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


Of the surface Of the Counties sbo AIMED has ever
been plowed, and lees than half of IS ever will be-
What soil there is above the fixed rock is so filed
with granite bouders Of s sizes that it can never Dc
proitsbly cultivated. Some portions OF the Della
ware Susquehsnna and their larger tributaries wind
through valleys Of rich mellow soil, Of which ths
famous Valley of Wyoming, in which are Wilkes
barre, Kingston, Pittston aud some other thriving
borougts or villages, s by far the most consider
able. At Milford in Pike County, and at Strouds-
burgh, in Monroe, the Delaware has narrow selv-
age Of generally good Iterale; bat at least three
fourths Of the supsrces Of these Counties are ee-
ystd from one TO two thousand feet aboEe the sea
level often broken by deep ravnes into lofty rug
ged hills or low mountains, and thinly, uneyeEly
covered with great variety Of trees and shrubbery.
Pine was once the monarch Of these wind-sweps
hils; but it has been hunted nearly to extermin,-
tier, Ike the deer WHO formerly reposed benesth
its shade. Agriculture in this mountain region is
still in its lowest and rudest estate being mainly
confined to scanty patch Of vegetables beside
each cabin with (sometimes) sorry half acre or
so of moving" behind it. TIE hay cut here must
subsist the squalters poor COW through the Win
ter for the rest of the year. she has free pasturage
over wide range Of gorge and mountain, where
the exercise Of foragng is 30 out Of proportion to
the amount of feed obtained that govt is impossible
These hills are cold and gusty, but the air that
sweeps over them, the water that courses down
their Sides are so pure and healthy, that epdemics
are unknown, aud the inhabitants have to drink
more than their fair thsrc Of yiainous bad whisky
in order to get chance to die at any reasonable
age. Indeed, if this were not capital country to
emigrate from, it would soon become oyerPeopled
by reason of its extreme salubrity. To cabbage fine
tree in some unOccupied tract Of wilderness, work
it into shingles, cart these down to New-Jersey or
some village on the Delaware, aud trade them of
for grain or groceries, may possibly pay the digent
operator fifty cents per day; but then be realizes
his earnings every week, instead Of having to wait
the slow growth of a crop; and he lie never in dan
ger of dying and leaving over fifty dollars worth
of his estate to be enjoyed by those who sur
vye him. II is great country, that mountain
district of Eastern Pennsylvania, and in its pro-
portion of whisky jugs and Pro-slayery Democrats
TO spelling books and meat-barrels can bea. any
other section OF the Free STATES
1t will not always be thus. Gradually, more
Industrious energetic, thrifty class Of settlers is
working in at the lees sterile and more inviting
locations and drawing others after them; tanneres
are being set up at points where hemlock is abun-
dsnt; and, ere many more years have elapsed,
Sheep Husbandry will come in TO possess aud
transform the entire region. These wild lands are
held at 81 to 80 per acre; they are more easily
cleared and fenced with wood or stone than any
other on the continent; a good coat of Gypsum
and liberal seeding 10 Clover and other suitable
Grasses will prepare them for Sheep and, under
proper husbandry, they will grow better and better
pasture to the end of time. With both New-York
and Philadelphia at hand for markets and railroads
skirting or piercing them on every eide, these
mountains are destined to produce finer Mutton
than has yet been eaten in America to enrich
the producers and to become covered with spacious
barns and substantial, comfortable dwellings;
while their lakes and streams will attract sports
men from the cities and their bracing breezes and
magnificent prospects reward the visits of ever
increasing thousands of Summer tourists. Even
now, the Lackawanrs Railroad, passing through the
Delaware Water Gap and over Pocono Mountain,
to Scranton and Great Bend, affords some OF the
grsndest and most inspiring prospects to be seen IN
the Atlantic States
Behind this rocky barrier, however-in the val
leys of the Susquehanna the Lebigh and the Schuy.
kill-spread, far different region; one diversified
indeed, by hills and low mountains, but filled with
broad aud fruitful wales also-a region whose
ridges are in good part of Limestone, while Its bill
locks are rich in Iron and its valleys uDdersid with
Coal-a region of mines, Of furnaces reproduction,
of thrift-a region which has been vocal with the
hum Of prosperous industry and so shall be again.
We looked through considerable section of
Eastern Pennsylvania last week, and were gratihed
to find its bushes, recovering from the long night
mare of paralysis following the Revulslon OF 1897.
Everywhere, furnaces long out Of blast are being
refitted and blown in; Iron, long piled up to await
a purchaser is moving of to assured markets; Coal
and Ores are in increaseddenHnd, giving ready en-
ployment to Labor and the prospect for busy sea-
son is excellent. We shall be disappointed II Penn
.ylyanis does not mine and sell twenty per cent
more Coal in 1859 than in any former year.
And, while Scranton and the L,ckawanna region
are looking well, we think the valley Of the Lehigh.
s whole, is looking better. This little valley
hardly larger than good.sized county, boasts OF
having during recent year, made one eighth oil all
the Iron produced in the country. This may DC
exaggerated; but there can be no doubt that the
Iron. Coal and Lime are so grouped as to rem
der the making of Pig Iron here at low price