Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-08-18

7
beauties TO be seen here, us we observed Mr..
Thomas, of the firm OF Boughman 81 Thomas,
Oh The porch Of the Mansion House, and was
evidently pleased with the scenes here. lie ar
rived here to-day. VI
As u matter OF course no one comes to Mauch
Chunk who does not intend TO ride over the In
clned plane up Mount Pisgah and over the
Gravity Road. IL he does not do this he misses
grand affair. The length of the Mount Pisgah
Inclined plane is 1922 feet, up which the cars
are drawn by means of stationary engine at
the top. Standing at the foot Of the mountain
and looking up, the plane looks almost perpen-
dicular, and when ascending IN the cars, draw n
up towards tie couds,he agitates his mind with
how lie would look should the cor gel loose
1t strikes me there would be many left Of him to
look at at least he world have littlo shape. The
guide book, however, explains that 1t would be |
impossible for a car TO go backwards, and ex-
plains how. But l will leave the explanation TO |
be -four out by going there, as 1t would occupy /
two much space here. ,
As the car ascends the view enlarses, and on
arriving at the topa splendid prospect opens to |
tue delighted visitor. After loosening from the
machinery that carried us up, the car ran along
the top Of the mountain a few rods, during
which time we had a magnificent view OF the
| country. We stopped at sign reading "to the
Pavilion. Here We got out, and were allowed
an hours time before the next train would come
| along. This hour was spent in clambering up
| the mountain 10 the "ravillion," large and
coniuodious building used for dancing and pic
| mics. Truly, dancing would have q double
charm on top OF the mountain just imagine
stripping the light fantastic toe, }" We gentle dan
| Ger, where the eye can see for hundred miles,
| almost, and almost amongst the clouds. After
| spending short time here, to take rest, and
enjoy the delightful mountain bieeZes, we again
started out, and wendell our way TO the extreme
point of the mountain, on which is situated an
observatory, about twenty feet high, from the
| top of which q noble prospect is spread before
us; on the cast we can see the Lehigh Gap, and
beyond that, away TO the left, like blue mist,
Is one of the mountains forming the Delaware
Water Gap. At our feet, lay the Sai ISIS like lit
tie town, and on the north n series of mountains
In the valley, between Mt Pisgah and the
mountains on the north lies the little village OF
Coalport, the houses looking like good sized toy
houses, here lies lie railroads. ofthe various
companies named IN this letter, along which
ged the long tins of coal cars, looking like
long black worms the engines looking no lar
ger than II child's toj Oh the west lies Glenn
Onoko u beautiful place, down which silvery
cascades dash, and curious rocks delight the
visitor. After spending short time hero we
returned down the mountain to the train, rs
| our hour was up, To continue our ride to Sum
init Hill, and the burning mine, over the re-
: ncwned Gravity Railroad. 1t Is enchanting
this ride ON Tie Gravity. 1t seems mysterious
, but it isn't; TO go at such speed, often fifty
| miles all hour, over Il road as smooth as we cal
: wish, along the brow Of the mountain il look:
flightful, looking down the steep sides Of The
, mountsin, but there is 10 occasion for fear
Arriving at the foot of Mt. pisgah We are
. also at the foot of Mount Jefferson, up which
: : we are drawn on another inclined plane, b,
a means of stationary engine, and continue GU
a journey to Summit Hill, where the first anthra
:. cite coal was discovered by hunter nance
a Ginter, in l79j, but it was not until 1920 tina
a regular shipments were made Summit Hill wa
!, originally called Sharp Mountain, and IS nin
" miles from Mauch Chunk. The coal wa
IN brought from the mines IN wagons, until 1927
4 | when the track was constructed, with fallin
!, grade from Summit Hill, down which the car
q. run by their own gravity, and from this we hav
"a the Gravity Road.
a. Every visitor at Summit Hill desires TO sc
IA tho burning mine, and one Of the party secure
the services of an aged miner who guided L
Az there. II is located probably quarter of
~. mile from summit Hill, and the extent of II
a fire covers ii mile and half of territory. VII;
Il, an amount Of coal has been consumed here :
' 1t has been burning for twenty years, and a
a, attempts To eNtnguish il have been in vain.-
sh Taking us to a spot OF ground. suken below til
If surface by the cavrg OF the burning mine, Il
: guide scrlpch away couple of inches of Il
,,c surface and invited MS To touch tue spot wit
II | our hands, which We did, and | can heal
,i' lily assure you We did not hold our han
Nv there many minutes il was so hot; and on oil
Ia of the gentleman Of the party taking his CA
,st and running into the sol. earth, volume
10 smoke rushed up through the opening tn
i. made, showing that the fire was near the 81
m face.
,ni Returning to The cars we again started c
~. this time for Mauch Chunk, down the Crawl
81 There is one incident ! will mention here
IN, During the afternoon Il storm was seen how
L. | ing over the mountains, and on turning q
III | faces Mauch Chunkward we saw that it W
,ai | raining there. The cars were going very rap
ri, | ly, and about halfway down the mountain
,,e | ran into il the wind was blowing in our fac
irk very hard, the ears were going tifty-rniles
'he | hour, the combination of which, aided by
srd dashing rain forced the passengers to Ia
;nr | around, so rs TO get their breath. On we ru
Il ed, il seemed to me, faster and faster, until
iu,r | came out of IL and entered the sunlight aga
sI,. On reaching the foot Of the mountain IL "
he's discovered that two of the passengers had /
The their hats, the only damage that was done
the stolm. And thus ended my first ride
mr. the Gravity Road. l. is exhilirating degl
nr full, enchanting, thus to rush. as it were tlrou
mi. space. Coaches were in waiting to take
arc visitols - the Man sion House, where we arr
rrc cd at live o'clock, having accomplished the jo
h, al ney in little over three hours | would Ii,
nm. say IA word In reference to the price, which
ma Sj,and is good for 10 days;il also includes n
in over the Gravity Road. This is reasonable, C,
sidcring everything. The tickets are issued
10. the North Penn. and y. j. Central roads, bt
ere roads hclng under good management ard II
!, Ia ming handsome ears. 1t comes within
ties means of all, and will pay the eAcusonst.
md ~. L. d.