New-York tribune., 1901-06-09
ON THE MOUNTAIN TOPS
BOTH PLEASURE AND HEALTH TO BE
FOUND IN THE CATSKILLS.

FOUND IN THE CATSKILLS.
the new century finds the charming Catskil Noun
tains with unabated popularity a summer region
for rest and recreation amid scenic beauty and
wildwood charms such nature spreads nowhere
else more lavishly. The mutations of a century
OF modern civilization have only served to develop
and enhance the beauties and advantages of the
locality, revealing them more and more, ard bring
ing them within reach of humanity everywhere.
''OId Rip, that classic saint of bygone days, would
surely question his identity were he to awake
one Of these lovely June mornings on that green
knoll ard gaze upon the 'reveries of man. that
would now greet him on every side, and he would
be likely to hear the strident reech Of locomo-
tive whistle and the rumble of a railroad train.
For It is under such developing influences that
the Catskills have grown into favor among the
masses. And yet practically all this has taken
place during the last twenty-five years. And the
best of all the features. the great therapeutic and
restorative advantages. have been discovered dur
ing the last ten years
The early history and gradual development Of
the Catskills summer resort would be of in
terest and might well be alluded to more in detail
here were the purpose and scope of this arti
Gle to speak more especially of the region it is
to-day The rare scenic attractions brought all
the visitors in olden times, when authors, poets
and artists We'd with each other in portraying
these matchless beauties Of crag, waterfall valley
and plain. There little or no thought given
10 The possible hygienic advantages of this noun
tain sojourrl in those days. In fact, few remained
long enough among the hills Of the sky TO reap
those benefits of the air. Many indeed
prised 10 find how well they endured the fatigue
of the Journey the wretched roads leading
from the river and up the steep slopes They mar
yelled at the amount of tramping they could do
among the crags, how well they slept under the
thick blankets. and how much they enjoyed their
meals. But they found no time to analyze the de-
tails of The mountain menu. But now these hy-
eienic features of the Catskn air universally
conceded to overshadow all other attractions. And
this is the secret Of the great popularity Of the
region to-day.
Nature. while she has strewn the towering crass
and smiling slopes with pristine beauty and lowell
ness and filled the range with picture galleries
which the art Of man cannot hope to emulate has
also bathed the slopes and valleys with an fnvig-
Grating and ihealth-giving atmosphere distilled
afresh each day from the laboratories Of the skies
The subtle and sautary effect of this mountain air
UPON the enervated worker and debilitated dweller
of the town seems indeed, marvellous and 1t Is safe
10 say that to-day three-quarters of the visitors
come 70 benefit their health rather than merely
TO enjoy the scenery.
Another important feature OF summer life IN the
range is the informal character Of social amenities
which prevails by common consent The Catskils
are a restfuI resort The empty formalites OF
urban society form part of the summer bag
gage and the mountain code is an adjustable az
fair of the most enjoyable nature.
All this so near the great centres OF population
where the toiling and bustng millions jostle each
other in the for dollars power influence
pleasure and bread, invests the region with an I'M
nor4ance and value that is beyond rival as sum-
ner resort The Catskills are now so easy TO reach
and the tourney is so short and inexpensive that
business men may come and go freely between
their families and Offices during the season. boats
and trains leave the metropolis for the cool hills
almost every hour of the day. Fleet and palatial
steamers convey one up the beautiful Hudson free
from dust and cinders and from their breezy decks
there is an changing panorama OF scenic
charm that is unsurpassed by anything of the kind
in the world. In the early morning the elegant
steamers New-York and Albany, of the Day Line,
leave their New-York pier and land the Catshnll
visitors either Kingston Point or Catshll foh''
in accordance with the route selected Early in
the afternoon the feet and famous May Powell,
the river GREYHOUND of modern times, waits for you
until schedule time, throbbing impatientIy tor tne
rapid run and anon spreading peiore you lHe
charming landscapes of the lower Hudsoh at tHer
best landing you finally at the colonial city OF
Kingston the nearest gateway to the CatshiAs'
early in the evening Later in the day are the Var
Gus fine steamers of the favorite Catskil EVehils
Line which connect at Catskil village Win 'he
mountain railway for that section of the range
landing their passengers, after the nights rest on
the water fresh for the short mountain run whlcn
lies through a pleasant section. steamers Vi lie
Central Hudson Company also leave New-iorh
early in the evening, bringing Calskii Iouris's III
time for the early mountain trains from hlhssuoh.
1-ta,, FOR those who must travel more speeoly
than is possible by water there are numerous trains
on the West Shore and Central lines daily some OF
the former being CatskiI specials. which run soiio
10 the mountains, with few stops anu "i'iiou'
change bv the Kingston route, making RAPID liiie'
The only all rail line without change Is sum AZ
fordea n, the Ulster and Delaware system from
Kingston This is now full standard gauge foao
over the main line and all its branches me mo mo
tive power and all the equipment are OF tIe 10. G
most efficient description and the IndiaSehiIs' 10
careful and progressive, fully IN keeping Win ies
proud record being the great oeveloPiis Siooi
OF the Catskills as a summer resort Inc raoicti
I divisions made last year proved popular IN @ .ire
Greene County section and the company was sur
prised al the increased traffic. The extension oi
the line TO Oneonta last season, now IN run oPei
ton has proven another most Important iact ~
swelling the traffic receipts. IL also gives otecl
railway connection between the Susquehanna oNls-
ion of the Delaware and Hudson ana the t1uosoh
River. At West Davenport on this new extension
connection is made with the Cooperstown ano mar
miles in distance and nearly two hours in time are
saved reaching this historic Cooperstown region.
When this becomes fully understood IL Will pflhs
thousands of visitors this lovely spot on Otse;o
Lake, the 'Glimmerglass'' Of Deersayer. There Is
charming inland dell for quiet summer
rest, halloWed IL is by story ana romance, tlah
this pretty village al the head or the Susquenaha
River. Among the hotel resorts is Otsego Hail. un-
der the mana cement OF Mrs. Price. formerly or
and larger hotels many fine buildings and hand
some cottages with delightful drives either side
Of the lake.
The mountains are now bathed in the glory of