Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-06-14
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE EDI-
TOR DATED.
COLUMBIA House.,


There is at present considerable excite
men, here in relation to rail road 10 the
Lakes. Philadelphians are beginning to
wake up from their lethargy on this subject,
by the efforts now making by rival city .
(Balmore) 10 wrest ftom them this immense |
trade. Although the Penusy lvania Rail Road .
is great and important work, many of them .
begin 10 see that the Suubury and Erie road |.
is after all the great enterprise of the present |
day The Susquehanna Rail Road from Har- .
ri,burg TO Sunbury is here looked upon as a
fixed fact and with no little jealousy. Canal
packets have had their day and every one
who is obliged to travel from Northumber-
land to Harrisburg will heartily pray for he
day when they can travel from Sunbnry TO
Harrisburg in less time than is now lost in
waiting at the junction for the cars. Sill
we have no cause TO complain OF the Packets.
They have proved great convenience, and
as comfortable aud as well conducted as any
in the country, but their days are nearly
numbered. The progressive spirit Of the
age requies steam and electricity for pro-
| pusion and speed.
| While wailu" for the cars at the junction.
| from | to O'Clock, we witnessed one OF
those scenes that cannot fail 10 excite the
| sympathies Of our nature, at least in our
country, where misery aud des,liutlon has
not yet, thank Providence, reached so low
an ebb. An Irish emiarant Of about IS years
of age, came vending his way to the boat
with large bundle on his back. A short
distance behind, was his wife, with an in
iant in her arms, and another, probably not
two years old, slung over her back. The
day was exceedingly warm, and the poor
womau's face gave evidence of her toll, un-
der the influence Of burning sun. They
took shelter under the platform, and the hus-
band, with an old tin cup, refreshed them
with some water close by. They wished
to 90 a short distance up the West Branch,
but the Captain on account of the crowd Of
watermen, could not accommodate them
The downward passengers present, added a
few dollars to the small sum they had, 50 as
to enable them to reach their destination by
]
Harrisburg though improving some, is new
erlheess dull when the Legislature is not in
session. Like many other towns in this
state, its men of capital have lille or no en-
terprise The cotton factory has just been
put in operation and promises well. As a
manufacturing town il has not yet made
much progress. Among the most enerpri-
sing and ingenious citizens Of the place, is
w. o. Hckok, who has built upan establish
ment by his own energy, talent and industry
that might serve as an example Tor others
with more abundant meats to initiate. Mr..
Hickok gives employment 10 quite a number
of men, and is the manufacturer of superior
ruling machines, for ruling paper aud blank
work, which have nearly superseded all 9th.
era in use 1t is to such men after all thai
; The country owes most Of lis prosperity Ian.
caster at which place stopped the greater
part of day, is a place of considerable busi
ness, surrounded by one Of the mos, eX:eu,
sive and ilourishing agricultural districts il
the world, il could not well be Otherwise
Besides its numerous fine stores, will always
T make il the centre of attraction.
Among these we were much pleased Will
the store of the Messrs Banmgardner, whC
; are among the most enerprisng and sue
cessful merchants of the place, and who oc
cuPy the entire four stories Of their building
They have three cotton factories at thi
place, which have until last year made hand
some dividends, but owing to the high prc'
of cotton, ranging from to l5 cents, tn
Company, the past year sunk about $4,000
Cotton is down again TO about 8 cents, a
a which prices the manufacturers can do well
/ LATE FROM HAVANA.
= The New York Herald has intelligenc,