The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-12-25

From the Public Ledgr.
The Philadelphia and Erie Railroads.&c. o o.

The area in square miles OF the vast in
land country drained by Lake Erie, and by
the lakes Huron, Michigan and Superior,
whose waters flow into il from the west, is
equal 10 the territory of the fourteen Allan
ilo States from Maine 10 South Carolina,
both inclusive. The trade OF this mighty re-
sion has ever poured, in streams of wealth,
into the laps of New York and Boston, till, a,
this day, they rank as the chief commercial
cities of the Republic. Philadelphia has
never reached out her arm 10 grasp share
of this treasure, although she stands in clo-
ser proximity 10 II than either of her rivals.
It is nearer in an air line from the south shore
of Lake Erie TO Philadelphia thar 10 the ely
of New York, while the features of the phys.
ical formation of the earth are such in The
dividing ridges, walef courses and valleys,
that the route through Pennsy lvania mus; for.
ever remain unrivalled both in distance and
grade From the city of Erie, the best har-
Dor on the lake, 10 the city of New York,
the distance via the lake shore and New
From Philadelphia TO Erie, via
Williamspot, 427 70.
Difference in favor of Philadelphia, ss ="
Is il not n.anifes, then that il this adyan-
tage in miles be added 10 the advantages en-
Ioyed BY Philadelphia in the excellence and
variety of her manufacturers, she can al
least divide the lake market with her neigh.
Dor, aud bacome the railroad carrier between
that region and the sea But besides these
golden considerations, the proposed railroad
will develope The resources Of garden por
ton of Pennsylvania, bring into agriculture
use tens of thousands or arabic acres, cause
the peopling of an almost literal wilderness,
and thus, while enriching the State, at the
same lime establish and realize profitable
local trade
II is a singular fact that Philadelphia has
no railroad communication extending in a
northern direc lion, so far even as the centre
of the State All the railroads diverging
fforh Philadelphia run south of line, drawn
from east to west, through the middle OF
Pennsylvania. Tho Central road, running
TO the Ohio river, with its Hempfield branch
10 Wheeling, is at no point nearer that f:-
teen miles of the middle Tamaqua, whore
the railroads now terminate, are both south
of that line. The frs, communication be-
tween the seaboard AMI the West which
was BY turnpike, was located IN the southern
counties, and hence followed the early sell
tlement and improvement os those counties.
The main line of the State works run
through tier of counties, south of the geo.
graphical centre of .he Commonwealth, and
hence settlements and improvements multi
Piled in that locality. Thus, while there are
a Turnpike, Canal and Railroad running
east and west through the southern half OF
the State, there is not, in the whole northern
hall, one good common road running the en-
tire distance between the Susquehanna and
Allegheny rivers
There are no means now open OF ingress
and regiess 10 and from the summit county
about the head.waiers of the West-Rranch
and the tributaries of the Allegheny river,
and, consequently, the most OF the land is
urinproved and the population few in num-
bers. This state of facts is owing TO the
policy which has been pursued, and does
NOT arise from any difference in the quality
| OF the land north and south of the centre
line; for, while some Of the valleys in the