USA > Pennsylvania > A geography of Pennsylvania : containing an account of the history, geographical features, soil, climate, geology, botany, zoology, population, education, government, finances, productions, trade, railroads, canals &c. of the state : with a separate description of each county, and questions for the convenience of teachers : to which is appended, a travellers' guide, or table of distances on the principal rail road, canal and stage routes in the state > Part 23
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Each department or branch of business is under the direction of a foreman or superintendent, whose duty it is to see that every thing is properly performed according to the standing rules and regulations of the society, and to do justice and act impartially to all the members in the distribution of all the necessaries of life.
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GEOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
This little community presents a pleasing and instructive ex- ample of the advantages derived from habits of industry, morality and strict adherence to sound religious principles. They show how much the sum of human misery may be lessened by dwelling in harmony, unanimity and peace ; and how greatly the happi- ness of the human family may be promoted by the combined and benevolent action of both heart and hand.
Considering the limited extent of its territory, and the compara- tively recent date of its settlement, Beaver county deserves favour- able notice for the rapidity of its improvement, and for the variety and value of its productions of agricultural and manufacturing in- dustry. It possesses the advantages of a healthy climate and a fertile soil; it abounds with timber and coal; its streams afford water power to an incalculable amount, and it possesses the facili- ties of a direct water communication with the east, west, north and south for at least three fourths of the year.
The Beaver division of the Pennsylvania canal extends through the county, from the mouth of Beaver river to Newcastle in Mercer county, where it connects with the Erie extension, forming, on the completion of the latter work, a direct communication from the Ohio river to Lake Erie. The Mahoning, or Pennsylvania and Ohio canal, connects the Beaver division of the Pennsylvania works with the Ohio canal at Akron ; and the Sandy and Beaver canal connects the same works by way of Little Beaver and Sandy rivers, forming a junction with the Ohio canal at Bolivar.
The assessed value of property in Beaver county, subject to tax- ation in 1842, was $4,047,701 ; county tax $9,054; State tax $5,228.
The system of education by common schools is general through- out the county. It contains 23 school districts, in which 162 schools are in operation, under the provisions of the law regulating the common school system. According to the reports made to the superintendent, they are kept open but about five months in the year on a general average. There is an academy in the town of Beaver.
There are about 30 places for public worship in the county, be- longing to various religious denominations, of which the Presby- terians and Methodists are most numerous. Sunday schools are established in the towns and villages, and there are several Bible, missionary and tract societies, as well as other moral and benevo- lent associations.
The early settlers were mostly adventurers from other parts of Pennsylvania, attracted by the natural advantages possessed by this region. Some emigrants from the north of Ireland and from Germany have settled here, and the population is steadily increas- ing by new accessions from various sources.
How is Beaver county bounded ? What is said of the face of the coun- try and soil ? Describe the principal streams. What are the valuable mineral productions ? Name the county town, its situation, public build- ings, &c. What towns are at the mouth of Beaver river ? Where is Fallston, and what manufactories are established there ? New Brighton ? Brighton ? Sharon ? Freedom ? How is Economy situated, and by whom
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BEDFORD COUNTY.
settled ? How is the property owned in this place ? What branches of manufacture are carried on ? What are the public buildings belonging to the society, and for what purposes used ? What is said of their agriculture and domestic animals ? In what manner is their business conducted ? What is said of the habits of this people ? What are the general advan- tages of Beaver county ? Describe the canals here and their connexion with others. What is said of education and the common schools ? Places of worship and religious denominations ? By whom has the county been chiefly settled ?
5. BEDFORD COUNTY.
Bedford is bounded on the west by Somerset and Cambria, north by Huntingdon, east by Franklin, and south by the State of Maryland. Population 29,335.
