Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-07-21

THE xoux- w.surxcroy RAILROAD

to the lower station of the Summit railroad
not at all tedious.
THE MOUNT WASHING TON RAILROAD
has been so often described. that most read
ers must have some idea Of it. The enter
prise was remarkable rather for the holiness
of its conception than from the difficulty OF
the engineering problems solved by 1t,
though some of these were not easy. IL Is
three miles long. and in the steepest por-
tons tho grade is 1880 feet TO the mile
over one foot rise in every three. There has
been no attempt to change the surface OF
the mountain side. or to construct road
bed of earth or gravel. The rails rest on
trestle work. VARYING from foot or two IN
height to thirty feet. the supports firmly
braced against the rocky sides OF the noun
tain. The cars are small and light. IN COM
parison with ordinary railroad coaches,
and each is pushed up the slope by sepa-
rate locomotive. The driving wheel is stout
cog-wheel, which meshes into wrought
iron rack between the rails. The rate OF
speed is two miles an hour, and an hour
and half is consumed in the ascent. The
various contrivances for the prevention OF
accidents are so ample that one VINO mas
examined them starts on his upward way
without fear and even tie ladies soon lost
all sense OF apprehension in the magnificent
views obtained from the car windows and
platforms. These grew in extent and beau
ty as we rose and the last ones before we
reached the house, with the sunset hues and
shadows of the drifting clouds hecking the
sides of Mount Adams near by. will not
soon be forgotten.
ON TIE MOI STAIN TOP
the clouds hung around the summit and
yelled the prospect, from sunset till dark
but there were occasional breaks, through
which the Lakes OF the Clouds, near by.
and glimpses of the great panorama spread
around were visible. The air was cold,
Though at White River Junction the mer-
curry stood at 90 > at sunset) and overcoats
and shawls were in requisltion. Some OF
the party visited the Signal Station, and
talked with the intelligent observer, domi-
ciled there Summer and inter with wife and
baby 6 ,2s5 feet and six tenths OF foot, as he
informed curious inQuirers, above the level
of the ocean The breeze was then blow
ing freshly from twenty TO thirty miles an
hour; bur speed Of one hundred and Sere1'-
ty miles an hour has been recorded there.
At this velocity if the air had the density 1t
has at common elevations, station observers
and all would have been swept OF the
mountain. As it was. it ives hurricane
in which no human being could exist outside
OF shelter.
The gathering mists and darkness sent
all in to supper at eight O'Clock. The Sum
NIT House is long and spacious structure
OF wood. painted white. braced to the rocks
BY stout chains, and provided with ample
platforms on three sides but with no plaz-
.as or flagree work about it. to be carried
away by the tsmpests. IL is kept by Mrs.
j. W. Dodge, the widow Of its former pro-
prietor W hose chief clerk and manager, Mr..
ID. F. Cooper, paid every attention to the
needs of the guests. An excellent supper.
sauced with summit appetites, was spread IN
the ample dining hall, which will accom-
mOdate some $50 guests, and after due at
tention to it, the Association met IN the
psrlor, TO complete the
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
The committee to nominate officers for the
ensuing wear, reported the following nomIn-
ations For President, Hon. E. P. Walton;
Vice Presidents. Joseph Poland. Albert
Clarke. A II. futile; Recording Secretary,
S. B. Pettengill Corresponding Secretary,
l.. 0. Greene Treasurer. c. NJ Stone
Executive Committee. E. p. Walton. j. IL.
eastman, A. n. Swain.
The report was accepted. and the officers
elected
Mr.. Pettengill, chairman Of the commit
tee TO nominate orator and poet for the next
meeting, reported for orator, Hon. E. p.
Walton, and that the selection Of poet be
left with the executive committee. The
Corresponding Secretary. Mr.. l.. q. Greene.
was appointed committee to report the
customary resolution of thanks TO the ilf-
fsrent hotels and railroads.
