Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-31


ing:
"John Bannon, Esq, presented the
ground on which this Monument
stands. Corner stone laid July
26, 1852; work completed
July, 4, 1856.
"Samuel Sillman, Frank Houson, Ed
ward Yardley, Building Com
mittee. Master Mason,
Jacob Madara.
"statue of Iron, moulded and cast by
Robert Wood. Column of the same
material by Geo. B. Fisher
and Brother.
"The statue and sections of the Column
were raised to their respective
places by Warders s.
Chillson."
The sections of which the column is
composed are four feet in height, making
the column thirty-two feet high. The
statue is an excellent likeness of Gallant
Harry of the West" and being painted
white, as is the column, would be taken
for fine Italian marble by stranger look
ing on the monument from the street.
BROAD TOP MOUNTAIN.
Leaving Pottsvile this morning, we
soon came to Broad Top Mountain. The
length of the road to the top of this
mountain is seven miles, over a grade of
two hundred feet to the mile. Having
reached the summit, we found a plain of
probably mile in width. Spread out on
each side were farms in high state of
cultivation, with swsmps and marshy
lant interspersed, the same as are to be
found IN the valleys below. The sum-
NIT of Broad Top is one thousand feet
above the city of Reading, and yet we
discover up here all the features of the
lowlands, except the heat. The air is
cool and bracing, making this mountain
plain most delightful summer retreat.
MAHANoY PLANE.
The descent of Broad Top mountain is
very abrupt and is accomplished by an
inclined plane 2, 400 feet long, with
grade of 23t feet to the hundred. Two
immense engines of five hundred horse
power each, are employed in propelllng
cars up and down this plane. They are
propelled by tWenty-four boilers, thirty
feet long and thirty six inches in diam
eter. The rope used in hauling up and
letting down cars is composed of wire,
and is p inches thick. The speed on
this plane is at the rate of twelve miles
per hour for coal and freight cars, but
for passenger cars ii is less rapid. Every
thing is CONSTRUCTED with an eye to secu-
rity, and no serious accident has yet &C.
Cured on this plane.
For many cOurtesies and attentions at
this point and in fact from PottsYille to
Mabanoy City, the party are greatly in
debted 10 the gentlemanly Superintendent
of the MahanOy and Broad Mountain
Railroad, Mr.. J. II. Olhausen, and also to
Mr.. @. Wheeler, of Pottsyille, who &C.
companied US to Mahanoy City.
MAUCH CHUNK.
Here We are in the very heart of the
Pennsylvania coal region, and it is so
cold that fire is decidedly comfortable to-
night, especially after the heavy rain Of
this afternoon, of which many of the
excursionists will retain vivid recollec
ton for years to come Mauci Chunk is
one Of the most picturesque towns in the
country. The name of the town is de-
rived, as is that of many towns and 10
caities in this region, from the Indian
language, and means 'Besr Noun
taiu." 1t lies in a narrow gorge
between and among high Mills,
through which the Lehigh river
has forced itself in its oceanward course.
The town is literally built on the sides of
the surrounding hills, sndt houses ap-
pear to be almost piled upon each other
in the ascent which the inhabitants are
obliged to make to find resting place.
A gentleman who recently visited Mauch
Chunck for the purpose of taking pictures
of the place for AppletOH'S Journal,
declares that, "as there is no room for
gardens or buildings back of the
houses, they are built up above them, and
are reached by ladders" and that sit is
not uncommon, in the ruder parts of the
town, to see pigsty up above the house
top, reached by ladder; another ladder
extending above this to a potato or cab
bage patch, aud another leading to the
family oven, presiding over the strange
group with suitable honor and dignity"
AS q specimen of the manner in which
the town is crowded out of the narrow
valley which is formed here, it may be
stated that from the hotel where we are
stopping, one sees the river, canal, two
railways, public road and street, all
packed in space scarcely more than g
stones throw wide.
THE swTTOHBAOK RAILROAD.
One Of the greatest feats of railroad
engineering is to be seen at this place. 1t
is generally known as the Swilchback
Railroad, but its proper name is the
Gravity Railroad. Originally it was
operated by what is known as switch
back, but now it is run on the principle
of gravitation. There sre four hills in
fba oirouit of tUoniv-fiva rriles nm which