The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-09-29
Communications,
Correspondence Of the Philadelphia Press.
Thc Country Along the Sunbury
and Erie Railroad.
.deipkia Press.
FREELASp, Pa, August 20, 1859.

1t is well knoyn that the Sunbury and
Erie Rairoad-emphatically one Of the
greatcst improvements in our State, pro-
1ccted some years ago by Pennsylvania
seuterpssse, and lately revived by the wise
policy of Df our Legislature, and the eff
luient management of Gov. Packer in ais
posing of tue Public Works 20 aid in its
,coupletionztrayerses our State from
southeast to northwest, thus connecting
philadelphia with the West and North
west at Erie, not only opening channel
for the rich products of the West, and
enabling Philadelphia to compete success
fully with New York in the enormops
trade constantly pouring In from the
lakes, but also affording an ingress to the
almost inpenetrabIe forests and ipexhaue-
tible supplies Of coal and iron ore of the
northwestern interior Of Pennsylvania. A
true Pennsylvania, devoted to the best
intrests of his State, cannot but rejoice at
the prospect of the speedy completion of
this magnificent improvement. But eigh-
~ miles, the distance between the mouth
of the Driftwood and Warren, remain un-
graded; even on this part of the road con-
siderable work is aleady done. The
whole road from Sunbury TO Erie is ex-
pectcd to be finished and in running or
der by the first Of January, 1861, Pres
ident' oIorchead, and the rest with him
entrusted with the management and
building of this road, availing themselves
Of fortuitous circumstances, (induecd by
the exiscncies of the times, the low pri-
ees of labor, &C., ) are saving thousands of
dollars to the. company, and will enable
it to vic most successfully with the older
lines and thus insure at once to the share
holders profitable investment
must not omit to notice in this con-
nection some Of the important points or
places along the line of the railroad
Amoug the chief are Williamsport, in
Lycoming county and Lock Haven in
Clinton, both towns already boasting sew
sral thousand inhabitants each, and grow
ing rapidly. The hotels in these towns
.compaIe favorably with the best kept
houses in much larger places.-Morc obi
gng hosts than Doebler, of the United
States Hotel, at the former place, and
White of the latter, it was never my good
luck to meet.-But for falling in, at this
latter place, with pale, thin-faced and
smosthly -combed, but unprincipled liv-
Ary stable man, (whose name will be spar
ed this time) who extorted V from us
-
tp charging, everything pleased me to a
charm.
The railroad is completed and in run
ming order as far as Lock Haven, on the
eastern end, and soon will be as far as
Warren, on the western.-Thc country
intermediate are portions of Potter, Nc
KeaE and Elk counties all teeming in
the rich abundance Of timber and mine.
raj wealth. Space forbids. me to give a
fpll and minute description of this hith-
.erto alncst unexplored portion of Penn
sylvansa Suffice it to say that the al
most fabulous trees of California and Cen
trsl America cannot..far surpass, in size
or quality, the white pine, hemlock, and
4ther species of timber growing on the
waters of the Sinnemahoning nor, in
deed can the rich loan ard alluvial bot
.tcm of the Mississippi valley anywhere
exceed the table land, yet forested, in
.sAe vicinity of Shippen, for richness and
Fertility. And certain it IS that, with the
advantages of geographical position
{there being means of access to either
New York or Philadelphia, and only
twelve hours distant,) the saluhrity of
the air, the healthfulness of the climate,
she plentiful supply of pure and tFanspa-
rent running water, even far-tamed Kan
.sas, with all its enchanting claims for i'm
migration offers no inducements superior
TO this part of our,own State just open
ing. To men desiring to embark in the
Business of numbering, especially, is this
Just the place. The present exceeding
cleapness of timbered lands considering,
especially, the great abundance of white
pine on them of the very finest quality
the constant demand everywhere for, and
the growing scarcity of pine lumber in
many places !; the facilities of trausporta-
4ei1-bcing on the railroad, and ip direct
communication With the great CONNER
cial centres of our country-all these
cannot fail to invite capital and e1ter-
prise thither, soon to be bouutifally re-
Fsrled.
a glance at the position of the town
Of Shippep on the line of the Sunbury
and Erie Railroad, shows that Nature
has made aud Intended it as the centre
Of very considerable district Of country
and as the emporium" of the imnense-
" valuable products destined sQon to poAr
in through the valleys of Vest Greek,
North Greek and Portage Greek, drain-
ing very considerable portions of Potter
and McKesp counties. and all concen-
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