The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-07-05

Rise the glistonins sandstone lodges,
Mauch Chunk is a name from the aborigin-
al or Indian, signifyng Bear Mountain and
takes its name from continuous mountain,
which rises 800 feet IN height, overlooking the
little town which IN bygone years the Indian
hunters called "Machk Tschunk."
The town is situated in the deep, narrow and
tortuous valley of the Lehigh river, at one of
its many curves, and Is literally surrounded
and hemmcd in by lofty mountains.
On alighting for the first time in this ro-
mantle spot, one looks around in utter amaze
ment. and knows not whether first to bow in
awe at natures majesty or eXclaim with de-
light at the great triumph which engineering
skill has achieved in rendering accessible to|
the outer world a place so wonderful. n sec,
end glance causes him to feel Ill doubt whetl-
er he is not in the land of dreams, or had been
suddenly set down amid the Alpine hills,
among ,concs The like Of which he never saw
before instead Of Il sccildcd inland town in
the coal regions of Pennsylvania. Looking
TO the right one behods what is called Bear
Mountain" towering almost above our head
some 600 feet, clothed ir It's forest foliage and
the verdure of flowery June On the left
sweeps around the winding lehlgh, and not
more than thirty rods away looms up to the
very clouds Mauch Chunk, more than 800 feet
high, and SO steep is the ascent that it looks
perfectly perpendicular. Beyond, in another
direction, is to be seen the most singular and
irregular looking village on which the eyes of
man ever rested This is Mauch Chunk, and
from its midst rises another lofty emnence
called Mount Pisgah, which towers upward
some 700 feet, on whose summit is to be seen
the trestle engine house and high chlmneys of
the Switch-Back Railway, one Of those mod
ern miracles called an incline plane or "gravl-
ty run"
Such is your first view of Mauch Chunk,
which, to say the least, is one of surprising
novelty and wonder. A stroll through the
town reveals nothing wonderful in the way of
buildings, but one is struck with the remark
able Fitness of things" for it would seem as
though every available foot of ground is oc-
cupied, and virtually putting stop to its fur
ther growth Much OF it assumes a Swiss-like
appearance terrace above terrace, and long
lines of stairs climb the steep mountain sides,
while here and there are to be seen handsome
cottages reminding one of projecting lodges
on the side of the rocky cliff. The town is a
busy little burgh. The constant moving of
canal boats and almost endless coal trains, as
well as the countless vehicles running in all
directions make up scene which may be
gazed on tor hours, as one would gaze on a
moving panorama, unmindful of all else and
regardless of the lapse of time.
Seated in one of those Old-tashiOned carry
ais" the ''tiery steeds" are whipped up, and
we go crawling along the side of a steep hill,
and finally arrive at the
SWITCH BACK
Depot, at the foot of Mount Pisgah. Here we
take Il peculiarly-co Instructed car, and in a few
moments begin to ascend an incline 2,332 feet
in length, rising about one foot in three. tits
the very poetVof motion, and but for little
Earring of thetar the sensation-the conduct.
OF tells us-"is the same as going up in a bal
loon" Steadily and sercnely we are on the
upward move, and gazing with increasing sur
prise on the deepening valley behind U.S. on
the village which seems to be sinking into the
lowest depths between the surrounding noun
talns, which seem themselves to'loose their
former 'lhtude, and their SUBMITS to be sink
ing dow below our level, we suddenly come
TO a stop on the summit of Mount Pisgah,"
over 900 feet above the level of the Lehigh,
where glorious and most sublime landscape
bursts upon our sight. Nopen, no tongue can
describe its grand effects, all must be seen to
be understood. The numerous mountains are
all in full view, but look as if they were in
habited by lilliputians instead of full-grown
people A cemetery only short distance
from the town looks as If filled with tiny
monuments and eltin graves; and the Lehigh,
which has lost all of its turbulence, moves
along its devious way more like meandering
silvery brook between pneclad hills, than the
noisy and impetuous river, finding its outlet
through rocky gorgos and mountain chasms
to the sea.
From our lofty elevation we behold the nu-
merous mountains looming up before us Far
away to the south we catch a glimpse of the
Lehigh Water Gap, the hazey blue outlines OF
the Schooly mountains in New Jersey, over
sixty miles away, and many Of the naTeless
mountain ridges, rising one above the other
Following the horizon around in another
direction we see a mingled panorama of blue
hills and green forests, bewlldering in their
extent and beauty, opening to our view one of
the grandest scenes our American scenery af-
fords, and
so wond'rons Wild the whole might seem
The scenery OF q fairy dresm-"t
All aboardr' and IN a moment We wereI