Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-07-11


900 was granted this movement met will
most bitter minority opposition: but
since the road is finished, all grumbline
has ceased, and the road is the pride o.
the county. was talking with German
farmer, once citizen of Mif1inburg,i in re-
gard to this improvement. He said that
be once opposed railroads, and especially
county and other public subscriptions, as
much as any one but he began to open
bis eyes to the utility of such improve.
ments, and when this railroad matter was
brought up, he did all in his power for it,
and is now glad Of it; he said taxes were
pretty high, but that was no matter at all
the increased prices he now receives for
his produce, more than makes up for all
the taxes that can be levied.
lind there is considerable dissatisfaction
in regard to extravaganza Of the county
fathers in erecting such an extensive and
costly Court House, at the expense of the
taxpayers. The Court House and public
Offices are to cost, have been informed,
$3.50, ,000-just as much as the county
subscription to the Ralroad-thus making
an extra tax on the county Of quarter of
a million dollars mostly for mere show in
Chillicothe. Had that all, or most of it
been invested in Railroad stock, Il presume
but little would have been said but as
nearly one half is an unproductive outlay,
they complain considerably. True a new
Court House was much needed, but they
did not need to build house extensive
enough for State Capitol merely for
county purposes. There have been over
hundred workmen engaged upon it, for
more :han year, and now they have got
it to the second aoor; it will not be finish.
ed in less than two years.
Many of your readers are aware that
Chillicothe was visited with a very destruc.
tive fire, on the first of April, 1858, (if l
remember right) which destroyed heariy
half of the best portion Of the beautiful
little city. This conaagration, notwith-
standing it destroyed such q vast amount
of property, has been of positive advantage
to the place. New buildings have sprung
up, ...3 ..-.;... - - ~, si.r- .-;... ~s
the old ones. which far surpass in beauty
and size those that covered before the ra-
ging flames. But, I must say,the citizens
are not all very fast in rebuilding some
of the very best and most profitable loca-
tions are yet lying in heap of blackened
materials. Had that devastation taken
place in Lewisburg, it would all have been
built up again, paid for, and ready for
another tussel with the flames (but you
cannot expect that everybody has had the
advantage Of Lewisburg experience and
education y The imported Roman Cath
olics play the mischief with this city, as
they do any other place where they gain
the asceudency. The city contains proba.
bly, nine thousand inhabitants, and the
Roman Catholics have three very large
houses Of worship, a nuunery, and several
minor institutions.
An extensive establishment for the man.
ufacture of starch, soap, candles, and high
wine, has recently been erected in the city.
(Some may not know what "high wine"
is; it is liquor that is nearly as strong
as alcohol, and is made into alcohol by
going through some other process.) The
machinery is driven by three small and one
large engines; employs $50 hands con-
sumes 1000 bushels Of corn per day, and
when the extension is completed which is
now going on, it will consume. 5000 BUSH
els per day; and makes 1900 to 1900
boxes of starch per week. The soap works
are very extensive it is boiled in several
vats, which are capable of containing Co.,
600 pounds each. The chandlery is for
the manufacture Of mould candles, and
l440 can be made in one set of moulds.
The establishment feeds about 5000 as
fine hogs as ever saw together; these
hogs are kept in l2O pens, the floors about
six feet from the ground, having trenches
about two feet wide through which clear
water is constantly ripping, keeping the
pens as clean as it is possible for hog pens
to be kept.
JUNE 80, 1856.
In 1889, when the writer was just big
enough to know what tramping meant, be
started with his friends from Buffaloe Val
ley, and after eighteen days of tedious
wagouing, over rivers and mountains, hills
aud hollows, arrived safely in Pickaway
county, twelve miles from Chillicothe. At
that time, Ohio was considered the west
the far west-very near to sundown and
when any one left Buffaloe for this region,
they bade farewell to their friends, as tho
they we're going to the furthest corner of
the earth, aud cherished no hope Of ever
seeing them again in Peuusylvania. Goods
were packed, and provisions prepared weeks
before the exodus took place. But now,