USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII > Part 19
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According to the printed pamphlet of the Susque- hanna and Delaware Rail Road Commissioners, coal can be delivered at Easton at $2 82} per ton. Taking these estimates as correct as to the cost of coal upon the Rail Road, and all the expenses attending its arrival at Easton, the following will be the result:
Cost of coal delivered on Rail Road, 50 Cts.
Tolls on 14 miles Rail Road, 13 cents per ton per mile, 21
Transportation on 14 miles at 1 cent per ton per mile, 14
From Wright's Creek on the Lehigh to Eas- ton, 69 miles, at 1} cent per ton per mile, 1 03} Transportation to Easton 69 miles at 1 cent per ton per mile, 69
$2 573
Thus upon the arrival of coal at Easton, its cost will be $2 573 only-from whence it will find its way to New York or Philadelphia, as the value of it in those cities may induce its owner to select.
From this short but correct statement of the great benefits to be derived when the contemplated Rail Road shall be completed, it must be apparent to every re- flecting mind, that it is the duty as well as the interest of every friend of improvement, to give it his warmest support.
A bed of stone coal has been discovered, on Wilson's creek, Tioga county, about seven miles south of Wells- borough. It has been opened, and quantities of coal have been taken out, which are represented to be of good quality. One stratum is five feet thick. The beds are situated about one mile from the summit level of the ridge dividing the north and west branches of the Sus- quehanna, the country presenting great facilities for either a canal or rail road.
63
MISCELLANEOUS.
1833.]
From the Pittsburgh Gazette.
MR. CRAIG,-Passing through the church yard of Trinity church, the other day, my attention was arrest- ed by the following inscription on a dilapidated tomb- stone.
"Mio-qua-coo-na.caw or RED POLE Principal Village Chief of the Shawanee Nation Died at Pittsburgh the 28th January 1797 Lamented by the United States."
I transmit this Epitaph, for publication in the Gazette, in the hope that it may elicit from some of your read- ers, or from yourself, the particulars in the life and ex- ploits of this Son of the Forest, which produced so ho- norable a memento from the United States.
Pittsburgh, July 3, 1833. AN ANTIQUARIAN.
The above communication was received from an es- teemed correspondent, on Wednesday last. We have delayed its publication, with the hope of being enabled to furnish a satisfactory reply to the inquiries of our correspondent. We have, however, not succeeded in collecting any information as to the exploits of Red Pole.
In Thatcher's Indian Biography, vol. 2. page 245, he speaks of Blue Jacket, who, it seems, was a brother of Red Pole, as follows-
"Blue Jacket was, at this time, (1791) the leading man of the Shawanese-a warrior of high reputation, though, unfortunately, but few particulars of his history have been recorded."
And, at page 253, he says, speaking of General Wayne --
"They (the Indians) universally called him the Black Snake, from the superior cunning which they ascribed to him, and even allowed him the credit of being a match for Buckongahelas, Blue Jacket, or the Turtle himself."
From the same author, at page 257, it appears that the "Little Turtle" warmly opposed giving battle to General Wayne, on the 20th August, 1794, while Blue Jacket was warmly in favor of it.
The following letters, from Major Isaac Craig, give a brief account of the sickness and death of Red Pole, and lead to the conclusion that the inscription on the Tomb Stone was dictated by the Secretary of War. This publication may perhaps induce some person to furnish some particulars of the life of Red Pole.
Pittsburgh, 27th January, 1797.
SIn-The river still continues shut up with ice; Cap- tain Turner and the Indians are therefore still here,and I am extremely sorry that I have to inform you, that about ten days ago, Red Pole, the principal chief,com- plained of a pain in his breast and head, sup posed by Doctor Carmichael to have been occasione db y a slight cold, and for which necessary medicines, &c, were ap- plied, but without success, as his complaints have in- creased, attended with other bad symptoms, and he is now, according to the opinions of Doctors Carmichael, Bedford, and Wallace, dangerously ill, notwithstanding every possible attention has been paid to him and to the other Indians, of which they are all perfectly sensible, and Blue Jacket, in particular, acknowledges with gra- titude that the kindest attention possible is paid to his sick Brother.
I am, Sir, Your most obedient servant, I. C. Hon. JAMES MCHENRY, Sec'y of War, Philada.
Pittsburgh, 3d February, 1797.
