Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-05-20
No. 49
From the North American.
The Pioneer State.

The statistical accounts Of our State. AMI
City, which are usually presented at The conr.
mencement of each year by the press, often
bring forth old and almost forgotten facts. w,
observe in the last number of the Commercial
list" an enumeration of the claims which Penn
sylvania has upon the consideration of her Sis.
Ter States and the history of pioneer operations
which 10 give character and wealth our
nation. The Lis. says, that thus considered,
Pennsy lvania, and The city Of Philadelphia in
particular. is entitled TO no secondary place
While all due honor is cheerluIly accorded to-
the Cry Of Boston, for the liberaIiiy aud sue
cessful enterprise Of her citizens, Justice to-
Phllade phia demands lha, there sh6aId be, ir
The comparison, a more distinct remembrance
Of wha, she has done, than appears generally
TO prevail
The great fact that in all works Of Internal
Improvements, Pennsylvania has been The p,o.
neer, is which eminentiy deserves the con-
sidera'ion of the country. If wider range of
details were taken, i, would be Interesting TO
dwell on these facts. viz: lha, The Quadrant
was here invented by Godfrey--ihat here Frank.
lin taught men how TO control the lightning. of
Heaven--lhat on the Delaware, a, Philadelphia,
John Fitch first proved the power of his rude
steamboat. and that il was Fulton, native Of
Peunsy ylvana, who immortallzed his name, by
maturing that wonderful invenlion--,hat the
first Locomotive was set in motion near the
|
venor Oliver Evans, who, with the foresight
so often noticed as characteristic of great dis
coveries, declared that the time would come,
when one would 4" breakfast in New York, dine
at Philadelphia, and supsat- Baltimore" Here
also was situated the first Bank established In
the country, and the first Insurance Office
Here was organized the first Sabbath School,
| an honor, surely 10 be appreciated throughout
the length and breadth Of our Union Phadel.
phla first showed wha, nigh, be done in sup
plying cities with water, by her astonishing
Fair Mount Water Works. I'm her Eastern
Penitentiary, she furnishes model for Ins,iru.
lions of that class. which has been extensively
approved and inflated both in this country and
in Europe. The first public Hospital in the
UniIed States was the Pennsylvania Hospital.
| The first institution for the blind, was that es-
tablished in this CRY. Here too, before the
Revolution. the great discovery which has given
us The Magnetic Telegraph, led Franklin TO give
signals by electricity across the Schuylkill.
| In such review, il might be added that the
merchants of Philadelphia, al an early period
had the patriotism, and the liheraIity. 10 build
frgale, and presented TO The United States
Government, the only instance Of he kind on
record; aud The State of Pennsylvania erected
house in Philadelphia and offered il as pre-
sen, 10 Washington. Here also, stand was
taken against The exaclions oi Great Britain, in
advance OF Boston herself The first opposition
TO the landing Of Tea was made at public
meeting held in Philadelphia. some weeks be-
fore the celebrated Tea party executed its work
in Boston.
Las, though not least, should be mentioned
The fact known throughout the civilized world.
that from Philadelphia came forth the DecIara~
ZION Of independence.
But the part which Pennsylvania has taken
10 the grea. works of internal improvement, ev-
idenily needs TO be better understood. A hor-
ough investigation of this subject would cause
surprise in many quarters. and place the char
ac,er of our City aud Commonwealth in most
honorable position.
|, is TO be remembered that the surface of
this Stale presents an obstacle To internal i'm.
provemenls greater than is found 10 any orher
Vast ranges Of Mountains are TO be SCALED, be-
cause there are no gorges through which roads
can pass. Rapid and turbulent streams which
are frequently swollen by The rains and SHOWS
of the mountains, often carry destruction in lhei,
course. Yet the mountains have been scaled
by our turnpike roads. and substantial and cost
ly bridges have been thrown over The thousand
streams. In the extent and cost OF her turn
pixies. Pennsylvania has long been in advance