North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-08-08
Merited Success.

The Harrisburg Patriot & Union fur
nlshes the following sketch of the Ca eer of
modest and unobtrusive gentleman, who has
for many years been held in high esteem
by large circle of friends, and whose re-
cent munifcent donation for the founding
of an educational institution, has placed his
name high on the roll of the benefactors of
mankind
Twentyseven or twenty-eight years ago
a carpenters apprentice lately-now jour
newman who among the hills Of Susque
hanna county, could scarcely keep COW
and keep out of debt, pulled up stakes and
turned his steps into the Lehigh vally. A
canal boat, belonging to the rich and famous
Lehgh Coal and Navigation Company, fell
in his way and he chartered it. A most
estimable wife, at this time the unaffected
and lady like mistress of tne of the most
palatial and richly appointed houses in all
this great State of ours, took possession of
the Sdare room of this canal boat. A sea
son or two were all that were necessary to
establish our hero in the entire confidence
of the Company and what vas infinitely
better to establish his own confidence in
himself Next coal mine was rented, ,and
he employed boatmen in his turn. A second
mine then fell under bis control then he
bought and owned coal lands and soon af-
ter-the least profitable episode of his life,
pecuniarily speaking Democracy of
that region sent him to Congress. The
L,f fb, ho,
are speaking of Asa Packer, President OF
the Lehigh Valley Railway.
Hi~ clear, quick, business perceptions
soon presented the Lehigh Valley Railway
as necessity. He turned to his old friends
of the Lehigh Company. and urged them
to undertake the work. Their canal, dear
bantling for years, seemed to be assailed in
this new project, and the Directors turned
coldly away. Packers star, momentarily
clouded by this refusal, soon rose in the
ascendant. He speedily rallied the neces-
sary and END requisit" capital. Not only
the lower Lenigh valley was traversed, but
the rich coal fields of Mahanoy we've pierc
ed in one direction, while slowly and quiet
" the upper LehgI, valley felt the iron
band passing over i, and anon, the peo
pie of Wilkes Barre Maked up one morn
ing to the certainty of new connection
with the Lehigh valley, AID thus an outlet
10 New York or Philadelphia, as they
might prefer.
But our imam of destiny does not st"p
here /; he paused long enough to bestow a
half million of dollars to the purposes OF
liberal education and moves right on, up
the beautiful valley of the Susquehanna,
and finding few other congenial spirits,
such as Charles F. Welles. Jr, they soon
became "mastrrs Of the situation The
line up the Susqnehanna from Wilkes-Bar
re IS now IN their hands under new organ
ization, upon a charter lately granted by
the State, called the New York and Penn
sylvania Canal and Railroad Company
The bonds of this company are in the best
credit being endorsed by the Leh'gh Valley
Railroad Company.
The work is beirg actively prosecuted
between Towanda and point on The Erie
Railway near Vaverly. An extensive
coal business is built up between the Bar
clay coal mines = now worked by three
different chartered companies and West
tern New York. Tie North Branch ca
nal has been found inadequate t. the ton
age offering at Towanda. besides being
closed in the winter. Hence the hurry to
complete this upper end of the Lehigh Val
ley project and it is expected that this
twenty-five miles will be finished during
present season. The remainder is also in
progressive management.
We love to chronicle the successes of
such men as Asa Packer, and to hold them
up to the young men of the country a. fit
exemplars Of energy, industry and of liber-
alitv. From being carpenters appren-
tice, he has risen bv constant, active indus
try. By sobriety and unswerving integrity,
by steadiness and forethought, to be one of
the weaIthiest uen in the State. Ills in-
come must be ear halt million per annum;
and the annual advance in value of the
property he holds much more than that
sum. All this, without ever having dab
bled in government contracts or subsidies !;
all. without blistering his hands with
bribes, or meaniy plotting against the peace
and success # any on he might deem in
the way of his own onward political pro-
gress And yet ask such papers as the
Harrisburg Telegraph who Asa Packer is
and they will tell you simply that like an
other rising. selma man of the Old
Keystone, Hester Clymer-he is copper
head,