The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-01-04

AOA 'hO P"iIh III ooiIecb onelfinG. OtQ and
young take an interest in, and witness the
contest with much anxiety and good feel
ing
Every adult reader in this district is
supposed to be well versed in English
Grammar, History, Geography and Arith-
metic; those who are not are the excep-
ton, not the rule. The veriest vaeabond
that walks the street is able to keep his
own accounts and transact business.
The moral character of our inhabitants
will compare favorably with those of any
other in Pennsylvania. The predominant
sentiment Is decidedly religious one.
Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, Bap-
tlst, Catholic, United Brethren and Epis-
copafian churches are most numerous,
with fair representation of Others
Intemperance prevails to some extent,
and produces its consequent evils, but
public sentiment frowns so decidedly on
this iniquity that only those who are lost
to sense of shame are among its votaries.
A few men were drafted who we're exempt
from permanent physical disability as the
result OF habitual drinking.
AS a general thing the wealth is fairly
distributed among the Inhabitants There
are; however, large number Of operators
and labo-ing men without means employ
ed oy corporate companies and farmers.
But little calculation can be made on the
operations in our mines in support of our
military force. At least nineteen -twenti-
eths of this class are foreigners, who have
no settled home, and who are ever ready
to take their budget and travel When
HI.
naturalizeG citizens, they can produce the
necessary documents and vote at an elec-
tion, but when enrolled and drafted they
have gone to parts unknown" Or if
they are perehance caught up, they have
no difficulty in avoiding military service
by swearing alienage.
The principal occupation of men in this
district is that of farmers, laborers and
mechanics, most numerous in the order
represented. The mode of life is simple,
the fare wholesome and substantial. The
dress is not ex:ravagant but plain, calcu-
lated more for comfort than show. There
are Of course deviations in both extremes
from the rule here presented. The in
habitants are frugal, industrious and So
cial. With exception of one or two To-
calities, we are law abiding people. In
the place alluded to, deserters from the
army and drafted men who failed to re-
port, congregated and resisted by force OF
arms all attempts to take them. In due
time, however, these lawless bands were
dispersed by the capture of some and
routing of the balance.
In assigning reasons why any particular
diseases have disqualified greater ratio
per thousand from military service, first
notice the malarial influence prevalent in
part of this district as above adveFted to.
Although it is now several long years
since this agent ceased to exercise a con-
trolling influence over every form of dis
ease on the Juniata river, its baneful eff
fects are yet perceptible. Men who were
prostrate6 by a recurrence of bilious
fevers, several years In succession, suffered
constitutionally, and a large proportion OF
drafted men taken from localities thus in
fected were exempt, sec. 9, from z. 7.
disability, She consequence Of functional
or organic disease of the liver, spleen or
kidneys.
Tuberculosis is developed sometimes
under the prostrating influence Of bilious
fever, although it is by no means confined
to the malarial portion of this district, for
It prevails in the mountain ranges and in
the valleys, and is cause for many exemp-
tlons. The only fruitful source of tuber-
culosis worthy of special notice is in the
blacksmith shops In Altoona, to which |
have already adverted, also the sub-dis-
| trlct In which intermarriagcs of relatives
have been practised for several generations
Tn, he
nbering parts of the 18th District, a
greater proportion of hernia prevails than
in other localities, which is readily ac-
counted for by the fact that men engaged
in clearing the land and removing heavy
timber must necessarily do much hard
lifting, thus exposing them to the danger
of this disability. In the same localities
and in the neighborhood Of charcoal fur
naces, large proportion of men are dis
abled on account of extensive, deep and
adhereut cicatrices on the lower eXtremi
ties, the result of deep incised wounds
from the axe, in cutting timber. Sawyer;
working on sawmiIls frequently have tbeil
hands mutilated or fingers removed by
the saw, thus disqualifying them for mill
tary service.
On the railroad many are disabled OF
account of severe injuries by collision o.
cars, explosion Of boilers, cars running of
the track and other mishaps incident t.
the working of the road. These accident
produced almost every variety of injur.
in the form of fractures, dislocations, mu
tilation of limbs, contusions burns, scalds
&s. Among this class of injuries we fint
many men who have lost leg or foot
arm or hand, or who have hands SO mutil
ated that they are proper subjects for ez