USA > Pennsylvania > A gazetteer of the state of Pennsylvania : a part first, contains a general description of the state, its situation and extent, general geological construction, canals, and rail-roads, bridges, revenue, expenditures, public debt, &c. &c. ; part second, embraces ample descriptions of its counties, towns, cities, villages, mountains, lakes, rivers, creeks, &c. alphabetically arranged > Part 16
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The chief attraction of Bedford is the mineral springs in its vicinity. These rise in a beautiful valley one mile and a half S. of the town, formed by a Spur of Dunning's mtn. and a ridge running parallel with Will's mtn. These hills have an elevation of about 450 feet. Through this valley, which is about a mile and a half in length, runs a copious stream called "Shaver's creek," which flows into the Raystown branch one mile E. of the borough. The hill on the E. of the valley is called Constitution Hill, and at its base arise, within a short distance, the fol- lowing medicinal and other fountains ; viz. Anderson's or the principal medi- cal spring ; Fletcher's or the Upper spring ; the Limestone spring; the Sweet springs ; the Sulphur spring and the Chalybeate spring.
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years from rheumatic pains, and for- midable ulcers in the legs. On the ensuing night he was more free from pain, and slept more tranquil than usu- al, and this unexpected relief induced him to drink daily of the waters, and to bathe his limbs in the fountain. In a few weeks he was entirely cured. The happy effect which they had on this patient, led others, laboring under various chronic diseases, to the springs. In the summer of 1805 many valetu- dinarians came in carriages and en- camped in the valley, to seek from the munificent hand of nature their lost health. Previous to this time a dense copse of shrubs enveloped the springs and rendered access to them difficult. The inhabitants of Bedford applied themselves to remove these obstacles. Upon digging away the bank, it was found, that about 20 feet from the spot where they first issued, they poured themselves through the fissure of a limestone rock ; which lies nearly par- allel with the surface of the mountain, making with the horizon, an angle of 35° ; covered with a mixture of clay and freestone gravel, about three feet deep. The principal spring now is- sues from this rock, in a copious and perpetual stream, at the height of 25 feet above Shaver's creek, and within nearly the same distance of the margin.
Fletcher's spring is about 15 perch- es S. of Anderson's, and discharges about six gallons of water per minute ; the sensible qualities of which differ little from those of Anderson's. The analysis of Dr. Church gives for the latter-18} cubic inches of carbonic acid gas to the quart of water, sulphate of magnesia or epsom salts, 20 grs. sulphate of lime 3.75, muriate of soda 2.50, muriate of lime 0.75, carbonate of iron 1.25, carbonate of lime 2, loss 0.75. Fletcher's gave rather more iron, and common salt, less magnesia, and about the same proportion of oth- er substances. This spring rises 60 feet from the base of the mountain. It once issued 25 feet higher on the hill, than at present. Between its ori- ginal source and the bottom of the hill,
is a large bank manifestly of seconda- ry formation. It would seem that this bank has been raised by deposite from the stream, and that at some remote period a much larger volume of water issued from the mountain at this place ; the channel was partly filled up with the deposition, and that the waters formed a new passage through the the fissures of the limestone rock below. There are many hundred tons of this reliquium, of a greyish color and ea- sily pulverized ; with the stronger acids it effervesces violently, and there is a copious evolution of fixed air.
About 40 perches N. E. of the prin- cipal fountain is the rich sulphur spring, which rises in the bed of the creek.
Anderson's spring discharges about 20 gallons of water per minute, the temperature of which is 55° F.
It emits no smell when issuing from the fountain, is perfectly transparent, and its taste is very soft and agreeable to most palates. When exposed in a clear glass vessel a pellucid mineral substance is seen, which after a few days is dissolved and becomes invisi- ble. The water deposits in the tubes which convey it to the baths, a large quantity of oxidized iron. A glass tumbler exposed in the fountain be- came enveloped with a coat of this oxyde.
