Morning journal and courier., 1884-08-12
CORRESPONDENCE. TO and I'm the CatskiIIs.

RoxBURY, Delaware Co.,, N. Y, Aug. G.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 The phrase "The everlasting hills'' has new significance when one is among them, and l have taken the liberty to assume that ap account of what is to be seen on the way to and in the western Catskills may not be uninteresting to you.
 The trip from New York up the Hudson is one of great beauty. Leaving New York on the fine steamer tfJames W. Baldwin at four o'clock in the afternoon, one has abundant opportunity to enjoy view of all the princi- pal points of interest before sunset, and just at the present time after sunset, for the moon being now full fine view of the Hudson by moonlight is afforded, and can assure you it is well worth seeing. On the west rise the magnificent outlines of the Palisades, and the boat passes in rapid succession the High lands, Cornwall-on-the-Hud and West Point, Stepping at one two landings on the way) and leave the latter place about sun set. Newburgh is reached at about nine o'clock. There being nothing of interest above Newburgh retired to my stateroom.
 In the morning the tourist finds himself in Rondout, and, having taken breakfast on the boat, takes the train of the Ulster and Dela- ware railroad, which is in waiting within a hundred feet of the boat, and at TAO is on his way to the Catskills. A stop is made at Kingston to receive passengers from the West Shore railroad, and at S:48 the train arrives at Phoenieia At this point passengers whose destination is Catskill, Hotel Kaaterskill, , Catskill Mountain House, and other points on the Stony Cove and Catskill railroads are transferred to the train of the former road which is waiting After leaving Phoenicia the ascent is very abrupt, the grade being in some places 40 feet to the mile. Between r. q T o.E but three miles, the train ascends over 450 feet. Summit Station Grand HoteD is the highest point on the railroad, being 1 1886 feet above tidewater- The powerful locomotive, however, climbs this grade for several miles, and one place is worth describing Just beyond Pine Hill the mountain up the side of which the train has been toiling forms an immense horse shoe and the train still ascending the steep grade, winds sin uously around this curve, the view from the top of the further side of ''The Horseshoe . as it is called, being simply superb. Far be- low, many hundred feet, are the pretty cot tages of Pine Hill, while across the valley is the railroad track over which we have just passed, but below where we now are. In the distance to the left tower the peaks of the eastern Catskills All this forms picture long to be remembered.
 A short distance farther and we reach Grand Hotel station and glimpse of this handsome summer resort is obtained. It is built high up on the mountain, and com mands an extensive view of great beauty
 The rest of the ride is not particularly in teresting and at 10:34 we reach Roxbury, our destination. This pretty little village is in the heart of the Catskills about 1,500 feet above the level of the sea. The village proper has a single street running parallel with rail roads, between which and the village runs the east branch of the Delaware river. It is noted as being the birthplace of Jay Gould the financier. Of course malaria is unknown at this elevation, and in the village there are no mosquitoes. say in the village, for in the forests up the mountains I know there are mosquitoes, for I have ''been there. :" But I can testify to the village. Roxbury has a telegraph office, three churches, several stores, post. office and a weekly newspaper. The town of Roxbury contains over 60 900 acres of land, or, in other words, is fourteen miles long and ten wide. How does this compare in size with the town of New Haven After din ner took stroll to get accustomed to my surroundings and to "see how the land lay" It seemed to Hay" rather high At least that is my impression after climbing only one of the mountains whose bases are five minutes walk from the village. I am stop ping at Shady Lawn," Dr. J. J. Keator Directly east of the house is g fine high peak to which have already cast longing eyes
 
 very soenzz On, the opposite aida. of the val ley is another, and still another directly south of the village. In the afternoon I climbed the west mountain and was well re- paid by the magnificent view there pre- sented. It would be useless to particularize, for there are mountains in every direction but the finest sight, to my mind, is looking to the northeast. Fancy mountain cover ed with green about half way up it's sides divided off into squares by stone walls (which at this distance look like pencil marks) and above which is the dark-green of the frost.
 This morning the doctor had occasion to make visit several miles down the valley, and took party down with him. The ride was very enjoyable, the principal points of interest being Hicks, Tolls, Stratton's Falls, (the latter beautiful sight, the water spread ing into the shape of fam and the birth place of Jay Gould, a square two-story house in a little valley. In the afternoon I went through piece of woods near here. Squirrels seem to be plenty. A few bears have been shot within few miles of the village, one only couple of weeks ago.
 In my next will tell you about some of my ascents, provided, however, do not in the meantime make too abrupt a descent.