waverley, on the Erie Railway, near the
State line, and 240 miles from Philadelphia.
The trip made is without change of cars,
leaving Philadelphia at 7'35 A. NJ, and pass
ing through the fertile and undulating coun-
ties of Bucks and Montgomery, portion of
the State whose history is replete with Incl
dents of the Revolutionary war, but which now
presents to the eye magnificent and highly
cultivated farms, handsome residences and
farm buildings, and other evidences of wealth
and prosperity not excelled in any land.
At Bethlehem, 81 miles from Philadelphia,
our route strikes the Lehigh river This is
the junction of the North Pennsylvania and
the Lehigh Valley Railroads, and very hand
some and convenient passenger depot has
been erected for the Joint use of both roads.
Here was the seat of the first Moravian mis-
sion in this country, having been established
by Count Zinzendorf, a Swede, in 1741.
Here also is located the Lehigh Univer-
sity, SO muniicently endowed by Hon. Asa
Packer.
Proceeding northward, you reach the -four
ishing young city of Allentown, with its huge
rolling-mill, smelling works, and extensive
manufactures, containing a population of
10000 inhabitants, rapidly augmenting in
wealth and members, by Catasauqua, Hoken-
dunqua, and several smaller but not less in
teresting manufacturing towns, past Stating
ton, so named from its celebrated roofing
slate, through the Lehigh Gap to Packerton,
with its extensive car shops. At length we
come upon the town of Mauch Chunk,
nesting in a narrow valley at the foot of the
bold, sharp hills which form the Broad Noun
tain range. This is place much resorted to
on account of its picturesque situation grand
mountain views, inclined planes Switch back
Railroad and other features of natural and
mechanical interest.
From here nature seems to have We'd with
art in producing combination of novelties
unsurpassed anywhere in the Northern States.
Massive mountains, dense forests, green
fields, winding streams, fertile valleys, deep
gorges, towering heights, rushing waters, and
A. IL &c
ensemble interesting beyond conception, and
of which brief description gives but an in
definite idea, being not inaptly denominated
the Switzerland of America"
From Mauch Chunk up the meanderings of
the Lehigh river to the Summit new features
constantly present themselves.
Leaving the noise of the artisan and those
grand old hills Sin whose vaults lie hidden
the archives of the universe, you approach
the interminable native forests dividing the
upper Lehigh from the classic Susquehanna,
passing Penn Haven Junction, Rockport,
and the more sprightly town of White Haven.
Thence fourteen miles of wild, weird, and
almost unbroken wilderness bring you to
the northern slope of the Moosic Mountain,
an elevation of 1900 feet above the Susque-
hanna.
short distance beyond Fair View-a sta
tion at the top of the mountain-the eye
takes in the entire Wyoming Valley, from
Campbell's Lodge, on the north, to Napti-
coke Dam, on the south, distance of twenty
one miles. The towns of Pittston, Wilkes
barre, Kingston, and Plymouth, the monu-
ment to the victims of the Wyoming massa-
ere, the silver sparkle of the famous Susque-
hanna, the cultivated farms, green fields,
shady groves, cheerful farm houses, and
capacious coal-breakers, combine to make
this, in the estimation of tourists, one of the
finest landscape scenes to be found any
where in the States, and its ready approach
from the cities of New York and Philadel-
phia is destined to make it a favorite summer
trip.
Descending from this grand natural obser-
vatory, you ride across the famous valley over
grounds made sacred by Revolutionary tra-
dition, and famous in legend and story.
Leaving the theatre of Campbells Gertrude
of Wyoming by the sinuous windings of this
beautiful stream, over the track of the Penn
sylvaAia and New York Road, firmly embedded
in the surface of the hard-beaten towpath,
past rocky glens, bristling mountains, bright
openings, densely shaded islands, and highly
cultivated farms, through the miniature
county of Wyoming, you at length strike the
extensive domain of Bradford county, at
point not far from Frenchtown, so called
Il II