Connecticut western news., 1879-07-30
What An ExcursiOnist Saw.

VISIT TO THE CHARCOAL FIELDS OF THE CATS
 KILLS ALONG THE ULSTER $ DELAWARE RAIL
 ROAD.
 EDITOR OF FIREMAN Through the courtesy of the Ulster & Delaware Railroad Company it was my privilege, few days since to make one of party ofinvited guests to visit through the charcoal manufacturing districts of the Catskills. The party was composed of Hon. w. H. Barnum of Connect icut N. c. Ward, Esq, of the Barnum Rich ardson Company at East Canaan, MT. George S. Teork of the Millerton Iron Company of Irondale, N. Y, George c. Woolsey, Esq.,, of Kingston, and number of other gentlemen interested and engaged in the charcoal and iron interest. The rendezvous of the party was at the Mansion House, Rondout. After an early breakfast next morning we were es- corted to the depot by MT. S. D. Coykendall Vlce-President where we met General Super mtendent George Coykendall with a special train in waiting on which we took passage, passing Kingston, West Hurley and other stations until we reached Shokan, where we stopped and looked over the charcoal works of the Millerton Iron Company. After a thorough inspection of these, as well as of their works at Fox Hollow, Big Indian and Pine Hill, at each of which places we stop. ped, we reached Summit station, eighteen hundred and eighty-six feet above tide water Here we found carriages in waiting to con. vey the entire party to an elevated plateau called Monkey Hill about one mile distant. From the summit magnificent panorama presented itself The counties of Ulster Delaware and Greene were mapped out before us Villages, farms of field and wood, roads rivulets, lakes and streams in endless success tance. To the left looking northward we could trace the windings of the railroad as il followed the valley of the west branch of the Delaware for miles and miles away unti But to the southward lay the great point o attraction for the party, the almost intermi nable forests of timber, ridge succeeding ridge and valley after valley of virgin forest In the dim distance the old Slide ed its head far above the surrounding forests, stand ing sentinel, as it were, over the Witte nbure and other less aspiring mountain peaks. Some of our party who were acquainted with the White Mountains Say there is nothing there to compare with the magnificent scenery iron this point of observation, and they voted this the site for the next grand hotel to be erected 1 for the throng of summer boarders who are hastening from the cities to cool retreats After enjoying this view for an hour or two we returned to Summit station, took our trair back to Big Indian, when lunch was called for, and such a lunch as only our frienG Peter Weaver, proprietor of the Excelsior Restaurant, could furnish, and who accom- pani ed the expedition after which we agair took the carriage in waiting and went up the Big Indian valley six or seven miles, to get z nearer view of the forests seen from Monkey Hill. On our way we passed ice cold spring: ] dscharging water enough to turn mil I wheel. Returning to the station and anothe lunch from the variety and abundance fur nished we returned to Rondout, where WI were met by Hon. Thomas Cornell, presiden of the road, who congratulated us upon ou days enjoyment and safe return. Th
 would, ordinarily, have ended the excursion
 but not so in this case. At the dock w found the steamer Pittston waiting to conve, us over the river to Rhinecliff, where anothe
 special in charge of Conductor Costing, wal | provided to carry us to the state line ove the Rhinebeck & Connecticut railroad-ou place of destination. After our safe return and short time to gather our thoughts, w, give utterance to our impressions
 First, to convey our thanks to the officers of the road who so generously planned ant carried out the excursion, so complete in al grandeur of the scenery, second to none w believe, this side of the Rocky Mountains | and third and lastly, of the extent and future of the vast forests yet remaining untouched along the line and within the reach of this road In the near future this will be the source of supply for much of the charcoa used for iron manufactures in the New Eng. land States. Steam barges are constructed to transport loaded cars across the Hudson and coal can and is now taken directly from the place of manufacture and delivered with out breaking bulk at all the furnaces where used. EXCURSION.
 State Line, N. Y., July l9 1879.
 Kingston Freeman, July 21