The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-04
Especial Correspondence OF the Globe. ]
LETTER FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
The Switzerland Of America.


does 1t deserve the title. Mauch Chunk is
on the Lehigh river, 121 miles from New
York and lightweight from Philadelphia.
The name is an Indian one, and signifies
"Bear Trap, and very much like trap
the place must have looked to settlers.
The Lehigh runs through the place, and on
either side the banks rise up so directly
that for the two railroads that have been
built, one On either side of the stream, the
bank had to be excavated and the road cut
through the rock of the hills, while the
Lehigh canal is built by walling out por-
ton of the ground formerly occupied by
the river bed. From the river the banks
rise up some 800 feet, so nearly perpen-
dicular that it would be dangerous for
man to attempt to climb the bank, much of
the way impossible.
Just where Mauch Chunk is located a
little creek comes in from the west, and
one row of houses along the river bank
and for few rods two rows-with the two
streets which have been built up this creek,
is all the ground on which the village could
be built A part of the way third street
has been dug into the bank on the south
side of the creek, which is reached by
teams by journey around of some half a
mile, while pedestrians climb a flight of
stairs some $50 to 200 feet to reach it. On
the north side of the creek, about on
level with this high street, is large plain
where is located Upper Mauch Chunk, 1856
feet above the Lehigh, and from Upper
Mauch Chunk the switch-back railroad
runs to Summit hill, nine miles away going
by one route and coming back another.
This road was at first built for coal, but
tunnel having been constructed whereby the
coal is put upon the main railroad much
more scheaply, it is now used only
for pleasure travel. 1t is closed during the
winter. During the summer not day
passes but the visitors from the cities who
come to take ride over the Switch Back
may be numbered by hundreds, and often
single excursions from New York, Phila-
delphia, and other places number thou
sand or more. From Upper Mauch Chunk
the car is hauled up an inclined plane by
AO-horse engine stationed at the top of the
plane. The length of the track up this
plane is 1899 feet, and the rise 664 feet.
You are then $50 feet above the Lehigh.
which seems to be right at your feet, and
I Nm foot uhnua bo t,da l,ar M
Mount Jefferson you 60 down grade, with
no locomotive, O. miles, with fall of 800
feet. Here you are hauled up another
plane 2,O7O feet, the rise being 1852 feet.
You are then 1920 feet above the Lehigh
at Mauch Chunk From Mount Jefferson
to Summit Hill is one mile, with fall of
40 feet. Here is the noted 'burning NINE"
which has been burning for 25 or 80 years.
But there is little of it to be seen. A few
assures and a general shakiness of the
earth, with the escape of little smoke
here and there, Is about all one can see of
the "burning mine" and .one feels rather
squeamish about making a long stop where
he feels that he is liable at any moment TO
be precipitated by the giving away of the
earth beneath him into this snall-szed
'lake that burneth."
About mile from Summit Hill is the
"Ice Cave" where ice remains the wear
round. In the hottest of August weather
the ice in this cave forms about as fast as
it melts. The place is covered with ice.
and in one place there is massive column
OF pure ice, formed by the freezing of the
water which trickles through the roof.
This ice cave, uhowever, is seldom visited
because the approaches to 1t are difficult,
and no attempt has been made to make the
place attractive.
From Summit hill the switch-back runs
back to Mauch Chunk, down grade, ninety
feet to the mile. returning to the point of
starting at Upper Mauch Chunk.
Another point of attraction in the hot
days of summer is Glen Onoko. on the Le-
high Valley railroad, about two and a half
miles above here. This is delightful
place when all nature seems scorching with
The heat, and very many are the visitors.
The glen has been improved by the Lehigh |
Valley railroad company, to whom it be- |
ongs. The station itself is very pretty |
'ustic affair, and from it a footparh leads |
Up path of about mile, now crossing the |
flashing little mountain stream which dash
IS down the rocks, on little rustic bridges.
low sitting at the foot of 70 foot water
all In one of the rustic benches which are
III along prepared for the weary ira weller.
md again walking along precpice of
ecks, while the water IS whirling and
lashing madly along far below. Truly a
delightful walk is this, with the cool shade
# the trees overhead and the dashing SPRAY
round. In the walk of mile YOU rise
00 feet, SO you may judge that the seats
'hich have been prepared all along are
'retty well patronized by the excursionists
Who take the climb. There is no other
way OF seeing the glen, and no one has
done" the Switzerland who has moi
zen up Glen Onoko, so good many civ
eople who do not exert themselves az
luch in six months usually make this trim
It the top a large dancing floor, picnic
rounds, swings, etc., have been erected.
,hich add to the attractiveness of the
lace: About a quarter of a mile out from
ere is Packers Point, whence can be had
fine view OF the surrounding country, or
ather OF the Lehigh Valley as it stretches
way to the southwark through lie.
lgh Gap, with the mountains beyond
llentown, rising beyond in the center of ,
le gap. II any of the readers of the
LOBE ever nnd themselves in New York {
elsewhere this way, with day or two
'are, they can find no more enjoyable way
pass the spare time than by a visit to
e Switzerland of America )" $500
ID three or four hours time will bring one
're from New York, and less of both
oney and time will make the trip from
Philadelphia next year, when you visit the
ntennial.
II sad to be obliged to confess it, but the !,
eat beauties of the place by nature have
ZEN sadly marred to the resident by the ,
'pravity Of man. The casual visitor sees
Ia II IL a