The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-08-24

Bear Mountain, a positive presence, frown-
ing at us. How a street, river, canal,
railroad station and two sets of tracks ever
were crowded into such a small space as
the mountains spare is a mystery, but there
they all are before us. And King Coal
rules supreme. The mountains are full of
him, the canal is full of him, the railroad
tracks are full of him, the people even talk
him. Coal, Lehigh coal, has proved a veri-
table gold mine to the Packers and others
of March Chunk. No wonder they bow to
worship ct his shrine. Mauch Chunk is
known as 'FThe Switzerland of America"
and the scenery is grand, imposing, ma
~jestie. To quote from the guide book
'the woods are full of mountains The
town nestles at their feet and climbs up
their sides. It is the county seat of Car
bon county and quite an important place.
1t received its name from ''Machk
Tsehunk," the Indian way of p~ronouncing
Bear Mountain. Coal was first discovered
here by a poor, old German hunter, Philip
Ginler, in 1921. He was a Rip Van Wrinkle
of this region, but like all discoveries he
sowed the harvest for others to reap. In
1899 the Lehigh Coal Mine Company was
formed. but the mines were not worked
much until after the war of 1912. Great
difficulty was experienced in getting the
coal to market. and for a long time it was
claimed 10 only put the fire out, being
so hard to kindle, but L.ehigh conquered at
last and has brought great wealth to those
who believed in it. South of the Mansion
House, the finest hotel in the place. is
Prospect Park, where 4 fine view can be OBJ
tanned of the busy, bustling valley.
Moore'S Rayine, now Glen 0noko, is about
two miles above Maueh Chunk. Mrs.
Cleveland has recently made it famous by
her visit there. It is a succession of falls,
cascades and eataracts, and to visit it
means s climb Of a thousand feet or more.
1t has been fitted up with rustic seats and
stairs, sometimes cut in rock. TO
date tourists. Attic entrance to the Glen
stands the beautiful Hotel Wahnetah.
But it is the Switch Back that is Mauch
Chunks chief attraction. The Switch
Back was originally built to send coal
down the mountain from Summit Hill to
the Lehigh river in open ears by their own
gravity, They were brought back by
mules which went down in \ sort Of cattle
ear with The coal. 1t is said that the mules
grew very fond of this method Of riding
and became very enthusiastic admirers of
Mother Nature, 50 much 50 that the inspi-
ration came from this re convert the coal
track into 4 pleasure track. that the more
reasoning animal, man. might enjoy what
his malish brethren had 50 appreciated.
The cars are Q pulled M the two planes,
Mt PiSgah and Mt. jefferson. by means of
stationary engines on the summit Of each.
Swedish iron bands, seven and oae-half
inches wide, are attached 70 Z safety car
and then fastened TO iron drums, twenty
eight feet in diameter, in the engine
houses. The safety ear has attached 70 it
an iron arm which extends from the side
Of the safety ear over s ratchet rail be-
tween the two tracks, and should the band
break or any other accident happen to the
machinery the least backward movement
causes the arm 10 drop into the notches OF
the safety rail, holding the train station
AIRY. Ii IS very comforting 10 know this
before you go MP very and l advise you
10 remember it At The time.
The scene from Mt. Pisgah IS magnii-
cent. Standing for 4 few moments on 3
treSs1e spanning 4 Wild rayine. We could
see sixty-fve miles. % ~Sehooley'S noun
tains. near Hackeststown. y. J.. Noun
tain piled on mountain, view on view.
How insignificant look towns and villages
far below in comparison with the grandeur
Of these monuments OF uatava. 1. IS stu
ye23oaS, b~eE'ldezing, ineonprehensibie.
One sits sud looks and tries u realize the
majesty Of l., bat how difficult in the few
mouseat> given. However, did nos take
up NY Vsn 70 dessribe - yoa This wonder
fal r5de; 1t requires more courage than |
possess II nust BE- experienced to be nm
6ers.ood. and even shen 10 understand all
the Snblimiiy al uAture under such a gaiSe
seems iaaposS5ble. In beautiful, varied
Octohsr, when The mellow ripeness az the
49, ; 4-E l-AS a~-NE@A &aA *&Ak4-> Nh.
painted these mountain sides in maguih-
csns cc1oTs then. ny friends, ride down
the >Witrh Back fron Mt PSgah.
swiftly Speeding oe- sbe halls.
Ws.E le Eoa1aa sunlight sa>AinS
suo@ thc ripping sacR1EaIa vSlis
Try sae woaderful r5de ogeish1een miles
zeia- ~aase;imHS At The r2tcof sixty miles
a hoar without amp mos5ye power ba,
gravity, whEs, however, ; enough.
Breathe Il greAi whiEs Of pure mountain
az. rushing a-sser. tAs5ez2aad picturesque
=oanszza sSae-y. exhlArAsel. iuyigor-
2seS. baaye6 % forA * months by shis
m2a sid rage 50 iadSers2Ale, yet 81
srnly delightful. l. XII. Tags Sare, prove
: r9psrfal tease, nnsuine Hfe'> carrens
in saa-gsA Vslls IL .4kea under s pare.
essAr sky. saea 4 &c lid
Raasmherz mt house friends / Asaer-
s4lns6 shzt extension t5ekots can be pro-
eare& M the Ceas-al Railroad of New Ie7-
seq. sroa phaa3elPlaa egesy saturday. to
sem4a lziZ Na1slay, iaelR3lng board At
the M2nsaga Hca~. M2aca CAuuk.
E-gm Snszr52v tsR unssl amer hseaAEAs,