Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-08-09
AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.
Mauch Chunk and Glen 0noko-A Letter
from the Pennsylvania Switzerland.


Special correspondence OF the STATE JOURNAL
MAUCH CHUNK, July 31st, 1S73.-
Knowing that Wilmington was about to
send an excursion 10 these mountains,
felt that must add my mite of praise
In honor of the grand and wonderful
scenes In which they abound, and thinking
perhaps l might induce some, who have
not been up the Lehigh Valley TO come
now, when it is so perfect in its glory and
beauty.
Having been here last summer and seen
Thousands of people visit daily the Switch
back, / felt that there would be no people
left to come this season, but mole tourists
and excursions hive been here this year
than there were in the same time last
year.
The Mansion House and American
have been enlarged, yet they are unable
TO accommodate all of their borders, hay
ing had crowded houses since the season
opened.
Having been with Mr.. p. T. f Smith
on his October excursion last year, we
can endorse this one with ali our heart,
for we never saw better management or
more care taken for the comfort aud
pleasure of tuose under his charge.
l believe you are 70 have about seven
hours and a half at Mauch Chunk this
will give you ample time to sec the town
and its beautiful surroundings, TO 20 over
the Switchhack. and to do The Glen.
The ride up the Lehigh Valley is one Of
continued and changing beauty. Stopping
at many interesting towns aud passing
many pretty villages and hamlets we
come TO Bethlehem, with It's beautiful
Morayian Seminary, and university and
its many points Of interest, which may be
seen from the cars. Allentown, the
largest aud most prosperous town in the
Lehigh Valley, with its many blast fur
naees and rolling mills where the crude
ore Is quickly turned INTO marko table
iron. Here, farm OF rolling land, beau
tifully cultivated, lying far ny the noun
tain side, with its fields now stripped of
all their golden grain. fulfilling their
promise Of a glorious harvest.
Fields of corn with their bright tassels
feasting in the sunlight and seeming the
air with their sweet perfume. The
Lehigh river rushing down in It's turbulent
beauty, dashing against its rocky ted,
foaming and sparkling as It falls over the
dams, here turning a mill, then splRshing
with pure white spray. Sowc travel on
new scenes always meeting the eye and
delightlng the fancy, aud We reach
Mauch Chunk, town famous as the
Switzerland of America.
Here we leave the cars and walk over
to the foot of Mount Pisgah and take the
little cars soon we feel ourselves lifted
up by some unseen power, up plain two
thousand three hundred and fifty feet in
length.
Arriving at the top we find those pow
EWNa 81 81.
mysteries which have lifted US to the top
OF this mountain. Here we have magni-
flcent view-mountains and valleys.
plains, slopes and gorges, over-hanging
cliffs and forest tees, towns and villages,
dot the landscape for miles around aud
then a scene Of fifty miles in extent Is
brought TO our view, and we wonder and
admire in silence. After a few moments
spent in sight seeing at the Pavilion we
again take our seats in the little car and
away we 20, curving around the noun
tains, flying swiftly down past many
scenes of beauty are carried, away by
some invisible force again.
Most truly the sensations Of this gray
ity ride, among the indescribable things,
and tits by far the most delightful of ali
possible means Of transit.
After a seven miles switchhack we ar
rive at the foot of Mount Jefferson here
we are lifted up the mountain as before.
this plane being two thousand and seven
ty feet high. Again We are switchedback
and soon arrive nj Summit Hill, the prln-
cipal mining town in the Lehigh coal
regions. 1t is quaint old town, with a
town hall resembling castle or French
bastile It mas about two thousand mhab-
itants, mostly miners and their families.