Daily Republican., 1885-10-16
THIRD EDITION.
A PIensnnt Excursion.

n
The excursion over the WILMINGTON |
and Northern railroad on ThuEsday,
was enjoy ed by nearly three hundred |
pleasure spekers, residents OF our city
a1d the country adj AGENT. The ride 10 |
quite q long Que, and it IL not often that
an opportunity Is given any one TO Sec |
30 much for 80 small q charge as ~ 30. |
The morning was rather cloudy, but the
excursionisIs had fair view of the
Brandywine and one OF the finest aRri-
cultural districts that can be found In
the world. The large farm houses,
commodious barns and numerous herds
Of cattle indicate the fertility OF the soil ,
and the intelligence and wealth Of Its
owners. After passing CoAtesville, the
character OF the soil changes, the pres
ence of iron il visible in tue hills, aud
farming appears TO be far less rem unera-
tive.
The ride TO Reading was made with
out an incident 10 make 1t noteworthy
to any one, except that 1t may be men.
toned that young gentleman permit
ted is hat to be carried out Of the win
dow of one of the cars near the Waynes-
borough junction by the wind. Lucki.
ly he b ID provided for an accident OF
this kind, and after riding some dis
lance hatless, another tile was hunted
up, and he was made comfort
able.
From Reading the cars ran directly
up the Schuylkill TO TAmaquA, . dis
lance of some thirty Ave miles, and
although the land IL level and quite
fer lie, it cannot be compared with the
valleys OF the Brandy wine. Long before
reaching Tamaqua the soil chan yes land
the presence Of coal 10 visible, and
everything seems 10 have been mSde
subservient to mining it, and forward
ing il to market. Immense quantities
OF refuse from the mines are piled ny
on nearly every side, and railroads are
constructed AMI cars run in nearly
everv direction.
In the coal regions there are few farms
or comfortable dwellings, the miners
dwellings being mere huts and the vii
lagos present picture that indicates
the rudest kind of civilization. There
are no gardens, scarcely yards, no cows,
no horses, no pigs, no poultry, indica
ting that miner cares little for any
thing beyond working in the mines aud
getting his daily pay, while his wife
aud children live in d style little, 4
If any, superior TO thai OF aavages.
From Tamaqus to Mauch Chunk, z
distance OF 70 miles, the road passe'
through a country OF the above charac
ter, and more boggy AID forlori
looking district cannot be conceived
Mauch Chunk, however, wedged in be
tweent the mountains, is quite a -four
ishing town, and possess all Of ii
attractions 10 make village life pieas
ant. The evidences OF wealth an
refinement may have been seen on a
sides. The late Asa Packer contribute
greatly 10 render the town prospsrou
and the churches and schools will
vorably compare with those Of al
other village of the same size. II
Rev. Leighton Coleman after leavir
our, ciypreached in the Episcopalch urt
for several year,.
The grest attractions TO excursio nis
here, however, are Glen Onoko al
the Svitchback railroad. The rio
over the Sw tchback Ia certainly exc
ting, and is really enjoyable.
A car is filled with excursionists
the station, when IL runs 70 the foot
Mt. Pisgah, where steel belts are attac
ed and It is soon conveyed to the SUI
NIT, distance OF 2l50 feet, with a r.
OF one foot IN three, whence the c
proceeds.at rapid gait through q wi
wooded district 10 the foot of Mt. j
ferson. l, is then drawn up an incl
ofover 21oO feet by traction enRin
when II If let loose again and retur
to the place Of starting, making the c
cult, distance of Is miles, in about
hour and half.
The first car, however, on Thu
day Afternoon, filled with w
mington excursionists, had
misfortune to break the axle of ,
rear truck after running about IA mil
causing detention of nearly T.
hours, and leading TO the stoppage
that polnt Of ten cara, much tn I
chagrin OF the eutirs party, as by Il
delay many were prevented vilitl
the glen. The break was u1ally
justed, and the parry reached I
terminus without further accident.
We have not time to give a furtf
description of this ride through
wilderness and on the mountain 10
The country IL wild beyond descr ptl
and 1t will long remain from lis ma u
In Its present state. The attractions
such as 10 render the park, town q
Switcbback, the Mecca for excursion
there being no ess than three or /
parties from different points, includ
Wilmington aud Philadelphia, and
number OF visitors on Thursday
es timated at 1900.
At ten minutes before six p. M,
train left Mauch Chunk, and this {
WAS reached about one O'Clock
morning, without accident or incil
to detract from the pleasure OF the o.
sion.