Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-10-01
From the North American and U. s. Gazette
NORTHUMBERLAND, Sept. 10, 1853.

! in consequence and interest, owing TO the
contemplated Improvements. short letter
concerning its geography, prospects and cir
cumstances, may prove acceptable TO some
of your readers.
| Until quite recently, the great natural
wealth of the county, bordering the two
branches of the uehanna, has been very
inadequa,ely appreciated by the citizens OF
Philadelphia To missapprehenson, and
not 10 want of liberal enterprise on her
part, do the people OF Central Pennsylvania
mpute her remarkable inaclion
While New York, by way of Catawissa,
is stretching out her gigantic arms TO grasp
our trade, and while Baltimore, with feber
clutch. is aiming at the same object, our own
great Capital is compaiively iner,-procras,l-
na,ing-suicidical 1t is true, corporation,
in which Lancaster takes the lead, has open
ed away for the inexhauslble coal fields OF
Shamokin TO the Susquehanna. 1t is true,
other companies are building railroads among
the mountains, which in few months will
place Northumberland and Sunbury within
MUCH HUWJS ftut VI HlidutiFtllu b"' Wv
Great Erie Railroad, through divided conn.
sells (Councils,) remains unmade, and almos,
uninterrupted.
70 those who comprehend the resources Of
middle aud northwestern Pennsylvania, and
the vast trade of the region lying upon the
Lakes, it is useless TO urge that this work
must prove the crowning glory of phladel-
phia-the cap-sheqf on her shock of prosperity
and greatness.
lie, her men with the long purses come up
and see for themselves what we have 10 rem
der our country interesting. We will show
them that, although Ar, has barely deigned
to notice us, Nature has been kind beyond
example. Our fields are fertile, yielding 10
rude cnl,ure abundant harves,s-our forests
inexhauslible in pine and oak-our hills filled
with limestone, coal and iron riches more
real and substantial than the gold OF Austria
lian or Californian mines. But, as yet, these
benefactions of Nature are comparatively
undeveloped and profilless. Let The Amer.
can Athens open her Golfers, and this Thra.
clan wilderness will yield full return.
Our ancient borough lies at re confluence
of two great rivers-ihe n hh and West
Branches of the Susquehanna. 1t is supposed
10 have been founded, in remote times, BY
one Rip Van Winke, who distributed the
town lots among his children. ''Sleepy Hol-
ow'' is situated about midway between this
place and Sunbury--which was also laid out
,, by near relative of Rips, How such lazy
rascals happened to select so beauifu! spot
for their operations is mystery to acciden.
: tai way-farers. Perhaps in all the world
scenes of greater natural loveiness cannot
be found than those which can be viewed
= from the tops of the surrounding mountains
1 AS you have seen for yourselves. and as YOU
=. readers, trust, will some day, | shall no
attempt description. In truth, il would bt
a vain effort Fields, forests, towns, hills
=. valleys, mountains and rivers stretching OIL
all sides into invisible distance, may scare,
be painted, much less written about
On the North Branch is Danvle, clever
: miles distant, with its extensive and flourish
= ing iron works. Eight or ten miles furhe
are Ca,awssa and Bloomsburg. Then Ber
wick, and 60 miles from this point Wilkes
barre and the great Wyoming coal region.
On the West Branch are sithIted Lewis
! burg, miles off Milton, l2; Wlliamsport
" 40 by the course of the river; Jersey Shore
55, and Lock haven CT.
OF these latter, Lewisburg and William
sport are The fourishing,-ihe one CROWN!
|,
y rapidly in wealth and population from ih'
trade of the rich valleys of Buffalo, Sugar
y Brush Musser's, and Penn the other by al
immense and increasing lumber business
;, This town, as The southern terminus of IN
Wilamspor, and Elmira Railroad, and as al
- important point on the Sunbury and Erie
:, must inevitably be great place in the com
a. rnercial, as heretofore in the political, hisio
=, ry of the country. Astounding from an earl
,, period in Generals, Coones, Majors an
ii Judges, she has frequently been considered
>, sepera,e commonwealth TO herself, and
nj known among the trout fishers and possur
.. hunters of this section, as the estate c
4 Wlliamsport."
Two miles south of u.s. as you are we
aware, is situated our tWlH slsteIi Cuhouiy y
Ty town also remarkable for distinguish
n men and editors, statesmen and patriots.
m no place on the face of the earth are the bt
to nefis of The Free School system so apparen
irl Every male citizen of 81 years and upward
n is able and willing 10 serve his country
is, any profi,abl capacity, from Comfy Tref
e surer down TO President of the United State
Ia will not be guilty of "scndalun nagndtum
q by attemriing 10 discuss their merits.
nd The region Immediately contiguous TO I'll
w village, is we'll adapted to the cultivation
,eater melons, and animals of amphibior
nature But lately the huge embankmen
}" of the railroad company bid fair to dry u
by frog ponds and turtle patches, and befol
w many years the census of Sunbury will sho
?' a great increase of pigs and people, and
on proportional diminution OF water rats and bu
a" rushes. The loss of drift wood will be- con
= pensated by gain in coal dust, while II
2" rattle Of car-wheels will be considered |
n, many fair avchanga for tho c,oaL no