Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-05-24

ten miles long and three miles wide, and ex-
tends along the foot Of the Jura mountains.
Our ride By the shore Of this fine sheet Of
water was delightful, surrounded with roman
tic and diversified scenery. few miles far
ther on. after leaving this lake, we came 10
Lake NeuclsateI. one Of the loveliest o. the
gem like lakes Of Switzerland, % miles long
and miles wide. II is fed by mountain
streams, and empties its waters by connect
ing river into Lake Bienne, from which the
same river issues forth, and conducts the
overflow Of both lakes into the river Aar.
NEUcHATEL.
We REACHED this city about 4 O'Clock in the
afternoon. 1t IL place with 1000 inbabi-
tsnfs, the capital Of the canton Of the same
name. it, name signifies '4new CASTLE" bat
in point Of fact, the castle, which stands on
an elevated ridge, is 80 old as to be in ruins.
NeucIratel is bnilt on the slope Of the Jura
mountains, and is divided into ridges and
hollows, one street running along the bottom
Of Q valley, while perhaps the next il on the
top Of high and steep ridge. The ridge
may be ascended by steps and stairs. or By a
long diagonal passage way. The city i. at
the foot Of Lake Neuchatel, and appear, to
have been a place Of considerable importance
1t some time, but now bears marks Of age
and decay. Many Of its shops are to be let,
and others do not appear to be doing much
business. The place has somewhat sleepy
and neglected look. There are, however,
number of large hotels, and the one where
We are now stopping, the hotel Mont Blanc,is
one of the best bnil,, finished and furnished
we have visited. There j., however, but
very little company except our party Our
hotel is quite near the lake, and there are
several other very elegant buildings in the
vicinity, both public and private. In Amer
lea. a hotel like this would cost, probabl',
1fOG, 900, and to furnish il, would require a
least $50, 600 more. How the propr, tors
can make il pay, is more than can imagine.
The business streets are mostly narrow, not
more than 20 or 80 feet wide, and the build
ings are Of stone, tall, old and weather worn.
The principal business Of this canton is the
manufacture of watches. Out of population
Of less than $3.50, Sor 10000 are engaged
in this occupation. II is carried on b, the
people nj their homes in the rural districts.
Some families make one special part of u
watch. and some another Others are busy
in fitting the parts together. About 10000
are employed in muslin printing. Lace is
also manufactured. Cattle raising is an i'm
portsnt branch o: industry, and large quanti-
ties Of cheese are exported.
Apgusf II. We fingered at Neuchatcl
most of the day, and visited an old church, a
picture gallery, and other places. but none of
much note The market in the street in the
morning was busy scene. II was odd to
explore the streets, and find ones self stroll
ing along between two rows Of shops or houses.
and see bank wall of stone 80 feet high or
more between you and the next street. with
fine residences browning the ridge. Some Of
us attempted to walk to the point where the
two streets, the high and the low, formed a
junction, but found it too far TO follow out.
A very steep stairway led from one to the
other. The junction was nearly two miles
out in the suburbs.
On the lake shore, instead Of wharves such
rs we construct, they had a sloping stone wall
or pavement, made of granite slabs. The
water in the lake is evidently much lower
than formerly, and was told that il had been
drawn oil for some purpose, to the great in
jury Of the commerce of the city
At o'clock this afternoon, we start upon
an all-night ride to Paris. H. X. b.