Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-10-12
A DAY IN THE MOUNTAINS.
NAuCH CHUNK, TINE sWlTCH'
RACK AND GLEN OMOKO--
sCENES AND INCIDENTS,


sAuCH CHUNK, TINE sW1TCH
RACK AND GLEN OMOKO-
SCENES AND lNClDEMTn.
A representative of the REPUBLICAl
RI Sc at an unusually early hour yeste,
day morning and proceeded to The r.
W. & B. Railroad station to take a
nain on the Wilmington & Norther
railroad for Reading, en- route for wha
ba, trutbfully been styled the Switzer
land of America. At precisely as
o'clock the conductor gave the wor,
all aboard" and after toot Of tb
whistle the train started.
In consequence of the early hour fix
el tor starting, not more than twenty
i've or thirty people were able to max
the train, but others were gathered VI
at almost every station between her
and Reading. The sky, filled witt
bright stars, gave promise Of gloriou
day, and when the train had reached
Iepape station, 1S miles from this city
the frs, signs of daylight commenced
to appear.
When the train stopped At Coates
vile, it was broad daylight, and th'
residents of the borough, which lays on
both sides of the stream, were wei
astIr, while the fires burned brightly II
the rolling mills as they prepared fol
another days work. About twenty-fiv
excursionists were taken on at this
poiut, and then away the train flew
over bridges, past hou.ts, farms ant
work shops, as 1t sped throus sh the rich
and fertile Chester Valley.
The trees are covered with Their
autnmnal dress of vsriegated tints, and
as the god of day arose In the eastel Il
skies aud cast his bright beams upon
them, 1t formed scene beautiful
beyond description. The crops have
been garnered, and the shocks OF corn
sill standing in the fields, with the
growing wheat for the ensuing year
that covers the earth with its mantle
Cf green, shows that the labors OF the
hnsbandman ara almost completed for
this season. The Brandywins, ~ II
crrpt lazily along in the smoky light,
added to the beauty of the scene, and
completed the picture of the great artist
nature,
The train arrived at Reading at
clock, when the excursion lists were
met by number of others from differ
bat pom {, and six cars were soon ii led
end steamed out of the depot for Mauch
Chunk. A short distance from Read
|ug HE road makes turn, and runs al.
most at the base Of the Blue Mountains,
lld here again the beauties of nature
were unveiled in manner seldom seer
BY those whose lives are spent In cities
hDi towns.
While the passengers were feasting
|her EYES on this beautiful scene, the
|ps was suddenly shut out, as the
)nlu plunged into tunnel under the
BIO ,Ht.n, but a. 1t emerged on the
(thrr side, the view was again re open.
d, aud was if possible more beautiful
ban ever.
At Port Clinton the train stopped for
lev minutes to take on passengers,
VApn the news boy, who had been pass
w through the cars with the morning
ayers, suddenly rushed in, apparently
eIy much excited, and called out: "a
aiy just took gold watch In the other
ar only ten cents for a pound of fresh
"Fomels; the lady was surprised and
tghted every box contains a prize"
And tuus he continued as he passed
trough distributing the boxes Of con-
StlolS, which probably contained two
|ances each OF cheap caramels.
When he started to collect theml
everal persons, some of whom no dOub,
tIt sure of finding gold watch, in
ested dime and became the owner of
boz Of the wonderful! boxes And they
we're surprised, but not delighted; one
lady found piece of jewelry that
would be valuable In some country
Where brass was scarce, but the ma
'nty had nothing but few pieces Of
aldy That boy is a genius, and a
lew more years experience in selling
flzr boaes on the cars will no doubt
thIer him competent to rank with Jay
GoaId and Vanderbilt in similar ope-
slons On a larger scale, where stocks,
asrad Of prize boxes, are handled on
Wall street.
Above Port Clinton the Schuykill
Nvrr Drcones a puny stream, that even
Sn al child could wade across In
aIeiy, and few persous would suppose
lat some miles lower down it became
mighty river, large enough to supply
Philadelphia, with it's million of inhahi-
ants, and hundreds of manufactures,
PIN water.
The telegraph poles along the Read
~ Railroad are all numbered with
Paln figures, and the engineers on the
cal are required to keep sharp look
atlOr any breaks that may occur along
Ne line, and reportit with the number
the nearest pole at the first station.
DIS plan has been found advantageous
saving the lnemen considerable time
40 trouble in locating any accident
lat may happen to the wires.
A few uies this side of Tam aqua
ltEeare immense piles Of coal waste,
nat are continued in places all the way
Nauch Chunk. In one place a road
made Of il that extends for several
lilies, ana it seems a pity that In this
'unly, noted the world over for its
lahy Inventions, that some genius has
!" discovered plan for utilizing 1t AZ
ae" There surely must be some
laNs which it can be rendered fit
VI Use, and the man who discovers
Ow II can be done, is sure Of princely
0rtuue.
Just before reaching Mauch Chunk
,,ulNeI is passed through that was 80
ra With sulphurous smoke that a
'aera closing of the car windows be-
sllt Necessary. This tunnel seemed
Og endless, and was darkness inten-
ae almost every one thought it was
ieast two or three miles in length,
uu those who inquired of the condnc.
Vt were surprised to learn that it was
"I 5iOo feet, Or not quite two-thirds of
iAt train did not reach Mauch
@uhk unit % o'clock. being twenty.
W. Minutes behind time, and just
raas s@1t ItNopped thepassengers we . al.
'eu by the conductor to take in the
1Nl,chback in the morning, and Glen
,lhko after dinner. After alightipg
on sonl The cars it became necessary L"
'sk sH about half a mile to take the
aa 4la'' cars tor the Switchback, and the
es Ssu, which is up a gentle incline,
tl4. Il