Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-06-27


great weight. There can be no doubt abont
the practicabiIity and importance Of a rail road
communication between this place and Phil.
adel phia. The extension of the road TO Pittsburg
and Erie is a matter entirely for the good people
Of Philadelr rhia The citizens of this place are
not individually interested in having, rail road
to pass through this place. But the command of
the Lake as we'll as the Pittsbnrg trade, is mat.
ter Of great moment to Philadelphia
"NEwTowS, April 18th, IslG.
spent day among the mountains on my ie.
turn from Danvillr, in company with B. r. and
others, and my decided convictions are, that the .
apparently sterile country laying between Potts.
Vile anc Sunbnry contains more mineral wealth
than any vor'ion Of the Union. Illinois, Iowa
and Lake Superior may boast Of their lead and
copper mines, with an occasional appearance Of
silver; yet contrasted with the Coal and Iron Of
the Locust Mountain region, they are Of small
comparative value The use Of Iron in the me-
chanic arts, is about to become much extended.
The time is not distant when all our ships and ma.
ny of our houses and stores will be constructed OF
this material, A gentleman AZ Kensinyton, .
large manufacturer Of soap and ei, from sperm,
had his buildings all consumed by ere about
three years ago. He has erected new buildings
Of Iron, which are fire proof, at an expense little
more, he Gays, than wood, brick or stone would
have cost him. What an amount of property
in our commercial towns would be annually saw.
ed, il their stores were all erected Of Iron All
insurance would be saved, which would make
fully the difference in expense. Our merchants
who are alive 10 their interest, will not be
long in Perceiving the advantages Of stores built
of Iron. In England, they are not only erecting
stores but dwelling houses Of Iron. This view
Of the extended use Of Iron you may deem Wis.
ionary; b"t should you live ten years, You will,
see it realized. The discovery of the powers of
steam and its application to the sciences and me.
chanic arts, produced a new era in the world.
The same result will be effected by the discovery
and nse OF anthracite coal in the manufacture of
Iron. Pigs, am told can be manufactured by
experienced iron men, at an expcnse Of sixteen
dollars 4 ton. Competition, which will com.
mence as soon as the demand is fully supplied
will probably reduce the price of Bar Iron TO
SAC, 90 ton. Al present the iron men have
large profit. But at TIE rate new furnaces are
now erecting, in three years the supply will be
equal 10 the demand, and then will commence
competition and consequent reduction in the
price. Here is the error committed by the Sec.
retary Of the Treasury in his report TO Congress
He predicates his scale Of duties upon the present
profits Of the manufacturer aud iron master, and
makes no allowance for the reduction Of profits
which competition must effect. This Mr. Wal.
ker may be good lawyer, for any thing know ;
but Judging him by his report. he is most mi.
SCRABBLE political economist. His views are fala.
eious and Paerile, and ifredueed to practice must
paralize the arm OF labor. ....-.
IL then am correct in my views OF the e1ten.
sion ofihe use Of Iron, and that competition must
reduce the profits the location for operations in
the Iron business is a matter Of great moment
TO those who embark in i; That location where
Iron ore and coal can be had at reduced pr-
e.s, and at the same time 4 cheap conveyance TO
market, will possess great advantage. Where
q large business 10 done, a few cents saved on
coal in the excavation Of ore. Transporting it,
would al the end of,he year give gross amount
In most Of the furnaces have seen. they ore too
distant from one OF the other, or both the matsri.
ais used. Even at Danville, where the are il
at hand, they must give &I,75 per ton for Goa.
whereas at Shamokin it could he got at 81. OF
perhsps rs eents-ifthe latter. it would make the
difference OF 81, in the cost on one ton OF Iron.
In my late visit TO Shamokin, found within Q
| 81 "a. II ~
black band, the aT:elseious and the bog sres-al
that 10 necessary for fuel or admixture Of ores IA
make the best lion. The region. then, between
Po,'sville end Sunbury, in my judgment, is the
proper location for furnaces. Others less sdvan
tsgeonsly situated cannot compete with them
and this fact must, at no distant day. meet tn.
eye Of the capitalist and shrewd business nan.
The question arises, will the Rail Road b,
made Will an opportunity be given for the fa
development OF the exhsustless minerals OF thi,
rich Irgion--mnerals which have become indis
pensble to the necessities and comforts Of life
opening new area for the exercise Of pro6tabl,
labor, and the safe investment Of capital, Itrus
: It will AMI IL it is, the whole complexion
Of your country will be changed. l anticipat,
n advantages from the act granting the right o
b. way 10 the New York and Erie company. I
E will be the means Of finishing the Williamspor
e and Elmira Road, aud extending it down III,
n West Branch TO Sunbury. But the Southern
= route, rail road parallel with the Pittsburg ca
i nal-bah what nonsense. Philadelphians woul'
+ have much better subserv-d their own interest b,
Z embaIking in tine Northern route. tapping LAX