The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-06-04
Letter from st. Marys, Elk Co. Pa.

RELATIVE TO THE RiDGwAY CoMPANY's LAND.
Some time ago in the Philadelphia Public
Ledger the following common sense letter
was published upon the above subject; En-
igration to this place is now becoming active
all over the State, and there are many who
would like to know something about it, The
following lcttor is written in plain manner,
evidently being from plain man, yet to
many it makes it only the more satisfactory.
MEssRs. Observation-Disclosures Allow me-
among many others who have addressed you
from this place, through the medium of your
paper, to give the public some information.
1t i, given by me in good faith, and nothing
can be found therein that cannot be lnly re-
lied upon. The motives | have in writing
this letter, are first, know that many per-
sons living in large cities labor hard and live
very economical and yot at the end of the
year they are whore they commenced, and
not a cent better OFT Every change has an
influence upon them, and when n dear and
hard time sets in, they are thrown out of en-
ployment, and their wives and children have
to suffer. Their living is expensive, rents
high, fuel more than dear whilst their wages
are small, and as small AS they are, they are
often unable to obtain work. Now see the
contrast in this country. Rents are almost
nothing living is cheap, work plenty, fuel
costs nothing but the cutting, and if you do
not feel disposed to cut your wood, YOU can
take your grubbingho hoe and dig coal. Again
secondly, if you are man of family. your
children in a country like this, are not ex-
posed to the thousand snares that are thrown
in their way in the city. We may walk in
our streets from week to week and will
scarcely hear a rofane word, and we will
meet with none ofthc drunkenness, tcmpta-
lions and rowdyism, You have in your large
cities
81 l., . Il. l..
and girls every one have their engagements
when they return home. so that the ppor-
tunities thrown in their way to associate
with the profine wicked and bad, are COM
plctcly cut Off Again, thirdly, i know many
persons in your cities, who have spent their
youth and manhood and aftri arriving AT old
age, are compelled to be renters and in case
orNuldcn death, the only prospect of their
families is the almshouSo or dependence up
on strangers. How differently here Every
man has his own home. IL a mechanic, he
raises enough potatoes, vegetables and corn
to keep hun, and the time thus spent is
scarcely missed and is more pleasure than
| otherwise. And let your habtatiOn be ever
| 20 humble, II is still home +; and there is
| more real happiness and security in Your
! own home than in the finest house with rent
! day before Won. | speak Of these things I'M
! der,tanlmgly, A. myslt was mechanic in
Phlladclrli1. where have many acqnaln-
/ tauccS AMI though worked hard aud stint
/ Cd myself cnull Just keep my head above
/ water, a, is usually said, by the skin Of my
! teeth | came "a This place four years ago.
have succeeded IN building a snug house,
have plenty To de-, plenty to eat, plenty to
wear, and am cuntrnted and happy. Moth
ing would mducr me to return again to the
eXcitomcuJs an dangers Of the city. have
been induced Ia write these lines because
/ believe that a fair presentation upon the
subject may bcuctit huEGrcds, and may lead
, many 10 come aud see for themselves
rno land here is fertile and a good lime
stone soil, and well adapted for raising al
the grains. For grazing or stock country
/ nothing better can be wanted. Almost eV-
cry mechanic keeps his own cow, which Feeds
through the Summer months IN the woods,
/ which make first rate pasture
As for coal, | have never seen place
more abunAantly supplied. fou can mud 1t
. everywhere. | know Of six or eight coal
mines opened in the vicinity of the borough,
and even some in the limits of the borough ;
| believe the whole tract TO he underlaid
with coal. would recommend miners and