Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-10-22


READING, Pa, October 21.
OnTuesday and Wednesday OF last week. a
party of gentlemen Interested in the new Berks
County Railroad, made trip over the line from
Reading to SlatiDgton. The company included
MIR. Bushong, of Reading, President of the road,
and several of the Directors, Hugh r. Steele.
President of the Wilmington d Reading road
Edward Belts and Joseph Tatnall, of Whining
ton, Hugh DeHaven, Of DeHayen n Bro, bank
ers, Phladelphia, aud several other gentlemen.
LOOK AT THE LINE.
The proposed road is about AZ miles in length
1t follows the Schuykill noIthward from Read
ing for short distance, and then passes up
the valley Of the Maidencreek, to the head wa
ters of that stream, and thence down Weir's
creek to Slatipgton, in the Lehigh Valley. The
route is through a rich agricultural country
some of the finest farms in Bucks County lie
along it, the timber is still heavy, including
great numbers of chestnut and oak, and the
comfortable dwellings,, and huge barns show the
richness of the soil and prosperity of the peo-
pie,
THE LIME AND SLATE.
The chief deposits of mineral wealth are iron,
lime, and slate. The lime lies in the Maiden
creek Valley and the slate on the Lehigh side,
Curiously enough, where these deposits meet,
the two seem to have formed combination,
which, when ground for use makes an admira-
BILE cement for building purposes. At Coplay,
ON the Lehigh, where the same ridge corps out.
there is large business done in preparing this
cement and it has attained an extensive reputa-
ton.
The limestone is of good quality and greatly
needed for use on tho slate lands. 1t is now
hauled many miles by farmers. and the business
Of carrying it must be extensive item of
freight on the new railroad.
THE IRON ORES AND FURNACES.
The deposits of iron are extensive and very
valuable. Near Reading is the Temple Furnace,
al tIa Maid 10 wary uat In nra
bank on the Moselem Furnace property. 10000
tons of the best ore are now annually taken out
OF this mine. At present, coal for the furnace
has to be hauled five miles from Shoemakerville,
on the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. 1t is
the intention of the Berks County Railroad Com
pany to build narrow gauge railroad from the
furnace to the mines. distance of % miles.
For every 5000 tons OF iron made at the Moselem
furnace there will be 900 tons Of Transports
ton for the new Railroad.
Above Moselem, il Merkel's Furnace at Len
hartsville. 1t now uses charcoal, but will use
anthracite, upon the completion of tho road. 1t
Is supposed that this furnace, alone, will make
a freight business of 30 900 tons year, for the
road. The ore is located eight miles away, on
tho line of the railroad, and il at present hauled
that distance in wagons. Lenhartsyle is a very
pleasant village of some 80 houses substantially
built of stone and brick.
There is quarry Of excellent building stone
near LenhartYille.
TIE SLATE QUARRIEs.
At Lynuport 10 miles from Slatngton, the
road reaches the developed slate deposits. This
quarry il one of the oldest and most valuable in
the county, and is operated by DIR. I'll. f. Mar
tin. The shipments now amount to about
$40, ,0D0, but they will be greatly increased by
the railroad. as he has TO haul to Slatington in
order to reach railroad. Slabs for parlor man
tells, black-boards, flooring tiles, refrgeratOrs-
&C., &c, are produced hore. AZ we'll as a great
number of other articles for domestic use, build
ing, the arts, &c No slate roofing is shipped from
this point owing to the present cost of transpor-
tation. The doctor is anxiously awaiting the
completion OF the new road, and says that he
will then send large Quantities Of roofing slate
to market
sLATINaroN.
Beyond Lynnport, there are valuable deposits
slate, extending to SlatingtOn, the proposed ter
minus of heroad. At this point, it will connect,
1t is expected, with both the Lehgh Valley Rail
road, ton the South bank of the rlver.) and the
Lshigh and Susluehanna, on the North.
Slatington If town of over 1000 inhabitants,
and has some handsome buildings. 1t is sup
Ilied with hydrant water 1t has no fire depart
ment, but there are several patent fire extin-
.ulshers in the place. Slate was first discovered
thete in 1916, and the first house was built in
1850 Last year 30, 600 tons of slate were quar-
RED in that vicinity. and 10 600 squares of roof
ing slate were Skipped by railroad and canal,
aud a large numJer Of so ares were hauled
away III Mhbohb.
PROGRESS TOWARD COMPLETION,
The new road is progressing rapidly, The
lower half. including about 20 miles, and extend
ing from Reading to Merkels furnace. is all con-
Jracted for, and two thirds Of the work is done.
rhe upper half il not yet let, but it will be
about New Year. The work on it is 80 light that
Il is confidently expected that it can be ready
'Or use as soon al the lower section.
The wAole line has very easy grades, and no
heavy cutting or filling. Those familiar with the
Wilmington ana Reading line say there is almost
u much work in dufont's Cut, near Wilmington,
II on the whole ~ miles. There are stretches
If eight or ten miles where but little grading
yl be required. Few bridges will be needed and
the material for these can be obtained near by
where they are to be erected
THE Road THROUGH READING.
The argu nant o the inl luotlDn asked for by
he Plnlalalpha Cooperation will bs he ri before
Judge Read, Ill Pniladelphia, ON the first Tues
lay Ia December 1t is hoped from the charac-
or Of the proceeding, that the matter will then
~ dspused OF, hHally, ami no doubt ID felt
hat the rights oi the City of Reading will be
protected and maintained.
The people ul Reading are generally perhaps
[ should say unanimously Determined to pre-
,erve their own Independence. and while all ac-
knowledge that the friendly feeling of the P. 4
L. corporation is and has been very valuable,
5hey are unwilling to sac itce their legal rights,
their self respect, and their great opportunities
or growth and development, as represented in
the Berks County Railroad. There ia no doubt
that it will pass through the city on a favorable
an1 alu nj