The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-07-19
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM CLIFTON SPRINGS, N. 7
CLIFTON SPRINGS, N. Y,
1OOl

Editors Union On Monday, 14th inst, left
Towsontown at a. m. and by constant travelling
arrived here at 10.40 p. m. Took 1880 a. m. train
N. C. r. W. at Lutherville and glided smoothly
along through Baltimore county. Passing over
the Summit you see the terrible ravages that
mark the course of the Codorus during the late
flood Really in many places it looks as if the
stream had been nearly to the tops of the trees.
In others half acres of trees arc washed up by
the roots and strewn like straws along its course.
The crops look we'll in York county and well ad-
vanced in harvesting. When the borough is
reached, the boys (they seem to be inevitably
with "pisen- cake" meaning pies and cakes, for
sale, is on hand driving his usual avocation. Inc
Susauehanna seemed muddy and full from recent
rains. Our train at 1l.05 rolls over the bridge
into Harrisburg with her acres of railroad tracks,
brigades of cars and trains, her tall smoke stacks
with their noisy shops, her busting, enterprising
business and her scenic surroundings. Every
thing about the Harrisburg depot seems in con-
fusion, it always did to me. Have never been
able to get all the bearings of the compass and the
directions the different trains are to take at the
depot. If one has nothing else to do but sit in
the train till it is ready to start it is all right, but
this is the place where trains are "made up
your train has to be switched about until tor
a part of it, makes a part of another train. Then
1 was unable to get my trunk checked to my des-
tination from Lutherville and 1T had to be re-
checked here, which requires watching eagerly,
instructions numerous and waiting patiently, all
which was done and endured with all the equi,
nimity possible to fellow whose eye had ar
rested the flight of an extensive cinder in its
flight from the engine an hour previously.
"Made up" our train is again in rapid motion
beside the charming Susquehanna, bedecked with
her myriad green isles and sentineled by the
many towering peaks of the Alleghenies. Hand
some farm houses and ripening fields grace either
bank and lend enchantment to valley and land
scape as they are reached and passed.
Sunbury with her vast coal interests is not long
in being reached, then Williamsport-onc the
possession of Peter Herdic-with her ilimitable
lumber yards, sits on the east bank ofthe susgne,
ihtss 'HSalme to Park House At Minnequa, on the
summit of the Alleghenies are to be seen the re-
n aims of the old hotel, Cnce owned by Hon.
Jacob Tome. 1t was destroyed by fire several
years ago. A few rods beyond and on the west
side of the road, Judge Packard, of Pennsylva-
mia, is erecting very large and stately looking
hotel. In this section can be seen any number oil
stump fences, and just beyond this point was
seen on different sides the primitive stump and
modern wire fence.
Elmira seems like jem set in plain, sur
rounded by lofty mountains that slope away in
magnificent grandeur. The Chemung flows
lazly by, being spanned by bridge quarter OF
a mile long, up to which saw the water for six
hours in 1865, but now it is thread!ike stream
With good pair of boots you could wade acros:
without wetting your feet. The r. R. Co. ha:
extensive workshops there that cover acres o
ground.
Passing Havana, we come to Watkins and the
beautiful Seneca Lake. The train runs along
side this charming sheet of water for about ffteer
miles. This ride in the twilight is an enchant
ment that no pen can describe-no brush repro
duce This lake is 40 miles long and FROM 2 t.
< mia wild Inoks n n va CT mirrnr SnrpnI
the plain in which the passing train, the fores
crowned hills, the handsome cottage, the beauti
full farm villas, the gushing ris and cascade
that leap down its PERCEPTIONS banks are all re
fiected from its surface and the mellow twilight
that throws its bewitching enchantment over tn
scene softens and subdues the view and encharm
the beholder while lost in the night. S. p. b.