These springs are much frequented during the warm months. They have been found salutary in cases of inter- nal worms-in removing incipient con- sumption of the lungs-or checking a tendency to that disease-in the remo- val of chronic obstructions and in in- flamation of the viscera, particularly of the liver, especially such as follow autumnal fevers and protracted inter- mittents-and indeed in all cases of deranged excitement of the viscera, consequent on bilious fever, remittent or intermittent, whether in their acute or chronic states-dyspepsia, consti- pated bowels from torpid liver-incip- ient dropsies, calculus, diabetes, chron- ic nephrites, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, cutaneous eruptions and ulcers,in which
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the system has been brought to sym- pathize, the obstructions and profluvia which afflict females, &c. &c. Good effects are experienced also in almost all cases of debility, whatever their causes, which not unfrequently baffle the physician, and from year to year teaze the patient. The water, how- ever, is not the only agent in minister- ing to the diseased. The pure elas- tic air of the mountain, where there are no miasmatic effluvia,-the elevation of the country which counteracts the morbid effects of the sun-the change of scene and the exercise on rugged roads, and various and cheerful com- pany, all contribte to the amelioration of health. The water in almost all cases operates as a laxative and diure. tic-sometimes as an emetic and sudo- rific. It uniformly strengthens the digestive organs, and stimulates the appetite. When used moderately it stimulates the spirits and animates the countenance; taken in excess it caus- es languor and stupor, and by rapid depletion, general debility. When prescribed with judgment it is power- ful over the two great classes of dis- ease, that of debility, and that of strength.
This region is not less interesting for its geological structure that its san. ative effects. To render the springs accessible to visiters, and to obtain ground for a promenade and for bath houses, and other buildings, it became necessary to excavate the base of the hill, the distance of one hundred yards. In the prosecution of this work a sec- tion of the rocks, of about 150 feetjin length and about 10 feet high, was laid bare. This, and all the northern part of the hill, appears to be composed of limestone, in strata, from two inches to two feet thick, dipping from 40 to 55° S. W. At the northern part of the excavation, is a vein running into the hill in which are several varieties of organic remains, which, lying at the foot of the hill, and lowest in position, may be considered as among the infe- rior order of such remains, at least as here arranged. At the distance of 25
|yards S. in the same section, and im- mediately opposite the S. end of the bath house, a second stratum, running into the hill, six feet thick, is exposed. This, unlike those above and beneath it, is fetid carbonate of lime, also filled with organic remains. South of this, there are nine strata in which there are no such remnants. About 100 yards S. of Anderson's spring there is an appearance of sandstone, but not in place, which lies over the limestone. Fifty yards further S. from the foot of the hill, sandstone has been taken for buildings, which is soft and pulverulent and contains the impression of a va- riety of shells, such as the producti terebratulæ a species of Pecten, &c.
These are the third deposite of or- ganic remains, in the order of position. At a little distance further S. in the road, and upon the surrounding sur- face, and still in the sandstone forma- tion, are abundance of specimens of such remains, of various sizes, from that of a quarter of a dollar to that of the palm of the hand.
From the specimens thus found it ap- pears that as we ascend in the order of formation and position, that the fos- sils are not only greater in variety, but become more complex and perfect in their structure and organization. Few localities present a more interest- ing subject for observation and con- templation, than Constitution Hill ; no one on visiting its structure and duly weighing the various phonomena will doubt that these deposites of organized substances must have taken place at epochs far distant from each other.
