Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-12-20
To the People of Pennsylvania.

OF pennsylvania nave Deen tue ultduS vi ue-
veloping many sections OF the country,
which, without united effort on behalf of
the people individually and collectively,
would have left regions of untold and almost
incalculable value at present, comparatively
worthless, as hey We're for more than half
a century. The system of public roads
township, State and turnpikes-made the
first opening to her wealth, and the writer
we'll recollects when the ConestOga wagon
was the precursor of the canal boat, as that
was of the locomotive. Pennsylvania has
long been entitled the keystone State, P"
and well does she deserve the appellation,
for no other State in the Union possesses a
larger amount of the essential elements of
national wealth-her agricultural wealth is
great, and her mineral resources beyond
computation.
During the late war, had the Railroad and
canal system which penetrates her length
and breadth been stopped by any casualty,
how would the war have been carried on to
successful issue The lack of supplies
Of coal would have rendered our navy in a
great measure useless. Her iron supplied
the artillery for both naval and military
service, whilst lumber and various manu-
factures of other indispensable articles,
with the facilities of transportation then
existing, tended to shorten the conflict, and
enabled Us to return to the arts Of peace IN
so short time, that the nations OF the earth
look In wonder and credulity, yet are com
PEELED to believe. Never in any other war
waged in this world have such stupendous
and magnificent military movements been
so rapidly and successfully made, and with
out the system of Railroads, canals and
steam navigation, originally intended for
commercial purposes only, could they have
been affected. If then the presentimprove-
ments have conduced 10 this happy terml-
nation, and reproduced that state of peace,
which for four long years and more had de-
serted us-will, or will not an extension of
the system of Railroads to new and uude-
veloped regions of our State be of benefit
TO the country at large? This is an impor-
tant question, and well worthy of an exami-
nation. Let Us look at the wants of the
Atlantic cities, and tracing step by step,
the various elements Of wealth which
Railroad will develop in its passage, through
the route proposed-the effect it will pro-
duce on large portion of the lands through
which it must pass-and the general bene-
fit to be conferred On both producer and con-
sumner, as soon as the road is completed
Soon after entering Pennsylvania at her
eastern boundary, we traverse through the
anthracite coal field, valuable for its mex
haustible mines of coal and iron, besides
yielding a fair return to the agriculturist.
Reaching the Susquehanna, we find the
teeming and productive valleys which, ex-
tending to the foot of the mountai1s, trav-
erSe the interior of the State, furnishing
their stores of grain, cattle, horses, and farm
products generally ly-many Of them contain
ing valuable mines OF iron ore, and an abun-
dant supply of timber. Reaching the allie
gheny mountain ranges, We first strike the
great bituminous coal basin, which extends
westward about 80 miles in width, but CON
tracing as it is followed in a north east di-
rection, until it is lost before reaching the
\. Y. State line. This basin extends north
westerly through ourState, and into Maryland
Virginia Ohio, Kentucky, &c In this re-
glon Is found the immense supplies OF white
pine, white oak, and hemlock timber, which
has for many years supplied the eastern
markets, by means of the natural water
courses only navigable during the spring
freshets, and when, as sometimes happens,
no freshet occurs the whole stock lies over
until the next spring-thus locking up all
the capital and labor expended, for twelve
month. Had we railroad facilities, this
would not be-for it is an axiom in trs de
that ''the wants Of the people make the
price of every article of consumption -
Such being the case, the consumer of tim
ber in the east. finding the market bare of
timber, masts, srars ETC., would willingly
pay the Increased cost of Railroad trans
portation to have his material at the requir-
ed time. At present the stock of timber
increases at certain points to an almost in
credltable amount because ears can not be
had, and the manufacturer and consumer
each suffer Inconvenience from the DELAY.
which can only be remedied by increased ia
cllities for transportation. Passing onwards
through the bituminous coal field its entire
distance, We have a countless amount of
wealth at present almost vaIUeless, but des-
tined of no distant day to befully developed.
The eastern forests have nearly disappeared
fleets of coasting vessels are engaged in
transporting wood from New jersey, Della
ware, Maryland, and Virginia to supply the
eastern cities with fuel, and as coal must
eventually become the substitute for wood,
the more general the means of transporta-
ton furnished, the greater the chances of
cheap fuel for the poor, as well as the rich
We traverse the last discovered Edorado-
the petroleum wells-yielding that already
Indispensable article in fabulous quantities.
II is claimed by a correspondent of the
Httsburg Commercial, that nearly a mill
Ion of barrels were received at Pittsburg du-
ring the present year-besides the large
quantities distributed to other places.
Should that yield continue, the difference of
cost on that article alone would pay a hand
some interest on the expense of constructing
first class road-as the saving would be at
least 81 rer barrel. Passing through the
western part Of the State we again traverse
a fine agricultural district, with suppiieslof
coal and non spread over it.
Every member OF society, no matter what
his condition in life may be, is deeply inter
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