Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-08-27
Correspondence OF The Public Ledger
NEW ERA OF THE MIDDLE ANTHRACITE
REGION.
sBAmoKiN, August 10, 1893


SsAmoxfN, Auqust19, 1888
Yesterday and 10 day was tho beginning
OF new era in the history Of the Middle
Anihracils Coal Region of Psnnsylvanla'-
Within me two days, the long deferred nope
OF the citizens OF this region mas been partial
~ iealized--at all events, things are assu-
ming more tangible shape. They wines
sed yesterday the launching Of the steamboat
nj Sunbury to-day the frs, trial trip OF the
locomotive on the Philadelphia and Sunbniy
Railroad. Both were events Of big impor'
lance the region. The shrll whistle Of
the locomotive, driving cars 10 market,
freigh,ed with coal, will now enliven our
hills and valleys, while the putting boat VIII
awe more life and animation 10 the eplsndld
basin OF water bslwesn Northumberland and
tho Shamokin dam, and be novelty and
rev feature in the navigation Of The upper
Suequehanna-
The steamboat i, intended for towing and
e'irying freight aud passengers from the
wharves at Sunbnry 10 Northumberland and
the Susquehanna Canal on the opposite aide
Of the river. 1t is the property of company,
organized under charter granted by The
last Legislature Ii is built in the clipper
style, with speed capacity Of about 10 mies
per hour aud is adapted TO carry 100 tons
surthen As il now foats, 1t draws but 10
inches water. The machinery, when
aboard, will probably sink it inches more
Ia length it is SO feet, with breadth over
all of 3is feet and depth Of 81 feet. The
builder is Mr. George Kirk. Philadelphia
ship carpsnter of experience. He was em-
ploved by Mr.. Clement the contractor, and
has set ahoat as beautiful vessel Of the
kind as graces your own noble Delaware. =
The engine for the boa. is 80 horse power,
aud was manufactured a, Providence, R L.,
by Fisk & Co.
A steamboat has long been wanted al
Sunbury, for the towing of canal boats across
the Susquehanna, and for other purposes -
During the high stages of the wafer the cur
rent is so strong al that poin, that il is elmo.,
impossible TO pole boat over. This Difficult.
~, thanks TO the Philadeph phia aud Sunbury
hdlTudu S"flpdnNi IL liuN opN'h'SH'
The Philadelphia aud Snubury Railway
having been completed within several day
past, from Sunbury 10 Shsmukih, distance
OF 20 miles, aud one Of Norris nrwly built
locomotives having arrived, trial trip, in
anticipation Of The formal opening Of the road
on Thursday next, was fixed npon TO come
of this day-following Immediately afie'
the launching of the steamboat. For thai
purpose the engine was fred up early in the
morning. After steam was generated
which was accomplished with ease-ihe
sngine moved off as gracefully and readily
as one that had been in use before, the ma
chinery working in the most admirable man
ner With new engine, uu,ried, and new
rail, over which the iron horse had neve
passed, difficulties in getting along smoothly
could be reasonably looked for.
In passing from Surbuly, the starting
point, 10 this place, we were annoyed will
nothing of the sor. The ride wa. not ac
accompanied with The iarring usually me
with on railroads The road i. compact,
substantially built, with rail of The heaves
pattern, which, with other arrangement
equally complete, make il the ne plus ul,r
OF Il railway. II is only to be regretted ,ha
we were moi able TO extend our trial trip I
Ashland Many months, it is hoped, wi
not elapse before that place will be reached
Mr.. Fisk, one of the officers of the road,
practical machinist, and " ho is son.n.Iaw O
Senator James, of R, I, run the locomoliv
on this trip The engine, being the frs, O
the road, very properly bears he name {
The frs, President Of the Company, 7
Longenecker, gentlemanly and able pres
ding officer.
The two passenger cars, built also
Philadelphia, one named "Shamokin," III
other "Moun, Carmel" are unexceled
point OF beauty and comfort The seats
Them have the advantage OF six inches mo
width than the Reading cars, with, al II
same time, more capacions passage
walk through. These cars, with the LOGON
tive, will be in waiting a, this place, II
2o'h instant, on the occasion Of the openir
OF the road, 10 carry The invited guests
Snnbury, where they will, of course, partial
oil suitable refreshments.
1t is the purpose Of the COMPANY. unde
s'and, TO run the guest. through 10 Sunbu
IRON Philadelphia IN hours By the nre,e
mode OF conveyance, nearly double thai fir
IS taken up, between PollsvIlle and the s,
quehanna alone. If present al the opeui
OF the road, | viii endeayoI 10 give Won m
Ter OF more interest than is contained in Il
di'lo'nied and hastily written letter.
should have remarked above that b
the launching of the boat, and the trial ,
OF the locomotive, were attended with
most lively manifestations of JOY by the n
pie, a, the river and on the line of the r
way. The booming OF cannon announ
the launching of the boat at Sunbury, as y
as our arrival with the engine al Shamol
That this auspicions beginning will be
tended with the most happy results, iher
every reason for believing. The skepii
TO be convinced, need only make ihemse
acquainted with our vast valuable min
Gepnsiles, and the railroad facilities
reaching the great markets of the coun