Federal Hill on the opposite side of the valley is nearly of the same dimen- sions at the base as Constitution Hill. Its geological structure is the same, except that no veins of organic re- mains are perceptible. The southern slope is overlaid with sand stone, in which are fossil shells, such as are found in the sand stone of the first mountain. Organic remains are how- ever observable in the limestone by the side of the road on the eastern slope, and nearly at the foot of the hill
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for a quarter of a mile from the springs. At this distance stands a grist mill on Shover's creek, immediately opposite to which and on the West side of the road leading to Bedford, the hill pre- sents a vertical mural precipice of more than a hundred feet, composed like the hill opposite of stratified lime- stone. At about the height of 30 feet below the summit of this precipice, there is a vein about two feet thick ap- parently filled with fossils, but its posi- tion renders its examination difficult. Specimens have been taken from the lower part of the vein where it was covered with earth. At the foot of the precipice, and by the road-side, may be found many interesting speci- mens, which have probably rolled from the heights above ; but many of them have been broken for the purpose of repairing the road. The rock from the mill to about a quarter of a mile above, runs into perfect slaty line- stone.
The road leading to the springs from Bedford has a serpentine course on the eastern slope of Federal hill and on the West side of Shover val- ley. The buildings for the accommo- dation of visiters are at the base of Federal hill and consist, in the first place, of two houses each two and a half stories high, and 130 feet in length ; these have comfortable rooms for families and individuals. The north building has in front, upon the valley and Constitution Hill, two spa- cious covered balconies for ladies, which extend the whole length of the house and the southern building has a similar balcony for gentlemen. There is also a drawing room of about 20 by 25 feet, a ball and dining room of 100 feet in length. In the front of this building in the valley below, enclosed within a handsome Chinese railing, there is elevated upon a pedestal of rough masonry a statue of Hygeia, the goddess of health, with a patera in her hand. From the stock passed through the statue there flows a stream of pure water, brought from the main spring, into the bowl. 'This embelish-
ment, though not of perfect symmetry, adds a pleasing and not uninteresting object to the surrounding scenery.
At the distance of 15 or 20 rods South of the principal buildings, there has been erected, much to the injury of the prospect, a two story frame building, of 140 feet in length. From its spacious balconies, however, the visiters have an agreeable prospect to the north.
The principal access from the sev. eral houses of accommodation, to the springs, is by a raised way across the valley to a small bridge over Sho- ver's creek. From the springs zig- zag walks are cut upon the western slope of Constitution Hill, to its sum- mit, which, but for the towering forest trees, would afford in all directions, a most interesting and romantic view. The valley opposite Anderson's spring is about 150 yards wide and in its en- tire length, almost a perfect level, which is beautifully adorned by forest trees of native growth, dotted over its surface.
The bounteous and wonderful sup- ply of water which flows from the springs, the natural beauties of the valley, susceptible of the highest im- provement, the lofty bounding hills, and the wide and romantic view from their summits, together with the facil- ity of obtaining all the comforts and luxuries of life, including wild and tame animals and vegetables of every kind, and above all, the high value of the medicinal springs, present a com- bined attraction scarce surpassed in any country ; and this valley might certainly be rendered the most inviting watering place in the United States.
Bedford, t-ship Bedford co. bound- ed N. by Woodbury, E. by Coleraine, S. by Cumberland valley and W. by Napier and St. Clair t-ships. Great. est length 15, breadth 42 ms. Area 32,640 acres; surface, mountain and valley. Soil of the valley, lime-stone. Pop. in 1830, 1344. Taxables, 277. It is bounded E. by Will's, and W. by Dunning's mountain, and watered by the Raystown branch of the Juni-
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ata r. which crosses it centrally by |$8020. Rate of assessment 6} mills on the dollar.
the town of Bedford, by Dunning's creek and by Shover's creek or Mor- ris' run on the bank of which are the celebrated Bedford springs. The Phil- adelphia and Pittsburg turnpike road passes through the t-ship.
