The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-11-05

| merce of the States bordering on Lake Mich
/ igan, have oil more than doubled ia lha, lime.
Railroads have been constructed and are
still in progress 10 every point on the Missis-
sippi, and 10 all points beyond, which are
likely to commend ,heproduee and coma,cfce
of the interior; go that Iowa, Minnesota and
Missouri have become tributary to The lake
ports. The result is seen in the magical in
crease of lhesirads.
/ The. mighty commercial commerce has
flowed hitherto almosr exclusively to New
/ York, and her railroads and canals may be
said TO have moEopolzed il entirely. The
city Of Philadelphi is now as neal in linsal
distauce 10 Buffalo as New York is, and the
freigh,s from either city 10 that port are pre-.
cisely the same. 1t needs bur slight effort
on the part Of our mechanics TO share IN tina:
commerce, and the advantages of returning
trade and capital il b:ngs in it's train. To
some extent even now we are realizing the
benefits Of The northwest connection, bul not
TO ti,be that ils facilities afford.
The Caiawissa Road, however, has Local
trade of ils own, which would abundanlly
support i, when fairly organized, were all The
through trade and travel Withdrawn. Passing
directly through the iron district OF Pennsyl
vania the furnaces and rolling mills afford u
a rich and increasing fiei2hi, while lis proX-
unity 10 the coal regions, brings back from
the agricultural districts, in constant aud in-
creasing supplies, the provisions for The large
4 hn nolIieFIRa Tar
the means Of support. s.
The lumber mills of Wiiamsport are a.
mong The finest in The world. The timber
hoaied down from The rich pine regions oil
the West Branch Of the Susqushanna, and
it's tributaries, is here received aud pIerafed
for market in larger quantities than al any
other place in the country. Over forty mill,
ions of ieet are annually produced in this
neiehborhood, ard contracts have already
been made for securing as much Of this freight
OF. This one product of The forest furnishes
a large share of the revenue Of the New York
and Erie Road, and will Of It's II constitute
an important and remuneraliug business to
| The Calswissa Road hereafter. About Bine
miles east of Calawissa, aud three miles OF
the road, the Columbia Coal and Iron Com
pany, owning the vast deposits OF the Me
Cau!ey Mountain, are vigorously al work in
the opening of lhelr colleries, and the COM
plelion OF the connecting road They esli
mate that in one year from that event, they
will bs able to furnish three hundred thou.
sand tons of coal 10 the iron works Of Dam
Vile aud Bloomsburg, and the northern mar.
ket, to which they are equally accessible with
The Shsmokin district.
The property Of the Catawissa Company
comprises 1900 acres OF coal lands, esiima.
ted 10 contain over two millions Of tons,
which ii is very desirable TO place, a, an early
date, in The way Of development.
The Qnakake Branch, extending from the
Catawssa Summit TO the Beaver Meadow
Railroad, distance of Twelve miles, and al.
ready graded for The track, passes directly
through this coal property, aad, on this ac-
count, as well as in view of the vast import,
immediate attention.
Were any mode devised for the early COM
pleiion Of this shon branch, Elmira and the
Lakes themselves sou!d be brought by ca.
sier grades within ten mics of their distance
; TO New York by the Erie Road; and the
Penns ylvahia chain of railroads would then
I share in the trade of that city to the grea'
West, besides bearing the iron, coal, and
lumber OF out Stale directly 10 the New York
market.
Another rc ost important feeder will be the
Sunbusy aud Erie Railroad, on it's completion
TO the iar5or of E,ie, and the lines connect
ing with il westward at Ridsway, BY Venan.
90 to Penns, lvania, and Warren in Ohio. II
is impossible 10 estimate the vast trade and
travel that will then form the shortest and
best connections between The West and the
Atlantic markets.
The condition of the Cataw issa Road from
ils commencement above Tamaqua, to its
termination at Mil on, Srlleve, unsurpassed
by any in the country. The road bed, from
it's long exposure, has become perfectly har.
dened, and the tunnels and all The structures
are of a subs aniial character. The bridges
have given orders 10 have decked and
paired, as recommended in the report ot
Maj Morell, and they are all under con,rac!,
one Of them being nearly completed. A
careful watchman is stationed al each bridge,
and every precaution used TO guard against
fire OF accident: The speed of the trains when
crossing the bridges, has Seen reduced 10
eight miles pei hour
T. McKiesoek, the former superintendent,
having resigned. have appointed his excel
len, and industrious assistant, H. A. Fonda,
to the principal charge Of the road, and havs
had every reason to be satisfied, since his
accession, with the promptpess and despatch
which have characterized his management.
The business Of the road is steadily and
largely inore asng, and promises TO continue
to do 80 through The winter.
Owing 10 the fact that the funds for the
cons,nciion Of this road had really never
been fally furnished, debt Of about two
hundred thousand dollars hung over the
CoDpans, which damaged It's credit and
much embarrassed lie economical working
| oe H. xo,de Throuoh tha -exetlions of lis