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 29
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The intelligent correspondent of the Crawford Messenger, to whom we are indebted for much of the matter of this article, observes, that the county " possesses all the conveniences and comforts of living, that are enjoyed east of the mountains. It is a healthy pleasant country to live in ; and capa- ble of producing an abundance of all the productions common to the eastern part of the state ; and when the canal from Lake Erie to Philadelphia shall have been completed, they can be placed in the market of that city, at a rate much more profitable to those that produce them, than like products east of the mountains can be so placed -and for the plainest of all reasons, that the lands producing them, can be procured at one fifth the expense of lands of equal quality east of the mountains. Very good unimproved lands may be purchased here at two dollars to four dollars per acre, de- pending in a great measure, at present, on their particular situations-and well improved farms at from 5 dollars to 8 dollars per acre. This country is peculiarly adapted to raising of
The following notice of a curious stock. The numerous droves of fine
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horses and'cattle taken out of it every || season, is the best evidence of its fit- ness for stock ; and there is no mode of farming so easy and profitable as that of raising stock, more particular. ly in a country like this, where grass is produced so abundantly. This sec- tion of the state must, at no distant day, become a great stock country. Emi- gration to it, is rapidly increasing.
The following table shows the names and numbers of the t-ships, in this county. Within the last two years there has been an alteration in the form and bounds of most of them, and as we have not their boundaries, we are unable to give their area, &c.
STATISTICAL TABLE OF CRAW. FORD COUNTY.
Townships, &c.
Population. 1810|1820
1830
Taxa- bles.
Bor. of Meadville,
457
649
1076
228
Meadville t-ship,
786 1311
1026
338
Randolph,
561
108
Wayne,
50
663
250
177
Oil Creek,
340
495
484
Troy,
146
Athens,
121
Rome,
365
Sparta,
304
Richmond,
252
Bloomfield,
114
214
197
109
Rockdale,
401
776
225
274
Woodcock,
1150
Venango,
434
630
886
178
Cussawago,
384
642
544
186
Spring,
690
Beaver,
236
419
185
189
Conneaut,
285
562
547
162
Vernon,
797
Sadsbury,
540
789
902
254
North Shenango,
727
952
952
296
South Shenango,
662
Fallowfield,
551
742
686
222
Greenwood,
876
Fairfield,
421
553
632
142
Sommerhill,
845
6178 9397|16,005 3034
Crook's island, in the N. branch of the Susquehannah r. below the mouth of Gravel run, and about six miles above Northumberland.
Crooked creek, a tributary of the Allegheny r. rises in Green t-ship, In-
diana county, and flows W. and N. W. through Armstrong co. into its recipient, 6 miles above Kittanning borough.
Crooked creek, Tioga county, rises near Wellsborough, and flows N. E. into the Tioga river, in Tioga t-ship. It gives name to a p-office, distant 262 miles N. W. from W. C. and 156 from Harrisburg.
Cross Creek, t-ship, Washington co. bounded N. by Hanover, N. E. by Smith, E. by Mount Pleasant, S. by Hopewell t-ships, and W. by the state of Virginia. Centrally distant from the borough of Washington N. W. 15 miles; greatest length 9, breadth 8 miles ; area 32,000 acres; surface undulating ; soil, loam ; coal abundant. Population in 1830, 2147; taxables, 438. Cross creek, which gives name to the t-ship, rises on the borders of Hopewell and Mount Pleasant t-ships, and runs along the S. boundary N. W. to the Ohio river. Harman's creek, on the N. boundary, pursues the same course to the same recipient. The p-town of Eldersville, lies in the N. part of the t-ship.
Cross Creek village, p-o. Washing- ton co. 245 miles from W. C. and 227 from Harrisburg.
Crowner's run, Heidelberg t-ship, Lehigh county, rises about the centre of the t-ship, and flows southwardly, to the Jordan creek, with which it unites, on the line between Lowhill and North Whitehall t-ships.
Crum creek, rises in Willistown t.ship, Chester county, and flows by a S. W. course of about 18 miles, through Delaware county, into the River Delaware. There are many mills on the stream, and it is noted for the abundance of building and curb- stone transported from it, to the city of Philadelphia. There is also some fine sand stone upon it used for whet stones.
Culbertson's, p-o. Mercer county, 283 miles N. W. of W. C. and 265 from Harrisburg, so called after Joseph Culbertson, the Post-master.
