The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-03
PITTSBURG.
Fro,n an Ocoasional Correspondcnt.

1 was not able to distinguish houses or objects
on the opposite side of the river at Birming-
ham, though it was early in the afternoon
and the distance but a few hundred yards
from our windows. Dozens and scores of
~foundries, factories, rolling-mills, and river
steamers are continually emitting from their
chimneys the black and thick smoke, which at
times totally obscures the vision. Yet occa-
sionally the smoke is lessened, the breeze
watts it away, and a beautiful prospect is
opened up.
Having fine quarters on the Monongahela
front of this pleasant and well-kept hotel, we
all find it very interesting to watch the varied
movements on the water of the many barges
and steamers busily plying to and fro, and to
catch lovely glimpses of scenery on the beau
tiful hills opposite. We passed two hours of
the early morning very agreeably in strolling
along Mount Washington heights, and en-
joyed the clear and bracing atmosphere and
the fine extended views of the country in the
rear, and very often would have quite q salts
factory view of different parts of the city
proper, Allegheny City, and both rivers, when
the temporary cessation of the dense smoke
aided by the wind would permit.
A novel and very useful railway has been
in operation during the past season. 1 refer
to the inclined plane reaching from the foot
of the bridge on the other side, opposite an
hotel, to the top of Mt. Washington, thus
bringing places within a minutes easy and
pleasant ride that were nearly half al hour
away by the steep and tedious ascent of the
road. This railway is at an angle of thirty
five degrees, and is laid solid and strong on
three heavy tubes reaching to the rocky side
three hundred and eighty feet by three spans,
behind and under which the Pan Handle
Railroad runs, and the rest of the way, about
three hundred feet, is upon the earth and
rock of the hillside. A fine brick building
on the summit contains the engine and ma
chinery, with huge wheels or rollers which
wind up and lower the cars alternately by
means of inch and a half wire cables, and
in one minute the ascent or descent is made.
1t seems firm as the mountain itself, and acct
dents are almost impossible, yet a few timid
ones, especially ladies, refuse to ride uponit.
The cars will accommodate twenty-five or
thirty, though forty nave been crowded in, as
q car is never known to be full. The average
rate of travel is 1900 a day, on Sundays more
than double that, and on the fourth of July
nearly 5000 were taken up and down. AS the
affair has been demonstrated a success, it will
soon lead to others being constructed along
the bluff, and so bring much valuable build
ing property into the market. The whole
structure cost about $50, 900, and would have
appeared q great risk to any but an enter
prising community.
Though in the hottest of the season, the
mercury ranging here for days together high
up among the ~nineties, as with you, yet still
there is a life and animation among the citi-
zens that I cannot but admire. Everybody
seems busy and NJ one idles away his time.
Corner loafers are scarce, and of beggars I
have seen none. 1t would be strange if, in
such a huge manufacturing centre, there
were a single person seeking it that could
not find employment in some capacity or
other.
AS an evidence of the growth and pros
perity of business men in Pittsburg, 1 noticed
the improvement in various factories in the
introduction of new and valuable machinery.
There has been recently introduced into the
largest bakery here an automatic cracker
udCuluC, Nv " " VI v ANO uo "
lars. / believe there are only three of these
in use all over the United States. Quite a
number of persons have examined it, and
observed its wonderful operation. 1t is capa-
BILE of turning out about ten thousand
crackers q day. But a few years since this
business was commenced on a small scale by
the present proprietor, Mr.. Marvin, and now,
though it has increased to a consumption of
over eight thousand barrels of -four annually,
the supply is hardly equal to the demand.
For four days past rain has fallen here in
great quantities, not steadily, but in frequent
copious showers, accompanied by much thun-
der and vivid lightning. The sun has shone
out bright and beautiful at intervals. 1t is q
libel upon Pittsburg to say that we never see
the sun or the blue sky, for 1 have seen them
many times this week, even from the heart of
the city,
There is a story that at stated times the
children of the poorer classes are gathered at
the river bank and undergo a summary pro-
cess of ablution and scrubbing, and then
their parents come and select their own,
having been unable before to identify them
from their neighbors' offspring. Believe il
those who wish to.
Altogether, we think better of Pittsbure
the more we see of it, and have been much
pleased with our visit.
Before coming here our party spent a weel
at Niagara Falls, finding, of course, enough
to interest us and occupy our time. The
mighty cataract presents few changes from
former years, but it is always grand, and one
need never tire looking upon it in all il