Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1840-10-24
TO THE PUBLIC.

In submitting to the public the first numl ere of
the e"AmeTican,"i 1t may be deemed incumbent on
US as necessary and proper to make few obsetva
tons In relation to the establishment of this pr "a
and The course which its conductors int nd pur.
sue in its publication. The age in which we live
has been truly styled the agc of improvement,
which no power on earth can arrest ID its progress.
The application Of steam to the various purposes
of ai', and the more recent discovery Of smet-
ing iron with anthracite coal, promises TO Fennsy J.
vania results that cannot be too highly csii-
mated.
The great valley of the Susquehanna Is soon dcs.
tined to become the theatre Of a new scene Of en-
terprize and industry, which may well excite the
astonishment Of those who are unncquainteI with
her inexhaustibe deposites of coal and iron.
Her rugged hills and solitary wastes, heretofore
deemed worthless, are now eagerly sought after for
the coal and iron which they contain, the most
valuable minerals in nature. I, has been said that
England owes her present power and wealth more
TO her coal and iron than to all other causes COM
bined.--If SO, then Pennsylvania has within her
own borders internal resources and powers Of wealth
unsurpassed by the whole Union.
The Shamokin coal region, connected with this
place by railroad 20 miles in length, which few
years since was q solitary wild, uniroddcn by the
foot of man the solitary hunter in pursuit Of
game, is now teeming with busy and industrious
pOpuidbiuu hc SOWu vi ouuiiiOkiu luShNu Ii tie
coal region, new village containing sbout one
hundred houses, has sprung up as by magic,
since that period.
These improvements which are hut commence
ment Of a series Of works upon large scale now
in proaross recent they are, have already given
new life and impesus to this section Of our coun
~.
With these views and under these consit:era-
,ions, we, ia common with many Of Our most es-
teemed fellow citizens, conceived shat well con-
Quoted Journal, if properly encouraged, could be
rendered highly serviceable to the community. The
progress Of improvement and the rapid increase Of
population, indeed require that the press sh uld not
only keep pace with the spirit Of enterprise and in
dusuy, but as pioneer lead the way and 81 mua,e
to e1erlion the enserprizng and wealthy capitalist.
The establishment of new press in this pl zee
hos frequently been spoken Of, and was long rince
in contemplation whenever favorable opportunity
should occur. We believe that period has now ar
rived. Our design is to make ,he American per
manent and useful Journal, conveying useful and
interesting information to all classes of reaJers-
Conducted with the utmost decorum, its tone and
sentiments shall at all times be such, that the most
scrupulous parent may place in tie hnnds OF any
member of his family with perfect impunity. Low
scury and violent personal abuse shall I've caIe>
fully excluded from its columns. And while we
shall always be ready and prompt in the expression
Of our opinions upon matters Of public policy, we
shall always endeavor to preserve that dccorum
and extend that courtesy towards our coemporaries
and Others that one gentlemen has Igh. to expect
from another.
To the interests of the farmers and cutivator. OF
the soil, the bone and sinew Of our country, who,
in an agricultural point Of view, form the basis OF
all trade, commerce and manufactures, shrll i, :
vote portion of our columns and spread before
them such matter as shall be both useful and en-
tertanng.
TO the mechanic and oil others, we trus, VI
shall be able to make the American an interesting
and instructive journal.
In politics we shall, as we have already en-
nounced, support the general and state adminstr -.
tons. In advocating the reelection Of MAnrIs
VAN BuREN and RICHARD M, JOHNSON 10 the
high stations which they now occury, and which
they have filled with such distinguished abilities
we shall coufne ourselves TO measures and the
principles upon which they are grounded. Rec,im-
ination and low personal abuse which the Iaucor
Of political waffaie never fills to produce, aud
which regret to say is INDUCED in to almost
unlimited extent, by the parizan presses Of 1.-THE,
side, we shall carefully avoid, deeming it not only
demoralizing TO the community and derogat 'ry Ia
the high character OF the press, but unwise, i'm
polite and uHjus
To our fearless and patriotic Governor David r
Porter who has thus far identified himself with
the true interests of the state, and whose wise and
saluary measures have received the appro alton Of
every honest asd liberal mind, we shall extend ou,
most cordial support. We have therefore placed
his name at the head of our columns, fully conf.
dent that the honest yeomanry of Pennsylvania
will always be found sustaining honesty of pa rpose
and integrity Of conduct in justly valued public
servant
H. b. MASSER.
JOSEPH EISELY.
Sunburv Sept. 10, 1870