The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-02-21
Coma Drla County
CHAPTER XXxIf.
sonnssown-Conainued.


have not the census table of 1860 be-
fore me, but believe the whole population
of Johnstown and hersurroundings to be
some ,500,-enough certainly to entitle
her to a city charter. Of this | would es-
innate the population of Johnstown proper
at $500, Conemaugh borough at 200,
Kernville at GOO, Cambria City at 1000,
Millvillc at 500, the remaining portion OF
the population being in the precincts.
The Pennsylvania Germans originally
preponderated in Johnstown but now
the inhabitants are as heterogeneous a
mass as can be found in any town of like
population in the country. Foreign Ger
mans compose large portion Of the town
are to be found in every part'of it, and
are engaged III every branch of business
carried on within its limits. Natives Of
Ireland compose large proportion of the
inhabitants of Conemaugh borough, Cam
bria City and Millville, while many are
found in JohnstOwn proper. a large
number Of Welsh, chiefly engaged in or
about the Rolling Mill, inhabit the lower
part of Johnstown, Millville and Cambria
City.
The greater portion Of the officers and
artizans connected with the Rolling Mill
are Americans by birth, who reside in
Millyille and that part of Johnstown
which is'nearest to their place of employ
ment.
The general rule in regard to the in
crease of cities and towns is, that they
spread or increase vp the stredm. This
rule has been exempliied in the history
of almost every city. In Johnstown, ow-
ing to local causes, this rule of population
has been reversed.
L have stated that Johnstown, being the
point of intersection Of the Pennsylvania
Canal and Allegheny Portage Railroad,
received great impetus when the Main
Line was completed The transhipment
Of goods from the cars to the boats, and
Uice ve,sa, gave employment to many hands,
depot buildings sprung up, each transpor-
tation line had its warehouse, and rapid
increase in population in the upper part
cf Johnstown was the natural consequence.
This impulse was soon checked, howev-
er, by the improvements of "Agitator,"
John Doug gherty, who obviated the neccs-
sity of unloading and reloading, by his
Portable Car Body Boat system This
system avoided all transhipments. \ rail
road car, filled with merchandise at Phil
adelphia, on arriving at Columbia, was
hoisted from its body by tackle into
canal boat adapted to the purpose, which,
filled with these cars, proceeded to Holli-
daysburg, where, by the same means, they
were placed on car bodies; and again re-
moved at Johnstown in the same manner
INTO boat for Pittsburg.
But this was not enough for the Agita-
tor. He had succeeded in running cars
on the canal-he must needs run boats on
the Railroad. Accordingly, his famous
section boats were his nextinvention. This
was to construct a boat in three or four
sections, each section water-tight and per-
feet in itself BY the use of trucks on the
Railroad, this system was rendered perfect.
Thus, the three or four sections composing
one OF these boats, placed on as many
trucks, arriving at Johnstown from the
East, We're lifted from their trucks by
tackle, secured together by clasps, and
thus assuming the shape and appearance
OF single boat, proceeded onwards to its
destination.
need scarcely state that these innova-
tlons IN the carrying business were iniuri-
Gus to the prosperity of this portion of
Johnstown but still more severe stroke
awaited her. This was the total abandon.
ment of the Old Portage, causui by the
increased facilities afforded by the Penn.
sylvania Railroad, and the construction Of
the Neso Portage.
This gave Conemaugh borough back
set from which she has never entirely re-
covered. The depot buildings have been
demolished; the warehouses have rone 70
wreck and thnca