New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-02-22

manual labor BY machinery and steam has beeu ear
Sed in our day should spend few hours in watch
ing the automatic processes constantly in use within
and around modern furnace.
Eastern Pennsylvania is becoming admirably
sridironed with Railroads. The Lscka wanna, in it,
passage of the Pocono, is trophy Of tue suiAcity
/ Of modern engineering. From Mauch Chunk,
near the head Of the Lehigh, 8 train starts early
each morning, running through Allentown, Easton,
&c, and landing lis passengers in our City before
noon in season to return 70 Msuch Chusk the
ssme evening. At Bethlehem, IL miles above
Easton, the North Pennsylvania intersects the
above aud takes passengers direct to PhlladePhls,
which IL some miles nearer than New-fork.
Another road to Philadelphia branches at Easton
Two months hence, it is expected tina! the Lehish
Valley Road viii be carried through to Reading,
snd thus over the Lebanon Valley Road to Harris
burg, forming a much director route from our City
to Pittsburgh and its vicinity than we now have.
They cay thIs Will also be the shortest route be-
tween New York and Chicago (by way of the Fort
Wayne) ard that trains will soon be running through
on it from New ork TO Bsltimore-saying the dis
agreeable ferrisee Of the Delaware and Susque-
hanna, aud rendering the ride TO Washington, es-
peciaJ by night, far more agreeable than it nov
is. Reading, Harrisburg and the villages of the
Susqnehanna valley, Will then be as well ac Iusntei
with New-YoIk as they now are with Philadelphia.
But, one Of the most gratifying trophies of mod
ern enterprise is short Railroad run from the
Crane and Thomas Iron. works at Cstssauqus to
Foglesville, in the same Lehigh) County, solely to
facilitate the transportation Of Ore. This road is
some ten miles long, and crosses the valley of the
ordsn Creek by iron bridge ninety feet high, and
some three to four thousand feet in length. Even
its piers are of iron rods resting on atone founda-
tons. 1t looks like dark but delicate SPIDERS
web suspended in the air, and train passing over
it seems to be soaring on the wings Of faith. Yet
the bridge neither shakes nor is depressed; even
the extra weights by which it was tested when fin
ished did not cause it to give an inch. This bridge
cost 81 coo; the whole road S300,OCO; all to
bring ore ten miles TO two iron-works on the banks
Of the Lehgh Canal aud River, where Coal and
Limestone are most EARLY brought together. Such
enterprise is common in Great Britain, and must
become so here, il we ever to produce our own
Metals and Fabrics, with the greatest economy.
But Iron and Coal are not the only mineral pro-
ducts Of this valley. AT Bethlehem, two compi-
MES are making Zinc from ore obtained three
miles thence One of them makes the white pow
der or oxide extensively used for white paint;
while the other, under the direction of Dir. s.
WetherelI, has just commenced the production Of
metallic zinc, by original processes patented by
Mr. W., who expects soon to be turning out two
tuns of metal per dsy at satisfactory profit.
Hitherto our country has bought millions worth Of
metallic Zinc and produced none; if Mr.. Wether-
ellis success should equal hi, expectations, other
zinc works will be diverted from the production Of
oxide to that OF metal to the great benefit Of the
trade ard of the country. The metal already pro-
duced here seems of excellent quality, and Mr..
VS. long familiarity with the Zinc manufacture
justify hopes OF his entire success.
Should the policy of the Federal Government be
speedily brought into harmony with the interests
Of the country, the Development and productive
ness of Eastern Pennsylvania are yet in their in
fancy. We ardently hope this may prove the case,
because her well being is profoundly identified with
the prosperity, growth and true independence of
the Republic. II. q.