Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-08-17
Forthe "Democrat and Sentinel ="

a description of this part of the old Key
stone may not be wholly devoid of interest to
your readers. That portion of the West
Branch Valley. commonly known as the Mum
cy Valley, is about six miles square, the
southern part of which is level, then rising
abruptly, something like two miles from the
river, are chain of hills, the soil of which is
thin and does not repay the husbandman very
well; for his time and labour, the most of
whom are Germans from the ''Fatherland'' or
their decendalts. But by hard labor, and
frugality, they seem to be improving their
lands, and adding something to their worldly
possessions. The land lying between the hills
and the Allegheny mountain, is sabout the same
quality as the land contiguous to your borough,
but not quite so uneven. The southern part,
bordering on the Susquehanna river, is very
fertile, being sandy loan, adopted to raising
all kinds of grain common to the middle states
but wheat and corn are the most profit
able an average crop of the farmer is about
30 bushels per acre, and the latter 90 bushels,
but in some particular instances fifty per cent
may be added to the average crop. But the
wheat crop of the present season will not be
more than one fifth of common crop, owing
to injury from the weevil, fly and rust. In
deed the wheat crop is so near a failure that
quantities of -four are being shipped to this
place from Baltimore, to supply the home de-
mand occasioned by the Lumber trade, which
is one of the principal branches of industry, in
many of the adjoining districts. The amount
of lumber manufactured in this section of the
country, and sent to market from this place,
and landing few miles above, on the canal,
is estimated by some of our most intelligent
dealers in the article, at about twenty five
millions of feet annually, which requires quite
number of operatives IN the numbering bu-
siness. Many of whom are Yankees hailing
from Bangor, Maine, &c. The lumber trade
gives quite healthy tone to business gene
rally, as it furnishes q market for produce,
gives employment to many and also brings
into the country large amounts of fcash, which
through the operatives, becomes distributed
into all the different channels of trade and
traffic. There is large amount of lumber
on the wharves at this place, which l do not
think will be materially diminished this sea-
son, as boating is so much retarded by breaks
and jams on the canal, that it will not be ship
ped faster than it is delivered here,-freights
from this, and neighboring places along the
line are very high.
The lumber trade must continue good for
years to come, for there are forests of Hem
ioSh uLu III VI Il me III Une
mountains, and along the streams, within rea-
sonable hauling distance, that will require
time and sharp cutting to exhaust
The Sunbury and Erie R. R. will soon be
completed as far as Williamsport The grad
ing is nearly all done, and the rails are being
laid on portions fit. 1t does not run near
enough to Muncy to benefit the place much,
as the travel which now stops here will cease
as soon the cars begin to run. There is in
course of construction a bridge across the Sus-
quehanna at this place which will be complet-
ed about the 1st of January next. This
place is visited during the summer season by
many of the good people of the ''city of love-
who come here for health and amusement
There has been more cattle driven through
this place since the first of July than usual.
Yours, DC R. A NJ.
Muncy' Lycoming county, Pa