The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-10-24
NEW SERIES.
The Mineral Resources of Pennsylvania.

NS~~~SS'
From the time of the first settlement of
our State by the European races its popu-
lation has exhibited an unusual development
of physical vigor and energy. The Swedes,
who first began the work of colonization,
were a hardy and robust people; next came
the English Quakers, whose leading char
acteristics were industry, rigid morality and
love of useful labor; and soon after fol-
lowed the Germans, an honest, persevering,
and athletic race, who for long period had
almost exclusive possession of larger por-
tions of our commonwealth.
We have always been regarded as SOL
id, substantial people; and the physical
character of the State has proved to be in
remarkable unison with the nature of those
who have chosen it for their dwelling place.
It's leading attraction at first was the rich
soil which so bountifully remunerated the
husbandman for his toll: but at a more re-
cent period it has been discovered that un-
told riches lie buried in the bowels of the
earth, and almost every year is bringing to
light new sources of wealth, not dreamed Of
by our early ancestors. Coal and iron in
inexhaustiblc quantities reward the indus
try Of those who engage in those depart
ments of labor in which these articles are
mainly used The anthracite in eastern
Pennsylvania, is peculiar to the region in
which it is found, and the bituminous coal
of the western part of the State is unsur-
passed by the carbonaceous product Of any
part of the world. Iron ore and limestone
pervade vast portions of the State; and
three such products as iron, coal, and lime,
would, Of themselves, be sufficient, under
favorable circumstances, to afford employ
ment, wealth and prosperity to vast, pop
ulation Of Industrious people; but within
few years it has been found that in certain
localities the earth contains immense guam
titles of oil, which is furnished so cheaply
that it has come into extensive use in our
own country, and is already an important
article of commerce. In addition to all this,
we find by an announcement, that, in bo
ring for oil, it has been discovered that SUBJ
terranean streams of water exist, so strong
ly impregnated with salt as to crystalizc
upon reaching the air, and thai the salt is
of superior quality. What more may be
produced hereafter it is not easy to tell, but
if there should be no more of the great sub
stantials which constitute the material ele-
ments upon which the comfort and happi-
ness of civilized people are based, we have
great. reason to rejoice and be thankful for
the blessings which bountiful Providence
has bestowed upon us.
There is probably no part of the carth's
surface, of equal extent, within which a
people may live with 80 little to depend up
on from other countries. What other ma
ton possesses at once an agricultural soil of
unsurpassed richness and variety, climate
the most agreeable and salubrious and which
produces the most desirable articles of food,
and materials for clothing, shelter, &C., and
inexhaustible quantities of coal, iron, lime,
oil and salt? Surely if any State in this
Union might presume to call itself an en-
pire, it is our substantial old Keystone. 1t
is probable that we may never find mines OF
cold, silver or diamonds in Pennsylvania,
but we have minerals of far more real worth,
and as yet our ground has been but slight
ly explored. In addition to the articles OF
which we have spoken, we know that there
exists, to some extent, lead, zinc and nickel,
and future explorations may develop many
things of which we little dream at this time.
A few years ago while travelling over the
Bloomingsdale and Lackawanna railroad, as
we were passing through the valley of Wy
oming and looking over its magnificent see
merry, friend remarked that he did not WON
der that the red men of the forest fought
desperately for such home.
Pennsylvania has many scenes which
might elicit similar remark and if any
thing like the same feeling of patriotism
which inspired the savage warriors, while
struggling for their native grounds, now
glows in the bosoms of the more enlghten-
ed people who possess this favored land they
will not continue to live in ''lazy ease" while
rebellious invaders are approaching our bor-
ders. If ever people had a country worth
fighting for, or dying in defense of, surely
Pennsylvania should feel that they have
such land, and knowing its worth, they
should adopt corresponding means to pro-
feet it from invasion.
THE TAX ON CoNGREssMEN.- hand