Morning journal and courier., 1894-03-08

6tAutiy luctedAluS phtcucs. LII tue bUumoE time this region is one vast peach orchard, en fruit. Passing through the charming town'of Remington we come to Phillips burg, on the Delaware river, opposite Easton, Pa. It is about sixty miles from New York and has very pleasant situa- tion. Crossing the Delaware river we enter the beautiful old town of Easton and are on Pennsylvania soil. The train stops here for lunch, and one has time to enjoy the prospect of the town a little. It lies for the most part north of the Lshigh Valley tracks and is @ town of some con- siderable size.
 After the usual fifteen minute stop the train moves on, striking up the famous valley of the Lehigh river. Soon the twin towns of Bethlehem and South Beth lehem are reached. The Lehigh station is in the latter town, and several large GOV cred bridges span the Lehigh river at this point, connecting the two places. Lehigh university, which was founded by the late Robert Packer, who was so long promi nently identified with the Lehigh Valley railroad, is located at Bethlehem. For Ger tain courses in engineering it is said to be unexcelled by any school in the country. The immense Lshigh Valley repair shops are located at South Bethlehem. After @ short run the next place we come to is the city Of Allentown.
 This is the largest city we have seen since leaving Jersey City. This is quite an important railroad center, and the Lshigh makes connections here for many points in Pennsylvania. Ever since leaving Eas- ton the hills have been growing higher. Coal breakers and iron mills are frequent ly seen. Everything betokens the approach to the mountains teeming with the mineral wealth, much of which 1t has been the great service of the Lehigh Valley railroad to carry to the markets of the world. Passing through the busy manufacturing towns of Catasauqua, Slatington, where
 there are large slate quarries, and Leigh
 ton, we come to Mauch Chunk, justly called
 "the Switzerland of America"
 This most beautiful and most romantic
 spot has so often been the theme of tour
 ists that we will not attempt more than 8
 passing mention. The mountains at this
 point form narrow valley in which there
 is only space for the Lshigh river and canal and the main business street of
 Mauch Chunk, the remainder being built
 on the mountain side. Leaving Mauch
 Chunk and all it's romantic beauties far in
 the distance, we pass by the famous sum.
 mer resort of Glen Onoko and through the
 mountain town of Whitehaven and soon
 after come to the summit of the famous
 Wikesbarre mountain. Here, right on
 the top of the mountain, with those vast,
 far-reaching valleys at our feet in which
 lie the populous cities of Scranton, W ilkes-
 barre, Pittston and Kingston, surrounded
 by mountains, is little lake of the bluest
 water, rippling and glancing in the bright
 sunlight.
 Here nature, the sorceress, has indeed Ial 1G .{ TL~ train now descends the mountain at a in the city of Wilkesbarre, place of some 5O, ,000 inhabitants and great coal and iron center. Passing by immense heaps of coal and many coal breakers soon after, going through the city of Pittston we soon strike the beautiful waters of the Susque- hanna river, which flows from it's source in Lake Otsego, New York, to the Chesa. psake bay, and is justly ranked as one of
 the most beautiful rivers in America.
 The old Dutch towns of Meeshopsn and
 Mehoopapy are the next villages of any
 size, and soon we come to that part of the
 valley of the Susquehanns known as
 Wyoming valley, and which was the scene of the terrible massacre in the early days of its settlement. It is now one of the richest and most fertile valleys in Pennsyl-
 vania. The beautiful villages of Wyalus- ing, ,Tunkhannock, Towsnda and Athens are the principal placss of importance. Three miles above Athens the Lehigh Valley rail road has built town of its own, which is known as Ssyre. This is the end of the northern division and is the location of the immense repair shops.
 Great changes have been going on in this part of the Lehigh Valley system in the pact three years. All ths main line trains used to run to Elmira over the Erie rail road from Waverly, which Is only mile above Sayre, making the connection to Buffalo in this way. Two years ago the Buffalo and Seneca division was built. This extends from Ssyrs to Buffalo by way had for many years been the largest stock holders in the old Geneva, Ithaca and Ssyre road ,snd when this finally came into it's hands the plan was at once formed to utilize part of it for a fast route to Buff falo. The new line, which Is now in full operation, diverges from this old road at Van Ettenville Junction, and strikes up through vast wheat fields lying between Seneca and Csyuga lakes, and after run of sixty miles reaches Geneva, an old town situated at the foot of Seneca lake.
 The road then strikes out in bee line for Buffalo. The old Geneva, Ithaca and Sayre is now operated almost entirely as 6 local division, the principal points being the city of Ithaca and the busy villages of Trumansburg, Farmer Village, Romulus, Spencer and West Dsnby.
 The Cayuga division branches off from this line at Ithaca and connects 1t with the city of Auburn, forty-fve miles distant. This is one of the most beautiful towns in New York state. It was the home of Will liam Fl. Seward, who was one of it's prin- oipsl benefactors. It is adorned with many beautiful public parks and private grounds and contains many handsome residences. It is the seat of the Auburn theological an old Presbyterisn institution
 This branch also makes 8 connection with the old Auburn division of the New York Central and Hudson River railroad at Csyuga
 Another important division of the L.- high Valley which branches out from Sayrs is the old Southern Central, which ark Valley, Dryden, Moravis, and Auburn, to Lake Ontario. Under the efficient management of the Lehigh Valley Railroad company this road has been brought from a state bordering on the verge of bank ruptcy, to condition in which 1t stands as one of the best paying divisions of the entire system. [,
 The divisions of the system above de- scribed are only those which tap central and southern New York. In Pennsylvania the Lehigh system has many more branch es than in New York state. Here 1t has done @ great deal to develop the iron and ,oal industries. To ono who has lived ct ! distance from the coal regions 1t is resify uprising to see the large number of long ,oal trains which pass through Ithaca here ,very day. The Lahigh coal is the most fought after for uee in private families of my coal on the market, It's hardness mak- ng 1t especially desirable for use in parlor toves.
 The city of Ithaca, which has been the objective point with us in our visit to outhern New York, is beautiful town of l bout 15 .00O inhabitants. The place was | ettled less than one hundred years ago, nd was for many years an important point l D shipping ealt from the works at Syra- l use to Baltimore. This YVES before the | lays of railroads and the route was ss fol- oNs: From Syracuse to Osyuga by the Erie canal, from Csyugs to Ithaca by Cay lga lake, from Ithaca to Owego, distance f eighteen miles, by way of the old Itha-