Cumberland county. Upon the rep-
Hayfield,
644
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resentation of the inhabitants of the central transition formation of the state, western part of Lancaster co. of the great hardships they laid under, by be- ing at so great a distance from the bo- rough of Lancaster, where the courts of justice were held and the public offi- ces kept ; and how hard and difficult it was for the sober and quiet part of the inhabitants of that part of the coun- ty to secure themselves against thefts and abuses, frequently committed amongst them by idle and dissolute persons, who resorted to the remote parts of the province, and by reason of the great distance from the court or prison, frequently found means to make their escape. It was provided by the assembly on the 27th January, 1750, for remedy of such inconve- niences, and for the relief of such in- habitants, That, all and singular the lands, lying within the province of Pa. to the westward of Susquehannah, and northward and westward of the co. of York, be erected into a co. to be call- ed Cumberland ; bounded northward and westward with the line of the pro- vince, eastward partly with the r. Sus- quehannah, and partly with the said co. of York; and southward in part by the said co. of York, and part by the line dividing the said province from that of Maryland. By the same act the new county was authorized to send two representatives to the assembly.
These ample limits were reduced, 1st, by the erection of the co. of Bed- ford, March 9, 1771 ; 2d, of Northum- berland, March 21, 1772; of Frank- lin, September 9, 1784 ; and finally by the erection of Mifflin co. September 19, 1789, and by Perry co. March 22d, 1820. This co. is now bounded N. by Perry co. E. by the Susquehannah r. which separates it from Dauphin, S. by York and Adams cos. and W. by Franklin co. Length 34, breadth 16 ms. area 545 ms. Central lat. 40° 10' N. long. from W. C. 0° 15' W.
Cumberland lies altogether in the valley between the South, or as Mr. Darby terms it, the Blue Ridge and the Kittatinny or Blue mtn. and be- longs, in part at least, to the great
and partakes of the singular structure which distinguishes this valley in its whole course ; the eastern moiety be- ing composed of limestone, and the western of aluminous slate. The sur- face of the country seems determined by the nature of its base. The lime- stone section is comparatively level, and the soil vastly superior to that of the slate. Water, too, is much more equally distributed on the latter than on the former formation; but no stri- king difference is observed in regard to the timber. The iron ore of the co. is chiefly, if not wholly, in the lime- stone formation. The mtn. chains which bound the co. on the N. W. and S. E. extend laterally their spurs towards each other. The intervening valley is drained by considerable crs. ; the Yellow Breeches on the S. E. and the Conedogwinit on the N. W. The first rises in the S. angle of the county, and receives in its course Mountain creek from the E. and several small streams on either side, and forming in part the boundary between this and York co. flows into the Susquehannah r. at the town of New Market. The second has its source in the mountains of Franklin co. and flows N. E. thro' this county into the river at the village of Fairview, near and above Harris- burg, receiving from the mountain very, many rivulets, and some streams from the plain, the principal of which are Green Spring, Big Spring and Letart Spring creeks. The last turns two mills immediately at its source, and Big Spring has its banks studded with mills. There are several other re- markable springs, such as the sulphur spring at the foot of the Blue mountain, Boiling spring near the base of the South mountain, and Carlisle springs about 4 ms. N. of Carlisle borough. (See Carlisle.)
The turnpike road from Harrisburg to Chambersburg crosses the co. S. W. by the borough of Carlisle; and an- other road directed towards Baltimore runs from that borough S. E. by Pe. tersburg and Abbottstown, in Adams
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co. and by Hanover in York co. to the stock and salted provisions. The state line.
There is a limestone cave on the bank of the Conedogwinit creek, about half a mile N. of Carlisle, which is of considerable extent and an object of curiosity, a description of which, and of the Hogshead spring, also in the vi- cinity of that borough, will be found in the article, Carlisle.
The population of the co. is com- posed chiefly of the descendants of the Germans and Irish, who were the first settlers. It amounted in 1800 to 25, 386, in 1810, when greatly reduced by the formation of other counties, to 26,757 ; in 1820, after the subtraction of the co. of Perry, to 23,606; and in 1830, to 29,227, of whom 14,228 were white males, 14,047 white females, 482 free colored males, 463 females, and 7 slaves. There were also inclu- ded in the foregoing 13 aliens, 23 deaf and dumb, and 4 blind.
The public buildings of the county consist of the court house, public offi- ces and prison, all plain buildings, Dickenson college (for which see Car- lisle), a number of neat and commodi- ous churches in the borough and in various parts of the county, the United States barracks, and the poor house.
