The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-09-04


ovs.sDg u enc FAalssslPAia and s..Ssry
Ranroad
eye PENNSYLVANIA coRRssrsSpsscx.
SUSBURY, August IS, 1855.
Arrivsi Of Stsung1s-Nurimg Scenes IN Ss~.
jSwy-PxNie 1ysiesxg IN the Sssyoasading w
isges-A Monarch sffAs Coal Minss-A Phiia-
lApAsa Gro~d Txv~oxs- Tie Banquet and Speech
xsakl~g- Cs~sscfions Of the Nav Line, &C., Re.
Yesterday, tho Philadelphia and Sunbuy railway
Was formally opened between this place and Shame
kin, the heart Of tho great middle anthracite coal
region of Pennsylvania Invited guests from abroad
thronged the streets Of Sunbury at an early hour,
all Of whom were present to participate in the inter
esting ceremonies Of the day. The cars, drawn by
the engine David Longenecker," named after the
president of the road-all Of which are new and Of
the very best ordcrlett this place during the fore
noon for Shsm0kin, to receive the guests from Phi
ladelphia, New York, and other points. Our arrival
at shamokin. distant from Sunbury twenty miles,
was greeted with the booming OF cannon, and the
enthusiastic cheers of hundreds who were in waiting
to escort us through their mountain town. pro-
eession was formed consisting of miners, citizens,
and laborers employed in the construction of the
road. With our delegation, there must have been
eight hundred one thousand in line. In the lead
on Q wagon drawn by four horses, was huge block
Of anthracite from the Lancaster colliery weighing
ASO0 pounds at emblem of the mineral prodnc.
tons Of this region. This lump Of coal was mounted
by miner in the black condition in which he is
found on emerging from his work in the mine.
With q pick for his sceptre, a burning lamp
for his crown, and . banner with appropriate
devices, he attracted marked attention. The va
riOus improvement companies OF the region were
also represented in the procession by miners bearing
81 49, II.
in Shamokin before the guests from Phiadephia
and elsewhere were announced. They arrived in q
eayalcade oftwentytwO carriages, and were received
amid deafening cheers. The whole population had
turned out to welcome them. There was cheering
and shouting and band playing. Everybody had
evidently given up work In honor OF the event. After
spending some time in Shamokn the guests from
the Susquehanna, and those from the Delaware and
Schuylkil, took their seats in the cars superior
engine gave yell, and we were soon off again for
Sunbury. But one opinion was expressed in regard
to the road, and that was, better, smoother, and
more delightful railway was never travelled over.
Our entrance to SunbuTy was saluted by the firing
of cannon and all along the streets by the cheers Of
a rejoicing crowd. After landing procession was
formed. and we were marched to Weavers Hotel to
partake of bOuntiful dinner that had been pre-
pared for Us.
The guests from Philadelphia were the first party
that ever came through from that city to Sunbury
by dayight-the first that ever breakfasted on the
Delaware and dned near the confluence Of the north
and west branches of the Susquehanna- rst that
brought the burghers Of Sunbury q morning city
paper that ley could read before sunset. The
tH3 from Philadelphia to Sunbury was made in about
eight hours passing first over the Reading Railroad
to Schuylki Haven, ninety miles; from thence by
the Mine Hill Railroad to Mackeysburg twelve miles,
and thence over the mountains in carriages by Ottos
fifteen matchmaking, with the twenty miles of the
railway just opened, distance to Sunbury OF one
hundred and thirty-seven miles.
The abundantly supplied table being ready for the
phart hek
and sixty OF whom were from Philadel pha-they
took possession OF the seats with appetites conside
rsbly improved by the fresh pure air of the country
After doing justice to the good things set before
in order next, lumber of distinguished gentlemen
were brought out. Among them may mention the
Hon. Alexander Jordan, Of Northumberland county;
David Longenecker Esq, President of the road
Hon. F. w. Hughes, Attorney General Of PennsyIvl.
mia; Gen. VIM F. Packer, President of the Baltimore
and Slsquehan Railroad; Morton McMichsel Phi
ladelphia; Judge Parsons, of Philadelphia Judge
Hehenstein, Henry Donnel, Esq, and others.
The limits space usually allotted to correspon-
dents admonishes me against taking up in turn what
these gentlemen said. You will bear with me, how
ever, IN briefly noticing few Of the remarks OF the
Mr.. b. began by Offering hearty welcome to the
guests from different sections Of the country, and
then proceeded to consider the advantages Of rail
roads 10 States, taking Those of Michigan as an il
lustraticn. He referred particularly to the impor
tance OF the SunbuTy and Erie Railroad and stated
as the result OF rough estimate that it would de-
velope from three 10 four millions of of btu
minous COAL iron ore and limestone land Part of
this is now assessed at from fifty cents to ST. an
acre, but when it is opened to market it will be
worth from $50 10 $780, II yields now but little re-
venue, and the whole revenue Of the State from
taxes on real and peronal estate, is but two mil
lions, OF after 6educting expenses of collection &C.
about one milton six hundred thousand dollars
Now, # access to market is afforded t. this northern
region by the Sunbury and Erie Railroad to yns
will YaG Of "a aAd alyalu
ton OF this land will pay the whole interest Of the
State debt. (Cheers)
Mr. Hughes then went on to speak of the Sha-
mOkn and Mahanoy coal region, in connection with
the Sunbnry Raroad, predicting that the time will
come when one million OF tons of coal viii be car
Red from the ancient, grass-grown street town of
Sunbury to Lake Erie. The advantages to Sunbury
be pictured in strong colors.
He dweit at length upol the importance Of the
enterprise they were celebrating, showed what an
immense traffic would, before long, be carried over
it to the lakes Of the great northwes.-to the Chesa
peake, the Delaware, and the Bay OF New York.
The Improvement companies already organized and
commencing operations, would, in few years. be
able to tax the full capacity OF the road in the ship
ment of their coal alone, while the merchandise Of
every description seeking it as branch avenue to
market, would be no inconsderable item. This
rail way, commenced by the far-seeing Girard, but
suffered TO anguish after his DEATH until taken in
hand by David Lonsenec ker, Esq, and his able CO..
adjutors, no one could fail to see, must be Of im-
mense benefit to the midele anthracite region. 1t
will carry to the Susquehanna, to be thence dstri
huted to various markets in the North and South
the products Of OF the richest Inneral regions in
the world and 1t will be the means OF adding ines
Unable wealth to the region, and doing wonders for
the benefit OF the entire State. When the come t.
ing links in progress, and to lie completed next
summer, are all finished, it will make one o. the
most interesting sections OF the great line of rail
roads which is to from Philadelphia {, Niagara
forming the shortest, cheapest, and delightful
route from Philadelphia and the South to that great
resort, and bringing to Pennsylvania large share
Of the immense trade at the lakes.
The connections il forms are OF tue most important
character, and lead, remarked Mr. H. in almost eve
~ direction. They are
1. With the Reading Railroad, by way OF the Mine
Hill Railroad, aflordng outlet for the coal 70 Phi.
lade3pbia, New York, Boston, and other eastern
towns and cities on the Atlantic.
3 At Sunbury, with the Pennsylvania Canal; lead.
rg TO the Chesapeake Bay and to Baltimore. and
other southern ana eastern markets.