The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-11-11
POTTsvILLE---poRT CARBoN

A few days relaxation from business
were spent in the Coal region of our neigh
bour Schuylkill last week; and having en-
joyed much pleasure ourself, we feel incli-
ned to crafty our readers with some sketch
es Of what we saw and heard in the places
which head this article. Living, as we
do, in the Ore Region, where good eating
and good neighbours are abundant, and
where business seems to move with every
appearance Of growing wealth and increa-
sing population, we thought OUR hoihe SUI
perior to MOST of others; but after mere
occular acquaintance with the men, habits,
and business of Pottsville and Port Carbon,
we confess ourselves mere tyros in the
neeterick schemes of speculation and en-
terprise.
PdrrsvfLIE, (Which buia few years since
Was mad hole,) possesses every appear
ance Of an Inland city Its population now
exceeds 5000, made up of ali nations
Welsh, Scotch, Irish, English, Italian,
German and French; and all these dialects
may sometimes be heard while you are en-
joying the privileges of guest at Weaver's
"National Hotel" or partaking of delica-
cies in refectory. All, too. seem busily
engaged in some sphere; and all seem in
energetic agitation, except the miner-bar-
gaining, Bhying, selling, or plotting new
schemes for future operations.-To de.
scribe tire place would be folly in the ex-
treme---it is neither handsome, regular, nor
picturesque, unless you include the vast
hills and dales which surround it: and to
give description Of its business would be
impossible. The only source of wealth.
the foundation of all business-lies in the
Coal Mines. And what are they! Why,
gentle reader, It Would tefrify a tolerably
resOlute heart to look upon the intrepidity
and resignation which attend the gloomy
labOurs Of those who excavate the hidden
treasures OF the earth, and who are contin-
ually exposed to sudden injury or death.
when mines are eXcavated to water-level
it is only the beginning of successful and
profitable operations. Then steam en-
gine is employed to facilitate the work; and
from depth of 200 feet below the surface,
a ioadened car is brought up almost per-
pendiculdtly, and an empty car let down to
reeeive its burthen of coal. While these
are going and coming, pu&p of immense
power is also propelled by steam, and
thus are the miners freed from the danger
of drowning, as would inevitably be the
case did they rely on ordinary power to
force up the water. Then trains of cars
leave the depot-they glide smoothly over
the railroad to the canal-and in propor
ton to then number, the well-bred horses
and mules follow after, to tug them back
again to the starting-place. In the mines
every thing partakes of blackness and hor-
ror-in the town every thing looks brisk
and inviting. The MINER receives his one
or two dollars per diem-he is released
from business on Saturday evenmg-his
Sabbath morning is spent at mass or other
religious exercises, and his wife and fami-
y partake with him at the table of some
restaurateur during the afternoon, and after
enjoying the sunshine of the blessed day
of rest, he again willingly subjects himself
to the fatigues and privations of the coal
hole. The OWNER receives from so to 60
cents for each ton excavated; and when we
state the fact, That from $50 to 800 tons
constitute days work, we can readily in
fer the prmcely situation of him who has
invested some ten or twenty thousand dol
lars in mining operations, and who receives
his pay without even looking after those
who are cohcerned'
The steam engine manufactory of Messrs.
Haywood and Snyder is a very extensive
concentrating employment to a great
number of hands, and pRoving profitable
establishment to its enterprising proprie-
tors. A few years ago, and the protector
"A