The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-08-15


springs of pure, living water abound
but few hundred yards distant,
steam engine has been placed at one of
them, and water is forced up to res
ervoir in the building, which supplies
the house. Every provision has been
made for the comfort of the guests.
The house Is supplied with two fire es-
capes; there is well arranged bow
ling alley in the grounds, and the bill
lard room in the house. Mr.. G.. Il.
Kemp, agertleman oflarge experience
in the hotel business, is conducting the
house-this being his second year. The
hotel will accommodate about two
hundred guests comfortably, but since
then the fame of the place us delight
full summer resort has spread over the
land. Mr.. Kemp finds himself cramped
for room. Several times this season
the applications have exceeded the
limits of the house, and at the present
time it is comfortably filled. An ad-
dition to the building is already de-
manded. Its original cost was about
$4,000, and with an expenditure of
800, 900 ,hors, it could be made one of
the most charming ofall our mountain
resorts. The rarified atmosphere has
peculiarly invigorating effect upon
those who breathe it, imparting elias
ticity to the body and mind, and pro-
noting the recuperation of lost health.
SOME OF THE ATTRACTIONS.
This wild region is not without its
attractions aside from the primitive
forest. Excellent roads have been con-
structed to Smethport, the county seat,
and Ridgway, in the adjoining county
of Elk. The drive to Smethport,
twenty-five miles, is described as par
ticularly fine, and SO level that team
can trot nearly all the way. About
four miles from the hotel is an aban-
doned oil well, which is quite natur-
al curiosity. 1t was sunk to depth
of 1900 feet, when it was abandoned
on account of not finding oil. When
the casing was removed the water
rushed in, and at intervals of about
ten minutes it is elected by the gas, and
thrown to a height of one hundred
feet in solid stream, when it falls like
the spray of fountain. This phe-
nomenon, which is accompanied by
roaring sound, continues for four or
five minutes, when it subsidies, and
then after resting for ten minutes, re-
sumes its spouting again. Near Will
cox, nine miles distant, is a gas well,
which is quite curiosity. There is
also one at Sheffield, not far away,
which is of sufficient capacity to light
the whole town. But the principal
attractions are trout fishing and hunt
ing in season. All the streams are
filled with trout, and parties come
long distance for the sport of angling
for them. In the autumn many hunt
ing parties repair here to search for
deer, which abound in the woods. 1t
is remarkable that no savage beasts are
found in these wilds, and rattlesnakes
and venomous insects are unknown.
The only pest of the woods is little
gnat called a "pungy," but it will
disappear in course of time.
THE sCANDINAvIANs.
General Kane has taken particular
pains to induce hardy Swedes to settle
here and clear up farms. AT present
there is large settlement of them, and
it is source of surprise to notice their
success in clearing and cultivating the
land. AS observed before, the soil lis
good on this table land, and produces
we'll Potatoes grow finely, all kinds
of vegetables thrive; oats, rye and
grass grow well, but Che climate is not
adapted to the production of corn and
wheat on account of the frosts, which
appear both late and early at this alti-
tude. The country seems particularly
adapted to grazing purposes, as grass
grows well, and the raising of stock
and dairying may soon become profita-
BILE. General Kane has made it q
point to admit no Swedes but those
who can bring recommendations from
their pastors as to sobriety and indus
try. The results an excellent class of
settlers. Wild land is worth from $40
to S15 per acre, and improved land is
quoted at from S35 to $50. AS an in
ducement to settlers, the payments are
made easy. These Swedes are, as a
general thing, religious, their denom-
ination being Lutheran. In the set
tlement they have school houses, and a
handsome frame church, where they
worship, and another is talked of.
GENERAL KANE's RESIDENCE.
Half mile. from the hotel, on a
knoll nearly 2,lOO feet above the sea
level, is the handsome cottage of Gen
eral Kane, a glimpse of which can be
caught through an opening in the tim
Der by passengers from the car win
doWs as the train sweeps around the
curve in the road. 1t is furnished in
luxurious style, and there, with his es-
tinlabEe lady and interesting family,
he dispenses his princely hospitality to
all visitors. For thirteen years or
more they have spent the summer at
this charming place. The great ideal
conception of the general has been the
founding of magnificent park of
eight hundred acres at this point.