Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-07-29

that place This Road was intended at that tm';
80 connect with road chartered by them. York
! legislature leading from Newburg through Or
anGe county TO the Sussex line, SO as to make
continuous line of Road to the Ldckawanna Coal
Fields from Newburg on the Hudson.
In 1886 the Commissioners of the NJ. IIud-
con and Delaware X. r. Co. had tie route sur
yeyed by James b. Sargent, an eminent Civil
Enuineer: books of subscription were afterwards
onened along the line and at other places, and
about S300,000 subscribed A pressure in the
money market defeated the project. Since then
,he Morris and Essex r. R. has been built and
will. it is expected, be extended to Stanhope as
beinp the proper point 20 connect, and the Della
ware Water Gap as tle proper point to pass the
Blue Ridge. | would recommend the Road to
mass from Slanhope, via Newton. Though miles
irrtber. it is nearly the whole way perfect PLAN,
and along the water power and water courses,
and the grade so gradual that the difference IN
the expense would more than counterbalance the
difference in the distance, and give general salts
faction. while the inhabitants would, subscribe
literally TO the stock and generally release their
lands.
| mention circumstance that grew outof the
nroioct of building the Road in 1886. Some
ir;ends of the project visited the Lackawanna
Coal Fields They left the Water Gap, passed
directly west by way of the Drinker Turnpike
oyera level wilderness country covered with pine,
till they come to Roaring Brook; passed through
Cobb's Mountain along the stream, entered the
I.ackawanna Valley at Slocum's Hollow, and
standing by the stream with banks rising 80 feet
perpendIcuIar on either side beheld arenlarkable
scene. There was TO be seen veins of stone
coal, en- either side, lying one above the other,
inst a II feet vein, with rock for lis cover and
Il rock for its floor, then an 6, 6, and A foot
vein, with rock as the first.
Tradition reports that before the Wyoming
Massacre, great iron mines were found in the
sides of the mountains. gentleman and his
friend purchased; but his worthy friend, then
resident of Newburg, has since died He told
the writer of this that his friends thought his will
derness purchase visionary; but said he, +" | am
not able TO carry my views into effect, but the day
will come when the Lackawanna valley will be-
come the Iron Emporium of this country" Well,
what has transpired at that spot, a wilderness,
which since has passed from his hands town
of 100 houses has risen, with rolling mills foun-
dries, anthracite furnaces, and nall factories.
The iron mines found, ftom appearance, are
likely to become the greatest iron concerns in the
country. They will make the next year 10000
tons of pig iron from their own ores and coal, and
they have contract to deliver 10000 tons of r.
T. iron for the New York and Erie Road, which
they are now rolling.
The distance by the Erie Road to Tioga Point,
on the Susquehanna, is 265 miles. The distance
bv this route, via the Water Gap and Phtston,
thence up the Susquehanna to Tioga Point, is
1874 miles-making the distance by this route IL
miles nearer to Lake Erie
ANY person looking at the map and following
the course of the Road, will see that it is direct
The Lackawanna valley (or Coal Fieldsl ex-
tends 30 miles, beginning at Carbondale and end
ing at the Nanticoke Dam, below Wikesbarre.
From Carbondale to Pittston is % miles; from
Pittston to Wilkesbarre, 9 miles; from Pittston
TO Nanticoke Dam, on the Susquehanna, l5 miles.
The Lackawanna valley is formed something IN
shape like an Indian canoe, the stream passing in
the centre, and the land rising gradually on each
side. The different veins of coal above the water
level are generally about 30 feet; the roofing on
the east side is universally rock. The coal ap-
pears to rise from the centre of the valley, sufh-
cient TO drain the water.
But there is one vein of coal and iron ore that
deserves particular notice. 1t Is from to feet
the founda ton being a rock. On the top of tho
coal is vein of superior fire clay, one foot thick
On the top of this clay is course of the Ball irol
ere, and the roof above the ore is rock. This
Ball ore is found universally on the vein of coal
throughout the valley. In mining this vein 0
COAL the ore and clay are mined with it at trlf
ling expense. ne IOrD1allOn OF li1eSc DdIlS U
iron ore is certainly a great curiosity, found a
they are In the shape of an egg, except that th'
larger end is little flattened. They weigh gen
orally from 200 to 800 lbs, and some as high a
300 lbs, and are found from B to inches apart
The Iron Company spoken of are mining ricl
iron ore at the traditionary spot, about 3 mile
from their works. Here runs small stream c
water through ravine, with high banks; an
here for the distance of half mile is to be seer
exposed to open view, 3 feet vein of solid ro
ore, on the top of which is vein of fire clay on
foot thick on the top of this clay is course {
the Ball ore of the same formation, size and quan
tity as is found in the valley, the roofing as We
as the floor being of solid rock, ana with jus
sufficient inclination to drain the water. fogf
mention that sandstone, such as is used IN az
thracite and other furnaces is found IN abun dane
in the valley, as well as the best of mouidin
sand Many other things that would become al
ticles Of commerce could be named.
When this road is made, if well done, it WI
be one of the most important roads in the country
1t is important for WARREN Sussex, Morris an
for all New Jersey, as well as for all New York
trust the gentlemen who have the majorlt
OF stock intend carrying it through, and thatthe
will not be bought off by leading northern com
panes, whose interest 1t is to defeat SO lmportan
. ,iYol a JERsEyMAE.