Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1854-06-27
1@g RAp1gElAleg DOWRlAga
A Railroad.-.Its practicabilitv.

1t seems to be conceded by all those who have
given their attention to the matter, that the route
for railroad from Tyrone to Erie, by way of
Emigh's Gap in the Allegheny Mountains, is no.
only practicable, but crosses the mountain at a
much lower elevation than any other line, either
proposed or in practical operation. 1t is likewise
the shortest route and can be constructed at less
expense. 1t is som fifty miles shorter than the
Sunbury and Erie Road, and it uses the largest
portion of the way, lines already constructed.
There few railroads in the country that pos
sess natural sntages equal to those that would
be opened up by this line. Passing through a
country, not only aboundng in vast stores of min
eral wealth., but the only great pine numbering re-
gion in the State, the whole road must in the very
nature OF things become the seat of large manu-
featuring interest well as the channel of an ex-
tensive commerce. Thus its local trade assumes
an immense Importance from the large quantities
OF coal that must OF necessity pass over it, while
the superiority of the article will always secure for
it ready market, so that there will be no doubt
the demand will always be equal to the capacities
of the road.
Its Importance to Clearlield county can scarcely
be estimated While. so far as our trade in lum-
Der is concerned, railroad can never supersede
the use of the river, it will yet open up way for
those owners too far from the river to be benefited
by it, to get their lumber to market It win thus
increase the demand for labor, while it will cheap
en- goods and especially provisions, by increasing
the facilities for bringing them into the country
1t viii also open up a market that can never be
overstocked for the immense qualities of coal and
iron now lying useless and valueless entombed in
our hills
We have within Us all the elements of a great
manufacturing county, and the benefits that must
result from calling all these inactive sources of
wealth into active operation can scarcely be con-
ceived. The fear that the nstuction of rail
road, will injure the business of our mech anics
and laboring men, is wholly without foundation
Cloarfeld differs from almost every other portion
of the State in this respect The great business of
our county is numbering. upon which railroad
can effect no alteration. The same number of men
and horses, the same amount of labor, and the
same quantity of clothes and provisions will be
required to get out the lumber, then as now
And though railroad may: perhaps bring down
the prices of some of our manufactured articles it
will also proportionably cheaper the material, the
provisions, and every thing else mechanics are re-
quired to use, while it win lower their taxes and
increase the population, thus increasing the de-
mand for their articles 1t is to the mechanic the
farmer, and the laboring man that it will prove
OF greatest Importance and it is the prosperity of
this class of the community that increases the hap
pincss, wealth, and comfort of the whole 1t is
from them that others must obtain their livelihood
and upon them they must depend for all they can
expect to receive And it is for them and their in
terests, with which our own identified, that we
ardently hope the time is not far distant, when the
shrl shrek of the iron horse, the axeman cheer
full song,and the plough-boy's merry whistle, shall
all combine to enliYen our forests, and cheer our
groves. u 90.