The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-08-23
knr TIE patier .Iournnl.
letter GTOlE2 ST. Lawrence
Comfy. Y, Y.

Mr.. EDITOR: | have been travelling
and soiourning, for some weeks past, in
the county above named, and deeming
that communication from distance
may not be altogether unacceptable to
the readers Of your paper. l write.
The surface Of this region presents q
very different appearance from that of
Potter county in several respects. | al
lude now particularly to the northwestern
part of ST. l.. County, consisting of a
broad strip, 20 or more miles in width,
along the st. Lawrence river, and Of a
length sufficient to make it quite equal
in extent to the whole Of Potter This
strip or belt of land may be described as
a vast plateau, STUDDED with numerous
bluffs aud slight elevations, but contain
ing 10 high hills, or such as would be
called high in Allegauy county, n. Y, or
even ia Potter.
An other feature of this region that is
greatly different from what obtains in
Potter county, Is the great number Of
swdmps, soue Of which are many acres in
extent. When properly drained aud
the most Of them would De, though pro-
badly the majority Of them are nct,-
they become exceedingly productive
The St. Lawrence river bounds the
county on the northwest, separating it
from the Queens doninions in Canada
West. The rivers which course Through
the county, take their rise in the high
lands, far back from the bic river, up in
or beyond what is here called The South
Woods" On reaching the plateau, these
rivers meauder about in well nigh the
most crooked crosses imaeinable but
most or all Of them, on nearing The ST.
Lawrence, proceed for some miles nearly
parallel with it. The whole country here
Is undcrIaid with rock and each river,
as also each smaller stream, instead of
hurrying along on an inclined plane,
crecps slowly along ca nearly or quite a
dead level, until it comes to ledge of
rocks, down which it plungos in either a
cascade CT a series Of cascades, stair-
case rapid or series OF such rapids, be-
low which the stream creeps on as before.
Of course, here are many Of the best and
most convenient water powers in the
world
The rock which undcrlies this county
is part of it limestone, and part Of it some
other kind Of rock. (The geological
name of niuch,of this last, | believe, is
gaei&S.) At certain distance from the
St. Lawrence river there are rocky ridges,
of various sizes, piled up on top of the
rocky floor of the country; and among
these are some as beautiful and fertile
.t'atS as are likely to be found any where.
In fine, the half Of ST. Lawrence county
next to the St. Lawrence river, is ex
ceedlngiy we'll adapted to grazing and
grain growing purposes. Concerning the
other half, am not qualified to speak.
But make this article mainly for the
purpose Of saying-what YOU Yourself are
probably we'll aware of-tLat st. Law
renee is strong Republican county
The Lincoln men here profess themselves
entirely certain that they shall roll up
tremendous majority for him this fall;
and | am the more inclined to think that
they will, from the fact that they seem
willing and determined to work for it
There seems but one thing in the way Of
their doing up this thing il the most
thorough manner; and that is, there are
too many grolgerteS goipg here yet.
though there are fewer here than in some
parts.
The Board of Excise here, as WI as
in most other places. seem to be laborine
under the delu,ion that they must grant
s~ne licences to sell Intoxicating drinks.
But if any, why stint the number? If
drinking houses are beneficial TO the CON-
munity, why not let them be multiplied
II they are Of evil tendency, why tolerate
them at ali
In several instances when / have beer
asked how Potter county stands in politi-
cal matters, | have answered eyasiyely,
and, after little, have said that we have
not had licensed drinking house in the
county for several years. The reply in
such case has always been substantially
this: /: can guess, then, how you 90 in
politics" And the. guesscrs SO guessing
have invariably guessed right.
Aug. l, 1860 J.L.
The excitement in Texas in relation
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