SIR,-My letter of the 27th ultimo, I presume, has informed you that Red Pole, the principal chief of the
Shawanees Indians, being then dangerously ill, and I have now to inform you that at 9 o'clock, A. M. on the 28th, he breathed his last, to the inexpressible grief of the other Indians, and indeed of all others that had any knowledge of him. Blue Jacket and the other Indians acknowledge that he was treated with the utmost kind- ness and attention during his illness, and are highly pleased at the attention and respect paid to his funeral. I have had his corpse attended and interred in the most respectable manner in our church burying ground- and, with your approbation, and to gratify Blue Jacket, and the other Chiefs, I wish to place either a tombstone or a head stone to his grave, with any inscription you may please to point out.
The river is almost clear of ice, and I presume the Indians will be able to embark on Monday next.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient servant, I. C.
HON. JAMES MCHenry, Sec'y of War, Philada.
THE CANALS.
The several lines of the Pennsylvania canal, are now in navigable order, with the exception of the Delaware division, and a breach on the Juniata, which will inter- rupt the navigation of that division a few days. Mr. Hendel, the collector at Middletown, in this county, has kindly furnished us with the following statement of tolls taken at that place, since he opened his office on the 1st of May, viz:
Receipts during the month of May, $4807 49
Do. do. do. June, 5300 73
Do. from 1st to 9th July, 648 40
Do. at outlet locks and bridge at
Middletown up to 9th July, 622 74
$11,379 36
Mr. Read, the collector at this place re- ceived in tolls since spring, up to the 9th of July, 9,967 30
Total taken at Harrisburg and Middleton, $21,346 66
Penn. Reporter.
THE HIGHEST STEEPLE IN THE STATE .- For some days past, the workmen have been engaged in rearing the new steeple to the Lutheran Church, in this place, which has nearly reached its destined height. When completed, it will be two hundred feet high, independent of the iron rod which is to support the ball and vane, being, we believe, a few feet higher than any other in this state. The Church was erected 35 years ago, to- gether with the brick work of the steeple, and remained thus until within a week past. The site of the present building has been occupied for the same purpose for probably more than a hundred years. We read on one grave stone, which was of rude sculpture, and the in- scription German, the date of 1703. The old 30 hour clock, the first of the kind ever in the place, and which used to be in the steeple of the former building, was submitted to the inspection of the curious. We copied from a brass plate the following.
" This Clock is for the Lutheran Congregation in Reading, in the county of Berks, Writt for from Eng- land; by Henry Kepple."
And on the small dial, upon which the 60 minutes of the hour only are placed, being 5, 10, 15, &c. is the following:
"Thomas Chilton, Chiswell street, Moorsfield, Lon- don."
It is to be regretted that no trace of the year in which this Clock was made is to be found, but it cer- tainly is not less than 70 or 80 years old. A singular anecdote is related of it, though we do not vouch for its correctness. When "Writt for from England," as the brass plate sayeth, a "Clock," which in the German
64
MISCELLANEOUS.
[JULY
language, signifies a Belt, was intended only; but in | spacious-being 84 feet in front, including wings; main those days, as now, it seems an order could easily be misconstrued, and a bell and clock were both sent, as is often the case now a days, when in sending to the city for one article only, you are apt to get half a dozen. So far, the work has progressed without the slightest accident, though hands are difficult to be found, who are willing to be employed at so dizzy an elevation. - Reading Chronicle.
CARBONDALE, (Luz. co. Pa.) July 18.
ELECTRIC SHOCK .- On Sunday last, our village was visited by a strange phenomenon-we say strange, be- cause comparatively few of our citizens ever witnessed so continued a scene of thunder, lightning, hail, and rain. About two o'clock the sky began to darken, the sure presage of an approaching tempest, and shortly afterwards, sure enough, the loud sounding artillery and vivid flashes announced a fearful contest among the boisterous elements, and apprized our citizens of the approach of danger. The hail and rain poured down in torrents-the wind rose high, and the deafening thun- der increased and echoed from hill to hill-till at length a simultaneous flash and report filled all with apprehen- sion that some of our citizens had fallen victims to its fu- ry. The railway at this moment appeared in a blaze, and afterwards continued to sparkle for some time. Blaze succeeded blaze, accompanied by the loudest peels, while the rain continued incessantly, until the conflict- ing elements, exhausted, became calm and tranquil.
'The damages sustained by property were inconside- rable-several persons, however, received severe shocks, and particularly Mr. James Clarkson and his lady were very much injured. The lightning struck the chimney of their residence, and descended in such a manner, as to stun Mr. Clarkson, and render Mrs. C. senseless and speechless for some time. She was considerably burnt, in consequence of which she is still severely indisposed, but hopes are entertained of her speedy recovery .- Northern Pennsylvanian.
