AMONG THE COAL MINERS. 207 



church, school-houses, and barracks for troops, as 

 it has been found necessary in turbulent times to 

 quarter a regiment of soldiers at this point to pre- 

 serve order. The track the whole way is a down 

 grade, and an hour's ride brings us back to the 

 base of Pisgah, our starting-point. During the ride 

 of twenty-five miles we have been seated in our 

 little car by the side of the conductor, whose sole 

 business has been to keep his hands upon an iron 

 wheel which controls the brakes, and governs our 

 rate of speed. We look out of the open door in 

 front, and our view is unobstructed by engine or 

 tender, for we travel independent of both ; no 

 smoke, gas, or steam whistle annoys us, and we rush 

 along, propelled by an unseen power, a force which 

 is potent, but inexplicable. It is impossible to 

 realize the true nature of the track, for the descent 

 is very gradual, and it appears like an ordinary 

 level road, high up among the clouds. We pre- 

 sume the excursion is not peculiarly hazardous ; 

 but it must be confessed it seems so, at least during 

 the first half dozen miles of travel ; we could not 

 learn that any serious accidents had occurred dur- 

 ing the time the road has been open to excursion- 

 ists, and it is probable that every precaution has 

 been and will be used to prevent them. This rail- 

 road in many respects is -as wonderful as that 

 constructed up the bare side of Mount Washington, 