Bedminster, t-ship Bucks co. bound- ed N. by Nockamixin, N. E. by Tin- icum, S. E. by Plumstead, S. by New Britain and Hillton, S. W. by Rock- hill, and W. by Haycock, t-ships. Greatest length 6 ms. breadth 6 ms. Area 18,451. The Tohickon creek forms its W. N. and N. E. boundary, whilst Deep run, a tributary of that stream, crosses to the east. The N. E. branch of the Perkiomen creek proceeds from the centre of the t-ship toward the S. W. There are three churches in the t-ship, one on the east, another on the West side of Deep run, and a third near the Tohickon creek on the west boundary. The town of Dublin is on the southern boundary on the road to Durham. Surface Rolling; soil red shale, and clay. Pop. in 1830, 1594. Taxables in 1828, 338. Taxable property by the return of assessors 1829, $583,438.
Beelen's Ferry and p-o. on the right bank of the Juniata river, Juniata t-ship, Perry co. distant 8 ms. N. of E. from Bloomfield, 129 from W.C. and 43 from Harrisburg. Belfast t-ship, Bed- ford co. Pop. in 1810, 750, in 1820, 1196, in 1830, 1373. Taxables in 1828, 274. It isbounded N. by Dub- lin E, by Air, S. by Bethel and W . part- ly by Bethel, and partly by Providence t-ships. Centrally distant from Bed- ford borough 20 ms. S. E. Area 64,- 640 acres; surface mountainous ; soil, slate in the mountains, limestone in the valleys. Scrub ridge bounds it on the E. and Sideling hill on the W. It is drained by Licking creek and its tributaries, and by the N. branch of the Great Conoloway creek. The turnpike road to Bedford passes through the north part of the t-ship. Valuation of taxable property 1829, re- al estate $29,375, personal estate &c.
Bellefonte, p-t. borough and st. jus. of Centre co. on the right bank of Spring creek, in Spring t.ship, lat 40° 50' N. lon. 0° 40' W. from W. C. dis- tant from that city N. W. 192 ms. and from Harrisburg 85 ms. It is sit- uated in a valley of limestone land highly susceptible of cultivation, abounding with excellent timber and inexhaustible quantities of iron ore, of the best quality, easily smelted and yielding 62} per cent. of metal. Spring creek, which has it source in Penn's valley, about 9 ms. S. of the town, is a large stream of limestone water, which scarcely ever rises, never falls and never freezes ; it is rapid, has bold banks and is well adapted to propel machinery. It has upon it a great number of furnaces, forges and rolling mills, for the manufacture of bar and sheet iron ; grist mills, saw mills, fulling mills, tilt-hammers and oil mills, and affords sites for many more. It dischar- ges itself into the Bald Eagle creek 2} ms. N. of Bellefonte, piercing the Bald Eagle mtn. The town has some high land around it, but none which is not capable of producing from 25 to 30 bushels of wheat to the acre; and from lands adjacent to the town once denominated barrens, that quantity has been frequently obtained. Bitu- minous stone coal is abundant within 10 miles of the town in the Allegheny mtn. and is employed in the iron works near it, and a turnpike road has been or is about to be made from the town to the mines. The inhabitants count much upon the prosperity of the place when the west branch canal shall be completed, to which they will have ac- cess by Spring and Bald Eagle creeks. The town contained in 1810, 203, in 1820, 433, in 1830, 699 inhabitants. There are 120 dwellings, 1 Presby- terian, 1 Methodist, 1 Catholic, 1 Unit- ed Brethren, churches; an academy, incorporated 8th Jan. 1805, to which the legislature gave sundry lands and the sum of $2000 ; a masonic lodge,
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a cotton manufactory, court house, county offices and jail. Bellefonte and its vicinity are said to excel in sa- lubrity almost every part of the Unit. ed States. The town including Smith- field was incorporated by act of 18th March, 1814.
Belmont, a small village of Mount Pleasant t-ship, Wayne co. near the Moosic mtn. 14 ms. N. W. of the bo- rough of Bethany, and 170 N. E. from Harrisburg. The Oquago and Great Bend turnpike roads cross here.