The surplus produce of the county consists of wheat, rye, oats, flour, whiskey, peach and apple brandy, live Tavern licenses,
This co. paid into the treasury in 1831,
for tax on bank dividends, $967,61 Tax on writs, 375,44
864,65
manufactures are chiefly of a striet domestic character, except iron. About 250,000 barrels of flour are sent to market annually. Considera- ble quantities of iron are made, which with other subjects of trade, have usu- ally found a market by the turnpike road, or by the Susquehannah river to Baltimore. The Union canal and the Columbia rail road, will give the in- habitants a better market at Philadel- phia. There are two furnaces in Southampton, a furnace and forge in Dickenson, a furnace at New Cumber- land, furnace and forge in South Mid- dleton, one at Lisburn, Allen t-ship, not in operation, and another forge in Al- len. Heister & Co. are erecting an extensive rolling-mill in East Penns- boro. There are in the county 62 grist, 55 saw, 8 oil, 11 fulling and 9 clover mills. There is also a very extensive woollen manufactory, chief- ly employed on carpets and cassinetts, on Mountain creek, in South Middle- town t-ship. Cumberland sends two members to the house of representa- tives ; connected with Adams, Frank- lin and Perry, it forms the 11th con- gressional district, sending two mem- bers to the house of representatives ; The last was established pursuant to an act of 24th March, 1808, and located by commissioners elected by the inhabitants of the county. It is governed by three directors, who serve for three years, one of whom is elected annually. They are incorpo- united with Perry and Adams it forms the 9th judicial district, President, John Reed, Esq. The courts are holden at Carlisle on the 2d Mondays of Jan- uary, April, August and November. The county belongs to the southern district of the supreme court, which rated and have power to hold lands, holds an annual session at Chambers- &c. not exceeding the yearly value of | burg, on the Monday weck, next fol- $5000, to erect the necessary build- lowing the end of the second weck, of the term of the western district. The term of the western district commen- ces on the first Monday in September. There are about 25 churches in the county, Bible and missionary societies, several tract societies and Sunday school associations. ings for the employment and mainte- nance of the poor, &c. &c. The house is supported by tax levied by the county commissioners at the instance of the directors. The directors are allowed $20 per annum, to defray the expenses incident to their office. There are two newspapers printed in the county.
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Duties on dealers in foreign merchandise, 682,58 Tin and clock pedlars licenses, 114,00 (
Hawkers and pedlars licenses, 15,20
Total, $2,819,48
STATISTICAL TABLE OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Townships.
Greatest Lgth.
Bth.
Area in Acres.
Face of country.
1810.
1820.
1830.
Taxa- bles.
Valua- tion.
Allen,
8
4
10,240
Level.
1837
2995
2337
410
935,187
Do.
2491
2908
3708
467
693,142
Dickenson,
7
6
21,740
Part hilly, level. Do.
1749
2007
2523
413
1172,112
Frankford,
8
5 3-4
25,600
Hilly.
807
1274
1282
257
252,935
Hopewell,
7 1-4
4
14,080
Do.
769
820
952
152
145,578
Mifflin,
14
7
33,280
Do.
1289
1461
1431
261
300,949
Newton,
11 1-2
5
32,000
Do.
1312
1144
1349
365
482,598
North Middleton,
9
7
26,880
22,400
Hilly and level. Do. Hilly. Level. Hilly and level. Level.
709
1088
1484
256
501,424
*Shippensburg,
12,800
1159
1700
1800
333
199,448
South Middleton,
10
6 1-2
25,600
1500
2072
355
568,400
West Pennsborough, Newville bor.
10 1-2
4
17,340
1264
1553
1733
375
712,148
Mechanicsburg,
654
Shippensburg bor.
1247
1608
23,606
29,218
53-12
9,014,941+
* Township altered.
+ This sum includes the valuation of personal property. The rate of levy varies in the several t-ships from 1 1-4 to 2 3-4 mills on the dollar.
Cumberland valley, t-ship, Bedford co. bounded N. by Bedford t-ship, E. by Coleraine and Southampton, S. by the state of Maryland, and W. by Londonderry t-ship ; centrally distant S. W. from Bedford borough 15 miles ; greatest length 16 miles, breadth, 4; area, 34,200 acres; sur- face level ; soil, limestone. Popula- tion in 1830, 747; taxables, 150. Evit's mountain lies on the E. and Will's mountain on the West. Evit's creek runs S. through the whole extent of the t-ship.