Mr.. Pettengill, from the committee on
l.. H.. . aNask
reported the following
WHEREAS Joseph Wilson Whee'ocs. editor and
publisher OF the Green Mountain Freeman, and pub
Usher o. the Vermont Ch-ittisH Messsngsr. has de
ceased since the last meeting o. this association
therefore,
Resolrsi. that we reeo gnired Mr. Wheelock ss a
valuable member o. this association, who, by his
attendance and Interest in meetings and his
counsel and suggestions. contributed largely TO It's
success. We knew Mr.. Nheelock also as most
industrious and Ell Client member OF our craft. who
won his way from apprsntceshlp as a printer to
the control o. one o. the most influential news
papers in the State. and we knew him personally
as Al unpretending, modest gentleman 81 genuine
worth and faithful friend. We sincerely mourn
his decease, and assure his family otour sympathy
with them this bereavement.
Rssoirsd. That the secretary transmit 70 Mr..
Wheelock's family copy o.. these resolutions.
The following resolution was offered by
Mr.. Benedict
WHEREAs There IS no more reason Why the pub
fishers Of newspapers should be expected TO fur
nish valuable advertising tree u the various pol Z
ical committees than Why stationers should be
called on to furnish stationery or landlords give the
rents o. halls Tree, gratis for nothing. therefore,
RssohsG, That in the opinion o. this Association
publishers should make a moderate charge for pub
fishing calls :or political conventions and caucuss-
Lao A.aAa.-.a,. - sstlowed.
The curious celuslOn existing among intelli-
gent persons, who find no difficulty in see
ing that the sloe-dealer's shoes, and the
grocers groceries cost him money,
and that he cannot afford to give
them away, but who fail to under
stand that the setting of every type and
every square inch of bis paper costs the pub !
Usher money. and that asking him for free
Advertising Is the same thing as asking the
merchant for free dry goods-was duly |
noted The conviction was quite dis |
tinet and general, that editors and pu blish- |
ers. who DO large amounts of gratuitous
labor and work for the public and for their |
political parties, and who also often con-
tribute largely IN money and printing,
ought not to be expected also to furnish /
valuable advertising space for formal calls
Of conventions and political meetings, With
out remuneration. The opinion was also
expressed that the resolution might well be
extended 50 as to include cards of thanks,
obit uaIy notices and the like, which are
paid for IN some places bu. in others are
not I; but il was deemed best at this time TO
cOnine the expression to the matter of poll
teal Advertising. and on motion of j. NJ.
Poland, the resolution was unanimously
adopted.
STARLIGHT as is STARLIGHT
The meeting over. the company broke for
the platforms outside The clouds had
cleared away, and the stars shone with mar
Eelous brilhancy. OF course it could hard
Y be that the mere subtraction of
nile or so from the thousands of billions
which separate US from the fixed stars
'ould make much difference but that or
iomefh,n9 did make wonderful difference. .
The milky way seemed not a mile above US.
The consultations which filled the hemis-
'here, blazed with doubled light. Hinged ,,
With the starry world" we stood. and
bought among other things of the immen-
ity OF the universe in which our little
'lanet Is but speck of star-dust with its
reflected light. !
Some stald up till eleven TO see the moon
Use. willing the time in part 18th singing
n t1e large parlOr. made comfortably warm
y the lights and a fire in the hall, and then
il retired. to sleep the sleep Of the limo
ent and weary.
Arrangements had been made to call all
ands II the morning of Friday was clear. And
little before o'clock the warning thumps !
vent the rounds, and most of the party turn I
d out. The morning was mild and almost :
ertectly still. The surrounding heights E
Iere dim in the dusky twilight Of the early
forming; but deep. blood-red band along 9
be eastern horizon told of coming day. IL =
and widened, the distant noun !
Ain ranges in Maine, low down in the
astern horizon. showing dark and distinct u
gainst It, TIL the orb of day rose with a
itner red lace, over an evidently high :
eak. reported to be Mount Katabd,n "
hlch lies far to the northeast. hundred $
nd sixty miles away. Ii was pronounced o
unusually fine sunrise, by those who !,
rotessed 10 know the genuine arti- q
e. For two hnnrs o. -. L. Z