Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-01-20
Resources of the susquehanna Valley

Among the great but much neglected re-
sources If the SuSquehanna Valley, are the
coal fields of Towanda Situated at a point
less than twenty miles from the Southern line
of New York inexhaustihe in quantity and for
many and important uses, unsurpassed in quality
this coal has nevertheless, till within three or
four years past, lain neglected in the hills, and
unknown even to the great mass of those who
might have profited by it,
The formation of companies for its develop
nent and the construction of the North Branch
and Junction canals, and of n railroad connect
ing the coal with these works, have attracted
the attention Of the scientific aud the practical
10 these formations-and it now only needs
the return of business prosperity, and the i'm
provement of the Chemung and completion Of
Chenango canals, 10 give to the coal pr0duc
tiOn OF TOwanda rank scarcely surpassed by
any bituminous coal mines in Pennsylvania, or
the country The quality of this coal com
mends it particularly for mechanical purposes
For blacksmithing it is unsurpassed, because
it is the priest and freeSt from sulphur of any
coal that is known The same circumstance
renders it very valuable for generating steam
and it is believed, that for locomotive steam
boilers, no coal will be found to surpasS it.
Being of bitumnous or semi bituminous
character, its best market would be North and
Elst, where it would not soon meet other coal
Of like quality, except such as must be brought
from greater distances In this point of view
it is that its existence is strong fact in favor
Of the completion of the Chenango canal to
the North Branch canal at the State line II
is believed that the tonnage which would be
thrown upon the Chenango canal from this
source alone, would so far to justify its COM
pIetion
There has yet been no opportunity to form
an accurate opinion what amount of coal wouId
under favorable circumstances, be shipped from
these mines The North Branch and Junction
canals were brought into use in 1851, but this
navigation was so interrupted by floods and
breaks. that there was not more than about
thirty days of uninterrupted navigation
During that time, over six thousand tons were
shipped and sold in the State of New York =
We have not vet the returns of the business of
the past seas IN, but even that will afford no
criterion of what is to he expected hereafter
The depressed state OF business in general and
of the coal business in particular, and the fire.
quent interruptions arising from defects in the
canals, which are yet new and subject to ac
cidentS, the delays and expense of tranship-
ments arising from the size of the locks on the
Chemung canal, and especially the want of the
connection with the Chenango canal, have been
serious obstacles in the way. The North
Branch and Junction canals, under their pre-
sent efficieEt management, may be relied upon
hereafter and with the New York canals com
pleted so as to connect with them by the Che
mango and Chemnng canals, the coal of
Towanda, as well as that of other fields of
Pennsylvania, would fnd its way to all parts
Of our State, adding largely to the tonnage of
the canals. and contributing greatly to the
business prosperity and comfort of the people
u Now lerk - O,ce1o (satN,e