The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-11-26
Our New York Correspo ndence.

Axtunrwai Scenes m the Country-Soms Account
of Brooms Co.~ty-Hs Geolog,eal Fsatnres-Hs
Population and Resources, &C., &c.
The chill winds of approaching winter sweep
through the streets of this beautiful village in tfal
and bowling gusts, and the wthered foliage and
leafess trees give indubitabe evidence that Time
hath borne hence the ''last rose of summer'-leav-
ing bleak and dreary indications of his rapid march
A few months since, as we traversed the hills and
the valleys of Broome county, the forests waved
and basked their rich garniture of leaves in the
winds and the sunshine of heaven flo wers of every
description, in all the beauty and simplicity of their
primeval wildness, aromatsed (pardon that verb,)
the soft breath ofmoning with Installations Of their
early sweetness; the musical chirplng and twtter-
ing OF birds, and the monotonous humming Of bees,
awoke the silent echoes OF the mighty wood; here,
the swallow dipped his blue wing In the crys-
tai waters Oft Susque hannah and there, p0sedfar
above the sunny top Of yOnder mountain the grey for
esteage, libertys proud bird, skinned the trackless
air, until his form disappeared in the golden fes.
toons of sunlit clouds, moving on like the slow and
gradual motions of a mighty caravan; now, the
placid bosom of the tranquil river sparkled like
diamonds in the sun; and now, the melancholy
rumblng of distant cascades and waterfalls greeted
the ear, and then died away like gentle waves re-
treating to the shore" These, together with ma
ny others, scenes calculated to attract the at
tention of the traveller then; bat now they are
gloomy auumnal covering spreads over the once
green and luxuIiant forests, leaving a lucid i'm
preston on the mountains and valleys of the mys-
ferrous decomposng and recuperative princi-
Piles pervadlDg well the granite and rocky forma
tons of the solid hills, as the tender flower and the
whitening leaf. He who can stand upon the ridges
which skirt the Tioughnioga and Otselic rivers in
this county, and survey the undulating forests
spread out before him in their primitive magnif-
cence tracing at the same time the rivers gentle
flow in their meanderings through the fertile cult
waited valleys at his feet, without drinking deep
draughs of natures loneliness, must have sensib-
ties which the combined beauties of nature and art
would fail to awaken and bless.
Broome county derives its names from Lieutenant
Governor Broome, and was taken from Tioga
county by act of the Legisl iture, passed March
rs, ls06. 1t is situate between attitudes ~ deg.
and ~ deg. % min. north, and AZ minutes and
i deg. 30 min. east longitude; containing an area
Of about 6H square miles. Twenty, years ago,
BinehamtoD, the place from which this letter is
dated, and the chef town of the county. was
known by the name of Chenango Peint, and con-
tanned, at that period, the courthouse, county JAIL
which were substantially built Of brick; one Epis-
coal, one Presbyt terrain, Methodist and one Bap
list church, one academy for females, in highly
hourishlag condition.; bank, incorporated IN
1880, with capital of 800 900; two printing offices,
from each of which weekly journal was issued;
a small furnace for castings three saw mills, each
cutting more than two millions of feet of lumber an
nualy; about 400 dwellings and e 900 inhabitants
Much of the land about this place Is covered with
liz J.,
has been culled out for lumber and the soil of the
lands which have been appropriated to agriculture
form tolerably good pastuTage. The valleys of the
Susquehannah and Chenaogo rivers are rich alu.
vial flats, from one TO two miles in width.
The geological features of this county are not
altogether uninterestiDg. The great basis rock Is
carboniferous slate, which rises on the east and
forms the mountains between the Delaware and
Susque hannah rivers. The SUBMITS Of these noun
tains are OVERLAND, in a great measure, by gray
wacke, which, in quartzose form, covers the
western portion of the county. The upper secon.
dairy formation which embraces this county, con-
sists of the same as that which contains the coal
formation of Pennsylvania, and, We have no doubt
but coal exists thrOue this county in abund ance,
but at great depth below the surface. These
conclusions drawn from the fact that springs OF
petroleum and csrburetted hydrogen gas, together
with inflamable bitummen and bltumlncus shale,
are found abundantly dispersed throughout this re-
gion.
The hills contain hard pan generally very near
the surface, which renders the soil more valuable
for the production of grass than other articles OF
agriculture. The soils in the valleys are commonly
composed OF gravely loan, producing crops OF
wheat of excellent quality, remunera,ing to an am
pie extent, the labor and enterprise OF the farmer
The forests of timber which cover this county are
exceedingly dense and outrageous, aud the prepa-
ration OF the lumber for market, forms lucrative
business for great portion ofthe inhabitants still,
agriculture is not neglected, having greatly i'm
proved within a few years past The billy lands,
when disposed Of for purposes OF agriculture, COM
mand from sl2 TO sl5 per acre; and the lands
IN the valleys from Sl5 TO So.
There ere sulphur springs in this county, known
as the Belona Springs, which are said TO possess
strong medicinal properties; but the most singular
phenomenon connected with them is, that within
two yards Of the most celebrated sulphur spring is
a fountain OF pure water, entirely free from any
mineral mixture whltever. The bare taste OF the
sulphur water, and its appearance, show that It Is
sort Of chalyteate, audit is strongly characterized
by the peculiar astrngency and SAVIOR OF the ferru-
ginous impre gnatons Though remarkably clear
when first taken the water becomes turbid upon
standing in open air for some time, and after long
interval, an iirdescent pellicle forms on It's sur
face.
This county was first settled by emigrants from
the western part OF Massachusetts, 30 early as
1890, and the larger portion Of the present inhab-
tants are from the Eastern States, or are descend
ants Of the old New England settlers. In 1880, the
county was divided into eleven townships ana con-
tsned a population of 10 566 males, 962i females,
I3i blacks, black voters, III deaf and dumb, y
idiots, lunatics. IS paupers. ltkewIse contained
lSlI militia, l02 voters i26 aliens, w married
females under AS years of age, l,5S unmarried
between the age of rs and 4j, 4,22i unmarried I'M
der ~ years, and children above AMI under 10,
5,695. The county, also. contained - grisi ml,,
us saw mills, oil mill, 9fulling mills, 10 cardng
machines, distilleries, 4 asheries, iron works,
trip hammers, 20 tannerics, | brewery, l3j school
districts, and 6,I13 scholars. There are i0l, i0l
acres Of land contained in this county, $500 of
which improved; also, IL 6b neat cattle, 4, l39
horses, 81, 1Sl sheep, and II, jS3 swine.
But this courty is not now as IL was few years
ego. Extra and better facilities for reaching a
profitable market with the productions OF this coun-
try. have been opened; and the New York and
Enc railroad, which passes through this place. rem
ders u a point on that road Of great Importance.
The tremendous enterprise Of this railroad COM
pany has furnished TO the inhabitants Of the coun-
~ through which the road passes, source OF un-
bounded convenience, aud renders property along
its route, once remote from market, doubly valu-
able not only for the timber II contains, but also
for agricultural purposes Bfoome county has now
railroad facility which, taken In connection with
IFS water privileges. will soon make Il an important
and Aounshing county of Western New Yerk
ID. w. b.
TnE Coat TRADE or 1850 The quantity sent
this week by railroad Is - 0JO OIL, which is the
largest shipment ever made IN one week by the
company We knock under, II even il was done
by putting on mic ht shifts. The proceedings Of the
meeting 81 coal operators, held on Monday last,
will be found in another part Of our paper We
rccl Ill. ..z.-L .h,t The s.cl