Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1856-06-05
The Resources of Pennsylvania "A Glance
at Elk County.


At the present, this county appears to be the
scene Of active improvement Great interest
has been manifested in this direction within the
past year, especially since the Sunbury and E
rie Railroad between this county and the lakes
has been placed under contract. From present
appearances, Il the reasons upon which the pub"
: lie conclusions are founded are true, and We
have no cause 10 doubt them. it is soon destined
to be one of the wealthiest and most important
lin the State, An immense amount Of capital
lis now being invested in this viciLity from onr
own city, and that of New York, Coal compa-
MES are being started to commence operations
Immediately upon completion Of the western
end of the railroad to Erie, which Is now un'
der contract, and large force al work. The
following are some of the reasons advanced up
on the subject
The western end of the Sunbury and Erie
connecting Elk Immediately with the great mar
ket of the Lakes, is now under contract, and
large force at work grading the road with all
rapidity Sufficient money has been raised to
complete this end. The Tyrone and Clearfeld
will also connect with the Sunbury and Erie at
St. Mary's, besides these. the Allegheny Val
lev will pass through in the course OF a few
years, and connect with the New York and +.
rie Railroad at Olesn. Rligway will also be
the terminus of the Venango, connecting with
the West, 1t is necessary to be fully aware Of
the terminus, of these roads, as vel as THAR
route, to understand the value Of the location.
Befoie entering upon the location we will
consider the mineral and agricultural wealth
ofthe country, which gives the land its value.
The principle part Of that county is underlaid
by three veins of bitumious coal The 6rst'
on an average. 81 feet thick; the second. Al;
and the third, from 6 to 8 feet. Above the
coal LAYS a strata Of the best limestone, and be-
tween each vein is vein of the richest iron ore.
Until within the past year or so, the land no'
being sufficiently explored, these important
facts were unknown. The soil IS fine agrl'
cultural soil. and said to be neither hilly nor
stony, with the exception of the portion known
as the barTens, upoA which no value is placed,
and which are generally in the hands OF reck'
less real estate agents, Who have done much to
iniure Western Pennsylvania by decrying all
other lands and imposing theirs upon their
victims. There is fine agricultural settlement
and the crops produced are large and gener'
ally sure.
Possessing these advantages, the develOpe-
ment depends, as before observed, upon the
rS lroads, but more especially upon the COM
pletion of the Western end of the Sunbury and
Erie, which it is believed, from sufficient reas-
ons, will be done within two years. 1t will
the possess the entire control Of the Lake mar
ket. We will give short extract. in consider
ing this subject from the POttsUMe Gag
ehe:-
"The great bituminOus formation OF the Al'
legheny, in running eastward, gradually ascends
until the measures finally run out in Potter
county. where no coal exists. Thus Elk is ~
bout the most sastermost county, if not the
last ore. in which beds of workable coal are
found. and in view Of this fact, the coal trade
will necessarily constitute one Of th' most prof;
itahle features Of the Sunbury and Erie, as wei
as that Of the northern end Of the Allegheny