Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-11-12
From the New York Obser7er
The treasures Of WyOming Valley.

II has been stated in q previous paper, that thi
entire valley is founded on mineral treasures. II
the mountains on either side, they crop out at va
rsOus points of elevation, that direct entrances
are Infected at their foot, or on their sides on 8
horizontal line. into the veins of COAL which are
excavated and drawn out for transportation. The
formation of coal is found in regular LAYERS, differ
ing in thickness from three and half to seven and
even fourteen feet; which are separated from each
other by stratum Of rock or earth. Under the
bed of the Susquehannah and the interva!e on eth
er side, the coal lies far beneath the surface. Ro-
| ring in several places have disclosed the coal at
the depth Of about 100 feet. These excavations
require the construction of perpendicular shafts,
or inclined planes, at vast expense, besides the
constant maintenance of stationary power to bring
the mineral to the surface, the present state Of
| the coal trade does not warrant the opening of
these deeply buried treasures to any great extent
at the present time. The knowledge, however, of
their existence, gives value TO every foot of land,
far beyond What it would command for mere agri-
cultural purposes especially in the present low
state OF husbandry that generally prevails in the
the extended improvements for transportation
several entire farms have been purchased at price
varying from Sl25 TO more than Sl7O per acre
And II Is calculated that single vein of coal Of
seven eet in thickness lying ia S;ta, is worth 80
600 to every superficial acre, estimating it at only
Hfty cents per ton. In previous years the expense
OF excavation has not exceeded fifty cents in ad-
Il NH n 81 IL
been sold at the mouth Of the mine. In the pres
eut year. however, it has been raised to 81 so per
ton. But it will be seen that the present high
price of the article in market is produced by the
decrease charges for transportation. Coal convey
ed by the canal down the valley of the SusqueLana
to the Chesapeake Bay, the present season, costs
Sc per ton when delivered in Baltimore.
The wonderful benefcence Of Providence. in the
gift of these mineral treasures in this valley is still
further displayed, in some parts in the deposits of
iron ere. The village of Scranton, is situated on
small stream at the head ofthe valley, whose site,
ten years ago, was an unbroken wilderness, now
contains some G.0OO inhabitants. Here one of the
largest, most productive and best regulated iron
manufactures in all the land is conducted bv the
borough. Here, notwithstanding the vast amount
Of labor necessary to reduce the mineral from its
native form to the most approved rails for roads,
which is the principal production, the strctest
temperance is maintained and the sancitity of the
Christian Sabbath preserved.
Here the veins Of coal present themselves in the
perpendicular banks of the stream on which the
furnaces and workshops are erected These are
first eXcayated, not for the coal market, but mere
ly 10 furnish fuel for the works, which consume
lao tons per day. As soon as a coal vein is re-
moved, the iron ore in the form of boulders, which
underlie are loaded up into the same cars, and up
on the same rails are conveyed to the smelling fur
naces 10 b9 reduced TO the king Of metals
Such provision Of the God Of nature, develop
ed 70 meet the wants of man in his age of i'm
Provement IS, az faI as my limmitted observation
mas extended, without parallel
PAROIKOs