The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-12-06
The New County Project.

stown a few weeks since with view OF
obtaining a new county out OF parts OF (
Cambria. Somerset, Indiana and West
moreland, with Johnstown for It's capitol.
When we first heard of this meeting, we
were curious to know on what grounds
they based their claim, and how much of
''little Cambria" they were aciiling to
include within the limits of their proposed
new county; and when our readers are
made acquainted with their demands, we
think they will agree with us, that if our
] Johnstown friends do not succeed in their
undertaking, it will not be on account of
any modesty they may have displayed in
their pretensions. Without any desire to
enter into controversy about the matter
with our friends in Johnstown or any
where else, we will merely give plain
statement of facts, and let candid public
| Judge whether justice and reason demand
the erection of new comfy out of tire
several counties named. In order to do
this, we will commence with the botnda-
~ as reported in the proceedings of the
meeting:
| "Commencing at the corner of Wash
ington and Summerhill townships, in
! Cambria county, on the Bedford county
| Iline-thence along the line of said town
ships, to point on the Allegheny Portage
! Rail Road above the town of Jefferson
thence by direct line across Summerhill
and Jackson townships in Cambria Coun-
ty, to the corner of Wheatfeld township
IN Indiana County-thence along the line
dividing Wheatfeld and Brush Valley
townships, and along the westerly line of
Nheatield township to Fairfield town.
ship in Westmoreland County-thence
along the westerly line of Fairfield and
Legonler townships, to the road leading
from Legonier to New Derry, thence by
a direct line to the corner of Stony Creek,
Quemahoning and Shade townships in
Somerset County-thence along the line
dividing Shade and Stony Greek town
ships to the Bedford County line-thence
by the same to the place of beginning
1t must be admitted that this would
make most beautiful county, and were
we to lose sight altogether of the injury
which it would do to the counties out of
which it would be composed, all would
do well enough. 1t will be observed,
however, that they design taking from
Cambria the townships of Conemaugh
RichIand, and the principal part of Jack
son and Summerhill. These townships
contain nearly one half of the population
Of this county, and if taken from us would
leave US county only in name. To prove
this let facts be adduced. In 1910 Cam
r bria contained a population of ,256, and
f the townships proposed to be embraced
r within the limits of the new county, las
5 their boundary leaves a Uery small por-
1 ton of Summerhill and Jackson without
i the limits, we include them altogether for
e convenience in our calculation,) had 5,229
. inhabitants. And as that portion of the
D county has increased much more rapidly
e in population than any other, it will al
4 once be perceived that our Jonnstown
e friends wish to rob .'little Cambria" oi
5 nearly, if not altogether, one half Of hel
: population. In point of taxables, an ex-
animation of the official returns in the
Commissioners Office will show the same
S ratio. Conemaugh, Richand, Jackson
: and Summerhill townships contain more
than seventeen hundred taxables, and all
the balance of the county has little more
than eighteen hundred. Thus it will be
$ seen that if this scheme of our Johnstown
v nelghbors could be carried into execution
{ Cambria county would be ruined, and hel
capitol placed at one end, within three
{ miles OF the county line. Now we ask
any candid man whether there can be any
argument, however strong, that will weigh
IN the balance against this simple fac
staring US In the face, or whether there
E can be any justice in proposition sc
s destructive to the rights and interests o
. the balance of the county? Whatevel
- may be the claims Of the citizens of John
\ stown, they are certainly not sufficient tc
dissolve connection which would de
n stroy the political standing and importance
> OF whole county. If Johnstown is loca
: ted Ill place inconvenient to the capitol
= where she has grown into importance
through the aid of Railways and Canals
;, II is no reason that she should ruin Who'll,
counties in order that she NAV become ;