The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-05-10
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E3& GoHRiy
Was organized undcran Act Of the
General Assembly approved April 18th,
1913, the gubernatoria, chair being
then occupied by David Il Porter, but
until the opening OF the Philadelphia
4 Erie Rail Road il remained almost
terra aroJDi" except to the hardy lum
bcrmcu and ba kwoodsmon that found
wealth in her forests Of pine, aud the
abuuiont game that roamcd Owen her
hills. Owing to the distance from the
nearest railroad stations, TyrQn" on the
/ Pennsylvania Central, and O'can on
the New York and Erie Rail Road,
either ot which could be reached only
7 by two days ride over roads that were
always rough and often muddy, visitors
seldom came within her borders unless
impcIed by important business inter
cstS.
The completion OF the Phlladcipha
and Erie Rall Road has changed all
this, and Elk county Is now as easily
reached as it wss before difficult. Early
in January 1851 the track was lIld TO
St Mary's, but trains were not run reg
uIarly there until the following sprIn@.
The track was connected in july Of the
same year and the company commenced
running through trains from Philadel
phia to Eric the next October, aud
since that time many and important al-
ditions have bocn made to the bushes,
Of the county.
ThorougLlv watcred bv the tributa
rics of the Allegheny and Susouchanna.
the frequent ravines cut by these
streams afford the greatest facilities for
reaching the immense deposits of coal
anG iron ore chat undcrlay a great por.
ton of the surface, and these same
ravines extending into the ridges that
rise, often abruptly, from the bottom
lands to a height varying from one hun.
drcd to six hundred feet serve to diver.
siry the scenery and render the route of
the p. &E. in spring, summer or autumn
one of the most interesting to the ap.
preciativc lover of nature, that can be
, found in the Union. The traveller by
railroad from the Fast enters the county
about one and one fourth miles East Of
, Rathbun, and as he stops at the Station
and looks from the cars towards the
South he sees at short distance the
lands Of lie Mont Gas Coal Company"
and whose territory extends from the
county line to Il point some distance
west OF llcmlock Station. In about
fifteen minutes he will pass the pockets
e The Tannerdale Coal Company and
observe the trestlcwork, over which the
coal is brought from the mincs, exten-
ding back into the forest Five minutes
afterwards, he passes the pockets Of the
st. Mary s Coal Company, soon after and
just as the engine man whistles for St.
Mary'S station, he will see the junction
of the " Bonzinger Coal and Iron Com
pany's " road
lie has thus in distonce Of less than
nine miles, passed the property Of four
Coal companies, three of which are in
active operation. flour stranger stops
at St. llary's he will find busy town
Of - Or 1000 inhabitants, situated upon
the waters OF Elk creek, for Miller's
summit, dividing the Allegheny from
the Susluchanna, has been passed a
E mile and half back. Following the
course Of Elk creek the train passes
Dagu1cahonda junction from which the
rail road OF the Daguscahonda Improve
ment Company extends into Fox town
ship, distance Of six miles, and to the
? treightiug Of which the Elk Noun
tail" Kersey," and " Phipa d Toby
creek companies contribute Next
comes the Pa. Camel Coal & Rail Road
company's works with their fourteen
.