NORRISTOWN, June 5.
About 5 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, a violent storm of rain and wind arose, which, we understand, did con- siderable damage in various sections of our country. The roof of the barn on the premises of Mr. J. MATHER, in Whitemarsh township, was blown entirely off, and car- ried several hundred yards into a field belonging to a neighboring farm. Other buildings in the vicinity, were also injured, and we have heard of several or- chards to which very great damage has been done.
DIED, the Rev. CHARLES B. MAGUIRE, D. D. for many years pastor of St. Patrick's church, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, aged about 65 years,
A friend has furnished us with the following memo- randum of the number who attended his funeral:
6 horsemen in front,
3 mourning carriages,
300 ladies,
500 men, on foot,
9 two horse carriages, each ? containing 8 persons,
9 one horse carriages, 5 in each c.
60 horsemen,
Amounting to about 1158 in the procession, exclusive of the immense number who were not in procession, but who followed the remains of the deceased to the grave. - Mercury.
THE COURT HOUSE is now finished. The workman- ship of the building is highly creditable to the contract- ors and mechanics employed in its construction. The contract price was less than $4,000. The building is
building 40 feet square; wings each 22 feet front and 26 back. The lower story of the main building is hand- somely finished and fitted up for a court room; the se- cond story is divided into very comfortable rooms, for the accommodation of juries, &c. On the front is a room extending the whole length of the main building, and about 20 feet wide, divided in the centre by folding doors. The rear of the building is divided into small apartments. The first story of the north wing will be occupied by the Prothontary, and the second story by the Sheriff, as offices. In the south wing, the lower apartment will be occupied as the Register's office, and the room on the second floor has been reserved by the County Commissioners as an office for themselves.
The contractors (Messrs. Gustine & Oles) are entitled to much credit, for the prompt and faithful manner in which they have fulfilled their contract. We are only sorry that they have not been more amply compensated for their labor. Certainly, within our knowledge, no building of the same size, as well finished, has been erected for so small a sum of money .- Mifflintown Frce Press.
CUMBERLAND SUFFERERS.
The Committee of Superintendence of the Cumberland Sufferers, in account with Jos. Trotter, Treasurer.
1833,
Dr.
May 8,
To Cash, 450 00
7
do.
750 00
9,
do.
400 00
10,
do.
700 00
14,
do.
230 00
30,
do.
175 00
June 1,
do.
170 00
17,
do.
340 00
July 1,
do.
8 90
11,
do.
21 29
Sundry Expenses,
45 95
3641 14
1833,
Cr.
By contributions of the citizens of Philadelphia, viz:
Chesnut ward, 534 70
South ward, 351 75
High street ward, 376 50
Lower Delaware ward,
299 26
South Mulberry ward,
252 87
North Mulberry ward,
73 91
Dock ward,
492 46
Middle ward,
250 00
Upper Delaware ward,
191 96
Cedar ward,
28 37
2851 78
By contributions of the citizens of Northern Liberties, viz:
1st ward, 185 17
2nd ward, 95 00
4th ward,
141 00
5th ward,
58 64
7th ward,
53 25
533 06
By contributions of the citizens of Muncy, 38 50
Do. do. West Chester,
112 25
Do. Two Churches, Dickinson, Penn.
21 29
Do. Sundry individuals, Societies, &c. 84 26
3641 14
I do hereby certify that the above account is correct. M. CAREY, Chairman, Committee of Superintendence. Philadelphia, July 12, 1833.
HAZARD'S
REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.
EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.
VOI .. XII .- NO. 5. PHILADELPHIA, AUGUST 3, 1833. NO. 292.
From the Commercial Herald. SKETCHES OF PENNSYLVANIA. No. 5.
" Non cuivis adisce Corinthum," said the Latin Poet, which being freely translated, means, it is not every man's luck to get to Paradise, even to that " Paradise" in Lancaster county, where we last stopped, and where, at least three-fourths of the people bear the patronimic of "Witmer." Having been thus favored above other men, we may testify our gratitude by tarrying a day for the benefit of our host of the Paradise Hotel-Witmer by name, and by official station, Post Master of the dis- trict.
The description of Paradise in the second Chapter of Genesis, mentions the river Pison, as compassing the whole land of Havil h, with the further remark, that the "gold of that land is good." A natural association of ideas leads us to inquire at this particular time, and place, where is the Havilah, or the Ophir, of Pennsyl- vania; and which is the river with golden sands " that compasseth it about ?"
