St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-06-25
General Grants Resting--Place.

Mt. McGregor il a southern prolec-
ton of the AdirOndacks about IL miles
northwest from Saratoga. 1t Is 100
feet above the sea level aud 1000 feet
above the plain on which Saratoga is
built. Around il on all sides the eoun-
try spreads away in great sweeping
pillows, extending TO the dark wall of
the Green Mountains on the east, and
tn the peaks and massive green shout
ders of the AdirOndacks on the north.
Over it's summit, OH the very crest of
which Gen. Grant is 10 live, gray chilly
mists are so frequently trailing that
( for many consecutive days, when it
may I've hot down in Saratoga below,
on Mt. McGregor people are sitting
around cracking wood fires or going
abont in Oyercoats. In untavorable
seasons this dreary weather so contin
uously prevails that the summer resi-
dents are glad to pack their Trunks and
trundte down the steep, cOrkscrew-iike
/ railroad to Saratoga. OF course moth
| ing has been spared to surround the
! General with everything to promote
his comfort. He will live in Joseph
w. DrexeFs cottage, short distance
from the railway station on the summit
of the mountain, and for weeks back
people have been labOriDg at it and
studying to make it all that cOnld be
desired for an invalid. Should he hold
his own until the lst of August, 1T Is
the intention to remove him from Mt.
McGregor to the Hotel Kaaterskill, in
the mountains further south.
This elevated spot has long been
favOrite resort for tourists, who take
the mountain road from Saratoga to
Lake George. 1t was formerly an In
dian trail the bridlepath followed,
then the road way, and now one Is led
to the summit by one of the most IN
geniOus and picturesque examples OF
mountain railroad building, for which
American engineers have become cele-
brated. The Saratoga, Mt. McGregor
and Lake George railroad is essential
" a pleasure road, for it does not carry
freight. 1t is 100 miles in length. The
ties are three feet longer than on other
narrow -guage roads, and for further
permanence of bed they are placed 20
inches apart instead of three feet, thus
giving extraordinary stability t" the
track. The road will be ultimately
extended to Lake George, just as the
railroads have followed the Indian
trails through the Mohawk valley to-
Walu Int great w est. Ailci lC'tNiH
the village of Saratoga this mountain
road winds along evenly for half of the
distance, but at length it begins to
ascend, and soon the grade becomes so
steep that it is only by tremendous
putting and scOlding that the sturdy
little engine is able to pull the cars up
the hill. As we rapidly ascend, differ
ent vistas are open before us, while
now and again the track swings around
in such an abrupt curve that the rear
platform of the rear car and the pilot
of the little engine form letter IS.
We roll over trestle work that crosses
deep gOrges and wonder what would
take place if the timbers should hap
pen to give way. Yet notwithstanding
the steepness of the grades and the
SHARPNESS of some of the cnrVes the
road is so carefully managed that no
accident has occurred down to the
present writing. The train climbs rap
idly up the iron ladder until it has IA
rived within IL stones throw of the no.
tel which stands almost on the summit |
of the mountain. 1t is claimed that
these two square miles of mountain re- |
sort with their drives, walks and trout /
streams and gems of lakes have an air !
as invigorating as that Of Colorado. 1t |
is certain that the temperature on this
hight is lower than it is on the sandy !
plain which contains the great hotels
and the gay equipages of Saratoga it.
self.