Connecticut western news., 1872-05-24

lower at one end than at the other. This difference of height imparts an awkward ness of appearance, and the immense bottle. which is, in fact, the boiler and chimney. leans to one side, as if about to fall. When the engine ascends the mountain, the floor becomes level and the boiler is on the per- pendicular. In front of the boiler is a railed place, Ill which baggage is carried. The engineer and fireman stand, as usual, in the rear, and the fuel is coal. The car we were in was about ten feet wide, with nine seats placed transversely, and when filled would hold about sixty passengers, who find their comfort cared for in the shape of the seats. The car is open on all sides, something like the Third avenue ex- cursion cars in New York, which enabled us to have an excellent view of the scene ry. The cars and locomotives are built at Often, busy centre of Swiss industry The railway guage is five feet; the sleepcrs are longitudinal and continuous, as on our city railway tracks. Between the two rails is what may be termed heavy iron ladder, with thick steps. On this ladder the To- comotive walks, by means of a heavy cogged wheel. fitted beneath the floor of it. There are no trains, unless single car
 
 the road, the engine is behind the car and pushes it, instead of pulling it up hill Passengers who are nervous had better sit in the middle of the car, so as to avoid the sight of the gulfs and precipices over which the railway passes. The finest view either ascending or descending is on the right hand side. The speed is about twice as fast as ordinary walking. As soon as we left the depot, signal man started off ahead of the engine with a red flag in his hand and bugle swung at his side, and ran before of us all the way to Vitznau His principal business is to see that no Instructions have fallen from the upper slopes on the track, and especially to pick out any stones that may have fallen on the steps,of the iron ladder or cog-way. Trav- elers who have been up Mount Rig ghi know that 1t is a mass of pudding, with millions of stones for plums. Hence, constant watchfulness is Necessary, for stone in the cog-way might probably throw the engine from the track. We noticed way watchers at short distances apart, whose duty it was to gee the track was in good order, and each of whom is responsible for his section of the road. As an additional precaution against accident, each car is fitted with an exceedingly strong brake. The line stretches in one continuous slope up the mountain, with but slight depart ures from a straight line. and is very simi- lar to the one on Mount Washington in the White Mountains. There are no zig-zags, as on the road over Mount Cenis. Half way down the mountain the engine stop ped at water tank to take in water. We then slowly but surely descended, and in short time were at the end of the road. About 10 A. M. the steamboat stopped at the wharf on it's way from Luzerne to Fluelen, to which place we purchased tick cts after getting on board.
 The Lake of the Four Cantons is one of the most beautiful of the Swiss lakes, and the sail on it was one of great enjoyment. After leaving Vitznau, the mountains, with few exceptions, came sheer down to the waters edge, as on the Lake of Como. The length of the lake is about twenty-five miles, and is distinguished above every lake in Switzerland, perhaps in Europe, by the beauty of it's scenery. It is hardly less interesting from the historical recol- lections connected with it. It's shores are to all Americans, classic ground-the sane tuary ofliberty. On them took place those memorable events which gave freedom to Switzerland. Here the first confederacy was formed; and, above all, its borders were the scene of the heroic deeds and signal vengeance of William Tell. B.M.