The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-15
|FR0M PHILADELPHIA TO VILLA MS
PORT

Editorid Correspondence of The Evening telegraph.
wILLIANsPoRT, June IL, 1871.
No more striking Illustration OF the progress of
pennsylvania could well be given than that furnished
Ny the varied scenes along the railroad route be-
tween Philadelphia and Williamsport That portion
'of the Pennsylvania Railroad which was formerly
known as the Columbia Road furnishes the first
5link in the Journey Being one OF the first railways
constructed in the United States, it still bears too
many traces Of its venerable antiquity, but they are,
fortunately, now rapidly disappearing. When it
was constructed, the idea OF successfully using
steam a motive power was ranked as possl-
bility rather than as probability, and the practi
4ca thing aimed at was not to build
n approximately straight road for locomotives,
put comfortable, easy-going, crcumbendibus
horse railway with curves leading to convenient
pnd popular old turnpike taverns and curves lead
from the lands and barns OF influential old fogies
|who had particular horror OF new-fangIed improve
Flments, as well as from hills and valleys requiring
Unusual amount OF cutting down or filling up. The
partial rectihcaton Of this primitive system Of engl
eering has been slowly progressing for years,
but thorough reconstruction has been only
lfecenty attempted, and at this moment
Nc is progressing 80 rapidly that soon
substantially new railway will be in operation for
more than thirty miles leading westward from PHI
adelphia affording such marked increase of faci-
Rtities through the combined use of old and new
ftracks, and such an admirably constructed line in
the entirely new portions part OF which is already
railroads will speedily become in every sense and In
kevery detail one Of the very best
After passing the line OF the Philadelphia and Co
tumbia Railroad and approaching Harrisburg, the old
canal system looms prominently into view, stretch
ing westward and northward along the line OF the
[Susquehanna and its trbutaries and while it still
retains its utility for heavy freight at favorable
seasons, 1t recalls many "reminiscences Of the days
of pacRet-boats when speed OF five miles an hour
was the best resource for the speed OF twenty-five
rxuftt, foh rod o10
fyesterday over the Pennsylvania from Philadelphia
Ito Harrisburg, the Northern Central (from Harris
burg to Sunbury), and the Philadelphia and Erie
Railroads Qrom Sunbury to Williamsport), making
"a trip Of two hundred miles In eight hours.
The aspect OF the country, and especially Of the
towns along the line has improved nearly as much
as the facilities for travel. Hamlets have grown
into villages villages into towns towns into cities,
lwhile many spots unknown by special designations
fto ancestors are now important depots or sta
tions; and the work OF Improvement still goes
bravely on, with the continued construction of new
railway branches OF additional tracks on old rail-
ways, and OF new Industrial establishments.
Throwing out of view all material interests, the
ride from Philadelphia to Wliamsp0rt offers to the
lovers Of varied beautiful, and romantic scenery
seres of splendid attractions After the eye OF the
tourist has fingered with delight upon the suburbs
of Philadelphia, Chester Valley, and the broad ex-
panse of fertility opened up In Lancaster county,
there commences q grand succession Of mountain
ridges, and picturesque gaps formed by the Susque-
hanna which, with its tributaries, drains the Gen.
tral portions of the State; the west branch extend-
ing from Sunbury to Williamsport and far beyond,
while the north branch forms the bed Of the valley
OF wyoming. and, with its forks traverses large
! portion OF the tier of northern counties.
/ Along the banks of the Susquehanna the scenery
assumes new loveliness. Its broad, placid waters
are framed into glorious picture by the grand con-
tours of Clarks Ferry, short distance beyond Har-
/ risburg. Further on, the graceful curves harden
into severer majesty, and palisade-ike bluffs rise
from the stream in long stretches OF regular rock,
looking like the vestiges OF the city wall girdling the
home Of some extinct giant race. At each success
sye step in ascending the river the scenery is hap
PLY diversified the hills at times assuming gentle
undulating and again rising in harsher lines
into proportions Of greater grandeur. The
1 skies lent their best aid to heighten the
charm by that succession OF sunshine and shadow
which reveals every beauty in the landscape rich
with the opulent verdure Of June. The wheat
fields cleaned with all the soft and lustrous inter-
mlngling shades that mark its approaching rpeness,
and the swayed softly in gentle rpples Of sill
yered greenery, while along the roadside summer
snow of elder blossoms showed an unwonted luxuri-
ance. In the midst Of the wide expanse OF the
waters of the Susguehanna, nnumerable tiny islands
were clothed in greenest grass or tangled thicket,
+ and the luxuriant verdure spread on every side
until that most prosaic of all utilities, the tow
path, frightened into cleaning thread OF green
braided into the svery ribbons OF the water upon
either side Near Northumberland rugged land
scape answers fttingy to the name, and the noun
tain sides ploughed with riffs that beneath the
softenng effect OF distance show like belts OF rich
! warm brown cleaning from between the fine forest
trees, and to complete the faultess panorama q
sunset OF golden haze rested upon the mountains,
changing them into purple tint as rich as 1t is rare
and ushering In that loveliest OF all hours when
over the green meadow stretches the golden rays OF
1 the lingering lgnt, and the stars slowly marshal
into rank through the shades OF twilight. j. L. r.