Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-03-16
LETTER FROM HARRISBURG.


Chesapeake shad or Scotch herring
whereat some will sorrow, while others will re-
joice. The bill was brought up on Tuesday,
and l herewith send you all the proceedings
in the case, to the exclusion of much of my
usual gossip-my only apology being that the
subject is of vastly greater Importance to your
readers than to any body else.
When the bill was called up
Mr.Taylor offered the following amendment !:
strike ont all after the word .beginning,'' in
the first section, till the word ssthree,'' in the
eighth line, and insert the following:
ssAt point on the line of Indiana and JEFF
ferson counties, midway between the line of
Clearfieid county and the corner of Canoe and
North Mahoning townships, in Indiana coun-
ty, and running thence along the said line of
Indiana and Jefferson counties, to the corner
| of the townships of Canoe and North Mahon-
ing, in said county line, and to continue the
same course of the line between said town
ships of Canoe and North Mahoning.''
Mr.. Taylor said-There seems to be quite a
rage for the erection of new Counties at the
present session, well for the removal of
seats of justice. These new county projects
are. doubtless, sometimes meritorious; but
frequently they are not In my opinion. speak
Ing generally, counties should only be e.
rected where the public interests require their
erection. They should not be erected as they
sometimes are, merely to promote the person.
al aggrandi=ement of a few spectators in town
lots. Very frequently the formation of a small
county, is decided injury TO the people. 1t
mrltiplies courts and officers and increases
the burdens of taxation. Moreover sir there
Is another consideration of vastly more impor-
| tance than is sometimes supposed. That is
the feebieness OF small county, in.the coun-
ellis OF this great State. The county that has
| but one voice and one vote on this floor is
| certainly sufficiently powerless; but divide
your counties up into mere townships until IL
requires two or three counties to send sim
| gle representative here, and such counties
might almost as well be without a member in
this House.
The large and popuIous counties always
have, and do now, control legislation affecting
the interests of the whole people. Sir have
our great public Improvements, our railroads
and canals, always sought the shortest and
least expensive routes, the routes best calcula-
ted to develope the resources of our noble
State Certainly not. And why9 Because of
the controlling influence of the large and pop.
uious counties. The same is true in regard to
other matters of legislation affecting the in
terests of every citizen. Let the city of Phil
adelphia have seventeen able and experienced
representatives this floor, and let them act
IN concert, which, whether fortunately or uD-
fortunately, is not for me to say, they do not
appear to do at present; and who can estimate
the influence Philadelphia wonld exercise on
our legislation \ power, sir, far beyond
her mere numerical strength.
This Pine county project has been time and
again before the Legislature during the last
twelve years. and in a much less exceptiona-
ble shape than at present, and has been reject
ep by Legislatures OF every political complex
ion. Now. sir, permit me briefly to examine
its merits with the proposed boundaries 1t
is composed of parts of Clearffeld, Cambria
Indiana and Jefferson counties. Clearfeld is
the only incOnveniently large county of the
four,and contains about twelve hundred square
miles Cambria, in length, thirty-three miles
breadth nineteen miles six hundred and
seventy square miles-a mountainous county
and Ebensburg, the seat OF justice, is cen
trally situated. Indiana county, greatest
length, thirty three miles; breadth twenty
three miles; area seven hundred and seventy
square miles; symetrical in form the seat of
justice centrally located. Jefferson county
has heretofore been clipped down by Elk and
Forest counties to a small area Now, 1t will
be observed, that Ciearfield is the only incon-
veniently large county. Yet sir Pine coun-
~ clips the corners of these four counties ia
king less than two hundred square miles of her
territory, and still leaving i large portion OF
her people remote from her seat of Justice,
whilst Indiana county is asked to contribute
about one hundred and sixty square miles en-
bracing part of Pine, most of Green. ard all
Indiana county, at her northern extremity, a
bootleg about eleven miles in width. | can
not agree 10 any such mutilation of the noble
little county l represent. Look at the diagram
of Pine and the adjoining counties which L
here represent,and think, sir you will behold
a monster of such hiieous mein.
That, to be oPposed need but to be seen"
1t bears on its face the evidence that spec
ulations in town lots have more to do with
II of
people.
Now, sir, as to the amendment which / have
offered. Ii proposes to run straight line
from the point where Pine township intersects
the line of Green TO the Jefferson county line
giving Pine county part of Pine township,
more than half of Green, and half of MontgOm-
cry and Canoe townships: sufficient for three
convenient sized townships-an of about
ninety square miles. The lire which ! pro-
pose runs along the ridge, or table land, diyi
ding the eastern and western waters, and is a
natural boundary. More than this cannot a
gree to. l offer this amendment in sincerity
and good faith. Let the advocates of Pine
county, if they really desire to accommodate
the people remote from the seat of justice, ac-
cept this amendment, and extend the lines
somewhat into Clearfield county, and Pine
county shall receive my vote and my support.
L believe the people of Indiana, generally,
would be satisfied with the line | propose.
Besides, since the construction of the branch
of the Pennsylvania Railroad TO the borough
of Indiana, there is, perhaps, less necessity
than formerly for clipping Indiana county, be-
cause the business and trading interests of the
people of that portion of the county embraced !
in Pine county, will draw them to Indiana, de-
spite any county lines.
In conclusion, sir, allow me to say, that
have the honor to represent people, who, for
substantial thrift, intelligence, and unity of
sentiment and feeling, are not excelled by
thOSe OF any county in the C0mmonuealth II