Belleville, p-t. Mifflin co. in Union t-ship, on the E. side of Stone mtn. 169 ms. N. W. from W. C. and 77 from Harrisburg, contains 15 or 20 dwellings, 2 stores and 3 taverns.
Belleville, a village of Plainfield t-ship, Northampton co. on the road from Easton to the Wind Gap, 9 ms. from Easton, containing 3 dwelings, 1 tavern, 1 store, 1 church, free to ev- ery denomination of christians.
Belle Vernon, p-t. of Washington t-ship, Fayette co. in the extreme N. W. part of the t-ship, on the E. bank of the Monongahela r. 18 ms. N. W. of Uniontown, 217 ms. from W. C. and 194 from Harrisburg ; contains 35 dwellings, 2 stores, 1 tavern, 1 school, 1 steam boat yard, 1 grist mill and 1 saw mill.
Ben's creek, Somerset co. a tributa- ry of Stoney creek, rising in Jenner t-ship, and flowing N. E. by a course of about 10 ms. to its recipient in the N. E. angle of Conemaugh t-ship.
Bendersburg, Mifflin t-ship, Dau- phin co. 28 ms. N. of Harrisburg, on the road leading from Millersburg along the S. side of Syken's valley to the Susquehannah r. contains 10 dwellings, a tavern and store ; the Sykens val- ley rail road passes near the town.
Bensalem, t-ship, Bucksco. bounded N. and N. E. by Middleton, E. by Bristol, S. E. by the Delaware r. W. by Philadelphia co. and N. W. by Southampton. Greatest length, 8 ms. greatest breadth 31. Area, 11,502 acres. The Neshaminy creek runs on its eastern boundary, over which there are two good bridges, and the art.
Poquessing upon the west. Both streams furnish excellent mill seats, and are improved by hydraulic works of various kinds. The Bristol turnpike road runs across the t-ship. Surface, level ; soil, clay, graveland loam, well cultivated and abundantly productive. Pop. in 1830, 1811 ; taxables in 1828, 345. There is a p-o. at Andalusia, a small hamlet on the Bristol road, 14 ms. from Philadelphia ; value of tax- able property in 1829, $561,592.
Bentley's creek, Bradford co. rises in Springfield t-ship, and flows through Ridgeway t-ship, into Tioga r. in the state of New-York, having a course of about 12 ms.
Bentleysville, p-t. of Somerset t-ship, Washington co. on the S. fork of Pi- geon creek, 16 ms. S. E. of Wash- ington borough, 222 N. W. of W. C. 202 W. of Harrisburg ; contains 20 dwellings, 2 stores, 1 tavern, grist mill and saw mill.
Berks co. was formed from parts of Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Chester cos. by act of assembly passed 11th March 1752. It has since been re- duced by the annexation of a part to the county of Northumberland, (21st March, 1772) and by the erection of Schuylkill co. (1st March, 1811) which latter took from Berks the t-ships of Brunswick, Schuylkill, Manheim, Norwegian, Upper and Lower Ma- hantango, and Pine Grove. This county was settled chiefly by Germans, and their descendants form the great mass of the population, among whom it is in no wise rare to find individuals born in the county, who can neither speak nor comprehend English.
This county lies in the valley form- ed by the South and the Kittatinny mts. and partakes of the geological forma- tion, which remarkably distinguishes that valley in its whole extent in Penn. of about 160 miles. The southern part of the valley is formed of transi- tion limestone, the northern part of clay slate. These two rocks inflect with the mountains, and touch each other in most places as if joined by The line of separation extends
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S. W. Icaving kutztown on the lime-pbetween the Schuylkill and that no. stone and crosses the Schuylkill near- ly midway between Reading and Hanı- burg, and the Tulpehocken, N.E. from Womelsdorff, leaving the latter also on the limestone. Iron ore is found in both formations, but is most abundant and of better quality on the limestone than on the slate.