The face of the country is mountainous and uneven; many high ridges pass across the county in a direction nearly north and south, which are separated by deep valleys of unequal breadth. The most eastern of these mountain ridges is the Cove or Tuscarora mountain, which separates Bedford from Franklin : on the west of this is Scrub Ridge, of inferior height and extent. The next prin-
View of Cove Mountain from Scrub Ridge.
cipal mountain on the westward is Sideling Hill, which extends from the Maryland line across Bedford county, and into Hunting- don as far as to the Juniata river. Next is the huge irregular eleva- tion called Broad Top, across which the northern line of the county passes, leaving nearly half of it in Huntingdon. South of Broad Top are Harbour mountain, Ray's Hill, Clear Ridge, and other ranges extending southward into Maryland. West of these is Warrior ridge, and next Tussey's mountain, stretching quite across
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GEOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
the county, and thence north ward through Huntingdon and Centre, , towards the West branch of Susquehanna. Further west are Dunning's, Evit's and Wills' mountains, and beyond these the great Allegheny, which forms part of the western boundary of the county.
Bedford county is well watered, though it contains no large streams. The Raystown branch of the Juniata and its many tribu- tary creeks drain most of the northern and interior portions. In the south are numerous streams which flow southward into the Potomac. Every valley has its stream, fed by mountain springs, and these uniting furnish water power to a vast amount beyond that which is actually employed.
This county presents considerable variety and intricacy in the details of its geological features. All the rock formations which we have described as intervening between the lower limestone (II) and the coal bearing strata (XIII,) with both these included, may be found within its borders. Our limits will not permit a full description of the various ranges, foldings and doublings of these formations throughout the county ; it will be sufficient merely to mention some of the places where the rocks of each occur, in order to give a general view of their positions.
The lowest formation which appears in the county is the limestone (II) seen in Morrison's cove, Friends' cove, on the west of Tussey's mountain, and about M'Connellstown in the east of the county. The next overlying formation of slate (III) will be found accompanying the limestone, usually near the base of the mountain ridges bounding the limestone valleys. The sandstone next above (IV) is seen on the Cove mountain, and on Tussey's, Dunning's, Evit's and Wills' mountains; and the red and variegated shales (V) along the sides of these ridges towards which the mountain sandstone dips below these shales. But, as in Wills' mountain, where an anticlinal axis causes the sandstone strata to dip towards both sides of the mountain, the red shale will be found on both sides. This formation is also seen in Pigeon cove, a little valley in the south-east of the county, adjoining Maryland ; the centre of the valley being of these shales, bounded by the limestone of the next formation. This limestone (VI) is found east of Tussey's mountain, crossing the Juniata at Bloody Run ; and also about the town of Bedford, from which it extends on the west of Evit's mountain to the Maryland line. Another long narrow belt of the same limestone, ranges from the southern boundary of the State up Wills' creek on the west of Wills' mountain, stretching north-eastward quite across the county to the Juniata near Hollidaysburg. The fossiliferous sandstone (VII) will generally be found to accompany the limestone last mentioned, commonly forming sharp rough hills along the side of the valley which contains the limestone. The dark and olive coloured slates, with the gray and red sandstones and red shales of the next two formations (VIII and IX) occupy most of the country between Scrub Ridge and Sideling hill, and also from the latter to Warrior Ridge. In the western part of the county there is also a broad belt of these formations extending from the limestone and fossiliferous sandstone to the Allegheny mountain. The coarse gray sand- stone of the next formation (X) is found on Sideling hill, Ray's Hill, Har- bour mountain, and on the eastern front of the Allegheny. The red shale (XI) next below the coal measures, is seen at the base of Broad Top in Wells' Valley, and westward in Ground Hog valley. The sandstone (XII) which lies immediately below the coal of the Broad Top region, differs from the general character of the same formation below the other coal measures of the State, having less of the pebbly conglomerate character, and more resembling the sandstones between the coal beds themselves. Broad Top mountain, only a part of which is in this county, is a broad
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BEDFORD COUNTY.
irregular plateau, having several spurs running out towards the bounding valleys. Beds of coal have been opened on it in many places, and have been found to be from three to eight feet thick, yielding coal of good quality, though less bituminous than that west of the Allegheny mountain. 'This region has been but imperfectly explored, and the number of coal seams, with their extent and relative positions, has not been fully ascertained.
Iron ore occurs in many parts of the county, and is extensively mined in several places for the supply of furnaces.
This mountainous region presents a great variety in the charac- ter of its soil. Some of the valleys are very fertile, particularly those where limestone abounds; the uneven rolling country occu- pied by the slates, shales and red sandstones, is less productive, and a considerable part of the county consists of rocky mountains and hills unfit for the purposes of agriculture. The quantity of land unfit for cultivation is estimated to be 131,200 acres.
