Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-05-23
THE ANCIENT TuRNp1kE.
The Pittsburgh ;. Dispateh's" Road Exp
ditioD Describes It

The country road expedition, under the
auspices of the Pittsburgh Dispatch, which
has been traversing the country roads for
some time, has written to chat paper from
Hollidaysburg concerning the old turn
| pike in this and Blair counties as follows :
After leaving Cresson, your exploring
party pursued its way eastward over the
old Philadelphia pike. About mile back
of Cresson we reached the summit of the
Allegheny mountains, and Beaver and
Bucephalus, rested their weary legs at an
altitude of over 2,700 feet above tide
water. The view from this point was
magnificent. We looked over an area of
mountain peaks and valleys thirty-five
miles in extent. With the naked eye were
seen the towns of Ebensburg and Lorette,
while glass brought Carrolltown and AL
toonas spires within the range of vision.
Here we stood almost in the center of the
800 acres of forest which Andrew Carne-
gle bought some years ago as park for a
castle which he then contemplated build
ing for a summer residence.
A SLIGHTLY RMINENoR.
From the western extremity of this
woodland may also be seen the city of
Johnstown and the windings of the treach-
erous Conemaugh for miles and miles
Carnegie still holds the land, and if his
castle is ever built il will become cele-
brated as the lofliest dwelling place in
Pennsylvania.
Mrs. William Linton, who keeps a
summer hotel on the summit, brought out
to the wagon pair of field glasses, which
enhanced the beauty of the landscape be.
tore us. She says the glasses were car.
ried by General Mcclellan through his
earlier campaigns In the Rebellion that
the General gave them to General Hardy,
and that officer presented them TO her
brother. William Meyers. The glasses
are weather-beaten enough to confirm the
statement.
we now began the descent of the east
ern slope of the Alleghen:es. Noon found
us in the very heat of the mountains-at
wild romantic spot called "The Holy
Fount" Gushing from the rocks by the
roadside is gurgling pool of water. 1t is
wreathed in everlasting shade by output
tings of dripping rocks, he interstices
matted thickly with pine, laurel and wild
grapevines.
GALLITzIN's HOLY SPRING.
Two massive table rocks, one On
either side of the entrance to the pool. Law
as though planted there by nature for
resting places.
The tradition is that the Catholic
pioneer of the Allegheny Mountains,
Prince G Illitzin, was in the winter of 1915
walking through the gorge of the
mountains here, and being pursued by
two panthers he showed them this sprinp
where they slaked their thirst and went
away leaving him unharmed. He there.
upon blessed the spring, and it has since
been held In reverence by devout noun.
talneers. References to this spring in
biographies Of Gallitzin leave little donbt
that he really did bless it, but as to the
panther attachment, that is probably all
myth.
1.-The Fountain Inn" has connected
this holy spriug by pipe line with a
fountain IN the yard surrounding that
mouse couple OF hundred yards below.
We drank the water at lunch that day.n
Speaking of the old Portage Railroad
the article continue:
1.-The Allegheny mountains contain no
more interesting relic than this grand old
rum. 1t will be remembered that the east.
ern division of the canal was 172 miles
long from Columbia to Hollidaysburr.
The Portage from Hcllidaysburg to Johns
town was thirty-six miles long. 1t con.
sisted Of ten inclines and eleven planes.
The western division from Johnstown to
Pittsburg was 104 miles long, making a
total of 394 miles. This stupendous work
cost the young State more than $4,000
600, and later was transferred to the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company for $9, O,OOO.
~ We found the timbers of some OF the
inclines still in place, but all are rotting
with age. The rails of the levels were not
laid on ties, but were fastened to stone
blocks, evidently by means of fish plates.
All the IRON is gone, but there you NAV
still follow the long lines of stone blocks
deeply embedded in the ground, and the
holes where the plates and rails had been
fastened in you may readily clean out
with your pencil. The stone foundations
of the stationary engine house are all
overgrown with ivy and laurel Yet they
are all staunch and enduring.
Moss.GRowN AND OLD.
" The old walls of the masonry along
mountain sides to keep the inclines from
sliding are moss-covered now. the trees
have shaded the whole thirty-six miles
into a sylvan promenade, but many of the
massive stone viaducts are crumbling and
cracking with age"
HUMOR OF THE DAY
The wind often turns an umbrella, but
n r,,al,, ,,a.,..z