Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-24

What the Newspaper Excursionists Ssw
on Their Way to Cresson.

vALLxYB-rHH srnlcKEN crrr or yoHssrowN-
NARvHLs OF KNERoY DIsPLAYKD II lEsrol1No
TIE RAILRoADs-oS Tor OF TIE norNrADa
Special Correspondents of The Evzxus srA,.
CRxssoS, Pa, June q, 1889.
The annual complimentary excursion 70
Cresson Springs, given by the Pennsyi,ania
railroad to the press Of Philadelphia, lBalti-
more and Washington and the represents tives
of the principal newspapers Of the country res
ident at the latter city, occurred this year un-
der exceptionally interesting circumsts nces
Like everything undertaken by the manage
ment Of that great corporation. 10 was con-
ceived on broad and generous lines, and clrried
out in liberal and even lavish spirit, which
took in not only the general scheme, but
thoughtfully entered into the minutest details
upon which the enjoyment Of . party Of pleas
ure-seeking travellers 90 much depends. This
is the true secret Of entertaining.
The special train which left the 6th-street
station at = o'clock Saturday morning, under
charge Of Mr.. Assistant Passenger Agent Parke,
carried about one hundred and twenty. five in
vited guests, nearly half Of whom we're ladies,
married and single, and at Baltimore this num-
Der was augmented somewhat by an accession
from the guild Of that city. Except at Balti-
more, no stop was made until Harrisburg was
IooCucu huu mere INC blZo Oh Tue party was
quite doubled by the arrival OF another train
from Philadelphia in charge Of Assistant Gen.
eral Passengel Agent Boyd, carrying members
Of the press from that city and other east
ward points, the two sexes being still pretty
evenly balanced. For the benefit OF those who
missed their accustomed hearty breakfast on &C.
count Of the early start refreshments were
served on the cars shortly after starting and at
Harrisburg the whole party was sum ptuously
entertained in the dining-rooms Of the fine new
union station, after which the two sections were
converted into one long train and the run was
made to
THE SUMMIT OF THE ALLEaHENIEs
without further stoppage or incident worth mem
ton. Always one Of the most charming spots
in the United States, with one Of the most ex.
tensive and best-kept summer hotels in the
season of the year. Nature has done much for
the place, and the natural attractions have been
enlarged and heightened by the exercise OF
good taste and the liberal use Of money for q
quarter Of o century past. The freq lent heavy
showers which have done SO much to keep
Washington unusually fresh and beautiful this
summer have prevailed here also, and with the
same effect. The result is a wonderfully green
turf, foliage developed to its utmost, and dis
play Of mountain and wildwood flowers IN
usually rich and varied, even for this
locality. With these surroundings, pure
walks on every hand, q wen-equipped
hotel, with its ample and admirably
served dining-room accommodations, q band OF
music, and a spacious ballroom at their COM
plete disposal it need not be said in formal
terms that a company Of congenial people, con-
have a season of ideal enjoyment.
THE TRACK OF THE FLOOD.
But the feature Of the trip of special interest
to the more serious-minded AMI observing
members of the company is the opportunity il
has afforded to comprehend the character and
extent Of damage wrought by the recent floods
which devasted so large portion of the state
of Pennsylvania and enabled them at the same
time to see and fully understand how much has
already been done under the direction Of Q
capable, energetic and liberal railway admins.
tration to make good the terrible ruin thus
wrought. So completely has human interest
conferred about Johnstown and the Conemaugh
valley, on account of the appalling loss Of life
by the late overflow in that comparatively linn
tied territory, that the public mind has failed
to comprehend, and, indeed, the chroniclers OF
events have failed to adequately point out, tn:
enormous destruction Of property in other To-
calities, where, happily, material loss was un-
accompanied by great loss Of life, as on the
western slope OF the mountains. Particularly
is this true of the valley Of the Juniata, extend,
ing from a point a little above Harrisburg
almost to Altoona; and to no interest affected
does the remark apply with so much force
as to the line of Pennsylvania railroad, which
follows the course Of that steam from its mouth
almost to its very source. Other interests
both private and corporate, suffered largely, Of
course, but this great artery Of commerce
stretching along between the points named fol
nearly hundred and fifty miles, over noun
| tain streams and through narrow gorges along
precipitous hillsides and over innumerable
culverts, was struck as by the hand of paralysis
| taIp nd ha I'm
| niata itself was crossed no less than twelve
| times in this distance on superb iron or stone
| structures, three of which alone aggregated g
viaduct of nearly half mile i'll length. Add
| to these the numerous tributary streams to be
| crossed along the route, and take into account
| also the miles of high embankment covered
with double and quadruple trucks, along anC
| across deep valleys that were subjected to the
| long-continued and resistless power of the aw
| full Hood, and some idea can be formed of the
| amount Of damage sustained by the company
| OF course, Oh the line down the western slope
| of the Alleghenies. the blow was more crush
| ing, but the distance in that case was mucl
| shorter. On that side the loss sustained may
| be said to have been all confined within
stretch Of
LESS THAN TEN MILES.
| But it was complete. Two Of the finest ston,
| viaducts in the world melted away as if built o
| sugar, miles Of track were torn up, scattered
| and literally swept out OF existence, hundred
| of freight cars were crushed Ike paper boxes
| and of thirty-one enormous locomotive engines
| some of them weighing as much as sixty tons
which stood in the round-house at Conemaugf
| when the resistless wall of water rolled dow
the valley only seven have yet been found. tn,
| rest are still buried out Of sight in the deer
bed of rock and sand carried from one plac,
and deposited in another many miles away, a,
| it were in the twinkling of an eye. The picture
of destruction and desolation. as it stands ever
| to-day, must be seen to be appreciated. NJ