The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-26
oUR WTLLIAMsp0RT LETTER.

A Thriving Mountain village "-Ets
Population and Various Business In
terests-Its Churches and schOOls-Its
Mammoth Hotel, Etc.
rvRN1Ns TELEGRAPH sPEOIAL ooRREsPoNDENoE
WrrL1AMsPoRT, Pa, June "a, 1867
Arriving in this town on Saturday evening,
tound some OF the good people here residing IN
a frame of mind that bordered on Indignation
their grievance being the fact that one OF the
Journals of Philadelphia has recently seen NJ 70
denominate Williamsport a Mountain VII
Iooe ., AS the great political conclave was not
40 assemble until Wednesday, and the time
hunO heavily on my hands, I determined to
hook into the matter, and your readers can
indpe for themselves whether the good people
~ Williamsport have any cause to feel ag-
grieved. .-., -, ,r,,,,,,,spopr
o, ,ro,,storred from the list Of boroughs by an
act of the State Legislature passed early In 1866,
and at the recent session OF the Legislature q
neigh boring township was ADDED 10 the munl-
cinsiitV as originally established. The precise
date OF its settlement is one OF those historical
theTe are now living here persons who are
uuite certain that their grandfathers ana grand
mothers had established themselves on the
spot as early as the year 1890. In 1895 Lycoming
county was SET apart from the rest OF the world
by inetes and bounds, and at that date Will
Transport had so far progressed that It's claims
10 the distinction of being made the seat OF JUS
tice could not be ignored. Nevertheless, there
yupr
sent citv: but this was probably the case with
every other locality in the county at tnaI Time,
and SO Williamsport became tne ne, county p Town,
Ross who owned all the country hereabouts.
The early history of the town could not have
been very exciting, except when the settlers
got themselves into. difficulty with their red
Skinned neighbors. for we find that its progress
Numbered only 1900 Inhabitants. And during
these early days in its history, the only notable
event TO be encountered is the fact that Mr..
Sherlu
county Of which IL was the CHIEF town. Now,
this John Winter was not d remaFss0le n h e man i
one thing the early history OF Williamsport
might have been Of no moment whatever
father of a family which numbered no less than
twenty-five chlldren-for which SUFFICIENT rea-
son his name is remembered after the lapse
of half century. 1t Is, indeed, q matter of
surprise that the population of the town in
creased SO slowly, with the example of John
Winter in the mind of every father. But it is
possible for good example TO counteract ITSELF
been the case in this instance. Be that as It
may, Williamsport dragged itself slowly and
leisurely along until 1857, when the census
OF the borough. At that time however, the
growth of the town received sudden impetus,
and by 1860 its population had increased to 1854,
being surpassed in rapidity of increase by no
interior town in the State save Scranton. Since
then its increase has been even more rapid than
during the previous decade, and now the popu-
1ation is said to be not less than $1,000, while
some place the figure as high as $4,000 The
causes of this almost wonderful increase, and
the prospects of the future, will appear when l
come TO speak OF the character and extent of
the business by which its inhabitants are en-
crossed.
"mountain village" as late as 1850 it has all the
aspect of new town. and much resembles
those marvellous congregations of busy people
which spring up like mushrooms upon the
prairies of the West almost within the compass
of single night. There are but few old build
place freshness which bespeaksa a recent and Si
rapid growth. Many of the dwellings, particu-
larry those OF the laoorlng people, are small,
capitalists, and the stores and public buildings,
are all build of brick or stone, and attrac-
tive in appearance as they are substantial in
construction. The streets, likewise, are those
OF a new town, for they are in the main wide
turn in the principal thoroughfare, they are all
as straight as bee-line, Moreover one is re-
names which they have received, although by
some unintentional mistake they have been
turned half way about and Market, Mulberry,
and Pine made to run north and SOUTH
while Fourth street, the great highway, extends
The location of Williamsport is certainly one
of the most beautiful in the State. II is situated
on the left bank of the West Branch of the river
Susquehanna, at distance of forty miles from
the point where the West and the North Branch
run together. Elmira N. Y, is the nearest city
miles north. Harrisburg lies directly to the
south, at a distance of ninety miles, and Phila-
delphia TO the southeast, at the distance OF one
hundred and ninety-eight miles. 1t has con-
siderable Importance as railway centre, as the
the Catawissa, and the Williamsport and
Elmira Railroads run into IL, and cross each
other in q manner that cannot be thoroughly
understood by a stranger. The West Branch
Canal likewise runs through the town, and as
this has recently passed under the contro,of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, by whom it
is to be both wldened and deepened, even
greater facilities than 1T now possesses for ac-
cess TO the best markets In the country will
soon be accorded it.
But this favorable location is not the only
merit to which it can lay claim The surround
Ing scenery is exceedingly romantic and beauti-
ful. Hemming in the city on the north is o
span of the Alleghenies, which can be seen at
the distance of about ten miles to the north
west, by ascending one of the higher rises. On
the other side of the river and pressing hard
upon 1t, is the Bald Eagle range of hills and in
the graceful valley thus formed lies the "moun-
tain village" of Williamsport These hills do
not rise very high into the air, but they run
several miles back from the river on either side,
and extend up and down the sides of the stream
as far as the eye can reach. The SUBMITS OF
most of them are covered with a thick and
heavy growth of trees, but now and then one is
70 be seen entirely bare, while the cultivated
nelds which line their slopes frequently run up
70 the very top in a narrow corner, leaving the
growth of timber unimpalred on either side.
80 much Tor the city in general; and now
come 10
THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS
che churches take precedence, as a matter of
curse and courtesy. But this precedence is not
now thirteen places of Divine worship, either
entirely completed or.in process of erection.
Most prominent among these stands the new
and beautiful edtfice of the Second Presbyte-
Fian congregation IN. S. }, which was dedicated
during the month of January last. 1t was two
- lars In building, and cost S65, 900, the last dol
Of which was freely given on , tne day OF
uedSeNornate Gothic style, and boasts OF spire
lnhich Rises 1873 feet into the air. The interior
~ the building is in all respects worthy OF lts
N.NI lHuaawt 10 HNNaN nh n q