The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-09-25
Local Correspondence.
BLAIRsvILLE, Pa, Sept. Ie, Is74.

blAiHSNiLi4E. IA, sept is ioaA
DEAR FREEMA that few items
of news from Bairsvilie. or .'Saints' Rest" as
IL Is sometimes designated, might be of inter
EST 10 some OF the readers of your well filled
columns, have tGksn il upon myself to con-
tribute the same.
Bairsviiie, as is known to very many who
VIII pernse this is situated on the right hank
or thsi historic and romantic stream, the Con-
ernaugh river. and is 90 miles west of Johns
town and about 90 miles cast of Pittsburgh Ii
Is one OF the oldest tow ms in Western Penn.vl-
wanna anu was very important place siurinC
the palmy days OF those old State institutious
the Pittsburgh and philadelphia turnpike and
the Pennsylvania csnal. Since sstheTn times"
the town has not grown very rapidly although
it's said by many, and there is no dotiit about
its truth, that Blairsville might have been as
large and prosperous as Johnsto-vn now is had
the citizens who owned property near the town
been more liberal and sold their lands at fair
prices: Many of the men who avn the large
manufactures at Johnstown endeavored to Sc
cure sites near this place, but owing to the
Yet, notwithstanding Blairsvilie does not con-
tain so large a population Is IL might have OBJ
tained had not the near siyhteduesS.of certain
old fogies" prevented ~, the tow n at present
contains. not counting new arrivals. upwards
OF 2 800 souls.
sr8nG BarsviiIe is very ,Pieasnntly situated, the
towards tho Conemaugh river. Main street.
Hhlch IS the principal business street OF the
town, IS lined throughout its entire length vi IA
beautiful shade trees. in the rear OF which stand
many handsome and substantial business hou-
c IS and private residences some Of which are
, TIE equals IN point OF architecture aud beauty
CT many buildings which OF her towns and cities
OF more nretcns; ;ons are proud to own. Biairs-
vile is also well supplied with churches and
educational institutions. Among the former
may be cieSsed the Catholic. Presby teran. Epis-
! copal. Methodist and Lutheran churches, W hich
are Tor the most part beautiful and couirnodi-
Gus edifccs. The Seceders and coiored Metho-
! ctsts also nave very respectable places of wOr-
shlp- As regards educational institutions. the
nrst in point of age is the Blairsviile Seminary
Tor young ladies, which has been established
Tor more than thirty years and is well patron
ized. Then we have the Biairsvilie Academy,
! Ior poys on!y,a large and well conducted school,
and Catholic institution under the auspices
/ OF the Sisters Of Charity. which is largely at
IN &c fra
convent building, l may add, which is locate q
/ II Brownstown, part OF BlaiIsville. and noar
brick edifice. Besides the above. BiairsyiiIe
has large public school which employs fouI
or hVe teachers and accommodates several
, hundred pupils.
As this place is the eastern terminus of tn,
west feiln H. X. end sn inportan; point on tht
| Indiana Branch, it Is not to he sneezed AZ as q
! railroad centre. The shops of the Pa X. r. Co
| herr employ great number of men, but the
| Eiih1rawai of several freight trains On the W
r r. r. has thinned out the working force on
! that road very considerably OF late.
/ Among the improvements going on In this
! vicinity may mention the new bridge which
replace the one which fell some time ago The
new bridge is to hc an open iron structure and
expense of Westmoroiand and Indiana couu-
/ ties conformity. 1t is thocght that il will re-
! celye the finishing touches about December
next.
There are located about one mile and N.li
/ cas-; OF tnis place what are Known the Isa-
! bella Coke Works, which have upward Of two
hundred ovens in working order. but owing &c
! ''Panicky times. many ot the ovens are idle al
! present ana the employees are making only hal
! time. Quite large village. called Coketown
has grown up near these works.
! There are no more desirable nor productive
| farming lands in the common wealth than car
be round in this beautiful valley of the Cone
uisugh, where are to be had in addition all tn,
advantages OF a home market and acc sssill,
! railroad facilit e.. The hills on both sides al
/ the river contain an abundance OF coal anC
! iron orc. ana all thar as needed enough Oi
! entcrprlsInR capitalists to bring these hidden
/ treasures TO the surface. aud thereby make this
| Nxi gn q Of he YTaR.a- - -
| now one Of the gTandest in the Keystone State,
| having already occupied considerable OF
| your valuable space, without perhaps giving
you a single item OF netHS. l will close for the
! present. Yours, &C, WAIJa