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 43
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The Delaware river flows along the north-eastern side of this county, separating it from the state of New York, until it reaches the New Jersey line at Carpenter's point, 7 miles above Milford, where it turns to the south-west and thence divides Pike county from New Jersey. Lackawaxen is a large stream emptying into the Delaware in the north ; a branch of which, called Wallenpaupack, running northward, forms most of the western boundary. On this stream, not far from its mouth, are several perpendicular falls of considerable height, affording a site for the employment of wa- ter power which in a fertile and accessible country might be ren- dered of immense value. Some improvements have been erected here, but the business undertaken does not seem to have been very prosperous.
Shohola creek falls into the Delaware below the Lackawaxen, and has a number of saw mills erected on it. Sawkill and Ramys- kill empty into the Delaware below Milford ; Bushkill is a large creek in the southern part of the county, being its boundary line for some distance from the Delaware. Most of these streams issue from small lakes and ponds in the wild uninhabited interior of the county, and in their descent from the higher land to the Delaware are frequently precipitated over perpendicular ledges and cliffs of rock, forming a number of cascades of singular wild- ness and beauty. These, from the nature of the country, offer lit- tle inducement to the calculating utilitarian spirit of profit, which seizes upon every waterfall and converts it into a working power for sawing, grinding or manufacturing. Here, where there is
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PIKE COUNTY.
little to saw, and nothing to grind or manufacture, the wild and romantic features of nature remain in their primitive state, un- changed by the restless spirit of gain, which threatens in time to convert Niagara itself into an enormous mill-dam, and to drown the roar of that mighty cataract in the noise of wheels and the rat- tle of machinery driven by its power.
Milford is the seat of justice, situated on the Delaware about 60 miles above Easton. It is not a place of much importance, and but little business is transacted here except the public affairs of the county. The public buildings are not extensive, and the pri- vate dwellings are mostly constructed of wood. There is a hand- some bridge across the Delaware near the town. The Milford and Owego turnpike passes westward from this place, and a line of stages from New York, by way of Newark in New Jersey, runs on this route to Owego and other places in the west.
The Delaware and Hudson canal passes up the Lackawaxen through the northern part of this county, and continues to Hones- dale in Wayne county, where it communicates by rail road with the coal mines at Carbondale, on the Lackawana.
The agricultural productions are chiefly confined to the valleys in the eastern portion, near the Delaware. In those parts of the county where the timber is suitable, considerable quantities of lumber are produced, which is rafted down the Delaware at high water.
Assessed valuation of property in 1842, subject to county taxa- tion, $831,306 : county tax $2,493 : State tax $899.
Pike county contains 8 school districts of which 7 have accepted the common school law. The reported number of schools in ope- ration is 14, which are open about 5 months in the year. There are two academies in the county,-one at Milford and the other at Dingman's ferry.
How is Pike county bounded ? Describe the general face of the coun- try. What are the principal rock formations ? What is said of the soil, and timber ? What is the course of the river Delaware ? What large stream empties into it ? What is said of the Wallenpaupack, and the falls upon it ? Mention the other principal streams and their situation. What is said of the various waterfalls ? How is Milford situated, and what is said of it ? What turnpike crosses the county ? Describe the course of the Delaware and Hudson canal. What is said of agricultural produce, lum- ber, &c .? Of common schools and academies ?
46. POTTER COUNTY.
Potter county is bounded north by the state of New York, east by Tioga, south by Clinton, and west by Mckean. According to the census of 1840 it contained 3,371 inhabitants.
This is one of the most elevated counties of Pennsylvania, con- sisting of a high though uneven table land, on which rise streams flowing northward to the Genesee, eastward to the North branch of Susquehanna, southward to the West branch, and westward to the Allegheny. Springs, therefore, rising within a few miles of one another, discharge their waters into the ocean through the
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GEOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
distant outlets of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Chesapeake bay, and the Gulf of Mexico. The principal streams are Pine creek, Kettle creek, and Sinnemahoning, branches of the Susquehanna ; and the heads of the Allegheny and Genesee rivers.
