Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-09-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
[From Our Regular Correspondent


WASHINGTON, ID. e., Sept. 18th, 1884.
From Watkins Glen, described in my
letter OF last week, your correspondent
took the famous Lehigh Valley route to
New York, and it is certainly one of the
most picturesque and attractive railway
journeys to be enjoyed in this country.
Soon after leaving Elmira the beautiful
Snsquehanna River is reached, and for a
considerable distance the route is along it's
banks, through rs fine a country as the sun
shines upon. But it is after passing Pitts
ton and Wilkcsbarre, and climbing the
mountain beyond, that the real exciting
interest of the route commences. The
view OF Wyoming VALLEY from the sum-
nit OF Wilksbarre mountain is eqnalled by
few landscapes to be seen anywhere. Near
this point new summer hotel has been
erected, making a very attractive resort for
families from New York and Philadelphia
as well as from the towns near by. II is
called he Glen Summit House, and has
accommodations for about five hundred
guests.
From this point we 60 down the other
side OF the mountain into the Lehigh Val.
ley, more truly picturesque Than any other
/ know of and more nearly resembling
ride through the canons OF the Rocky
Mountains. Before reaching the New Jer.
sey line the route passes through the ihriv.
ing towns OF Mauch Chunk, Bethlehem,
Easton, Phillipsburg, Allentown and
Others. To see Mauch Chunk and the
famous switcl, back railroad was one of the
inducements to me to take this trip, and
m, eager curiosity was in no wise dissap-
pointed. Mauch Chunk is prosperous
town of 5000 inhabitants, and is probably
as mucl, visited during The summer season
as any other resort, Niagara Falls and
Watkins Glen not excepted. 1t is most
| peculiarly sitnited, and appears to have
aid down from some place above until it
, couldn't slide any further and then stop
ped to take rest on the right bank of the
Lehigh River. The place il termed the
Switzerland of America" not without good
: reason. AppIeton's Picturesque America"
says Mauch Chunk is doubtless the most
, truly picturesque town in the Union, hut |
, think it il about tie between it and Cen
y trail City, Colorado, though the surround.
/ ings Of the latter present a more barren
aspect.
, The great attraction at Mnuch Check is
| the wonderful switch back railroad. IL il
doubtful ii such an exciting ride can be
= enjoyed anywhere else in the world. The
e cars used are the ordinary open observation
q cars, and the motive pow er il for the most
o part gravity. AT the start when the word
r ego ahead" is given the breaks are let fl
| fax Inn IraI a.,
down grade TO the foot Of Mount Pisgah
|, Here the cable is attached and the c,r
: with it's load OF human freight is pulled
/. quickly up an inclined plain at an angle
E, of about forty-fve degrees. Were the ma
|, chinery to break, one ieels that his life
4. would hardly be worth looking after, and
e in this way The ride is mighty "exlilera-
n ting" But great as the danger of hi,
part OF II at first appears, it is nothing
compared to the greater danger of the rid,
which follows down a steep grade and
,. arourd sharp curves over rOngl, track
\, and ut speed which makes ones hall
' stand on end. There is no engine and II,
power Of any kind attached bu
the brakes, and these were, apparently
not made to use, Tor the car il allowed /,
e run mad, increasing itS velocity every rod
q. After a run OF eight miles, in which th,
/, breath has been taken from every passen
: ger on board, there is another ascent Of NJ
inclined plane to the summit OF Noun
e j .ierson by means OF the stationary en-
y gine and cable, as before. Then after
'e halt OF twenty-five Minutes at the "Snni-
d nit Hill" station, the return ia made dow
= around the side Of the mountain nine mile
" TO The place OF starting. After one ha
'e passed safely over this road he can bette
,e enjoy its excitement in retrospect, bu