Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-08-31
and about the works are nine mules, two
horses and forty mining wagons
Between Powelton and Osceola,
wHITECoMB & TOWNSEND

| between I0Welton and OSce0la,
wHITECoMB & TOWNSEND
have splendid steam sawmill, with capaci-
ty for cutting 1000, 900 feet of lumber per
year The company employ 80 men. The
mill is located on Trout run, and trainway
Is laid from mill to main line of T. and G..
X. X. They have large lumber yard near
main line, which is we'll filed with lumber
and lath
A few moments run, and the lumber
city of
osCRoLA
bursts into view, well covering a sloping
hill with substantial and newly built dwell.
hngs Osceola enterprise is proverhial
Her citizens are progressive, energetic un-
| dlsmayed, and think, talk and act as though
the building up. of the Commonwealth S
metropolitan centre, was a matter pertinent
to them. At this point the heavy coal
trains to the summit, are made up, and,
as at the summit, we here found snuad
OF engines splitting and .norting just as if
they knew the Superintendent was along
and didn't know that they were there 1t
requires fou: eng zines to boost Q train to the
summit, and it takes blamed good one to
handle 1t going down. At this point, new
road bed has been laid from the main line
to Osceola, and the old tres5el work discar-
ded. The grade over the treste was ION
pleasant, - as the branch connected with the
main line, and a new road bed, without
trestle work was found necessary. The new
road is one mile in length, aud strikes the
main road one half mile below the intersec
ton of the old trestle branch Crossing to
OsceOla, we come to the Moshannon, over
which z magnificent pile bridge, 600 feet in
length, reaches to the Clearield County
Company works. The old bridge leading
10 this companys operations was recently
destroyed, but the new bridge-one of the
finest pile bridges we ever saw-will no,
only much better accomm 1date the Clear
field company 5 new mines, but also those
which may ue subsequently opened adjacent
The Cleartield company will have the shute
20 the new branch completed within few
days.
Osceola has about 900 inhabitants; has
substantial Presbyterian and Catholic
churches, and 4 fine Methodist Episcopal
church is under construction. There are
five good stores here, and two excellent
schools. We may as well state that the
Clear6eld Coal Company, at this point, of
which Mr. Sanford H. Wallace is Superin
tendent, is not in operation at present, ow
ing to the changes we have noted above
When in operation the company employ
about so men, and mine som, 40 tons of
ccal per day.
At Osceola, we went up the Moshannon
branch roa'l. This line is being thoroughly
repaired the old hemlock ties which have
served four years are being superseded by
oak, AMI the road Is being newly ballasted.
A short distance up the Moshannon branch
we come to Coal run, up which, not far,
Taylor has small circular saw mill. The
Decatur branch up Coal run has been aba.,
doned The
NoSHANNoN COAL BANK,
three miles from Osceola, is operated by the
Mo-hannon Coal Company, of Philadelphia.
The entire length of the Moshannon branch
is thickly lined with splendid hcmlock tim
Der, deal of which is being cut aud bark
stripped of The Moshannon Coal Bank
is located upon the Medary branch. David
Knight, of Philadelphia, President of Com
plny; j. Frank Knight, of Philadelphia
Secretary and Treasurer S. i. Kinch, Su
perintendent, and VIM. FL. Haney,.. Keeper
This mine was opened in the spring of 1865,
AMI, having capacity for mining 800 tons,
has averaged 200 tons per day, and gives
employment to 80 men and boys. Seven
mules and 80 coal cars are employed. Con-
nected with the colliery, and dependent up
on it for support, are 20 families, occupying
10 tenements The vein operated, is mid
die six feet strata. without slate, and with
good veins above and below. We saw here
one of the largest Jumps of coal ever mined
along the Clearfeld road or branches, it
weighing 5000 pounds. The accidents at
this mine since its opening have resulted IN
the death of three miners, and the breaking
of few odd legs and arms. This company
comprises men of enterprise and tact, and
the works, under the skilful management of
Superintendent Kinch, may be reckoned
among the best in the Ciearfield coal region.
THE Sour LAKE In TExAs-One of the
singular phenomena of the South is known
as the Sour lake, and is situated about 60
miles from Houston, Texas, in low, wet
prairie country, but itself on quite high
ground, and surrounded b. fine little for
est. The lake is but few rods in dame
ter, and its waters are so sour that it Is al
most impossible to drink them. A number
of wells have been dug in the Immediate vi
cinity, and the water IN these contain iron,
alum, magnesia and sulphuric acid Large
numbers of people go there from the South
to bathe in the lake, and drink waters OF
the wells The effects of the baths are Sc
dative; and persons who have not slept
comfortable for weeks, after taking bath
In the lake in the evening, enjoy refresh
| ing nights rest. The water after drinking
few glasses, becomes more pleasant to
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