The rocks generally belong to the geological formations next in order below the bituminous coal measures; though it is possible that the highest hills towards the southern part of the county may contain elevated patches of some of the lower coal beds. The wilderness nature of the country renders exploration difficult, and a minute developement of its geological and mineral resources must be left to a future period, until a more improved communication with this region shall give value to its contents.
Thick forests of pine, hemlock, beech, sugar maple and other timber extend over most of the county ; the settlements are few and remotely scattered, the inhabitants depending chiefly upon lumber and other productions of the forest for their subsistence. Maple sugar is made to a considerable amount. Agriculture is, however, beginning to receive more attention as the settlements increase.
Coudersport is the seat of justice, situated in the western part of the county, on the Allegheny river near its source. It contains a handsome stone court-house, and other public buildings. A turnpike road leads from this place to Jersey shore on the West branch of Susquehanna, a distance of 67 miles, through a wilder- ness ; there being, until very recently, but one house on the road between the two places. An east and west road, crossing the northern tier of counties, also pass through Coudersport.
The value of property assessed in 1842, subject to taxation for county purposes, was $603,547 : county tax $4,585: State tax $615.
In this, as in the other northern counties, the common school system is generally adopted. Potter contains 16 school districts of which 14 have accepted the law and maintain 43 schools which are open for instruction 5 months in the year.
Inhabitants mostly from the Eastern states and from other parts of Pennsylvania. The streams abound with trout; and deer, bears and some elk are found in the woods.
How is Potter county bounded ? Describe the face of the country, and the different directions of the waters which flow from it. What are the principal streams ? What is said of the geological formations? Of the forests of timber, and general nature of the country ? Of the productions, and the attention paid to agriculture ? What is the seat of justice, and where situated ? What turnpike road is named ? What is said of educa- tion, and common schools ? From what places are the inhabitants chiefly derived ? What species of game abound ?
47. SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
Schuylkill county is bounded north by Northumberland and Co- lumbia, north-east by Luzerne, east by Carbon, south by Lehigh and Berks, and west by Lebanon and Dauphin. Population, 29.053.
The face of the country is mostly rough and mountainous : some
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
of the valleys are cultivated, but only a small portion of the county is adapted to agricultural purposes. 1
The climate is healthy, though subject to considerable extremes of heat and cold. According to the meteorological observations made at Port Carbon, the mercury in January, 1841, fell to 20º be- low zero, and in July of the same year rose to 100°.
On the south, the Blue or Kittatiny mountain separates Schuyl- kill from Berks and Lehigh; between this and the Second moun- tain is a hilly and uneven country, broken by numerous irregular ridges, sometimes of considerable height, but inferior in elevation to the principal mountain ranges between which they are situated. North of the Second mountain is Sharp mountain, the southern limit of the anthracite coal field, and between this and Broad mountain is the hilly area of the southern coal basin. The Broad mountain is a high irregular table land, terminating on the west in several points or spurs which jut out into the valley between it and the Mahontongo mountain. The latter extends eastward from the Susquehanna, and terminates at its junction with the Line mountain, near the north-western boundary of the county. In the north-east are Bear ridge, Locust and Green mountains.
Along the north side of the Blue mountain is a belt of red shale (V,) succeeded by a thin limestone formation (VI) not always discoverable, next to which, in the first ridge north of the mountain, is a yellowish coarse sand- stone (VII) containing cavities showing the impressions of fossil shells which have once been imbedded in it. Extending from the northern base of this ridge to the Second mountain are the olive slates (VIII) and the red sand- stones and shales (IX) of the next succeeding formations. In the Second mountain we have the compact coarse gray sandstone (X) next in order, and the same formation is seen in Mahontongo mountain, dipping south- ward beneath the red shale of Lykens' valley. In the narrow valley be- tween Second and Sharp mountains is the red shale (XI) which encircles all the anthracite coal basins, and which is also seen in Williams, Lykens', Mahanoy and Locust valleys; as well as in the small valleys separating the terminating spurs of the various coal basins. The conglomerate rock, composed of cemented pebbles and sand, which lies immediately below the coal measures, occurs in the Sharp mountain, on the wide and elevated plateau of the Broad mountain where not covered by the coal series ; also in Locust and Green mountains, and in the minor ridges which divide, by their axes of elevation, the coal fields into separate troughs or basins. A minute description of the various smaller divisions of the great coal fields is not necessary on the present occasion, and a mere general notice is all that our limits will allow.
