The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1864-11-19
COMMUNICATION.

Mn. EDITOR -
am clad 10 notice
that the spirit ofimprovement has nov
reached your county. 1t ts not to he
wondered at, that the isolated condition
of Elk, 30 long deprived of Rail Road
communication With the business world
should heretofore have prevented her
natural resources being developed. Now,
sihce the great out let to the lakes, AMI
the Eastern seahoard by the completion
of the Philadelphia and Erie road,
strangers are enabled to notice the great
advantages which this county possesses
over many Of the other Northern aud
western counties of our state. which has
heretofore attracted the Capital ami en-.
terprise of SO many business mcn from
New York, Boston Philadelphia aud
other Of our lu1e cities.
On a visit here only one year since,
I was amazed to notice that your hardy
settlers we're still rcsortjng 70 the prini
tive mode Of clearing their lands by
grdliny their trees, for the pu pose of
destroying the timber in the easiest
manner. and this too in the Immediate
vicinity of the Rail Road thea in course
OF construction, was soon destined to give
an avenue to both an Eastern and Yves.
tern market tor this valuable staple ar
ticle
With your broad aud heavily wooded
tracts, your large veins of Ritunipous
and Camel Coal, iron Ore and other
minerals, this county is probably de>tn.
to become the most wealthy of any in
our state. A new Era has dawned upnn
you, and unless your own citizens avail
themselves of the large profits which are
so temptingly offered from the immense
forests, covered with the choicest lum.
Der and the vast quantities Of your hid
den mineral treasures, foreign enterprise
will soon snatch the golden prof is from
them. Capital from abroad has already
been attracted here. Three separate
coal companies are now established in
St, Mary's and Ridgway. One the St.
Msry's Co., is already in successful oper-
alton, mining and shipping one hundred
tons daily, at largely remunerative pri.
ces, second, the Shawmut coal Co., from
Boston has finished branch connecting
with the Philadelphia and Erie road
near Ri Ridgway-third the Doguscnhonda
"a New York Co,) is now grading q
branch road s;x miles in length to its
point of operations and expect when the
spring opens, to commence Shipping.
Strong reasons are also held that Pc
trolrum exists here and that this is the
proper locality for obtaining it in large
quantities. Experience has taught the
fact that in venango and other counties
where oil wells have been sunk. when
in tapping the flows on higher streams
the oil from well located on lower lands
has ceased to flow. The indications
here prompt tho belief that IN Elk
Creek and its tributaries. heing the d..
ding ridge of the Susquohanna and
Allegheny waters and the hi hest point
on which operations ot this kiI d can he
had. large and unf,iliug supply will in
al'rr ,bability / e ''un \'rea6y Hnmpan-
les are forming for operating in the iu!-
mediate vicinity OF St Nary's 4 gen
tleman who has recently devoted some
time in examining tho workings on
Clarion River and other places. il 50
strongly imprc sci with this fact. that
nc mas lhiu1 iidL'i N'Fp- ~ N'"N N'll
in this locality. O.h"r5 are also prerar.
ing to commence Ike operations and
these indications Of enterprise and the
investment Of foreign Capital must
give an impetus to your county which
will soon surprise the entirc oommu.
nifty.
An uninterested stranger 50 journing
temporarily in this place is prompted to
send you this communication for publ
cation.
NAP.
ST. Mary's, Nov. 18th 1861.