Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. Excerpt from book: Section 3LETTERS ON FENNSriVANIA. 45 LETTER III. The last of the cinders—Leave Lancaster—Columbia- New Bridge—Former Bridge washed away—Views— End of Rail Road—Tolls—Profit to the State—Embark in a Canal Packet—Scenery near Marietta— What a Canal Packet is—Manner of getting on therein—Night arrangement—Bar—Kitchen—Cook—Recreations—Bridges—Possible abridgment—Speed— Three Tetrapods—One Dipod—Rope, how fastened and let loose—Harrisburgh—How the Sun set—Lamentation—What kind of Line there should be— Duncan's Island—Scenery thereabout—Bridge— Mode of crossing the River—The River Juniata— Land on the Island—Capital House—The Island— Beautiful ride round it—The Rivers and their opposite banks. textit{Duncaris Island, August 3,1835. We awoke yesterday at the flight of night and in the process of ablution detected all the marauding little cinders in the corners of oureyes, endeavouring to sneak off without further notice, as if to escape punishment for the damage they had done. Throwing no impediment in the way of their welcome departure, we left Lancaster at 5 A. M. in a Rail Road Car drawn by two horses, tandem ; arrived at Columbia in an hour and a half, and stopped at Mr. Donley's Red Lion Hotel, where we breakfasted and dined, and found the house comfortable and well kept. Columbia is twelve miles from Lancaster, and is situated on the eastern bank of the noble river Susquehanna; it is a thriving and pretty town, and is rapidly increasing in business, population and wealth. There is an immense bridge here, over the Susquehanna, the superstructure of which, composed of massy timber, rests upon stone piers. This bridge is new, having been built within three years. The waters of the Susquehanna resembling the citizens of Philadelphia in their dislike to old buildings, took the liberty three years ago, to destr...