The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-07-28
The Northwestern Railroad.

Any suggestions made as to the propriety of
selecting a different route from the Blairsville
one for this highway seems to appal our neigh
bors in that section. Some weeks ago, there
was published in this paper, an article IN refer
ence to the above road, which was originally a.
communication in the North american, written
by Goal Burner" To The route, as shadowed
forth in the article alluded to, our friend of the
-4pdlaehian takes exception, whether with some
what of an enyious disposition or not, We cannot
state, but presume as much from the manner in
which that journal is disposed to treat, what it
unjustly styles, the '.idyllc outpourings" of the
person advocating the Summit route. Did We
desire to drag into the merits or dement's of this
route any thing SO foreign to the tissue as insinu-
ating quotations from Madame Pulsky's Book
Red White and Black" we might embellish
the subject by reference to Mrs. Troloppe's ira
vels, but are content that the surveys should be
made, and, if the Blairsville possesses superior
advantages over the Summit or Allegheny Tun-
mel route, we shall cheerfully award to it gen.
erous acquiescence, and cry, hold, enough.
There is truth in the saying-that Nature new
er lies Nature, in this case. protests against
any usurpation of her rights, and her face, from
the Allegheny Tunnel, Cambria county, to Cleve-
land demonstrates that Railroad to connect
the two points is not only practicable but inevi-
table. Sooner or later it must and will be made,
being the most direct route between the Lakes
and Philadelphia. Here, nature presents no
serious Instructions to the enterprise no impen-
etrable mountains rear their giant heads; no
deep valleys forbid the onward march Of steam.
Elevated land, (of course, not perfectly leyeD
formed of rayine, hill and plain, neither of
which, however, are of such stupendous
magnitude as to present any formidable barrier
to the roads construction, is the line of the road
by this route. You cross the head waters of
the streams that flow into the Conemaugh from
the north you avoid the windings that necessa-
rily result in following streams of any magni-
tude, you lessen the distance and the gradient
by pursuing this route. By the other, you plunge
down from the Summit into the low country ri
Bairsvile and Freeport, and then up, up, until
you reach Cleveland, chasing the Conemaugh
through all its contortions, lengthening the dis
tance and increasing the gradient 1t is short
ness of distance in railroad, not the length
that in these days lends enchantment to the
view. Surveys may be made, lines may be run
to agree in curvature and distance with the val
ley of the Conemaugh, so to force the eastern
terminus of the North Western road at or neal
Blairsville, but Natures great features never
will submit without some recognition of thei
claims. Give us, then, survey from the ALE
gheny Tunnel to Cleveland; let the merits of thu
various routes be fully tested let US have al
the light We can upon the matter, and if th
Summit route loses by comparison with any 9th
consideration. The survey, and nothing else
will satisfy US.
BeasJoHN PRICE WETHERILL, Esq, died il
Philadelphia, on Sunday morning, aged 81
years. He was prominent member of tn
Whig party had filed numerous responsible
stations in the city, and at the time of his dealt
was President of the Select Council. The i'm
mediate cause of his death an illness con
tracted in New York during the visit of Presi
dent Pierce, TO that city. Col. w. was tn
Chairman of the Committee of Reception az
pointed by the City Councils of Philadelphia
and after he had discharged the duties of hi
position there, he accompanied the President t
New YORK, and there also took prominent par
in the ceremonies. The fatigues and excitemen
were too much for him. and he died. it may b
said, martyr to his efforts in the discharge
duty that had been confded to him by hisfe
low citizens.