The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-15
3FR0M PHILADELPHIA TO WILLIAMS
PORT.

49,
EditOrial cOYrespOndence Of The Evening telegraph.
wILLIAMsPoRT, June IL, 1871.
No more striking Illustration Of the progress Of
Pennsylvania could well be given than that furnished
by the varied scenes along the railroad route be-
<tween Philadelphia and Winiamsport. That portion
or the Pennsylvania Railroad which was formerly
KNOWN as the Columbia Road furnishes the FIRST
link In the journey Being one OF the first railways
CONSTRUCTED In the United States 1t still bears too
many traces OF its venerable antiquity but they are
fortunately, now rapidly disappearing. When 1t
was constructed, the idea Of successfully using
steam as motive power was ranked as possi-
biiity rather than as probability, and the practi
cal thing aimed at was not to build
ln approximately straight road for locomotives,
put comfortable, easy-goiDg, circumbendibus
horse railway with curves leading to convenient
and popular old turnpike taverns, and curves lead
Ing from the lands and barns OF influential old fogies
who had particular horror OF new-fanged improve
ments, as well as from hills and valleys requiring
Epnusual amount OF cutting down or filling up. The
partial rectihcaton OF this primitive system OF engi
eering has been slowly progressing for some years,
but thorough reconstruction has been only
Hfecently attempted, and at this moment
kt is progressing so rapidly that soon a
4substantally new railway will be in operation for
more than thirty miles leading westward from PHI
adelphis affording such marked increase OF faci-
Rfities through the combined use OF old and new
Etracks, and such an admirably constructed line in
in operation), that one OF the oldest OF American
railroads will speedily become in every sense and in
Ievery detail one of the very best
After passing the line OF the Philadelphia and Co
iumbia Railroad and approaching Harrisburg, the old
cana system looms prominently into view stretch
ing westward and northward along the line OF the
ZSusquehanna and its trbutaries and while 1t still
retains its utility for heavy freight at favorable
seasons, it recalls many "reminiscences OF the days
kof packet-boats when a speed of Eve miles an hour
haafr fOrf tho nf fuon ntv-6 6vQ
<anres per hour with which we were whired along
fyesterdsy over the Pennsylvania from Philadelphia
to Harrisburg, the Northern Central (from Harris
burg to Sunbury) and the Philadelphia and Erie
Railroads from 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
Mo our ancestors now important depots or sta
tions and the work OF Improvement still goes
brayely on, with the continued construction of new
! railway branches, Of additional tracks on old rail-
kways, and OF new industrial establishments
\ Throwing out Of view all material interests, the
ride from Philadelphia to Willamsport offers to the
overs 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,
kthere commences q grand succession of mountain
ridges and picturesque gaps formed by the Susque-
hanna which, with its tributaries, drains the CEN
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 It's broad, placid waters
are framed into glorious picture by the grand con-
tours of Carks Ferry, short distance beyond Har-
risburg. Further on, the graceful curves harden
into severer majesty, and palisade-like buns rise
from the stream in long stretches OF regular rocK
Hooking like the vestges of the city wall girdling the
4 home OF some extinct giant race. At each success
sve step in ascending the river the scenery Is hap
III PLY diversified, the hills at times assuming gentle
unduating curves and again rising in harsher lines
| into proportions OF greater grandeur. The
skies lent their best aid TO heignten tne
u charm by that succession OF sunshine and shadow
which reveals every beauty in the landscape rich
with the opuent verdure Of June. The wheat
fields cleaned with all the soft and lustrous inter-
mlnging shades that mark its approaching rpeness,
and the oats swayed softly in gentle rppes OF Sill
Vered greenery, while along the roadside summer
snow of elder blossoms showed an unwonted luxuri-
n ance. In the midst Of the wide expanse Of the
waters of the Susquehanna, innumerabe tiny islands
were clothed In greenest grass or tangled thicket
and the luxuriant verdure spread on every side
until even that most prosaic Of all utilities the tow
path, frightened into q cleaning thread OF greer
braided into the silvery ribbons OF the water upon
n either side Near Northumberland rugged land
scape answers fttingly to the name, and the noun
tain sides are poughed with riffs that beneath the
softening effect OF distance show like belts OF rich
! warm brown cleaning frem between the fine fores
trees, and to complete the faultless panorama {
sunset OF golden haze rested upon the mountains
changing them into purple tint as rich as 1t is rare
and ushering in that lovelest OF all hours wher
over the green meadow stretches the golden rays o.
A the lingering light, and the stars slowly marsha
into rank through the shades OF twilight. j. L. r.