Cumberland, t-ship, Greene co. bounded N. and E. by the Mononga- hela river, which separates it from Fayette county, S. by Greene and Monongahela t-ships, W. by Franklin and N. W. by Morgan t-ships. Cen- trally distant E. from Waynesburg 11 miles; greatest length, 10 miles ; greatest breadth, 61 ; area, 23,680 acres ; surface level ; soil, loam.
Population in 1830, 1,896; taxa- bles, 357. The t-ship is drained chiefly by Muddy creek, which rises in, and flows through it to the Monon- gahela r. On the creek is the p-t. of Lisburn, 12 miles E. of Waynes- burg.
Cumberland, t-ship, Adams county, bounded N. by Menallen t-ship, E. by Strabane and Mount Joy, S. by the state of Maryland, W. by Liberty, and Hamiltonban, and N. W. by Franklin t-ships; greatest length 11, breadth 4 miles ; area 20,580 acres ; surface, level ; soil, red gravel.
Population in 1830, 1010; taxa- -bles 213. Rock creek bounds it on the E. and Marsh creek on the W. and unite a short distance below the state line, on the south. The former receives Bear run, and the latter, Willoughby run, from the t-ship. Get- tysburg, p-town, borough, and seat of justice, lies in the E. part of the t-ship, between Willoughby run, and Rock creek.
Cumberland, New, p-t. and borough, of Allen t-ship, Cumberland county, at the confluence of the Yellow Breeches creek with the Susquehan- nah river, and opposite the town of New Market, 3 miles S. W. of Har- risburg, and 16 miles E. of Carlisle, and 113 N. of W. C. contains from 30 to 40 dwellings, two stores, and a tav- ern. It was incorporated by act of 21st March, 1831.
Cumru, t-ship, Berks co. bounded
306
584,100
*Silver Spring,
7
5
1792
477
839,318
*Southampton,
6
5
17,040
Monroe,
6 1-2
5
16,640
Level.
2365
3513
2196
412
995,103
*East Pennsborough,
1555
317
567,422
2351
1514
1932
530
65,077
Borough of Carlisle,
10 1-2 10 1-2
51,240
Population.
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E. by the Schuylkill river, S. E. by | Robeson t-ship, S. W. by Brecknock t-ship and Lancaster county, N. W. by Heidelberg t-ship, and N. by the Tulpehocken creek. Length 7, breadth 7 miles ; area 32,000 acres ; surface partly level, partly hilly ; soil, limestone and gravel, of excellent qual- tiy, and generally very productive in grain and grass. Population in 1810, 2,017; in 1820, 2,462; in 1830, 2,705 ; taxables in 1828, 497. Be- sides the Tulpehocken and Schuylkill rivers, this t-ship is watered by the Wymissing, Angelica and Flying run creeks. Welsh mountain and Flying hill, are distinguished hills. The vil- lage of Sinking Spring, which receives its name from a spring which after flowing a few rods from its source, re- turns to the earth. The village is about 4 miles from Reading, on the Harrisburg turnpike, contains 12 dwellings, 2 taverns, 2 stores; a church here is common to the Luther- ans and Presbyterians, as is also Alle. gheny church, at the extreme south- ern end of the t-ship. The poor house of the county is also in this t-ship, about 3 miles from Reading, upon Angelica Farm, formerly the property of Governor Mifflin.
Curwinville, p-t. Pike t-ship, Clear- field county, on the W. branch of the Susquehannah river, about 6 miles S. W. of Clearfield borough and 132 miles W. of Harrisburg.
Cussawago, t-ship, Crawford co. Population in 1830, 544.
Daggett's mills, p-o. Tioga county, distant, 277 miles N. W. from W. C. and 159 from Harrisburg.
Dale, p-o. Berks co. 164 miles from W. C. and 71 from Harrisburg.
Dallas, t-ship, Luzerne county, bounded N. E. by North Moreland, S. E. by Kingston and Plymouth, and S. W. by Lehman t-ships. It was thus named in honor of Alexander I. Dallas. Its surface is uneven and in part mountainous. Soil, gravel, loam and slate. Population in 1830, 650 ; taxables in 1828, 120. Harvey's lake, a beautiful sheet of water sur-
rounded with romantic scenery and stored with fine trout, perch, and sun- fish, lies in this t-ship, and is the resort of many parties of pleasure, during the summer months. The outlet of this lake, Bowman's creek and other streams, furnish excellent mill power. The t-ship is centrally distant 8 miles from Wilkesbarre N. W., and the p-o. bearing the name of the i-ship, is 214 miles N. W. from W. C. and 104 from Harrisburg. Lehman , t-ship was taken from it in 1829.
