New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-11-04
Rat,road and Coal Mines.

Report made BY a Committee of gentlemen on
their return from recent exploration of Rail-
road route from Newburgh on the Hudson to the
the Sasquehanna. We have ourselves passed
over the proposed route, have full knowledge OF
the resources of the country, and we are acquant-
ed both with the gentlemen in Pennsylvania and
with those in Newburgh, who have the control of
the charters of the respective Companies. When
the pubic are fully apprised of the superiority.
which this route possesses over every other, fog
the easy and economical transportation OF Coal to
the sea-board, it will create little surpnse that
such an important enterprise should have re-
NAMED unnoticed until the present time. lhs,
however, will be explained ky the publication OF
few facts with which we happen to be acquant-
ed, and which have not before met the public eye.
A charter was granted some years since by the
Legislature of Pennsylvania, for the purpose OF
constructing a Railroad from the Delaware River
at the Water Gap to some point near Plttston on
the Susquehanna. A survey was made by Ma
ior Beach, starting from the Water Gap and pro-
ceeding up Broadheads Creek through Strouds-
puIg, ABOUT IlltSSU lIlllCS IOI ldltCl PioSS
the route struck into the most dense and valuable
timber district which, at the present time, is TO be
found in any of the middle States. Passing on
through this extensive, unbrokcn forest OF magn-
fcent Beach, Pine, Cherry and Spruce, they
struck the immense Coal beds of the Lackawan-
mock at distance of about 50 miles from the De-
laware, in one of the finest agricultural districts
of the State Of Pennsylvania, as will be seen by
the following extract from the Report made at
that time:
1.-The Coal in this region does IN retns as al
Pottsve and some other places but layers and repeated
strata and it correctly described BY Nh Sllman where
ne says the whole region is completely underiad by Goal
beds-unke districts where chase thin VEN OF Coal
for hundreds Of yards under the mountains, sometimes
breaking off and sometimes entirely ending. The nhab
Of this country when he enters his Coal bed enters on
boundless and endless inheritance"
Again:
Unlike other mining districts this section of coun
try abounds in Agricultural products the soil in the Lacka
wannock Vale, generally fertile whilst the adjoining and
beautiful Valley of Wyoming proverbay productive
add TO this the rast amount of produce which
ally descends the Susquehanna river and before Us
the ample supplies for any of mining operations
On the spot and at the most moderate prices.
'NeitheI will this miners be here necessarily crowded
gether the mining operations be confined TO particular
spot for II miles the Railroad line extends through the
clearly defined region, whilst the last 10 miles of the line
may justly be considered located in continued Coal
bed From consideration of the foregoing and from other
circumstances known conclude that all the Coal
tina: may be deemed desirable transport the Railroad
will be promptly furnished and placed upon the Road ri
profit TO the o,cners at so cents per tom"
Th;r not ool, nrovnd tbo
bty of the route, but demonstrated that the
Road could be built at a comparatively small
expense, the estimate not exceeding 100000,
and that the continuous slight descending grade
from the Coal Mines to the Delaware would give
{ great facilities in its heavy down trade. 1t was
clearly shown and we'll understood at that time
hat Coal could be delivered at the Water Gap for
81 per ton and strange as it may appear, we do
1ot hesitate in attributing the defeat of the early
completion of this Road to the very fact Gifts ad-
position, and she great inducements
which it held ont for profitable investment. No
Drinker, Esq, Of Luzerne County, Pa. This gen.
tleman was made President of the Road, and re.
siding on the spot he took the precauton of secur-
ing several of the most valuable tracts of Coal in
the district for the benefit Of the Railroad Com
pany. Soon after this was effected, Mr.. Drinkcr
came to the city of New-Yor and instead of lay.
ing the matter open to the public, he commenced
q negotiation with several wealthy gentlemen with
whom he proposed to enter into a copartnershp
to construct the Road without other assistance
and thus secure to themselves the control of the
Coal and its exclusive benefits We believe that
We are correctly informed that Mr.. Dclaheld &C
tually paid $500 toward the completion of the
survey. Just at this time Mr.. Delafeld discov-
cred by careful examination of the Map that a
a continuation of this Road commencing at Pitts
ton and terminating at some point on the State
line near Binghampton would connect them with
the New-York and Erie Railroad. So soon as
this was discovered, he refused to move any fur
ther In the business until he could control char
for this extensive continuation. For this purpose
Mr.. Drnker was despatched to Wilkesbarre, Mr..
Delaheld furnishing him the sum of $4,000, the
amount necessary to be paid to procure from the
Governor OF the State the charter, an act of AS
sembiy having previously been passed to that eff
feet. After considerable negotiation Mr.. Drinker
succeeded and returned again TO New ork, but
il was too late!
During his absence the Banks had suspended.
the Merchants were broken down in their business
and gloom and despair hung over the face of the
land, and all action in the enterprise was aban-
doned.
About this period young gentleman from Eng.
land, since well known as the author Of an inter
esting Book of Travels in the United States in