The question is seriously asked, and will be seriously answered. As it will lead. however, to a description of matters not immediately connected with the localities of our State, we must ask pardon for what may appear, at first, a digression, but whose connexion with the object of those sketches will, in the end, he apparent.
It is about forty-two years since gold was discovered to exist in Cabarras county. North Carolina. Doctor Thornton. late Superintendent of the Patent Office at Washington, at a very early period of the discovery, pointed out its importance, though he found few per- sons willing to adopt his opinions. It was at first ob- tained in small quantities by washing the earth compo- sing the beds of streams, or the alluvial soil on their banks. Up to 1821, the whole amount of gold procur. ed in this way, had not been very large, and the gold district was supposed to include a very limited region. Professor Olmstead, at that time considered it to be in- cluded within a circle of eighteen miles radius-or, in other words, within the four counties of Cabarras, Montgomery, Mecklenburg, and Anson, in North Caro- lina. No regular vain of gold ore had then been disco. vered; that produced from the beds of streams being invariably virgin metal.
Since 1821, vast additional light has been thrown on the subject. A regular formation containing gold in the form of ore, in combination with other mineral sub- stances has been traced, a field of enterprise, and pro- fit has heen opened, whose influence upon the industry and prosperity of the country promises to be very great. Instead of the narrow circle before referred to, the gold formation is now known to exist in eleven counties in North Carolina; to traverse the northern parts of South Carolina, and Georgia, and enter Alaba- ma on the south-a distance of, probably, six hundred miles. Northward and eastward also, the same forma- tion has been traced into Virginia; and the richest mine yet discovered is now worked in Spottsylvania county, near Fredericksburgh, and within thirty miles of the Potomac.
Those who have examined the locality, seem to agree, that from Alabama to the Rappahannock in Vir- VOL. XII. 9
ginia, there exists a continuous range of rock formation, which is the matrix of the gold, and in which that me- tal may be found in greater or less abundance. In ma- ny places, and probably for many miles, it is so covered by the rocks as not to be accessible. Probably, indeed, its natural formation is such, that it will never be dis- covered, except when some natural ravine, or water course has penetrated the superincumbent mass.
If. it be true that this formation extends six hundred miles, we may fairly argue that it extends still further, until we know some reason why it should cease. Know- ing no such reason, we as firmly believe that it crosses the Potomac, the Susquehanna, and the Delaware, ag that it crosses the Yadkin, the Roanoke, the James River, and the Rappahannock. In other words, we believe there is as much guld in Maryland and Pennsyl- vania, as in Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia The only problem, and a very important one we admit, is, to find it. It may possibly lie too deep " in the bowels of the land," to be reached, but of that we have no evidence.
Where then shall we look for gold in Pennsylvania? The question is easier to ask than answer-and yet may be answered on strong grounds of analogy, and proba- bility, though for want of accurate geological investi- gation, no certainty can be attained.
If a line be drawn on the map of the United States, from New Echota, in the Cherokee country, in Geor- gia, through the districts producing guld in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, and end- ing at Spartansburg in Spottsylvania county, 12 miles from Frederickshurg, it will be found to lie very near- ly parallel to the course of the Blue Ridge, which we described in our last, and to preserve an almost equal distance from that mountain-say from 25 to 35 miles. Beyond, or Northwest of the Blue Ridge, no gold has ever been found. Now, as that Ridge certainly extends through Maryland and Pennsylvania, as well as through the states before named, and is understood to maintain in its whole course, a distinct geographical and geolo- gical character, the inference is easily drawn that gold must be sought for in Pennsylvania, below that Ridge. Our inquiries, therefore, are limited at once by a line which enters Pennsylvania on the boundary between Adams and Franklin counties, and follows thence the course of the Blue Ridge as described in our last, cross- ing the Susquehanna near Middletown, the Schuylkill just below Reading, and the Delaware just below Eas ton. Of the counties east of that line, Philadelphia and Delaware, may certainly, for obvious reasons, be exclud- ed-thus leaving portions of eight counties, namely, Adams and York, west of the Susquehanna, and Lan- caster, Chester, Berks, Bucks, Montgomery, and North- ampton, east of that river, with reference to which our investigations are to be made.
Another important landmark enables us to contract the question within narrower limits In an account of the North Carolina gold region (the work as we believe of Professor Renwick) we find the following geogra- phical facts.
" In Randolph and Chatham counties, rises a group of mountains to a height estimated to be at least 1500 feet above the sea. Between this group and the Blue Ridge extends a wide valley in which the Yadkin and
66
SKETCHES OF PENNSYLVANIA.