Dalmatia, p-t. Lower Mahanoy t-ship, Northumberland co. (See Georgetown.)
Damascus, p-t. of Wayne county, in the t-ship of Damascus, near the Delaware river, 16 miles N. E. from Bethany, 290 miles N. of W. C. and 191 from Harrisburg, containing about a dozen dwellings, a Baptist church, a tavern and a store. A substantial bridge crosses the river here, 550 ft. in length.
Damascus, t-ship, Wayne county, bounded N. by Buckingham t-ship, N. E. and E. by the Delaware river, S. by Dyberry t-ship and by Pike co. and W. by Dyberry and Lebanon t-ships ; greatest length, 12 miles ; greatest breadth, 10 miles. The Cosh- ecton and Great Bend turnpike pass- es from the Delaware river, opposite to the Newberry turnpike of New- York, through the t-ship, in a N. W. course. Damascus, a p-t. is on this road near the river, and the Coshecton Falls ; distant 16 miles N. E. of Beth- any. Surface, hilly ; soil, gravel and loam. Pop. in 1830, 613 ; taxables in 1828, 128; taxable property in 1829, seated lands, 39,407 ; unseated lands, 59,924; personal estate inclu- ding occupations, 8698.
Danville, or Danboro, p-t. Plum- stead t-ship, Bucks co. at the intersec- tion of the roads from Doylestown and the Delaware river, about 4 miles N. of the former, 165 miles N. of W. C. and 118 E. of Harrisburg. It contains 12 dwellings, 1 tavern, and a store.
Danville, p-t. and seat of justice of Columbia co. on the right bank of the Susquehannalı river, 25 miles above
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Northumberland, 175 miles from W. C. 65 from Harrisburg; N. lat. 40° 57', long. W. C. 1º 36' west. A turnpike road from Pottsville, leads to this town, and a company has been incorporated, and stock to the amount of half a million of dollars has been subscribed, for connecting the Susque- hannah and Schuylkill rivers, by means of a rail road on this route. The town contains about 130 dwell- ings, 7 stores, seven taverns,. one Episcopalian and one Presbyterian church,an academy incorporated by act of 23d March, 1818. There is a bridge across the Susquehannah river here.
Darby, Upper, t-ship, Delaware co. bounded N. by Haverford t-ship, E. by Phil. co. S. by Darby t-ship, and W. by Ridley t-ship. Central dis- tance from Phil. about 8 miles ; length 5, breadth 3 miles ; area 7680 acres, surface hilly ; soil, loam. Pop. in 1830, 1325; taxables in 1828, 239. Darby creek flows through the mid- dle of the t-ship, and Cobb's creek forms its eastern boundary, and re- ceives a considerable tributary from it. These streams have many mills upon them, and on the first is an extensive cotton manufactory.
Darby, t-ship, Delaware co. bound- ed N. by Upper Darby, E. by Phil. co. S. by Tinicum t-ship, and W. by Ridley. Central distance W. from Phil. 8 miles; length 4, breadth 2ª miles ; area 5120 acres; surface level ; soil, clay and loam ; pop. in 1830, 1085; taxables in 1828, 233. It is watered by Darby and Cobb's creeks which unite on the eastern boundary. Both are mill streams fully employed. Darby village, and Horntown, are villages of the t-ship.
Darby, p-t. and village of Darby t-ship, Delaware co. on the E. side of Darby creek, 7 miles S. W. of Phil. on the main road to Chester. It is pleasantly located in the vale of Dar- by creek, contains 30 or 40 dwellings, 2 stores, 2 taverns, a grist mill, and fulling mill, and a Quaker meeting. house. It is 129 miles from W. C. and 103 S. E. from Harrisburg.
Darlingsville, p-o. of Pike co named after the post master, Samuel Darling, 261 miles N. E. of W. C. and 169 from Harrisburg.
Dartmouth, p-o. Tioga co. distant 254 miles from W. C. 148 from Har- risburg.