The great southern coal field extends westward from the Mauch Chunk mines into Schuylkill county, and in the neighbourhood of Tuscarora is divided by an anticlinal axis into two basins,-that of Mine hill on the north, which extends westward along the Broad mountain, and the Potts- ville basin on the south, which is prolonged westward by the Swatara, be- yond which it is separated by the red shale of Williams' valley into two branches ; the northern one extending into Bear valley between Wiconisco creek and Lykens' valley, and the southern continuing along the north side of the Sharp or Third mountain, called the Stony creek coal basin.
On the elevated table land of the Broad mountain are several shallow coal basins, some of which have been so much denuded as to contain only the very lower strata of the coal measures, and consequently cannot prove very productive. On the north are several coal troughs connected with the Beaver meadow and Mahanoy basins, containing a number of productive
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GEOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
beds which may at a future day become important, when means shall be afforded for transporting the coal of this region to a market.
A detailed account of the innumerable coal mines within this county, and a particular description of the various beds which are worked, would far exceed our limits. In the east there are extensive mines in the vicinity of Tamaqua ; from which the coal is sent on a rail road down the Little Schuylkill to Port Clinton, where it is transferred to boats on the Schuyl- kill navigation. Along the Schuylkill valley, from Tuscarora westward towards Pottsville, are numerous mines ; the product of which is sent by a rail road down the valley to the Schuylkill navigation at Port Carbon. Pottsville is the great central point of the coal operations in this district; and in its vicinity, in the region extending from the Sharp to the Broad mountain, are many extensive mines on Norwegian, Mill creek and other streams; from which branch rail roads lead to the navigation or to the Pottsville and Reading rail road. Further westward, on the West Branch and its tributaries, a vast amount of coal is also mined; which is sent by the Mine hill and Schuylkill Haven railroad to the river at Schuylkill Haven. Beyond this, on the head waters of the Swatara, many fine coal beds are worked ; from which the coal is sent on rail roads to Pine Grove, and thence down the Swatara by the navigation of the Union Canal Company. In the gaps by which the Swatara, Lorberry and other streams pass through the mountain· ridges, a great number of coal seams are exposed in situations favourable for mining advantageously. The productive capacity and inex- haustible character of the southern coal field will be perceived by the fol- lowing statement, from a description of the Swatara coal region, of the number of beds which had then been discovered on the waters of that stream. Five of these, in the Sharp mountain, are of the thickness re- spectively of 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 feet : in Red mountain are seven, measuring 4, 6, 8, 12, 14, 20, and 30 feet : in Coal mountain three, of 6, 14 and 18 feet : in Little Lick mountain five, of 4, 6, 8, 14 and 22 : in Big Lick six, namely, one of 4, three of 5, one of 9, and another of 14 feet : in Thick mountain five, of 5, 6, 7, 18 and 22 feet. The Stony creek and Wiconisco or Bear valley branches of this coal basin both extend westward into Dau- phin county ; but in the latter, at Klinger's or Raush gap, in Schuylkill county, where Raush creek passes through the mountain from Bear valley northward into Lykens' valley, nine seams of coal have been opened of from 4 to 24 feet thick, and a number of others are known to exist which have not yet been explored. In the region north of the Broad mountain but little has yet been done towards the exploration and developement of the numerous coal beds which are known to exist about the head waters of the Mahanoy, except some openings in the vicinity of Girardville, on the Danville and Pottsville rail road, which afford sufficient proof of the highly productive and valuable character of this portion of the coal field.
The middle and eastern part of the county is principally watered by the Schuylkill river and its various branches. The Little Schuyl- kill rises in the east and flows southward, uniting with the main stream at Port Clinton, a little above the Blue mountain. The West Branch empties near Schuylkill Haven, four miles below Pottsville. In the south-west is the Swatara, running south-west- ward towards the Susquehanna ; and in the north-west the Ma- hontongo, and its branches Pine and Deep creeks, having a western course to the same river. In the north is Mahanoy creek, and its tributary Shenandoah, flowing westward; and in the north-east, the head streams of Catawissa creek, running north-westward to the north branch of Susquehanna.