The climate is healthy, and somewhat colder than that of the less mountainous region in the south-eastern part of the State.
View near Bedford.
Bedford is the county town, situated near the head of the Rays- town branch of the Juniata, on the main turnpike from Philadel- phia to Pittsburg, and has a population of 1022. The buildings are mostly of stone or brick, and the town presents a neat and pleasing appearance. The court-house, county offices and prison are handsome well-built edifices ; there are also churches for Pres- byterian, Lutheran, German Reformed, Methodist and Roman Catholic congregations. It is a place of some business, and the borough contains four grist mills and a woollen factory.
Near this town are the celebrated Bedford Springs, the water of which has been found to have a beneficial effect in many com- 16*
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GEOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
plaints. They are much resorted to by invalids, and during the summer season even by the healthy, who quit the toils of business in the cities to invigorate their frames by breathing the pure moun- tain air, and by healthful excursions among the wild and beautiful scenery of the surrounding country. The buildings for the accom- modation of strangers are large and commodious; the grounds about the springs are tastefully ornamented with neat bridges, railings and gravel walks ; and few places of the kind present more agreeable attractions to the invalid, the citizen, or the traveller.
M' Connellstown, in the eastern part of the county, on the Cham- bersburg and Bedford turnpike, is an incorporated borough con- taining 486 inhabitants.
Martinsburg is also a borough, situated in Morrison's Cove in the north of the county, with a population of 422.
Shellsburg is a borough, on the turnpike, nine miles west of Bedford, with 316 inhabitants.
Several villages of some note are situated in different parts of the county, among which are Woodbury, Stonerstown, Rainsburg and Freedom.
The principal productions of this county are those of agricul- ture. Of its manufactures that of iron is the most important ; five blast furnaces and nine forges are in operation within the county. There are 47 flour and grist mills, a great number of saw-mills, and five woollen factories. Timber is very abundant, the nume- rous mountain ridges being covered with forest trees which supply the saw mills, the iron works, and fuel for domestic consumption. The sugar maple tree is common in many places, and a consider- able quantity of sugar is made by the inhabitants for their own use.
The value of real and personal property, subject to taxation for county purposes, was assessed in 1842 at $3,280,982 : county tax, $9,482; State tax, $4,119.
This county has no canals or rail roads. The turnpike from Philadelphia to Pittsburg passes through it from east to west; and a little beyond the town of Bedford the turnpike to Somerset branches from it. The common roads, in such a mountainous re- gion as this, are usually rough and in a state of but indifferent repair. Travelling in wheel carriages, except on the turnpikes or the more frequented roads, is unpleasant, difficult, and sometimes dangerous.
The advancement of popular education has been much ne- glected among the people of this county; but it is believed that within the last few years an increased attention to this subject is apparent. It is pleasing to observe that in this, as well as other parts of the State where the interests of education have hitherto received but little encouragement, an awakening spirit of improve- ment is manifest. An increase in the number, and an improve- ment in the character of common schools is the best evidence of a just appreciation of the benefits derived from a proper system of instruction.
Bedford county contains 25 school districts, of which 22 have
187
BERKS COUNTY.
accepted the provisions of the school law, and 21 of these have made reports to the superintendent, showing the number of schools in operation to be 177, and that 13 are yet required. These schools are, however, taught but about five months in the year on an average; the children thus losing not only much of their time, but, with the easy facility of youth, forgetting while at home most of that which they had previously learned in school.
There is an academy in the town of Bedford, but it does not meet with sufficient encouragement to maintain it in a very flou- rishing condition.
Of the religious denominations in this county, the Methodists are most numerous; next are the German Reformed, Presbyte- rians and Lutherans. There are also some Baptists, Roman Ca- tholics and Friends.
,The inhabitants are mostly descendants of German and Irish fa- milies, some of whom settled here at an early day and encountered many of the dangers, difficulties and privations incident to the pioneers of civilization in a wild region; exposed to the incursions of hostile Indians and to the treachery and cruelty of savage warfare.
