New-York tribune., 1897-06-13
IN THE NORTH WOODS.
THE EMPIRE STATES GLORY.
ADIRONDACK GRANDEUR AND THE
PRESENT DAY EASE OF REACHING IT
MANY COMFORTABLE AND ELEGANT HOTELS
AWAITING TUE TIRED CITY FOLK. AND
LUXURIOUS RAILROAD TRAINS TO
TAKE THEM TIilTHER.


The Empire State rot only contains the largest
and most cosmopolitan cty OF the Union, with its
magnificent museums and galleries and libraries
and private. homes exhibiting all the refnements
OF a high civilization. and its swarming population
gathered from the four corners OF the earth, but
within its confines also in striking contrast with
the complex civilization of the city. II has what
may still properly be called ''the wilderness"-al-
though now there are broad beaten ways through
its vast expanse of primeval forest-the Adron-
dacks. Who loves surf-bathing and the booming
Of the sea and the neverstlled restessness Of the
ocean swell let him betake himself 10 the sea-
shore. But he who rest for the weary soul
and body. and the calm and quiet Of the wilder
ness and the elevating and strengthening infu-
Of great mountains about him. and the love
liress OF the crystal lakes which by the hundred
sparkle like mountain gems-he will hasten y the
Adirondacks. The colossal rock masses Oldest OF
all rock formations which almost Chaos. lift
their towering peaks aloft hun ireds and thousands
OF feet their massive slopes clad in the dark green
Of The pine the cedar. the spruce and the balsam
and the whole region Is STEPPED in the healing and
v:vfyng odors Of the evergreen forests that there
Health may be said TO have its kingdom and It's
throne The water OF the innnmerabe mountain
springs ard brooks and lakes is as pure as the
clear air, and II is even said that not noXous
plant or venomous serpent exists in the Adiron-
dacks From the mountain tops. and from many
points not so lofty may be seen pictures sublime
in their and in the grandeur of the sweep OF
vision the dryness and consequent ciearness OF the
air aiding the eye in discerning all the glor!os Of
the
In the old DAYS a Journey 10 the Adirondacks
was not much less formidable than was voyage TO
Europe Then the traveller journeyed by rail TO
Westport on Lake Champla!n. or TO keeseviHe.
near Port Kent. ard thence penetrated the noun
tains by stage. a tedious journey. Now he can go
away through TO his destination in the heart Of the
woods in ten or a dozen hours from this city WIN
out change Of cars. and occupying seat III d
parlor-car or q berth IN a sleeper-a trip SO COM
Portable and speedy that he thinks nothing OF
running up 10 the mountains for day or TWO 10
attend personally 10 the matter Of engaging board
for the summer. Then IT would hardly nave oc-
CURED him even 10 discuss the subject OF taxing
his family with him; to-day there are scattered
all through the North Woods, at convenient as
tances from the railroads. comfortable and IN some
cases elegant hotels large and small with steam
heat for the chilly days. with electric hsht OF
gas and with the most improved sanitary plumb
ing Careful attention Is paid to the table IN all inc
better hotels; accomplished chefs hold sway in
the kitchens. the hotels are supplied with fresh
vegetables from their own gardens and with fine
milk and butter from their own herds and eX-
cellent meat is provided although brook trout per-
haps doesn't appear on the menu card as often as
might be desired Still brook trout Is delcacy OF
which soon tires; so Its infreQuent appearance
serves 10 whet the appetite.
In the olden time the Adirondack visitor had one
object in view. the hooking OF trout or the shoot-
ing Of deer. These sports are. OF course popular
yet but others involving less hardship and capable
OF being enjoyed throughout the season have
sprung UP by their side. Latest and usiiest OF the
newcomers is golf. which seems destined for en-
during popularity. II Is a game which Involves
yoodly amount severe exercise out OF DOORS
and In which women attain much expert |
ness as men, Every of the larger hotels has |
now its golf course some Of the courses oeing
over rough country, with plenty OF the requisite
obstacles and hills the view from which Sves
opportunity for the enjoyment Of Nature as well
Of the royal game; and others being laid out
on land so featureless that Mr. Balfour, II he
should visit the links would deem 1t desecra-
ton 70 play there A few short weeks, and all the
enthusiasts will be whacking the turf and trudS-
ing around the links and spending their evenings
discussing golf the hotel verandas. Tennis
oyershadowed in these golfng days has neverthe-
less adherents and all the hotels have weil-kepi
courts some of asphalt or cement. Several tennis
tournaments are held each season on the various |
courts. and each has many entries Baseball too |
has its friends and mines representing various re-
sorts play lively match games now and then IN
the course Of the summer. Rowing Is always |
popular and the hotel lighthouses are well sup |
piled with light and easily controlled cedar boats
But these sports would not have obtained in the |
AGirondacks and these fine hotels would not have |
been had not The railroads pushed their tracks |
and their trains into the wilderness and. by over |
coming time and distance brought the whole re-
gion close the metropolis. and made 1t easily ac-
Only half a dozen years ago the Adirondack ana |
s., Lawrence road now the Adirondack division Of
the New-York Central and otherwise known as
the Mohawk and Malone road. was built through |
the forest. connecting Utica with Malone A |
large summer tranlc Immediately created, and |
all the resorts Of that part Of the woods benefited
by the construction Of the new line. The track is
we-ballasted and smooth 10 ride over, and at con-
venent intervals are neat stations. at which trav-
ellers by rail leave the to enter stages or
taly-hos for the second and final stage Of the
Journey to their summer home.
For they have come all the way from the Grand
Central Station without change in sleepng-cars if
taking the night train, reaching their journeys
end in good season for an carly breakfast; or. II
leaving New-York in the morning journeyng in
Wagner parlor-cars or the pleasant day coaches Of
the New-York Central line UP the shore OF the
noble Hudson TO Albany. thence through the fruit
full and beautiful Mohawk Valley TO Utica and
hen eay1g II ne the NAH aan ne 10 'Ing Rem
zen. where the mountains are entered. and on
pond and lake. to the destnation~a trip fuli Of
beauty and pleasure. The summer timetable of
tor TWO Isi Trough trains day each way via Ttca
The evening train Will leave the Grand Central
Station at G:25 o'clock eyeTy cay In the week
reaching the mountains early next morning-ar-
Iylng at saranac Inn for instance % u Little before
Lake Placid a half-hour so later and at Paul
s2aebt s5 sanGay nSH S Ts yTy y0c
and viii be practically the same as the morning
night train with through sleepers. Will be dis
patched every evening, and the day train will run
every day except Sunday. II. d. Garter, whose
Office Is al Malone, IS the general agent OF the
Adirondack division, and +. a. harrington whose
office IS In Utica, is the superntendeat.
But for many years the only railroad In the field
the Delaware and Hudson. by which pilgrims
TO the Adirondacks used to Journey to Wesiport
which the distributing point FOR the various
mountain resorts. Of the stage rides thence
being Of formidable length and roughness. The
narrOw-gauge Chaeaugay road. branch of the
Delaware and Hudson. had for good while been
in operation between Plattsburg and Lyon Noun
tain. when fifteen years ago the plan was con-
coived Of utilizing II TO aid in the development OF
the mountains a summer and health resort so
the line extended TO Loon Lake. and two years
later to Saranac Lake. the present terminus. Per