Orwigsburg, the seat of justice, is situated on the turnpike lead- ing from Reading through Pottsville to Sunbury, 26 miles from
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
Reading, and 8 south-east of Pottsville. It contains a population of nearly 800, and has a court house, a prison, a building for the public offices, and three churches of different denominations.
Pottsville is the principal town in the county, containing 4,345 inhabitants within the borough limits and a considerable popula- tion in the adjacent suburbs. It is situated on the Schuylkill, 34 miles above Reading and 86 from Philadelphia, in a favourable location for business, being in the midst of the mining district and having a communication with Philadelphia both by rail road and navigation. Large quantities of coal are shipped here, not only from the mines in the immediate vicinity of the town ; but also that which is brought on branch rail roads from different points in the surrounding region. It is also the seat of considerable other business ; containing upwards of thirty stores, and a number of manufacturing establishments of various kinds. The public build- ings are a town hall, a borough prison or lock-up house, an aca- demy, a bank, and a number of churches. This place is remark- able for the rapidity of its growth, springing up in the midst of a wild mountainous region, and becoming in a few years a busy and populous town, important not only for its size and population, but for the enterprise and active industry of its inhabitants, and the extent of its business operations.
Port Carbon, on the Schuylkill above Pottsville, Minersville on the West branch, Schuylkill Haven and Port Clinton below Potts- ville, and Tamaqua on the Little Schuylkill, are places of some note, sustained principally by the coal trade. Besides these there are a great number of small villages scattered through the coal re- gion and inhabited chiefly by miners. Pine Grove, on the Swa- tara, at the head of the Union Canal Company's navigation, is a place of some importance as the point of shipment for large quan- tities of coal from the Swatara region.
The staple production is anthracite coal, of which about 600,000 tons are annually mined and sent to market; in addition to which, it is estimated that 20,000 tons are consumed within the county. The first coal for shipment from the Schuylkill region was mined in 1825, amounting in that year to only 5,306 tons. In 1830 it had increased to 89,984 tons,-in 1835 to 335,685 tons,-and in 1841 to 584,692 tons, exclusive of that mined in the Swatara re- gion in the western part of the county. The population of the coal region is estimated at 16,000, in addition to which it is sup- posed that 1,500 persons are engaged in the transportation, &c., of coal on the canals and rail roads who do not reside within the county ; making the population dependent upon the coal trade 17,500. The number of miners is about 1,700, and the horses and mules employed about the mines and in boating, not less than 2,000. The conveyance of coal out of the mines requires 1,500 drift cars, and its transportation to the landings and to market employs 2,000 rail road cars and 850 boats. Most of the mines being worked in the hills above water level, require no steam engines; but there are 17 collieries worked below water level, in which engines are used for pumping out the water, rais-
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GEOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
ing the coal, &c. Upwards of four millions of dollars are invested in objects immediately connected with the coal trade. The aggre- gate length of rail roads constructed by companies and individuals is upwards of 100 miles, in addition to which are about 40 miles of rail road laid under ground in the various mines.
Iron ore occurs at several places in the neighbourhood of Potts- ville and in other parts of the county. Four furnaces, six forges, one rolling mill and five foundries have been erected for the manu- facture of iron. There are 31 steam engines in the county, in- cluding colliery engines, amounting to upwards of one thousand horse power ; twenty-three of these engines were manufactured in Schuylkill county. There are two extensive machine shops, three steam flour mills, 33 grist mills, 180 saw mills, 2 powder mills, and various other establishments for different kinds of manufactures.
Agricultural operations are chiefly confined to the valleys in the southern part of the county, and to those of Mahontongo, Pine and Deep creeks in the north-west, where there are many well culti- vated and productive farms, the number of which is yearly in- creasing with the demand for agricultural produce in the coal region. Wheat, rye, corn, oats, buckwheat, potatoes and hay are raised in considerable quantities and find a ready market, at good prices, in Pottsville and other towns in the mining districts.