What are the boundaries of Bedford county ? Describe the face of the country and the principal ranges of mountains. What is said of the streams ? In what parts of the county is the lower limestone formation (II) observed ? Where does the other limestone (VI) occur ? Of what character is the coal of this county and where found ? Iron ore ? What is said of the soil ? Of the climate ? What is the county town and how si- tuated ? What is said of Bedford springs ? How are M'Connellstown, Martinsburg and Shellsburg situated ? What other villages in the county ? What are the most important productions and manufactures ? Mention the turnpikes and the condition of the common roads. What is said of the state of education and of the common schools ? What are the prevailing religious denominations ? From what people are the inhabitants mostly descended ?
6. BERKS COUNTY.
Berks is bounded on the north-west by Schuylkill county, on the north-east by Lehigh, on the south-east by Montgomery, on the south by Chester, and on the south-west by Lancaster. Popu- lation 64,569.
The face of the country presents an agreeable variety of aspect, being in some parts mountainous or hilly, and in others undulat- ing, diversified or level. The southern part of the county is tra- versed by that irregular chain of hills called the South mountain ; and in the northern part are some ridges of considerable elevation. The Blue or Kittatiny mountain forms the northern line of the county, dividing it from Schuylkill. For variety and beauty of scenery this county is inferior to few in the State. The views from Mount Penn and Neversink, in the neighbourhood of Reading, present a varied and extended landscape, in which are harmoni- ously blended the different features of the woody mountain, the cultivated valley, the winding river, and the busy town, forming a picture which for richness and variety is seldom equalled.
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GEOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
The river Schuylkill flows through this county in a south-east- ern direction, entering it through a gap in the Blue mountain above Hamburg, and passing by Reading becomes the line be- tween Montgomery and Chester a few miles above Pottsgrove. Several of its large tributary creeks flow through Berks county, among the most considerable of which is the Tulpehocken, flow- ing eastward from Lebanon county through the western part of Berks, and emptying into the Schuylkill a little above Reading. Maiden creek is in the north-eastern part of the county, and flows southward to the Schuylkill six miles above Reading. Manataw- ny creek in the south-east, runs southward and falls into the Schuylkill near Pottsgrove in Montgomery county. Some of the smaller creeks are Sacony, a branch of Maiden creek; Northkill, which falls into the Tulpehocken near Bernville; Cacoosing and Spring creeks, also branches of the Tulpehocken ; and Allegheny and Manokesy creeks, which empty into the Schuylkill below Reading. All these, together with numerous smaller streams, fur- nish an abundance of water power for mills and manufacturing purposes, and their lesser branches supply the country with a suf- ficiency of water for the wants of agriculture.
The geological character of the county is various in its different parts. On the southern border is the red shale of the middle secondary series ; in the upper or northern portion of this red shale the calcareous conglomerate rock called Potomac marble is abundant in several places, particularly near the Schuylkill below Reading. North of this are the hills of the South mountain range, which contain gneiss, sienite and other primary rocks, to- gether with the hard whitish sandstone which overlies the primary. Seve- ral of the little valleys interspersed between these hills contain irregular belts of limestone. Northward of this chain of hills is the great limestone formation of the Kittatiny valley, which extends along its south-eastern side from the Delaware river to the Maryland line ; and adjoining it on the north, reaching to the Blue mountain, is the slate formation next in position above the limestone, which is equally extensive in its range. At several places in Berks county the limestone contains belts of slate of considerable thickness, and in the neighbourhood of Bernville and Womelsdorf the limestone and slate formations appear to have no distinct line of division, but alternating strata of both are found. A dike of trap rock extends northward across the limestone, east of Sinking spring, crossing the Tulpehocken near the mouth of Cacoosing creek, and extending northward into the slate region.
Iron ore occurs in several parts of the county. At Mount Pleasant, in Colebrookdale township, the magnetic variety of ore has been mined to some extent, and is found in other places connected with the primary rocks. In Oley township, and near Boyerstown, are mines which were formerly worked for the supply of furnaces in that neighbourhood. Brown argilla- ceous iron ore occurs near Kutztown, and at Moselem it is extensively mined, as also near the Lebanon turnpike about eight miles west of Reading. A rock yielding hydraulic cement of good quality is found near the Schuyl- kill, from which that article is manufactured in considerable quantity for use. Copper ore occurs at several places within the county, but generally in such small quantity and so mixed with iron as to render the expediency of working it very doubtful. Near Morgantown is a mine of this character, which is not at present in a productive state.
