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


In submitting TO the public the first NUM- ors Of
the American" II may be deemed incumhel on
us as necessary and proper TO make few observa.
tions in relation to the establishment of this pr o.,
and tie course which its conductors int, nd to pur
sue IN ITS publication. Tue age in which we live
mas been truly styled the age Of improvement,
which no power on earth arrest in ts progress.
The application Of steam to tho various purposes
oil oil, and the more recent discovery Of smelt-
ing iron with anthracite coal, promises to Isnnsyl-
vania results that cannot be too highly cs,i-
mated.
The great valley Of the susquehanna /. soon des.
tined TO become the theatre Of a now &c ne Of en-
terprize md industry, which may well excite the
establishment of those who are unacquantei with
her ineIhaustible dtposi.es Of CO / and iron.
Her rugged hills and solitary wastes, heretofore
deemed worthless, are now eagerly sought after for
the coal ard iren which they contain, the most
valuable minerals in nature. II has bsen said that
England owes her present power aud wealth more
to her coal and iron than TO all other causes CON-
bined.-lf so, then Pennsylvania has within her
own borders internal resources and powers of wealth
unsurpassed by the whole Union.
The Shamokn coal region, connected with this
place by rifoad 30 miles in length, which few
years since was solit ry wild, untroddrn BY the
foot Of man save the solitary hantei in pursui, Of
game, is now tecrnng with busy and industrious
population. The town of Sham kin located in the
coal region, new village CONT timiug about one
hundred houses, has sprung up as If by magic,
since that period.
These improvements which ere bu, commence
mcnt " series Of works upon a large scale now
in progress, recent they are, have already given
new Life and impetus TO this section Of our coun.
~.
With these views and under these consi1era-
tions, we, in Common with mary Of our most es-
teemed fellow citizens, conceived that well con-
Quoted journal, if properly encouraged, could be
rendered highly serv!ceabe to the community. The
progress Of improvement and thr rapid increase of
population, indeed require that the press should not
Only keep pace with the spirit Of entepfize and in
dusty, but pioneer lead the way and ST imulale
TO exeriion the en,erprizing and wealthy capitalist
The establishment Of new press in this place
has frequently been spoken of, and was long .ince
in contemplation whenever favorable opportunity
should occur We believe that period has now ar
rived. Our design is to MAKE the American per
manent and useful Journal, conveying useful and
inter- sting information TO all classes of readers
Conducted with the utmost decorum, It's tone and
sentiments shall OF all times be such, that the most
scrupulous parent may place in tie hands of any
member of his family with perfect impunity. Low
scurility and violent personal abuse shall ho-care>
fully excluded from its columns. Aud while we
shall always be ready and p!omp In the expression
OF our opinions upon matters o. public policy, We
shall always endeavor to preserve that cecurum
and extend that courtesy towards coiemporaries
and others, that gentlemen has Ish. to pect
fIom another.
TO the interests Of tic farmers md cutvators of
the soil, the bone and sinew of our country, who,
in ali agricultural poiut of view, form the basis Of
oil trade, commerce and manufactures, we shall de-
>c o,l, k.,co
them such matter as shall be both useful and en-
tertaining.
To the mechanic and all others, we t'ust we
shall be able to make the American al interesting
and instructive jounsl.
In politics we shall, as we have already an.
nounced, support the general and State amins,r, ..
tions. In advocating the reelection of MARTIN
VAN BusES and RIcuARD NJ, JonSsos to tho
high stations which they now occupy and which
they have filled with such distinguished abilities,
we shall coufne ourselves TO mel. urcs snd the
principles upon which they are grounl,d. Recrim.
ination and low personal abuse which the sancor
of political wafaie never fIIls 10 produce, and
which we regret to say is indu sed IN t. almost
unlimited extent, by the paTtizan pr 1881 Of either
side, we shall carefully avoid, deemins it not only
demoralizng 10 the community and derogatnry to
the high character of the press, but unwise, i'm,
polite and unjust.
To our fearless and patriotic Governor David r.
Porter, who has thus far identified himself with
the true interests Of the stale and Whose wise and
salu'a,y measures have received the appro alton OF
every honest asd liberal mind, we shall extend our
most cordial support. We have therefore placed
his name at the head of columns, fully conf.
dent that the honest yeomanIy of Peunsy ylvanis
will always be found sustaining honesty Of purpose
and integrity Of conduct in justly vlu j public
servant.
II. r. MAsSER,
JOSEPH ElSELY.
Sunbury, Sept. 10, 1910.