The assessed valuation of property taxable for county purposes in 1842, was $5,037,632: county tax $28,380 : State tax $8,015.
Of the public improvements, the most considerable is the Schuyl- kill navigation, of which about 18 miles are in this county ; the rail road from Reading to Pottsville ; and that intended to con- nect Pottsville with Sunbury on the Susquehanna, called the Potts- ville and Danville rail road, about 12 miles of which are yet unfin- ished. The rail roads wholly within the county are the Mine hill and Schuylkill Haven, with its branches, altogether about 20 miles in length ; the Little Schuylkill from Port Clinton to Tamaqua 23 miles ; the Schuylkill valley, from Port Carbon to Tuscarora 9 miles ; Mill creek 5 miles ; Mount Carbon 7 miles ; Lorberry and Swa- tara 8 miles ; and the Union Canal rail road from Pine grove 8 miles ; besides a number of private and branch rail roads leading to various mines. The Centre turnpike, from Reading to Sunbury, passes through the county by Port Clinton, Orwigsburg and Pottsville.
The state of education in this county is not very flourishing, and, except in Pottsville and some of the other towns, the subject receives but little attention. There are 23 school districts of which only ten have accepted the common school law, and have 39 schools established, which are taught during an average period of 7¿ months in the year. There is an academy at Pottsville and another at Orwigsburg ; at the latter place is also a female seminary.
The early settlers of the county were mostly Germans, and that language is yet commonly spoken by their descendants. Since the commencement of extensive mining operations, the population of the coal region has been greatly augmented by an influx of people from other counties, and by great numbers from Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England.
347
SOMERSET COUNTY.
State the boundaries of Schuylkill county. What is said of the face of the country, and its adaptation to agriculture ? Describe the climate and mention the extremes of heat and cold. What mountain lies on the south ? What others are between this and the Broad mountain ? Describe the Broad and Mahontongo mountains. Name those situated in the north-east. Mention the situation and extent of the principal rock formations. Give a description of the southern coal field. What is said of the coal measures on the Broad mountain, and of the basins north of it ? How is coal sent from the mines about Tamaqua ? From those in the Schuylkill valley be- tween Tuscarora and Pottsville ? What is said of the mining region be- tween the Sharp and Broad mountain in the neighbourhood of Pottsville ? Of that on the West branch of the Schuylkill ? How is coal sent from the Swatara region ? What is said of the number and thickness of the coal beds in several mountains here ? Of those, at Klinger's gap in the Bear valley region ? At what place has coal been mined north of the Broad mountain, and what is the character of the coal beds there ? What streams water the middle and eastern part of the county ? Describe the Little
Schuylkill. Where does the West Branch empty ? What other streams are mentioned in different parts of the county, and in what direction do they flow ? What town is the seat of justice, and how situated ? Men- tion the principal town in the county, and its situation. What is the prin- cipal business carried on here ? Mention the public buildings. For what is this place remarkable ? What other towns are mentioned as being sus- tained chiefly by the coal trade ? Where is Pine grove and for what noted ? What is the staple production of the county, and what amount annually mined ? In what year was the first coal mined for shipment, and to what amount ? State the amount produced in each of the several years men- tioned. What is the number of persons supposed to be dependent upon the coal trade ? Mention the number of miners, horses, cars and boats employed ? What is the number of steam engines used, the amount of capital invested, and the length of rail roads constructed ? Where does iron ore occur. and what iron works have been erected ? Give an account of the steam engines, machine shops, mills, &c. To what parts of the county are agricultural operations chiefly confined ? Where does the pro- duce of the farms find a market ? What public improvements are situated partly within the county ? What rail roads wholly within it ? What turn- pike passes through it ? What is said of the state of education, schools, and academies ? Of what people were the early settlers, and by whom has the population been greatly augmented ?
48. SOMERSET COUNTY.
Somerset county has Cambria on the north, Bedford on the east, the state of Maryland on the south, and Fayette and Westmore- land on the west. Its population in 1840 was 19,650.
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