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


this District, making the headquarters
easily accessible from the remotest sub
district; and in this respect, perhaps the
most convenient and desirable of any one
in the State, except those in populous
cities
This District is traversed north and
south by the Allegheny, Canoe, Brush,
Stone and Jacks mountains, averaging
from 10000 1900 feet in height'over the
level of the valleys at their respective
bases. These mountains run parallel with
each other, with beautiful and fertile val
leys between. Cambria county lies several
hundred feet higher than Blair, Hunting
don or Mifiin, aud contributes by her
springs, to the waters of the Atlantic
Ocean and Gulf OF Mexico. At Bradley's
station, on the farm of Rees Lloyd, Esq,
on Ebensburg and Cressou Railroad, two
springs arise IA yards from each other,
one on the north, the other on the south
side of the Railroad. The NORTH Aefn
spring runs into the West Branch of the
Susquehanna river, and through the Ches-
apeake Bay to TIE Atlantic Ocean; while
the southern spring flows into the Cone
maugh and through the Kiskiminetas,
| AEl0Su6Hy anu
reaches the Gulf of Mexico.
The whole surface of Cambria county,
being so elevated, is of mountainous
character the surface is rolling, with
high bluffs and deep ravines the soil is
naturally sterile and unpruductive Of
cereals, out fair crops of oats, potatoes and
grass grow.
The Allegheny mountain divides Cam
bria from Blair county. On the western
slope it may be said to be map of mine
raj wealth. Bituminous coal, and several
varieties of iron ore of superior quality,
as we'll as hydraulic cement lie there III
| juxtaposition and are inexhaustible. The
hills throughout this county, contain large
| quantities of the above minerals.
Along the streams flowing through the
ravines, there are strong Indications OF
Petroleum., which is now the object of
attention by the enterprislng men of that
county.
The Cambria Iron Company have erect
ed works at Johnstown, on the 2. r. r.,
yielding one hundred and fifty tons OF
Railroad iron per day, and affording en-
ployment to 2700 hands. This company
are now enlarglng their works with the
view Of doubling their capacity. They
get all their raw materials within a few
hundred yards of their works, and al
though they own several thousand of acres
of mineral lands here, the area occupied
in their present operation including mines
does not exceed 30 acres
Cresson, the delightful Sumner retreat
on the Allegheny mountain, too well
known from Maine to Mexico to require
description, is in this county.
The surface OF Cambria county is
covered with dense forests of Pine, Hem
lock, Poplar and Oak timber, where the
laud has not already been cleared.
The eastern slope of the Allegheny
mountain, in Blair county, furnishes the
headwaters of two principal branches Of
the Juniata. This river passes with &
rapid current in an easterly direction
through Huntingdon and Miflin counties
receiving tributaries every few miles in
its descent towards the Susquehanha river
with which it unites in Dauphin county
Blair and Huntingdon counties being
supplied with inexhaustible beds of Iror
ore and Bituminous coal, also dense for
ests Of timber, yield large quantities O.
iron: the former probably more in pro
portion to its size than any county In thc
State:
In Blair county,. near Birmingham
there are extensive Lead and Zinc mine!
now being developed, whieh will be made
productive during the coming year, as al
enterprising company are about erecting
a furnace for this purpose. These mines
were opened previous to the revolution
and for many years the inhabitants of thi!
country resorted thither to obtain thei
lead.
Tuckyhoc valley, in Blair county, a
the base of the Allegheny mountain, ha'
since the erection of the 2. r. Il. furnish
ed the eastern markets with very large
quantities of shingles, boards and differ
ent varieties of lumber of superior quality
for building purposes.
Mifflin county, lying out of the range
of coal deposits, with but limited amour
of iron ore furnishes a small quantity o
iron, compared with other parts of thi
District Freedom Forge, however, re
quires special notice This establishment
is the property of the p. r. r., is worked
on a magnificent scale, and the compan,
manufactures the tire for the large driving
wheels of locomotives, and the axles, anC
all parts of their rolling stock on the road
requiring the best quality of charcoa
iron. They obtain their ore princiPall.
from the Greenwood Bank in this county
For many years the U. S. Government
purchased the Juniata Iron which wa
made from this ore, to manufacture int
gun barrels at Harper's Ferry, before tn
P r. r. Company got possession of tn
works.