Dauphin co. was separated from Lancaster by act of 4th March, 1785, which gave it the following limits; ' be- ginning on the W. side of the Susque- hannah river opposite the mouth of Conewago creek; thence up the mid- dle of the said creek to Moor's mill ; and from thence to the head of said cr. and from thence by a direct line to the S. E. corner of Heidelberg t-ship, where it strikes the Berks co. line; thence N. W. by the line of Berks co. to Mahantango creek; thence along the same by the line of Northumber- land co. and crossing the river Susque- hannah, to the line of Cumberland co. thence down the Susquehannah on the W. side thereof by the line of Cum- berland co. and that part of the line of York co. to the place of beginning, on the W. side of the river Susque- hannah." The co. was reduced to its present limits by the act of 16th Feb. 1813, which erected Lebanon co. from Dauphin and Lancaster. The seat of justice for the co. was fixed at Harris- burg by the act of 5th April, 1793.
Dauphin co. is now bounded N. by Northumberland co. N. E. by Leban- on, and Lancaster on the S. E. and by the Susquehannah river on the W. or rather by the western bank of that riv- er, the whole stream being within Dauphin co. The course of the river through the county is 48 miles. Its length is 33, and mean width 16 miles ; area 528 square miles ; central lat. 40° 25' N. long. 0° 15' E. of W. C. Its name was given in honor of the son of Louis XVI of France.
For much of the following descrip- tion of the county we are indebted to Mr. Roberts, its respectable and intel- ligent prothonotary.
The county belongs to the great central transition formation of the state, commencing on the S. by the
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South mountain, known here as the || the Conewago hills present a charac- Conewago Hills, and extending deep ter altogether different from the other ranges of hills in the county. Here red sand stone and slate are overlaid and intermingled with masses of glob- ular and angular rock having the ap- pearance of primary formation. The soil in this section of the county is thin and unfavorable to the production of grain, but well suited to every variety of fruit, adapted to the climate. The t-ships next the river have a portion of river bottom, composed of sand, veg- etable mould and boulders or loose fragments of rock rounded and smooth- ed by attrition. This alluvion over- lays unformable strata of rock, which is washed by the river and exhibited in its bed and banks. This land is generally preferred to limestone, yield- ing more certain, and quite as abun- dant crops. into the Appalachian system of moun- tains. Its surface varies much in form and fertility. One fourth may be es- timated as mountainous, and altogeth- er unfit for cultivation ; one fourth hills and woodland which may be sub- jected to the plough, but is not yet im- proved, and the remainder as in tillage, varying in quality from the arid slate to the productive limestone, and more prolific river bottom. Traversing the county northward we cross in succes- sion, the Conewago hills, the Blue mtn. the Second, Third and Peters mountains, between Peters mountain and Berry's mountain, are several minor ranges, less continuous, and be- tween Berry's and the Mahantango mountains are some ridges of like character. The valleys lying be- tween the mountains north and west of The mountains commencing with the Blue mountain extend across the whole upper part of the county to the Northumberland county line, in longi- tudinal ranges, elevated from 600 to 900 feet above the surface of the Sus- quehannah, which generally cuts them to the base at right angles. The val- leys, as has already been said, which separate the mountains, are composed of red slate and red sand stone, but the geological character changes as soon as we ascend the mountains, where we find pudding stone, grey wacke, and a yellow and sometimes white conglomerated sand stone, bear- ing impressions of animal remains of the Moluscous order, and sometimes of Ammonites. In the red sand stone and slate of the valleys, and the lime- stone and slate of the country on the S. E. of the mountains, no appearances of organic remains have been discov- ered. The limestone from Harris- burg, east, through Hummelstown, is of the kind denominated sparry, from the crystallized carbonate of lime which fills compactly and cements the transverse, and sometimes the longitu- dinal fissures of the rock. The line of bearing of the whole rock formation of the county is parallel to the mountains, the Blue mountain, are of red slate, alternating and blending occasionally with red sandstone, and are favorable to the growth of grain, clover, and fruit trees. From the foot of the Blue mountain, east and south to Harrisburg, off of the river bottom, limestone is found alternating with blue and other slate, partaking more of the argillace- ous character, and the soil is fertile. At Harrisburg where the great Cum- berland valley crosses the river, lime- stone of a more decided character commences, and continues through the county east, in the range of the valley to the Lebanon county line, and S. E. until it is lost beneath the Conewago hills. The whole limestone range here, as well as elsewhere, is most fer- tile and richly rewards the labors of the agriculturist. From Harrisburg N. E. and between the valley just de- scribed and the Blue mountains argil- laceous slate, occasionally interrupted by a friable brown sand stone, predom- inates. The soil here is thin and ster- ile, but is susceptible of great improve- ment by the use of lime. Between the limestone valley and the Susque- hannah, and south and east of the Swatara, bordering on Lancaster co.
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