Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-08-11
LETTER FROM THE OIL REGIONS.


aug 't"f 'efss
( u. Il. GoopLAsDEn, ESQ,
n Dear Sir .-lIaving pondered DER books for
three successive months In tho pleasant village Of
Curwcnsviile, I concluded TO take . rest and In
vigorate my physical frame by taking stroll
through the portion Of our State known as the
"Oil Region" and having landed safely IN this
city, aud made repeated observations throughout
this section, I have settled down TO sketch you a
brief outline Of my journey, and OF places 20 little
known outside OF their own limits. s.
0a Saturday afternoon, July 3lsi, ! stepped
on board the mail train west y, 3.lb, In company
with our mutual friend, Mr.. 4. N. II. We OBJ
served nothing, of course, until We came to Nes
Osceola, when my eyes naturally turned In that
direction to view the ruins of the once prosperous
village and how surprised was to see q neat,
cory town looking out from among the desolate
remnants, imp pressing me with the idea that the
great connagration would soon be forgotten, by
the upbuilJing Of new aud more handsome
town. The summit OF the mountain being reached
We were soon carried into Tyrone, where bade
adieu to y couple Of Normal School ladies, who
were homeward bound, and boarded the Cinein-
natl Express west, which carried us in short
space Of time to sabbath Rest" where I re.
mained until Monday with my "chum," Z. N. r.,
whose hospitality greatly enjoyed, and for
which say "May your shadow never grow less"
Ed. told me all wished to know about sabbath
Rest" and the Juniata Valley throughout We
visited the iron furnace, owned now by piout
old gentleman by the name Of Martin Bell. II
appeeis that before he got control OF the furnace,
Il was never known TO rest on the Sabbath but
Bell declared It's machinery should stop on the
Lords day, hence the name Of the town, Sabbath
Rest
Monday morning dawned cherries and gloomy.
Having breakfssted early, I took passage on the
Pacific Express and was carried with lightning
speed over portion Of the Aeghenies into the
Mountain City" of Altoona. |, Of course, only
had twenty minutes 10 view the sights which was
not sufficient time to crafty my desires. Hsv-
ing been there before, left, feeling assured that
the rap-a-tsp-tap and tick-a-tsck-too, rescunding
from the numerous shops, was no token Of de-
cline IN business there. All aboard, and my soul
was soon enwrspped in the grandeur Of the scenery
of the noted "Horsc. Shoe bend live miles west
of Altoona. New York can boast Of the magnh-
cent scenery afforded the traveller while passing
over the Adirondacks. while the Western States
boast OF the grandeur OF their vast plains but
here as you near the summit oi the Alleghenn lies,
and behold the trees bending their huge trunks
to and fro for beneath you, aud behold the
pietur,sque beauty Of the distant mountains, you
are forced TO the conclusion that the scenery VI
the old "keysipne' stands IN uHapproaehable
majesty.
Directly on the summit OF the mountain is the
favorite Summer resort Of Cresson. Here, great
plumbers OF the city elite throngcd the Mountain
House, while the surrounding woods echoed back
the melcdious strains Of choice music which was
being played for the enterta inment of guests.
Descending the mountain from this point l
soon reached ConemBugb station, situated on the
ConemAugh river. West Of this two miles u the
old iron wn-Johnstown--with its moss covered
domes, presenting the appearance OF some ancient
town Of pameless antiquity. Twenty-Five miles
FROM Johnstown brought,us to Blairsyille, located
~ - III al Zee al
creek ,, 10 Indiana county. llerc my appetite was
gratifed by y sunptuous dinner at tho Union
House, where had the pleasure Of meeting
gent who said be was our eoasia. would like
TO have believed his statement, but, like Mark
Twain, was harrassed with doubts.
AT two O'Clock took passage on u train on the
West Penn. II. IT,, which follows the Klskimnctas
river, a distance of thirty eight miles, where it
joins the Allegheny Valley Railroad, twenty miles
north of Pittsburgh. .r...,.
Vending my way up the Allegheny river, |
Observed nothing worthy Of notice until caIne
to the old and romantic town Of kitanuing, the
county seat OF Armstrong county, and where re-
side some of Pennsy lyania's most useful and
prominent citizens Parker's landing, IN the
ibe same county, is some thirty eight mile. above
this. As the traveller apprOaches il, his eye is
arrested by some very hne buildings, pointing
their pencillcd tapcrs toward the skies, and il "a
connected with the nilroad portion Of the town
by splendid iron bridge across the Allegheny
river. The most conspicuous points Of attraction
between Patker's Landing and Franklin are the
elaborate OH tanks, the largest OF which is stid
to hold $4,000 baifels of oil. These are placed
near the railroad, while the oil is conveyed from
the various wells lsome sixty miles by ineans Of
the pipe line which runs over the surface Of the
country, climbing the hills Ne well as following
the valleys, the oil beHg forced up grade by means
of a force enenc.
Franklin, the county seat Of yenango county,
was at ons time the centre Of the oil trade, and
the many derricks which are TO be seen from the
city show that many wells are yet pfoductiye.-
Franklin is duly incorporated city, endowed
with all the city privileges. II contains sOme
5000 Inhabitants, A splendid iron bridge crosses
the Allegheny here. Immediately below the city
are the old relics Of Fort Vensngo, 90 remarkble
In the early history Of our country. Indian hero
glyphies, or the pictured rocks. mark the spot un
Ill The present day. fine soldiers monum ent
adorns the city, and was erected since the late
war in memory Of The honored dead. Franklin
also boasts Of six incorporated banks, and lawyers
too numerous TO mention, which In ny opinion is
no proper guarantee for its future safety or pros
perty. They tell me they have six months Of
Court during the year, and a.sisit 10 the Sabbath
prayer-meeting in the city prison revealed the
met tnat tney have none too much. There Is oac
man there at present who mas received the SEN
tence OF death. aud Is now awaiting The GoyernUr
to Ga the time Of his execution. The most pleas
ing feature Of Venango county Is her good
schools---two hundred and thirty Ave in number,
and sixty Inc Of which are graded. The schools
Of this city are graded in periest system and
employ about eighteen teachers. The schools Of
the county are under the efficient mana cement Of
4. W. Mcclure, County Superintendent. 1915
And now, Mr.. Editor, begging your pardon for
exhausting your patience with a long and unin
teresting letter, bid you a cordial adiea. N l
Yours, ALrnA.