The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-04-02
Harrisburg Letter.
HARRISBURG, March 30, 1879.


the appearance in general of our Cap
itol city many will read the letters oI
"Verltas" and wish for some impress.
ion of the place as we'll as purpose oI
legislation. Harrisburg, as we used
to sing at school, is still on the Susque-
hanna. The river is wide, rapid and
shallow, dotted with islands; is not
navigable for steamboats,, and is
crossed by two bridges at this point,
one for the railroad, the other for gen.
eral travel. Front street is broad and
has shady park on the side next the
riYer, while the other is faced with res
licences, many of them fine specimens
of architectural splendor General
Simon Cameron's residence was the
old Harris mansion built in 1857,
although of course now remodeled and
improved, Near here stands the stump
Of the tree to which the Indians tied
John Harris founder of this place.
They intended burning him but he
was rescued and lived to tell the blood
curdling tale to his descendants. His
grave is in the immediate vicinity,
according to his expressed desires.
Several squares farther up the river
stands Senator j. Don Cameron's
house, built Of irregular blocks of
limestone, forming neatly fitting
- mosaic curious and beautiful. The
Governors mansion is also on the
river bank. 1t is a rather ordinary
brick structure but is elegantly fitted
and furnished within. Near Senator
Cameron's are the water works, and
running from the river to Capitol Hill
is broad State street. Here stands the
Soldiers monument, an obelisk of
granite, effective in its simplicity. The
Capitol grounds are extensive and
tastefully laid out with drives, walks,
stone steps ascending the natural ele-
walton, trees, shrubbery, and in sum-
mer are made gay with flowers, and
musical with the tinkle of a fountain
flowing over rockwork. A fine monu.
ment is here erected to the memory of
the heroes who fell in the war of Mex
leo. The Capitol buildings are three
in number and rather ancient looking,
of red brick with columned portico's
in front. Entering the stone paved
rotunda of the middle building we
turn to the left and are within the
Senate Chamber. The room is fur
nished in green, and the fifty grave CD
Senators are presided over by your
pleasant neighbor of Warren, Lieut..
Gov. Stone. His arm. however, does
not deTelop mu sole as rapidly by the
use of the gavel as does Speaker
Longs in the House. just across the
rotunda. In the latter Chamber 2O1
members are or owded in closely, and
when an exciting measure is before the
House, it requires semc pretty forcible
blows ofthe gavel to restore order.
While one man s-speaking there are
zoo brains trying TO pick flaw in
what ne says, if it is of any import
ance; so there is often eonfusic.l of
tongues. This week they have been
agitated over the Riot Bill. Two days
of discussion have told against it, and
the presence of Sam Josephs and
others of that ilk here do not recon-
mend the Bill. John Welsh, ofSchuyl-
Kill, in a communistic speech in its
favor said "he wished the losses had
been $50,000,000 instead ofS4, 900, 900,
and that the State had to pay every
cent Of it," The Hon. Johns constit.
uents are calling him to account for
his utterance. The Bill comes up
again ednesday, and may be there
to see and here. Now let US pass to
the floor above where are various
apartments, and the State Library.
This is we'll arranged, and we'll atten-
ded by the librarian, G. L. EhreAfeId,
and his obliging and gentlemanly as.
sistant Mr.. j. R. Orwig. There are,
believe, about 10000 volumes of Law
and miscellaneous books. and it is in
such rooms as these that we can real
ize the full force of Solomon's aphor-
ism: "Of making many books there is