[AUGUST
Catawba with their tributaries flow The intervening space between these ridges, is the North Carolina gold district."
We have always believed that these mountains " in Randolph and Chatham counties," are a continuation of the first Ridge which we described as the Mine Ridge, or Welsh Mountain of Pennsylvania, and which we re- presented as extending a great distance to the south- west, and consequently that the "wide valley" between it and the Blue Ridge, is but an extension of the same range of country, which we have clearly described as the Lancaster, or Pequea Valley. If these conjectures are right, no difficulty remains in determining the posi- tion of the gold range, as it passes through Pennsylva- nia. We have in all human probability crossed it in our journey from Cartersville to Paradise.
The discovery of gold, 12 miles above Fredericks- burg, in Virginia, tends greatly to strengthen this hy- pothesis. Another fact of great importance, is, that several years ago, Mr. H. Hayden, of Baltimore, a very skilful geologist, and who by the way, has written a very valuable book on Geology, on his return from ex- amining the mines of North Carolina, predicted that gold would be found in Faquier county, Virginia-the metal has since been found there in small quantities.
Reflecting on those general views, and a multitude of particular facts, which our limits do not permit us to advert to, we entertain a belief that the south-eastern section of Adam's county, and the south -western por. tion of York, are the districts of Pennsylvania most likely to contain the precious deposit-that the same formation, if it passed through the state must cross the Susquehanna below Columbia, the Schuylkill between Pottsville and Reading, andthe Delaware between Eas- ton and Durham. It is in the more elevated, and hilly portions of the range of country thus indicated, above the limestone formation, that we should expect to find the mineral in question.
There is a marked geological feature by which the rock containing gold may easily be known. It is a quartz like substance, of dullish white, occurring in a region whose general formation is a red friable rock, having, at first glance, the appearance of decayed sand stone, but which on examination, is found to derive its colour from the presence of iron. This quartz occurs in distinct veins penetrating the red mass, or in detached nodules, having no apparent connexion with it. From the masses of quartz the gold is obtained.
In the remarks which we have thus ventured upon, (a topic of great public interest) we may beentirely in- accurate-having no knowledge of geology as a science, we have been compelled to rely upon topographical analogy as the basis of our opinions. If we shall suc- ceed in drawing attention to the subject, our end will be accomplished,
We cannot close this number, however, without ex- pressing our regret that no accurate Geological survey of Pennsylvania has ever been made. A project of that kind has engaged the attention of the Legislature. We hope to see a bill passed, at no distant day, author- izing it. For several years our fellow citizen, Peter A. Browne, has zealously urged it before the Legislature, but without success. We trust the reward of his pub- lic spirited labours will not be much longer delayed. Such a survey would solve all doubts, and elicit truths
of immense practical importance to the prosperity of interfere with his choice of ground for the main line. the Commonwealth.
No. 6.
From Paradise, where our last sketch was made, we resume our journey on the Pennsylvania Rail Road, and in about nine miles enter the city of Lancaster. In this distance we cross Mill creek by a viaduct 550 feet long and 40 feet high, and Conestoga creek by a viaduct 1,412 feet long, and 60 feet high. 'The latter is among the noblest structures in the state perhaps on the Con- | plain.
tinent. Its great length is occasioned by the width of the Conestoga valley, at this point requiring a large proportion of land bridge. It is built upon the Town patent or Lattice plan, differing in this respect from the other bridges upon the road, in which Burr's model has been pursued. The contractor was Amos Campbell, of New Jersey, who constructed the present bridge at the falls of Schuylkill, several on the Germantown Rail Road; and who is engaged to build all the impor- tant bridges on the Philadelphia and Trenton Rail Road. The Pennsylvania Rail Road crosses the Cones- toga about half a mile above the turnpike bridge, which latter is a substantial stone structure of some four or five arches. It was erected about the year 1789, by Abraham Witmer, a patriarch of the numerous and re- spectable tribe of that name. By an act of the Legis- lature, passed in 1787, this intelligent and enterprising German obtained authority to construct the bridge, and to charge a reasonable toll. It continued to be his private property until five or six years ago, when it was purchased by the county of Lancaster, and made free to all comers and goers The preamble of the law re- ferred to is curious and interesting, on account of the contrast which it exhibits between the resources and enterprise of the Commonwealth at that time, and at the present. A safe crossing of the Conestoga was then essential to the whole communication between Philadel- phia and the interior-it was often impassable for many days together-and yet the state of Pennsylvania had not the means to construct a bridge which a single coun- ty now would readily undertake.
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