The county is bounded on the S. W. by Lancaster and Lebanon, on the N. W. by Schuylkill, on the N. E. by Lehigh, and on the S. E. by Montgomery and Chester. Its length E. and W. is 38 ms. and mean breadth 27 ms. Area, 1026 sqare miles. It is traversed by one humble chain of mountains, and is limited, on the N. and the N. W. by the Blue mtn. and on the S. E. by the South mtn.
The physiognomy of the country seems to vary with the basis of the soil. The limestonesection is compar- atively level, and the soil rich. The slate region is more broken, and the soil inferior. The timber does not present any very striking difference, except that the pine is more commonly found on the latter than the former. In the lime- stone formation, although the water is abundant, it is unequally diffused. On the slate the distribution is more equal.
The Schuylkill r. divides the coun- ty into two almost equal parts, enter- ing it through the Blue mtn. near the boundary line between Upper Berne and Windsor t-ships, it pursues an al- most due southerly course to Reading, whence declining eastwardly the river makes its exit from the county at the angle of junction with the counties of Chester and Montgomery. The wa- ters which feed the Schuylkill from the W. are Irish, North Kill, Little North Kill, Tulpehocken, Spring, Cacoosing, Wymissing, Angelica, Allegheny, Hay, and Mill creeks; from the E. Maiden, Dry, Roush, Manokesy, and Manataway creeks. Some of the head waters of the Lehigh r. have their sources in the N. E. part of the coun- ty, whilst the N. W. sends forth the Swatara, to meet the Susquehannah r. and to form a medium of intercourse
ble stream. Canals formed by the Schuylkill navigation company follow the banks of the Schuylkill r. along ahnost its entire course, through the county. The continuity of the canals is broken only by several short dams. The Union canal follows the Tulpe- hocken and unites with the Schuylkill navigation at Reading.
There are two fine bridges across the Schuylkill at Reading, built of wood on stone piers, and covered with sub- stantial roofs.
Roads intersect the county in all directions, among which are very ex- cellent stone turnpikes, leading from Reading towards Philadelphia, to- wards Harrisburg, and towards Orwigsburg.
The principal ts. are Reading, Wo- melsdorff, Hamburg and Kutztown.
The population by the census of 1830 is 53,357, of whom 113 were al- iens ; 32 deaf and dumb, and 22 blind ; 26,606 were white males, 26,174 white females ; 298 free colored males ; 272 free colored females, and 7 slaves.
Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton, form the 3d Judicial district of Penn. The county courts are holden at Read- ing on the 1st Mondays in January, April, Aug. and Nov. Prest., Mr. Mal- lary. Berks is a part of the Lancaster district of the supreme court, by act of March 11th 1809. It is the 8th senato- rial district of the state, and sends two members to the senate.
With Schuylkill and Lehigh it fornis the 8th congressional district, repre- sented in the 22d Congress by Henry A. Muhlenberg and Henry King.
The public buildings of the county consist of a court house of brick, a small and old building unworthy of the county, occupying the centre of the borough of Reading. A jail, a poor- house, and house of employment, es- tablished under an act of 1824, for the maintenance of the poor of the county, situate on a farm called An- gelica, formerly of Gov. Mifflin, of 480 acres of excellent land, 3 ms. S. W. of Reading. The front of the house
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100 feet, depth 40 feet, with wings 40 by 30 feet, built of brick of two stories, with elevated basement, cost of farın and buildings, 33,000. Average num- ber of poor in the house 115; there are also a number of poor maintained out of the house. The whole at an average expense, beside the produce of the farm of $4000 per ann. paid by the county commissioners from the public fund, on the order of the directors of the poor. An academy, a large and com- modious brick building in the town of Reading, incorporated in 1788, to which the state gave, by the incorpor- ating act, 5000 acres of land, and in 1807, $2000 in money, and in 1817 a further donation of 448 acres, and 81 perches of land. The Greek and Latin languages, and mathematics are taught here in addition to the rudi- ments of an English education.
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