Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1853-12-09
From the BosloH Herald
Proposed improvements in Western
Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania

AGpGCCA ALI u CllC0l5 IL ~ CD GCA Il
Pennsylvania.
For long series of years, the western counties
Of the State Of Pennsylvania have remained al
most in a state ofprimitive simplicity. Situated
at some distance from the Ohio river, and, until
recently, not tIgyersed by railroads the lands
have hardly attracted the attention Of any one.
Although situated three degrees further south
than ourselves and free from the inclcInoncics Of
certain seasons Of the year, their husbaHdry falls
in the rear Of many ofour New England localities,
for want Of proper husbandmen, and the improv-
ed instruments Of agriculture. In the only large
corporate places Pittsburg and Allegheny, which
are situated where the confluence Of the Allegha-
ny and Mononhahela rivers form the Ohio, there
are opportunities for many extensive and renu-
nerating enterprises. The vast deposits Of coal
which are found along the banks Of these rivers
and their tributary streams, and the beds Of iron
ore which are easy OF access, conspire 10 render
every natural facility to the capital Of Allegheny
county. But, In order that the treasures Of the
earth may be prepared for the market there needs
eastern capital and eastern men.
We never saw an individual from this section
Of the country, who has travelled through Pitts
burgh without observing the disadvantages under
which the Pittsburghers carry on the iron bust
ness, in which so much Of their capital and so
many Of their hands are employed. Almost, if
not quite all the manufactures OF iron purchase
their iron in the pig, which is furnished by the
blast furnaces in Ohio and western Pennsylya-
MIA. Their castings, in point of finish, are very
far behind those of our own city, much so that
works which are erecting within an hundred
miles Of Pittsburgh are obliged to send to Boston
for their castings. And the Pittsburghers are
not unconscious Of these defects, for nanv f
them have told US that ifentcrprising people from
this section would migrate tLither, they should
be pleased to afford them facilities where their
labor would be much more remuuerative than At
home
The vast iron works located at Johnstown. Pa
by the Cambria Iron Company, arc progressing
rapidly towards completion under the superin-
tendance of Yankees, and the managers talk OF
being able TO commence the manufacture Of pig
iron upon the first ofJangary next, and to turn
out timmensequantitieSo of railroad iron from then.
rolling mills upon the ensuing first Of April
This gigantic establishment IS looked upon with
some disiavor by the PiJtsburghers, who fear in
i, a monopoly Of their favorite branch Of busi-
ness. But it viii only excite them to greater ac-
tivity, and to the employment of more able arti-
zans, and in this rivalry think The iron man
ufacturers viii soon be able 10 snap their fingers
at Congress. and despite any protective duties
supply all the railroad iron which this country
will prospectfully demand.
About thirty miles below Pittsburg. upon the
Beaver River, and four miles from its junction
with the Ohio, a company composed chiefly Of
New Workers and Philadelphians under the title
of the 8 Beaver Manufacturing Company" are
making preparations to the slack water Of the
Beaver River to account. Their charter conteu-
Plates the manufacture of silk, cotton, wooden,
flour iron and railroad cars. They are advan-
tageously situated with reference to water POW
er, the State of Pennsylvania having erected three
dams, in order to produce slack water for the
navigation Of the Beaver river, and confning it
self TO that portion which Is necessary TO feed its
canals around the dams. The lower dam Is 1Ise-
less for water power, in consequence of the rise
of the Ohio, when the river is full but the two
upper dams being protected from such occur
renee, furnish very valuable sites for manufac-
turing.
The lands bordering upon one half of the upper
dam and upon the whole Of the lower are owned
by the company together with many Of the con
uguous hills in which are large quantities of BIZ
luminous and camel coal, iron ore. bydrapIic
cement, fire clay, and superior article purposes
and for the manufacture of grindstones.
The company contemplate erecting rolling
mill during the coming season, for the manpfsc-
ture OF bar and hoop iron, spikes and nails and
to lease or sell the residue of the waterpower n
enable those who choose to carry on other o,ero-
tons designated in their charter The extent Of
the company land in Brighton, where the roll
ing mll VIII be located is about twelve hundred
acres and they are preparing to offer great in
ducements to those who wish to engage in any
oil the above designated enterprises
The Darlington Camel Coal COMPANY. whose
operations are carried on about ten miles above
Brighton, are about finishing six mile railroad
which will connect the coal beds with the Ohio
and Pennsylvania railroad They have made
preparations to send about five hundred tons of
coal per day over the road, whence it will find
Its way to Cleveland, northwardly, and south
wardly down the Ohio river to the cities along its
banks. This coal is considered superior to anv
other OF the American cannel deposits, and is be
coming favorite for psrlor coal, as well a. the