The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-01-13

impart instruction in the science of agriculture
/ have been established. 1t is true that societies
have been formed in number of the States and
exhibitions have been held calculated to awaken
! the people to the Importance of this subject
Our State society, organized about two wears
since, has held two exhibitions which have done
much good in the way of sending to all parts OF
| the State the best breed of domestic animals
the best grains and seeds and the most anproy-
ed agricultural machinery But it seems to me.
that the government might justly lend her aid
and countenan1e to this good work In Mary
land, an agricultural chemist has been employ
ed by the State, and am informed that the re-
suit OF his investigations has been highly salts
factory and useful to the people. Cannot the
great State of Pennsy lvania do as much for her
farmers? She has expended a large sum in the
developement of her mineral resources and has
cherished her manufacturers by every proper
means, and it is right that she should now do
something for her agriculturists. I, therefore,
respectfully recommend the appointment of an
agricultural chemist, with moderate salary,
leaving the details of his duties to be suggested
by the State and county societies.
The subject of growing wool, in our State, is
worthy of special attention. l had the pleasure,
at the late State fair, short time since OF ex-
aiming extensive card of specimens of this arti-
Gle exhibited by Peter \. Browne Esq, of Phi
ladelphia. 1t is said to be the most extensive
interesting and instructive collection in the Uni
ted States, or perhaps in the world.
No man can examine it and not feel himself
edited by the great practical truths which it is
calculated to impart. 1t demonstrates most con-
clusively that our Commonwealth is peculiarly
adapted to the production of this article, and
that IN the United States we can raise as fine
heeces as can be produced in the world ; and
finer than In any other country except Saxony.
1t appears by the census of 1850 that Penn
sylvania has only 1922 $50 sheep-that Ohio
n hos tho+
New York has 3,454, 351, and that whilst our
consumption of wool in manufactures for 1850
was ,56O, ,319 lbs, our production was only A.
4S1 $40. France raises thirty-six millions of
sheep, and England with less than half the adj
vantages Of this country raises forty-six mil
lions
This subject is one deserving the attention of
the people and the government.
[ cannot refrain from congratulating you on
the evidences of the great prosperity of Pennsyl-
yania to be found in the census report of 1850
Her relative position to her sister States is tru-
ly proud one. Of the four large States her
per centage of increase in population, since
1910, is the greatest, and she has, besides ex-
celled the best of her sisters in the production
of wheat rye, iron, and coal.
Her population numbers 2,31I, ,7S6, being an
increase of almost So per cent, since 1840.-|
According to this rate of growth her people in
1870 will number near 4, 4,0G0,000. Our debt of
forty millions Is, at this time, charge en- each
inhabitant of little over eighteen dollars in
1870, according to this datum, it will but little
exceed ten. The present assessed value of real
and personal estate is S497, ,039, ,649 showing
an increase of eighteen per cent. since 1910 and
according to this rate of growth up to 1870, il
will amount to the sum of S675 973, ,922 The
debt OF forty millions lien of 8 per cent,
on the assessable property of 1Si0 on that of
1870 it will be only five per cent and eight mills
Bnt IN the census report of 1850 the true value
of the property of the State is estimated at 722-
4Sb, l2O; on this sum our present debt is Int a
fraction over 81 per cent. Who can doubt the
solvency of such a debtor?
Her productions of wheat in 1910 was 13,-
2l3,O71 bushels. In 1850, 15,482, l91, being
an increase of IL per cent, at which rate her
yield for 1870 Will exceed twenty millions of
bushels. The same rate of increase is apparent
IN rye, corn, oats, barley, buckwheat and live
stock. The census of 1910 shows production
for that year of 98, 395 tons of pig metal-that
of 1880, Is 285,702, or an increase of 100 per
cent At this rate the yield of 1870 would be
l, 81 $40 tons. Wrought iron in 1910 amount
ed to 81, 244 tons-in 1850 it is 1872, 500 tons
On this datum the production of 1870 would be
$50, ,369 tons. Our wooden manufactures for
1910 were valued at 2,3l9 l61 dollars, and for
1890 at SO, 80 $3.50, showing "A gain in ten years
of 20 per cent, and the enormous yield 10y 1870
Of $l3, 738, ,404. In cotton goods the increase
up to 1870 would show production OF about
six millions of dollars
The whole amount of anthracite coal mined !
and taken to market in 1910 was S6T COO tons. |
In 1852 the product will reach near five millions |
Of tons, being increase in twelve years of
jOO per cent. This rate of augmentation up
to 1870 would give the startling production of
over forty-tive millions of tons, and yielding at
the present Philadelphia prices, the of one
hundred and eighty millions of dollars, being
more than treble the present revenues OF the |
whole United States -
This is a most gratifying picture, and goes
ar to prove what have for some time beliey-
I'd, that before the close of the present century |
Pennsylvania, in point of wealth and real great
ness will stand in advance of all her Sister
States.
There yet few public enterprises to be
,onsumated to render her triumph complete
The North Branch canal must be finished. The |
mountains must be passed without
he use OF inclined planes, and our metropolis |
must be connected with the lakes, by means of
railroad.
The trade of the State is only second in i'm
oortance to her agricultural and mineral wealth.
Nature has assigned to Pennsylvania most adj
Iantageous position for external trade. Con-
lected with the Atlantic the lakes and the wes-
ern waters, and extending on both sides Of the
she forms the great link between
he East and the West. The only obstacle to
IN artificial Union of the great natural highways
oy which she is envirened, is this interposing !
,hain Of mountains, which cutting transversely
across our territory, divides the tributary wa
ers of the Ohio and the lakes from those of the
Atiantic. But this mountainous range we
houlI rejoice to know, upon close examination,
no HI 10