The soil of Berks county is generally of good quality. About one-third of it is limestone land which is highly fertile and well cultivated. The red shale soil in the southern part of the county
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BERKS COUNTY.
is also favourable for agriculture, and many fine farms show its productive character when well tilled. The hills of primary rock are covered by a soil which, though rough and stony, is tolerably fertile, and if well farmed abundantly repays the labour of cultiva- tion. In the slate region between the limestone and the Blue mountain, the surface is rolling and hilly, with a soil of moderate fertility, being most productive where the slate is calcareous, or contains thin bands of limestone.
View of Reading.
Reading, the county town, is a flourishing place containing 8,410 inhabitants. It is beautifully situated on a sloping plain be- tween Penn's mount and the eastern bank of the Schuylkill; 52 miles north-west from Philadelphia and the same distance east of Harrisburg. The streets intersect each other at right angles ; those most used are regularly graded and are covered with a hard white gravel, derived from the sandstone of the mountain east of the town, which forms a very compact, smooth, and durable road, superior to most paved or Mac Adamized streets.
Several of the public buildings are large and handsome edifices. The new court house, finished in 1840, is superior to most others in the State. It is built of brick, with a noble portico of sandstone in front; and standing on elevated ground has an imposing aspect, commanding a view of the whole town and much of the surround- ing country. The German Lutheran church is a large and hand- some structure, said to be sufficiently capacious to contain a con- gregation of 1,500 persons. It is surmounted by a steeple 201 feet in height, one of the highest in the State. The German Reformed church, erected in 1832, is of brick, and has a steeple 151 feet high.
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GEOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
In addition to these there is a Presbyterian, an Episcopal, a Catho- lic, a Methodist, a Baptist, and a Universalist church, with an an- cient Meeting House for Friends, built of logs in 1766, and three African churches. There are two market houses, in which mar- ket is held twice a week; and 32 hotels and taverns in the borough. Seven weekly papers are published here, three of which are in the German language.
Reading was formerly celebrated for the manufacture of wool hats, and the business is still carried on extensively ; but of latter years other branches of manufactures have so much increased as to have given this ancient trade but a secondary rank. Previous to 1836, hats, boots, shoes and stone ware were the principal manufactures; since that time establishments have been put in operation for rolling iron, making nails, casting in iron and brass, manufacturing locomotive and stationary steam engines, rifle bar- rels and augers ;- a steam saw and chopping mill, and several shops for the manufacture of thrashing machines, corn shellers, ploughs and other agricultural implements. There are also two four mills in the borough, one of which is said to manufacture 8000 barrels of flour annually.
The town is supplied with excellent water from a spring on the side of Penn's mount, which is conducted into a reservoir near the head of Penn street, from which it is distributed through the town by means of iron pipes.
Womelsdorf is an incorporated borough, containing 849 inhabi- tants, situated 14 miles west of Reading on the turnpike to Lebanon.
Kutztown is also a borough, in the eastern part of the county, 18 miles from Reading, on the road to Allentown and Easton. Population 693.
Hamburg is situated on the eastern side of the Schuylkill, 15 miles above Reading.
Morgantown is in the southern corner of the county, near the Lancaster county line.
Besides these there are many other places of some note, such as Mertztown, Pricetown, Stouchburg, Rehrersburg and Bernville.
Of the productions of this county, those of agriculture are by far the most important and employ the greatest number of persons. Large quantities of different kinds of grain are cultivated; hay and potatoes are abundantly produced, and great numbers of horses, cattle, sheep and swine are raised by the farmers.
It has been already mentioned that iron ore is mined in many places within this county, and 10 blast furnaces and about 30 forges and rolling mills have been erected and put in operation for the manufacture of iron. Limestone is abundant, and is converted into lime for the use of this and the neighbouring counties, to which it is sent by the canals, and rail road. The surplus pro- ductions are chiefly conveyed by the Schuylkill canal and Reading rail road to the Philadelphia market.
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