Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-12-22
For the .Raftsman's Journal"
PINE COUNTY

ZINE COuNT1.
For number of years past the inhabitants
Of the Southwestern portion of ClearfieId
and parts of the adjoining counties of Cam
bria, Indiana and Jefferson, have been exert
ing themselves to procure the formation of a
new county TO be called Pine. Active pepa-
rations are now being made by the friends of
the project TO have it brought before the Le-
gisature during the approaching session, and,
Judging from the number of influential men
engaged in it, as well as the determination
manifested to press the matter to a conclu-
sion, their efforts bid fair, at last, TO be crown
ed with success. That such result will meet
the appreciation of every right thinking and
unselfish citizen of either of the counties in
terested, can scarcely be doubted.
BY the lines, as they are proposed to be run,
the new county will embrace the townships of
Burnside, Chest, part of Ferguson, nearly all
of Bell, and a small part of Beccaria, in Clear
field; the townships of Canoe, Montgomery,
and part of Green, in Indiana part of GaskilI
in Jefferson and Susquehanna, Chest and a
small part of Carroll, in Cambria. This will
give it an area of about four hundred and
twenty square miles, and population, (taking
the census of 1850, as guide,) of about eight
thousand. There is scarcely an acre of the
soil, throughout the whole extent of these
boundaries, that is not susceptible of cultiva-
tion, and it contains, in addition to the large
quantity of excellent timber, immense beds of
coal, as we'll as iron ore, limestone, and Ire
brick clay. The necessary deyelopement of
thes iob r.
nation of county, viii make it one of the
most thriving and prosperous of those forming
the Allegheny tier.
While the people of this region are thus
possessed of all the requisites of wealthy
county within themselves, the majority of
them are compelled TO travel more than thirty
miles, over the most wretched roads, to reach
their respective Courts of Justice. Their
lands, TO great extent, lie idle and undevel-
oped, whereas the formation of county would
enhance their value and draw out their pro-
ducts. That they should be relieved from
these difficulties. and be permitted to enjoy
the benefits to which their neighbors are en-
titled, is their prayer-a prayer that should
meet response in that mate sense of justice
which swells the bosom of every upright cit
izen.
Under the recent amendment to the Consti-
tuition it will be necessary to submit the ques-
tion TO a vote of the citizens of Clearfield as
more than oDe-tenth of their population is en-
braced in the proposed boundaries. That a
majority of them will vote in favor of the erec-
tlon of the county, is generally conceded.
The principal business men of the borough of
Clearfield are active supporters of it, and as it
leaves US over thousand square miles of ter
ritory, and over thirteen thousand population,
it is scarcely to be presumed that it will meet
with serious objection from any considerable
number of the citizens OF other parts of the
county. Nearly all are convinced that the
people asking it are entitled TO new county,
and they are willing they should have it.
Those who may oppose it. (and there are al
ways some,) are only the few who have a d.
rect pecuniary interest in preventing its for
nation.
Should Pine county be formed, it will at
once receive an accession of population from
the surrounding counties, which, together with
the concentration of the means of the people
within smaller limits, will give an impetus to
every kind of business, develope the resour-
ces, open the roads, clear the land, increase
the value of property, and promote improve
ments of every description. 1t would start on
its career with as many thousands of popula-
tion as Clearfield had hundreds, for as late as
1910, we had only eight hundred and seventy
five, In very few years it would rival its
neighbors, and take its stand among the very
first of those that compose the fifth class, or
the bituminous mountain counties.
1t is not the design of this brief article to
present or elaborate the arguments for the G.
rection of Pine county, Gas it woud require
more time than the writer can now devote to
the subject.) but simply to bring the matter to
the attention of those interested IN the move
ment, and urge upon them the necessity of ac-
tive ezeftion. There can be no doubt, if the
claims of the people of the proposed county
are properly presented TO the Legislature du-
ring the coming session, their prayer will be
granted. If the project is not successful this
winter, it will be owing to the apathy of its
proiessed friends. Let there be activity and
combined effort, and Pine county is ga fixed
fact.'' u.D.s.
THE PRESIDENT RELESTs.-Forney writes
from Washington that the President has given