The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-04
Scenic Beauty OF
Wilderness Park

HIluCIl uI n
The dweler or sojourner in Chicago
who makes the circuit OF her famous
park system, beginning at Lincoln park
on the north, thence westward and south
ward through the congeries of magnfi-
cent but artificial lawns and greeneres,
ending at peerless Jackson park, the site
OF the lost White City, has indeed a de-
lightful experience. We have reason per-
maps to envy our western friends In this
as In other things, but all their lavish
expenditure could not purchase square
yard of the display of the ftne hand Of ma
| ture In mountain, forest and stream as set
forth in the region of the Stafford Meadow
watershed. IL you haven't seen II, then
at once hire, borrow or steal the neces-
| sary equipage the first line day and avail
yourself of Mr.. w. w. Scranton's pub
lished invitation (something handsome in
Itself, by the way), and prepare for a
revelation.
Take the Elmhurst boulevard to the
horseshoe curve this side OF Nay Aug,
from the periphery of which you will see
your road striking off at tangent.lt
looks fascinating at the very threshold
| Enter upon IL and follow its curvlngs
and easy grades down through Spruce
swamp to the Williams bridge reservoir.
| This part of the route Is a stretch OF firm
| road which takes the traveller through
| sylvan soltrdes so fresh and green and
fragrant that he refuses to believe in the
| existence of the noisy civilization just
out of sight beyond the mountain. The
| appearance on the scene of deer or bear
| or any other wild denizens of the forest
would cause no surprise. They would be
the inhabitants, we the invaders.
%
Williams bridge reservoir will be joy
| full surprise to those looking on the grace
| full sweep of its woodland shores and
gazing into its crystal depths for the first
| time. Alongside runs a well beaten road,
| which we follow for a short distance.
1.-THE township road" they tell us as we
leave 1t and plunge again into the forest,
| ''it goes straight across the valley and
over yonder hill to Scranton" Scranton?
We had almost forgotten its existence.
Can 1t be that railroads, mills, streets
| and all the rest are just over there? Let
| us Danish the thought and proceed. Pass
| ing the stupendOus operations or the
| Burnt Bridge Dam" builders we are soon
| at the old iron ore mines, now nearly IN
visible amid the thick underground The
brook brawls along the wayside, bordered
| by ferns of many species, with an occas-
ional cardinal flower; the cliffs tower
above our heads, the stiffness is unbroken
| save by the rush of squirrel or the
| scream of a crow far aloft. The noun
tain air is rich with the spicy aroma of
hemlock, birch and sassafras. We are
| indeed "close to natures heart. At fire.
| quent intervals log-roads and disused
| trails cross AMI disappear in the thick
| cts. These suggest the still more Sc
cluded glens of the Spring brook tribu-
| taries; but we must wait until the future
grand Pocono boulevard shall give access
| to that romantic region.
| o
| Nbn of journey the
| lower Stafford Meadow reservoir presents
| many varied and delightful features. The
| rocks in many places assume strange,
| grotesque forms, miniature caverns can
| be seen, the eastern hillside is crowned
| by luxuriant woods, verdant and fresh
after the frequent rains, the whole land
| scape is harmoniously beautiful under the
| August sun. The city is re-entered over
| the old road-bed of the Pennsylvania
| Gravity railroad, the ruins of Plane No.
| 5 being discernble at the right along the
mountain side, and the homeward journey
ends at the Roaring Brook viaduct.
| The circuit has covered something like
fifteen miles, nearly every turn of the
road disclosing some new and striking
| prospect. The new roads, with such pub
| lie spirit constructed and opened free 70
| all by Mr.. Scranton and his associates
| are perfect. barring a mile or so or mar
| row embankment on the lower portion oil
| the old ore road. The only drawbacks to
the pleasure of the trip are the execrable
roads and streets from the Brick yard to
Prospect avenue. If the city will take
these in hand, which need involve nc
great expense, the visitor to the anthra'
cite metropolis could be furnished with an
outing which for wldness and variety OF
scenery compares favorably with noted
show-places east and west. BY extending
the described route to Elmhurst, the Wis
itor could be shown the entire superb
water system. of which every Scranton
ian has reason to be proud.
Visit wilderness park while the YER
dure and foliage are still unscathed ant
see IL the picture has been over-painted
| Charles h. Bradbury.