The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-06-19
Of US, scarcely more than a hundred
miles distant.

Of us, scarcely more than a hundred
miles distant.
THE NEW ROAD.
The continuation Of this state of things
so long has already cast severe stigma
upon the enterprise of Buffalo, obviously
it could be suffered no longer unless all
the hope aud ambition of the city are to
be given up. So thought MIR. William
Wallace, the entorprisiDg engineer, when
couple of years ago he seriously and
resolutely took hold of the question, how
best, most practicable and certainly, to
secure direct connection of Buffalo with
the contiguous Pennsylvania coal regions
The problem, as lie viewed it, embraced
two objects-the one in furtherance of
the other-viz: to build a road which
should intellectually form an Important link
in the great through line Of trade and
travel between the west aud the seaboard,
and at the same time accomplish the re,
suit of main importance, in tapping the
coal districts at one of their nearest points.
After long time speut in thorough study
of 'the situatiou," and a careful recon
noitering of the ground in pSson, he
planned the project which has since taken
shape in the "Buffalo and Washington
r Ilway" undertaking, The merits Of his
plan, when submitted to the consideration
Of leading business men and capitalists of
Buffalo and elsewhere, were recognized at
once. The project was taken hold Of
with Vigor, and BOW completely organized,
under full Roadway, the contract for its
execution let, large part Of SITS stock
taken, we have the pleasure of seeing it
give every promise of speedy and per-
feet realization Of the long desireo of Buffalo
TIE COAL FIELDS OPENED.
The Buffalo and Washington Railway
enters the northern edge of the great Bit
luminous coal field at the distance of only
one hundred to one hundred and thirteen
miles from Buffalo. This coal field en-
braces an area Of more than sixty five
thousand square miles, extending through
PENNSYLVANIA, Virginia, Kentucky, Ten
nesSee, and Alabama. It's greatest breadth
is one hundred and seVenty-three miles,
and its average or mean breadth is eighty
five miles. OF this vast field fifteen thou
sand square miles are 10 Western Penn
sylvania It's northery limit extends
through Tioga, Potter, Mexican and Cam
erou counties on the northerly line Of the
State of Pennsylvania. There is in Tioga
county only small detached field which
is developed in the mines Of Blossburg
This great coal field extends south. west
eIly, following the ranges of the Ale
ghany Mountains through Clinton, Clear
field, Indiana, and Westmoreland coun-
ties, with spurs from the main coal basin
in Mercer. Venango and Clarion counties,
in Western Pennsylvania.
Emporium, the intersecting point of
the B. & w. r. with the Philadelphia
and Erie Railroad is in the centre of an
extensive coal basin, on which several
large mines are already being worked.
moving coal to Erie, a distance of l18
miles, from whence much of it is shipped
to Buffalo, further distance of eighty
five miles. The quality of the coal is
equal 20 the finest Liverpool 1t has been
tested for gas, fuel for locomotives, black
smiths use and iron work generally and
is pronounced superior, being remarkably
free from sui phur.
ANTHRACITE COAL.
There is only ore known deposit of
anthracite coal within the limits of the
United States, and this is limited in ex-
tent as compared with the bituminous
coal fields, and is comprised in three d.
visions, all east of the Susquehanna river
10 Pennsylvania, viz: l. The NortherIy
Division, including the Wyoming or
Lackawanna Field 2. The Middle Di-
vision, or the middle Shamoken coal Ba
sin. 3. The Southern Division, or
Schuylkill Coal Fields These three di-
visions have an area of four hundred and
thirty-seven square miles. The second
division of these anthracite coal fields is
reached by the Buffalo & Washington
Railway at distance of two hundred aud
seVenty.two miles from Buffalo, which is
nearer than by any other route, either by
Tall or water.
BLACK BAND IRON ORE.
The Black Band Iron Ore from which
Scotch Pig is made is found near Empo-
rum. where the Buffalo and Washington
Railway connects with the Philadelphia
and Erie Railway, and on the line of the
former are extensive and valuable forests
for lumber and deposits Of fine quartz
from which glass is made.
THE ESTIMATED COST OF COAL.
From data furnished by the State En-
gineer in his able report to the Leglsla-
ture last year, it Is estimated that the
average cost of transportation of coal is
$50 mills per ton per mile, which would
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