Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1872-05-24
GENERAL.


AN EXCURSION TO MAuOH CHUNK, AND THE
| G. "swTroHBAoK" H. Il.
| Upon the invitation Of Mr. Theodore J. Flor
ance, agent Of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation
| Company, a number Of gentlemen connected
with the Press of Philadelphia, left that city on
Tuesday morning last for an excursion up the
valley Of the Lehighand over the famous Switch
back Railroad, near Mauch Chunk. The Press
Of Wilmington had one representative, the wri-
ter, and several railroad officials were also n-
oluded in the party. or these we mention Ellis
| clark the veteran general agent of the North
Pennsylvania r. r., who has held his present
position since tue road was opened, eighteen
years ago A, II. Fracker, Master OF Transporta-
| ton, on same road John Wise, President Com
| lys Secretary Geo. A. Dadman, Passenger
Agent OF the z. W. q b. X II and others.
Our route was over the North Pennsy syvania
| IL. X which, as it's name implies, runs due
| North from Philadelphia through the counties
| OF Montgomery, Bucks and Lehigh striking the
Lehlgh river at Bethlehem. This is a well man
| aged road, and extends through rolling coun-
try, mostly very fertile. The whole line is ball
lasted with broken stone, and hard coal is used
| In the locomotive, 30 that il IL unusually free
| from dust, and pleasant to travel over. Our
| train arrived at Bethlehem about noon, and we
we're Joined there BY a party OF railroad and
Newspaper men from New York and New Jersey.
Erastus Brooks, of the cypress Robert r. Sim
clair, Of Hdrper's Weekly Uba Woodruff, of
the Newark Advertiser II. w. Baldwin, Supt
OF the N. j. Central Il. Il being among the
number. We proceeded Immediately up the
Lehigh to Mauoh Chunk, distance OF thirty
four miles from Bethlehem, where we arrived
about two o'clock. Tho Lehigh Coal and Navi-
CATION Co. are the ownerH OF several hundred
acres Of coal lands near Mauch Chunk and sew
eral lines Of railroads, the main ones being the
Lehigh and SusquehRDna, extending from
Easton, At the month of the Lehigh river, to
Scranton, the Switch Back, and the Nesqueho-
ming Valley Branch, running from Mauch Chunk
to 1Amanend. They also own the canal ON the
Lehigh and Delaware rivers, over which they
send TO market vast quantities OF coal. The
companies work none of their railroads except
the switch Back, the others being leased to the
New Jersey Central | think II unnecessary to
describe the Switch Back X. h. as most OF my
readers have read about and many have seen it,
II was built many years ago by the Company, to
bring their coal from the Panther and other val
leys, over twelve miles Of mountains several
hundred feet high, to navigation on the Lehigh
river. IL is wonderful piece Of engineering
skill and serves its purpose well but a
tunnel 1000 feet long, under the mountains,
connecting the coal fields with the Nesqueho
ming Valley II. r. has rendered the Switchback
altogether useless, unless it can be made self
supporting as passenger road, for summer
tourists. The company have placed it in repair
have added new cars, and will keep ii open this
season for public travel II it Prove self sup
porting it will be kept open; il not, the track will
the loser by 1t. The tunnel of which spoke is
tive hundred feet beneath the summit of the
mountain. II took eighteen months to cut it
through, one hundred and eighty men being en-
ployed upon it.. From the time the labor COM
menced II never ceased day nor night, except on
Sundays, until the job was completed. The drill
ing was done by steam power, with the Buileigh
drill, using compressed air a motive power.
This drill IL made of steel, and will cut a hole
through solid rock eight inches a minute. The
engine which furnished the power was stationed
at the mouth Of the tunnel the compressed air
being carried in pipes thence to the drill. The
Company 10 able to save about thirty cents per
ton in the !Eansporiation .e5 eeel BS this tEVBAl
ment which was a round half million Of dollars.
Our excursion party returned from the ride
over the Switch Back to the Mansion House,
Mauch Chunk at about o'clock. An excellent
dinner was served up by the genial host, Mr.. Z.
t. Booth. After the cloth was removed Mr..
Baldwin Of the N. j. Central, called the guests
to order The Press, the Railroads, mine host,
we're toasted, and pretty much everybody either
made speeches or declined to do 30. The enter
conducting himself in all respects as gentle
man should.
The party remained at the Mansion House
over night and at eight O'Clock continued the
excursion up the Nescopic Branch H. H., TO the
upper Lehigb, visited points OF interest, dined,
and left for home about four o'clock, reaching
Philadelphia and New York at about o'clock.
Some excursionists went from Wilmington
over this route last summer, and we understand
another party is being formed for this season 1t
ought to be large one, for know of no trip
that will AFFORD more pleasure in return for the
outlay Of money required to make It. W. A.