New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-09
A TRIP TO THE CATSKILLS.
NEWSPAPER MEN ON AN EXCURSION.
BY THE WEST SHORE RAILROAD AND
THE HOTEL KAA1ERsKILI-


ENTERTAINED BY THE WEST SHORE RAILROAD AND
THE HOTEL KAA1ERSKILL-
About hundred newspaper men from New
York. Philadelphia and other cities made an excursion
Saturday over the West shore Railroad and connect
lines to the Hotel Kaatersk the largest hotel In the
Caisk Mountains. The excursion was arranged jointly
by the hotel and railroad with the design to cs public
attention the attractions OF the Catskils and their
accessibility. In the party we're representatives OF
nearly all the Journals New York. Brooklyn and Phila-
delpha with smaller delegations from Baltimore and
Washington The party included the folio wing railway
men, Of left the before 1t reached
the mountains: Henry Monet, general passenger
agent OF the West Shore who had charge OF the excur
sion and took special pains make the trip enjoyable
as possible; John N. Abbott, the genial general
passenger agent Of the Erie road G. T. Hampstead,
general passenger agent OF the New.York, NewHaven
and Hartford J. w. Burdick, assist
ant general passenger agent Of the Delaware
and Hudson Canal Companys Railroad, and Mr. Marcy,
general freight agent Of the road; f. B. Hubbard,
general passenger agent OF the Ulster and Delaware
W. J. Arke, of the Mount McGregor road. and John
L. NisDet secretary; James E. Chids general superin
tendent; W. p. Robinson, traffic manager, and b. II.
Ball. general freight OF the West Shore Others OF
the company william W. Harding, of The Phiadet-
phia Inquirer; william Henry Forman, of The Han
haitian; Charles Parsons superintendent OF
the art department OF Harper & Brothers;
j. N. Hallock, Of The Christiaa al Work; 4.
NJ johnson, of The Century; Harry Fem, the
artist, and Walton Van Loan, whose we-known Cats
kill Mountain Guide" the product Of many years per-
study of this religion furnishes all theiufomation
that one going into the Catskls may desire to obtain
THE JOURNEY TO THE MOUNTAINS.
The party from Philadelphia were Joined at Jersey
City by the representatives of the New York and Brook
Ign press and ew minutes before 10 the train started
1t consisted ofthree carsa SMOKER" handsome draw
a,laA
rapidly the road, which found to be we'll
ballasted and to very smoothly. For
tho first thirty miles there Is
nothing striking about the country through
which the road passes Then little distance this side
of Haversraw the train enters short tunnel and when
| II emergcs unrivalled view Of the Hudson-here
wdened into the Tappan zee-is suddenly disclosed to
view. From this point to Kingston the road runs
near the river and charming succession Of river
scenery presented Just before entering Kingston the
Rondont Creek Is crossed bridge nearly 200 feet
high from which the valley OF tho creek be
much advantage While whlrling through such pleasant
scenes, luncheon was rived In tie buffet car
| At Kingston the train switched upon
the tracks of the Ulster and Delaware
road over which 1t through the
southery portion OF the Catskls to PhGncia. Here
train OF open similar to those In the Coney
Island roads waiting the Stony Glove aud Cats
kill Mountain road This is q narrow-gaugc line and
among PERCEPTIONS and oyerhanging mountains which
seem at times to hem and DO oath to afford
outlet Ono OF these 10 Hunter Mountain. 4032 feet
high the highest of the Greene County Catsks and the
highest with exception slide MounalD) in tae entire
Catsklll range. At Tannersye Junction still another
railway Is found-the Kaatcrskl read. eight miles in
ength-whoso further terminus is at South
| Lake, within mile Of both the Hotel
Kaatcrsk and the old Mountain House. Tue last rails
on this road were laid last Friday night mile or two
beyond Tannersvle the excursion was compelled TO
halt "a a couple OF curious had taken up their
position on the track from which they had TO be fright
ened away the shouts Of the fireman and the tootpg
Of the engine. They made their exit In an undignhed
( way amid voey OF applause and laughter
| A LAWYER WHO RUNS A HOTEL.
Such good time had been made by the train that IL
WA nearly au hour ahead OF time when the Laurel House
| station-about mile from the Hotel Kaaterskill-was
reached At the suggestion OF George Harding, the pro-
prieor OF the asnaned hotel who met the party here,
| all alighted and. after hasty view OF the
Kaaterskn Falls were driven over smooth ascending
road to the hotel OF VIII eh they were 70 Dc h9 guests
This stands the north side or the ksatersk Glove
huge noch or gorge running neay S@s com nu
| vide view Of the Hudson; tue INTERVENING farming ing
horizon by the Berkshire Hills This motel and Its sur
ronndings form excellent illustration OF mans power
over AZURE Three years the spot where the hoiel
stands WAS an untamed wilderness, covered with rocks
| underbrush aud huckleberry bushes IN September
~ the Mp plans Harding '@' vesaowa we're PATENT
lawyer u Philadelphia. who had become dissaLi rs
bis family FOR years and resolved to build MOTEL OF
MS own He bought tract Of the mountain m ing
other direction but irregular In outline Ihs = termed
Kaatersk tars motel was , pg. mp w or ee os
Siderable distance around nave been converted into
lawn dotted and there with beds OF flowers The
| wilde meas had indeed been made to blossom
A PLAN FOR SUMMER CITY.
| Mr.. Harding is said to have spent about tire o
| quarters OF million thus TAR In his on
| terprse His plan Is to build cottages
| In the "Park" and in time to make summer city on
the top declares that this ho eel is his hobby
na ,hot no docs not care whether he makes money
"a, As other men build yachts and buy fast horses so
hebas bu hotel The hotel Is fitted with all the con-
veniences found indispensable by civilized man. and
with tho opening OF the West shore and the kaaters
roads IA within four hours ride or New-f0rk IL can
49,, NJ. readily reached from Catskil by the Chtskill
Morntsn railroad TO PalenvIlle and then by delight
mi drive Of four miles up tue nons VI tue mum noun
tain over an a.oc sSSSD engineers declared
TINS ,DossIS a to build when Mr. Harding first pro-
| posed IT,
The marty OF newspaper men reached the motel ABOUT
| -, ~ and were warmly welcomed by Captain Edward
cnlett the lessee Shortly after they sat down In
tho large dinngroom which 24O feet In length TO an
xceen and welserved dinner. TO when ample Justice
IVA. done after long and warm ride III Inc course
Of tho dinner resolution was adopteu 'hanAhs '"o
.r. NJ the various railroads which the company
d ,ravelod and the proprietor and lessee OF the hotel,
%, THAR kindness aud courtesy in arrang-
inc the excursion and treating their guests
40 handsomely An incluoht Al, so
SV,ror WAS the attempt of irresponsible Philade
nhiau 70 aot as a setappointed toastmaster he was
rn,nntly and properly suppressed by Mr. Harulng 10
"ppiccf Of ai present who not In mood FOR
making or listening 10 speeches During the dinner
,,hundsr storm came sweeping over High feak anu
pn""d Ton on the opposite side OF the Glove ana tne
hy NJ tbe thunder went reverberang through the
hills. ,,y,rrn nv PAIN
When the guests OF the hotel awoke yesterday morn
, e. was TO ind leaden sky ghost-like fragments OF
.. we're creeping along the tops OF the higher noun