The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1841-01-16


almost all the necessaries, and many of the
luxuries of life. Within the increase Of
intelligence and means, we find our farmers
| augnenling the products OF their soil, i'm
proving their stocks of domestic animals,
and adding TO the neatness of their house
hold establishments. No one can pass
| through our Commonwealth, without be-
ing struck with the air of substantial COM
fort, and increasing prosperity, which per-
yades the agricultural districts Of the State.
The variety and extent of our water pow
er, give great facilities TO the manufacture
of our grain into bread stuffs, and for every
other branch of manufacture, either need
ed for the supply of our citizens, or for the
| employment Of their capital.
Had Pennsylvania already reached the
| full develeyement of her resources, with her
present petuniary responsibilities weighing
her down, we might well contemplate our
situation, with trembling soliciiude. But
this is not the case. Throughout the whole
extent of her ample territory, there is
scarcely square mile, which does not a.
bound in some or all of the great staples Of
her mineral wealth. Anthracite and btu
minous coal, iron, marble and limestone, have
been scattered by nature with NEST pro-
fuse hand, and have been hitherto worked
barely enough to prove, with what prodi-
gali,y they have been lavished upon U.s.
The coal field of cur Commonwealth en-
braces more than enc fifth of his area, and
more than three times as much as belongs
to entire Europe. Connected with the coal,
which abounds in SO large portion of the
Commonwealth, we have large supplies Of
iron ore, almost in immediate contact with
it. In addition thereto, We have, within
convenient distances, almos. all the other
varieties Of iron ore found in any part of the
world. The adoption Of anthracite coal, to
the smelling of iron ore, has been followed
by it's successful and profitable application
in the further Stages Of the manufacture of
the metal; and that the same results viii
speedily follow from the application Of BIZ
luminous coal, may be looked for, with
almost absolute certainty. While tho iron
manufactured with charcoal will always be
wanted for the finer purposes, and the de-
mand for it, increased by the natural in
crease Of the population Of the country that
manufactured from mineral coal, will be
employed in the construction Of railroads,
and for innumerable ether purposes. This
discovery must stand as distinguished era
| in the annals of our Commonwealth. 1t
cannot fail to add millions of dollars to her
active and available capital; and will ere
long transfer 10 our ewn citizens most, if
not all of the large sums that are now an
nually sent abroad for rail road iron, and
other ren-manufacturet articles. This man
facture Of these numerous and valuable COM
modites will not only result in enriching
Pennsylvania, but will cut off a large item
in the imports of this country tend TO eman-
cipaie us from European dependence, ena-
BILE our sister states TO complete their rail
roads at a cheaper and better rate, and
strengthen the National Union, by the
strongest Of all ties, that Of mutual interest.
4 Nor is there in Pennsylvania single
class Of citizens who will not share directly
in the advantages. The owners of coal and
iron deposits, and those who engage in the
manufacture and sale Of these productions,
will derive the firsi benefit but the farmer,
the mechanic,th merchant and every other
} citizen, will feel Immediately. the salutarv
: impulse which will be communicated to his
, own peculiar buslness. The value of oui
J canals and rail roads must be greatly en-
hanced, as we'll as that Of all other specie,
r of property. With the cheap and ready
a means which they will afford for the trans
portation OF our various products and man
? ufactures, there can be no doubt, that tht
: trade and business of the state must extent
q and increase with unexampled rapidly, ant
a by prudence and good management be per
8 pstuated.
In this gradual and certain development
: of our reseurces may be found abundan
means to liquidate cur public debt, and t.
It discharge every other liability, that cal
i justly be cast upon the State. l confess
y affords me peculiar qualification to adver
8 10 this topic, for it shows more satisfactor
h y, that though this Commonwealth ha
If has been somewhat in advance of the tim
!, in extending her improvement system S
n widely as she has done, the people notwiti
y standing are destined at no remote period t
= realize, most amply, all the benefits it wa
y ever expected TO produce. The increase {
e. our manufactures will necessarily tend I
e afford additional sources of employmeI
ss for the laborer, and furnish increased sect
ls rily against all improper combinations ft
y the reduction Of wages.
$; If any just cause OF apprehension has e.
r. listed from the attempts in large manufactu
III -I..x IL A.