Saint Mary's beacon., 1880-01-29
ICoMMuKIcATGp.
WeATHERBY. PESNA.. I
Jan. q. 1880. (

WEAThEBBYs TENNAss +.
Jan. 81, 1880.
.Mesvs. Editors Thinking that q
! Jew hines from this section of our vast
country might prove acceptable to q
majority u your readers. / have
.occppled some ol my leisure moments
Sin compiling this imperfect sketch os
such points oi interest as would be mo~t
likely 10 entertain, and perchanee in
teFesi those OF your patrons who are M
( familiar with The extensive coal fields
oi Eastern Pennrylyania,
Weatherby. the point from W hich
pen these lines, is situated on the Bea-
yer meadow division oflhr Lehigh Val
lev R. X. Co. The town has popu-
laiion OF nearly $500, and presents .
sufficiently picturesque appearance to
win more than passing glance from
sone Imbued with love OF the Wild and
rugged in nature. In approaching the
town, the railroad follows the Lehigh
river Tor some distance, and makes a
sinuous track between the great hills
that rise up, giant-like in their proper
tons, on either side; at some places
overhanging she track. and apparently
threatening 10 crush passing trains with
their ponderous weight. Suddenly, you
emerge iuto a more open spsce, and
"WeatheFby" is called out by the con+
ductor.
A stranger alighting from The cars Is
apt TO form The opinion that Weatberby
is but an Insignificant place, for IRON
no one point, can the whole town be
seen. On one side Of the railroad the
rocks rise black and pFecipitous 10 o
great height, while on the other side
Che ground rolls away in successive un-
dulations; now bill, and then dale.
On this side lies The larger portion oi
the town. while on the other Il consists
|of IoHg streets that winds along 10
xiz-xag path frorn under the shadow OF
the overhanging rocks far out into the
'country. There are, however, q num-
lber OF houses perched high up on the
\ brow OF the hill above the rocks, which,
\ at night, when the lamps are llt and the
Hight streaming out from open windows,
reminds one Of light ho0se=on aiFock.
whose friendly giimmer guides the
Aweary mariner 10 a ssfe and peaceful
haven. On the other side, the town is
laid out as well as the irregular nature
Iof the ground will permit. Numerous
tasteful dwellings please the eye Of the
chance observer, more or less elaborate
in architectural design, according TO the
taste and depth of pocket Of the re>pee-
tlve owners The business pursuits oT
THE place are almost entirely meehAni-
cal, although there are q number ofen-
sergeiic merchants who do as thriving .
trade as their attention to business and
Integrity merits. IA ~s ase -.
The h. r. Co. have large shops here,
comprising machine, blacksmith and
Ear shops, and an extensive foundry.
These give employment 10 about four
hundred mechanics. Then there is
large round house, having room for per-
hans thirty locomotives. All the coal
nined in the neighboring mines (whose
hame is legion) must necessarily pass
Through here. The grade, from Wealth
rby np to Halle Greek Bridge, about
wo miles above, is 135 feetto the
lille. Engines bringing coal from The
hines. cut loose st the head ofthe grade,
md long trains Of two hundred ears
ome down by the aid Of no other mo-
i've power than their own momentum.
ne Weatherby. engines are again put
e the trains, and the coal is shipped to
aekeFion. the distributing point for
early all the coal shipped over the nu-
neFous ramiIications ofthe Valley Road.
pme idea Of the magnitude Of the coal
nsiness ~ this section may be gained
rom consideration OF the fact. that
here are on ca average 1000 car loads
4 coal shipped daily over tins branch
II the road. There are two other d.
isions. that each carry nearly as much
sore, making 5000 car loads daily, OF
900. 900 car loads Of coal yearly. Each
8r viii average ten toes, so Won can
erin to realize The stDpendous business
ansacted In the coal fields. And this
the amount carried By one company
nly. There are other roads carrying
'eFhaps rs much more. Al some other
me. if this letter be fortunate enough
escape an untimely end u the waste
askes, / will endeavoF 10 give some
count OF The manner ia which co6i ls
bought TO the surface, and other infor-
alion relative TO the coal traffic. But
Asing Weafherby and the coal trade,
us journey together down the road.
bout shiEty minutes ride will bring as
alen Onoko, one Of the most piclur-
4ne tpois Iii Pennnylyania, IL not In