The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-12-14
THE CHARMS or THE LEHIGH.
a New Mountain kesort-'rhe story OF Asa
racker,a - Kxle TO RIches.

EAsToN. Dec. o.-About twenty years ago
the late n. Z. Willis. in passing through the
Lehgh valley was so captivated by its various
attractions that he made haste slowly by
stopping of Mt its quaint old towns and ut
points where the scenery was surprise to
him. som" enthusiastic letters followed In
which his descripton were moro than usually
colored by his happy caprices Of expression.
The traveller OF that day would now hardly
recognize the beautiful Lehigh valley. with its
growth OF towns, and iron and other nanufac-
turing industries. and it's multiplication OF rail-
roads. Then the latoiy built Lehtgh Valley
Railroad connecting tho local coal roads at
Mauch CHUNK with Easton. and with the New
Jersey Central from Easton to New York. was
tho only railroad in tho valley.
When tho name OF Asa Packer became asso-
ciated with this railroad 1t was as n contractor
and not Il rich man. Ito had firm conviction
that tho time was overripe for the road. and he
soon grow to DO the master spirit in Its build
ing. His grit did not shrink from tho obstacles
that unexpectedly arose, and they wero Sc
rious. and 10 many would have proved fatal.
Both labor and material advanced, and the
shaving tho securities OF the company and by
of these ami managed to get the road through
to Mauch Chunk. His craft was stranded, but
safely sal in IT'S hpIooT d.. He iyHd long en2nugh 70
Judge Packers idea OF tho mission Of the
LehiEh Valley Railroad was that OF common
and impartial carrier to all interests tributary
to II. and no stuck to this, policy undeviatingIy
time to possess the .LehiGh and Susquehann ma
Ral!rond which subsequently pHrnlieled his
MS I'M" ns wopf haye ys yen hi MN ihs aS
as being against h is policy as carrier. He was
snuhbcd at board meeting of the New Jersey
n,,l tr,tA L., hntst t.,y
and New York was Disseminated against. He
got NJ and ieit that meeting, and the result
the seaboard ut Amboy, on the ground chiefly
TINT rs carrier he would not subject his, pa
irons traffic 10 the contingency OF delay
through road that thought 1t had the power
While the road always utlized its industrial
resources and led the freight and passenger
demands upon it, it did not until late years
| specially look utter its picturesque resources.
| to its numerous points of interest so that now
one or more special excursion trains are as
much a daily necessity rs those on tho sea-
shore roads. 1t ia not unusual for 5000 people
to be landed y Glen 0noko in a day for their
! picnic or ut Mauch Chunk for a trip over the
| Switchbnck road. The trip over this gravity
road is one OF the things that does not stale by
ns is ar "r wo1de th ss1
valley. attention was not earlier paid TO the es-
tabiishing of summer resorts in 1t. 1t pos
sesses scenery and locations. as regards eIeva-
ton and SURROUNDINGS. such AS few districts
can match. The mountains. for instance. that
Wyoming valley yield n succession Of superb
views. The valley itself. broad here on both
ono OF the finest landscapes in the Union. But
railroad. laid the foundation for q resort.
the mount between White Haven and Wilkes.
barre. It's elevation is 1000 feet or 1000 feet
There Is an unbroken prospect from it OF
mountain and valley tor 100 miles. They named
the Eass Gnn and Su hotel 1G
spacious halls. areas. and porches. which the
summer guest mos, loves. The place was
list were tabooed good many OF thu guests
thought it somewhat disappointing that the
management should tack . temperance re-.
no Temperance. the climate and attractions
were so great that it was question during tho
season OF how many applicants would have to
be turned away. The house was fun until the
leaves were losing color The experiment. has
tage OF long ago. that the locality. with
is destined in the pear future h bs
rival the New York and New England re-.
sorts. A number Of private cottages have al
with the place. and the company is said to be
projecting another hotel.
In districts like these. autumn is crowdinG
hard upon summer az the fnyoriie season. Tho
late Franklin Poale ofPhiladeIphia used to say
edge Of Oft the season Of superla.vo enjoyment
among, the woods and hills. For years and
| years he said. he and his wife we're almost the
oniy guests at the Water Gap in October. But
| now tho season Of early frost and coloring leaf
| is not the least profitable Mt such resorts.
i 1t may he revclnnt to say that while Asa
| Packers name will ALWAYS be associated with
| his railroad yet il derives an equal lustre
| from the splendid educational institution he
! founded n South Beth shem-thc Lehigh Uni
versitv. Judge Packers estate consisted ma n
ly of stocks and n cons 'rvative valuation would
place II ut about $4,000, 900. The bulk OF this
viii eventually pass to the college. Much of it
has already done So through the recent death
II his sons. hobart and Henry a. Packer Miss
Mary Iac k"r Of Mauch Chunk is his only re-
naming living child.