Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-21

and hogs were in sight of each other ior
months at a time, making one continuous
train across the mountains, and that as many
as 10 or 15 stages, filled with passengers, In
addition to all the old Connestoga wagons
would pass daily. 1t seemed incredible, as
we recalled the broken down fences and
dilapidated houses, and the vacant sheds,
and the roofess barns, that such a deVasta-
ton could be wrought in so brief period:
devastation caused by the march of prog.
ress in other directions, and the hard and
severe struggles to obtain sHstenance in the
| sections deserted.
After q comfortable night spent at Mr..
Walkers, we bade them all goodbye and
started, early in the morning, for Bedford
Springs. Our ride the previous day had
been beautiful, but now it was grand. We
seemed to be directly up among the well,
wooded mountain peaks of the beautiful
Aleghenies, and as We went winding down
from one level to another, all the way from
the top to the bottom, we had most beautiful
views of the villages scattered here and there
| in the plain. As we drew near them, how
| ever, we would frequently find that they
were either half or wholly deserted, and on
inquiring the cause. we learned that In many
| instances the cost of transportation and the
lack of a market for their commodities had
| caused the inhabitants to give up and move
away.
THE SOUTH PENN WRECK.
All along our drive from Somerset to Bed
| ford we saw evidences of the vast work
which had been done upon the South Penn
| sylvanls Railroad, and could not help but
think that if the millions sunk in useless
embankments and vast tunnels could only
be utilized, another large artery for the sup.
| ply of food and raw material would be added
to Pittsburg's already immense railroad
system.
Of all our trip, think I may say, the
scenery all along the way from the top
| of the mountains at Walkers to our stop
ping point that evening at j. McIlvalne,s,
was the most beautiful of our trip. We
| dined at Bedford's famous Spring House,
which is beautiful spot, and thought II
the curative powers of the waters were one
half so beneficial and pleasant as the air, 1t
was truly the place for invalids.
The turnpike roads from Somerset to Bed
ford is almost abandoned, weeds springing
up in the middle of the pike, and no ap-
parent care being taken whatever to keep it
in order, notwithstanding the fact that the
tolls were exorbitant. Away from the turn
pike the roads were simply fearful and dan.
gerous.
Leaving Bedford about 8 O'Clock, we drove
on the pike from Bedford toward Chambers
burg, and here we found the road in as good
condition as any turnpike road could be ex-
pected to be; and what beautiful ride it is
all lovers of Bedford can testify. We drove
about 16 miles tnat afternoon. The first six
along in the valley, and the Last ten up the
hills and over the mountains again, until
evening time, when we came to the famous
old hosteIry of J. MeIlvaine, which stands
at the fork of the roads leading to Harris
burg and McConnellsburg. This old hotel
contains "a bedrooms, which are always
ready for guests, large dining rooms and
sitting rooms, and yet it is rare thing for
traveller to put up there over night Travel
on this turnpike, from Everett all the way
to Connellsville, has practically ceased, and
the turnpike leading to Harrisburg was
choked up with briers and weeds so far as
could be seen that it would be dangerous to
use it.
LOUD CRIES FOR A RAILROAD.
Mine host, Mr.. j. McIlvaine, who has
passed his four score years. was genial, open
hearted and seemed to take the greatest in
terest in our trip across the State He asked
us all manner of questions concerning Pitts
burg and the wonderful developments in the
western part OF our State, and his one la
ment was, "Oh, if we only had railroad.
If the Southern Pennsylvania Railroad had
only been completed" "Why, for two
years." he said, "my house was filled with
engineers and draughtsmen who were work
ing upon the tunnel just below here, which
is over two miles long, but now the work has
ceased, and the place is deserted" He took
me over his place and pointed out where the
grading had been done, and showed me the
tunnel almost completed, and he lamedted
bitterly on account of the late which had
lett him high and dry in the mountains,
cut off from civilization.
Next morning we bade Mr.. ]. McIlvaine
goodbv, and started for Chambersburg;
passing through McConnelIsburg, which is
one of the three county seats in our State
without railroad connections. and which is
perfectly described In Goldsmith's DE
serted Village"
AS we drove through the main street we
saw the Court House, which was sadly in
need of paint, and the Court House yard
was filled with weeds, so that we could not
help thinking that a lively cemetery in the
vicinity of Pittsburg would be more desira-
BILE place for habitation than McConnells-
burg. We drove through McConnellsburg
and then over the hills on frst-rate turn
pike, which is kept in good condition, owing
to the large amount of drayage from Lou
den, which is the nearest railroad point
RICH SOIL UNTITLED.
Ou Tie IOp VI buC luOuuLdluS, DeIWeeQ NC
Connellsburg and Louden, the scenery is
beautiful, and We stopped our horses fire.
ouently to admire it and to take great
draughts of the delicious cold water which
flows from the rocks. We took our midday
meal at Louden. Then on to Chambersburg
which we passed about 6 o'clock, reaching
Fayetteville just as the sun was setting.
We should have liked to spend the night at
Chambersburg, but were eager to be at
Gettysburg on the morrow, and therefore
drove about Chambersburg, looked at the
different objects of interest, thought that the
rebels must have felt fortunate in being able
to overrun and sack such a rich and COM
Portable section of country. Saw the Office
of the famous Chambersburg Repository,
and then drove on.
At Fayetteville we stayed with Mr.. Sam
Sherman. His was the only inviting house
in town, and he received US with open arms.
He informed us that he intended spending
the next day at Gettysburg, and if we de.
sired would act as our pilot around the bat
tie fields. His offer was too generous to be
refused, and so next morning found us up at
screech of dawn and with our horses soon
harnessed, we were speeding away to that
fateful and glorious battlefield. The drive
to Gettysburg was in many respects the
same as the day before. The people we met
seemed listless or Indifferent. The gardens
were neglected and three-fourths of the farm
ing lands were allowed to remain untitled,
There were a few cattle here and there in the
pasture fields, but the general condition
outside of the town and its immediate
vicinity was that of desolation.
A NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK.