The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-09-20
OUR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
Visits the Lehigh Valley.
Special tc the CARBON ADVOCATE.

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Special tc the CARBON ADVOCATE.
WASHINGTON, Sept, 13, 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 tho
most picturesque and attractive railway
Journeys to be enjoyed in this country.
Soon after leaving Elmira the beautiful
Spsqnehanna River is reached, aud for a
considerable distance the route is along
its banks, through as fine couutry as
sun shines upon. But it is after passir o
Pittston and Wilkesbarre, and climbing
the mountain beyond, that the real excl =
lug interest of the route commences. The
view of the Wyoming Valley from the
summit of Wilkesbarre mountain ia
eqaalled by few landscapes to be seen
anywhere. Near this point new sum
mer hotel has been erected, making a
very attractive resort for families from
New York and Philadelphia as well rs
from the towns nearer by. 1t is called
the Glen Summit House, and has ac
commodations tor about five hundred
guests
From this point we 60 down the other
side of the mountain into the Lehigh
Valley, more truly picturesque than any
other know OF and more nearly resem-
bling ride through the canons OF the
Rocky Mountains. Before reaching the
New jersey line the route passes through
the thriving towns of Mauch Chunk,
bethlehem, Easton, Phillipsburg Allen
town and others. To see Mauch Chunk
and the famous switchback railroad was
one OF the inducements to me to take
this trip, and my eager curiosity was in
no wise disappointed. Mauch Chunk is
n prosperous town of about 5000 Iuhab-
itants, and is probably as much visited
during the summer season AS any other
resort, Niagara Falls and Watkins Glen
not excepted, II is most peculiarly sit
uated and appears to haYe slid down
from some place aboye until it couldn't
slide any further aud then stopped to
take rest on the right bank of the LIE
high River. The place is termed the
"Swiizsrlaud of America" not without
good reason. Appleton's "Picturesqve
America" says Mauch Chunk is doubt
less the most truly picturesque town in
the Union, but l think it is about n tie
between it and Central City, Colorado,
though the surroundings of the latter
present more barren aspect.
The great attraction at Mauch Chunk
Is the wonderful switchback railroad. 1t
is doubtful if suoh an exciting ride eau
be enjoyed anywhere else in the world.
The cars used are the ordinary open OBJ
servation cars, and the motive power is
for the most part gravity. At the start
when the word Ego adea1" is given the
brakes are let of aud the car runs few
hundred yards down grade to the foot of
Mount PIsgah. Here the cable is at
tachrd aud the car with its load of hu.
man freight is pnled quickly up an in
cllned plane at az angle of absut forty
five degrees. Were the machinery to
break, one feels that his life would hard
ly be worth looking after, and in this
way the ride is mighty "exhilerating.
But great as tho dagger of this part of
it at first appears it Is nothing compared
to the greater danger OF the ride which
follows down a steep grade aud around
sharp curves over rongh track ana at a
speed which makes ones hair taud on
end. There is no engine and no power
OF any kind notwithstanding bat the
brakes, and these were, apparently, not
made to use, for the Car j. allowed 10
run mad, increasing its velocity every
rod. After a run Of eight miles, in
which the breath has been taken from
every passenger on board, there is an
other ascent of an inclined plane to the
summit OF Mount Jefferson by means of
tue stationary engine and cable, as be-
fore. Then after halt Of twenty-five
minutes at the summit Hill" STATEN,
the return is made dawn around the side
of the mountain nine miles to the place
OF starting. After one has pissed safely
over this road be can better enjoy its eK-
citement in retrospect. but while in
transit the excitement is almost too in
tense for most people. And after all it
IS a question whether it is not flying in
the face of danger to pay one dollar for
such ride.
Two or three hundred yards from
Summit Hill station is what is known as
tue Burning mine, aud dozen or more
small boys hang around the station to
offer themselves as guides. This buTu-
ing mile is recently exciting consider
aUle alarm in Summit Hill. 1t Is tear
ed the town is doomed. The coal beds
covering an area OF many acres are on
fire and gradually burning nearer and
nearer. These subterranean fires have
been raging for ffty years, and thou