The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-08-05
LETTER FROM REV. G. ".
- iHANNA.
j: Ne,o York-4h IL: Biz; Iii Mjio,atoins-1 he
C0Ul Fields Of Pa. :, I,

HYDE>PARl<, Pa., uly,slS, looO.~-
EDITOR ADVANCE: It has been a lit.
tie more than one month since left
the little village of Wortl'ington, its
beautiful lakes, rolling prairies, and sa.
cred memories of the past, and started
for the great Metropolis of the United
States. IT time would permit, should
like to speak Of the Elevated Railway
of New York City. of Central Park, of
the Museum of Fine Arts, of my trip to
Brooklyn, the sermon by DR.. Talmadge,
the choir, audience room and the crowd
of people, but must pass from these
well known scenes and ask you to fol.
low me us l go from New York to
Scranton, Pl. The region known as
the great bituminous coal fields. of
Pennsylvania. AS l take the journey I
wish that every member of my chill
dren's class and all who kindly remem-
Der me could be along. It is pleasant to
go rs a Sunday school to Sioux Falls on
an excursion but it would be far grand
er to make a trip through the Blue
Mountains. Instead Of large tract of
level rolling land destitute of trees,
where no object meets your eyes above
the horizon, you pass through noun
tain region known for the grandeur Of
it's scenery.
The Blue Mountains belong to a great
mountain system known as the Appa-
lachain Or Allegheny Mountains. They
average in height about ! 800 to 800 it.
above tie level of the sea, and at their
base are about miles in breadth. Their
highest SUBMITS are White Top, said to
possess an altitude OF G.O0O it. and Pow
ellis Mount said to reach $500 it. An
impressive feature which attracts the
attention of the tourist IS that these
lofty peaks and elevations are covered
with Il heavy growth of hemloclz and
various kinds Of wood. Occasionally
YOU can get glimpses Of the geological
formations. The casual observer may
detectsin the different strata, granite,
gneiss, mica, clay, slate and the primi-
tive limestone.
The most attractive feature of the
Blue Mountain is the great bituminous
coal field Of Pennsylvania, which ex-
tends into Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky,
Tennessee and Alabama. The worka-
Die area OF this coal field is estimated ut
900 square miles. AS it is Il common
thing in the west to see elevators, so it
is common here to see coal-breakers,
which very much resemble the grain ell
evators Of the west. at the entrance
ct each coal mine you will see one Of
these breakers. The coal is brought
ont from the mountain in cars which
are drawn up an inclined plane to the
top of the coal-breaEer. The coal which
is in large chunks, is dumped into the
breakers where it is broken into the va
rious sizes and kinds of coal. In the
region of Hyde Park, Pa, from which
I write, may he seen hundreds of these
coal breakers. The region Of country
underneath the town is tunnclled for
miles in every direction where they
have rem owed the coal. In many places
these channels lave cayed in, doing
great damage to buildings. The hotel
where l AIN ROW stopping was lowered
one night a foot or more by the mile
falling in. AS result the inmates va
Gated the building for several days
In closing [ wish to say am now
stopping i'll the region of country whore
coal WAS first discovered and used. In
1853 Anthracite coal was first discover.
ed in Wyoming Co., Pa. In 1SOSJudge
Jesse Fell, Of Wi!lesberry, Luzerne Co.,
Pa, burned coal III a CRATE in his house.
This was the beginning of the use of
coal as fuel for warming the houses.
AS view these immense coal fields,
turning out each year total Of over
59,o0O,O 600 tons Of coal my mind goes
back to the people Of Minnesota who
use hay for fuel and wish that they
could only have access to the quantities
OF coal that arc thrown away. But if
You as State have not mineral wealth
and mountain scenery, you have il State
noted for its beautiful lakes, it's clear
crystal waters and euphonious Indian
names, its beautiful climate 50 favora-
ble to health and longevity. The water
power of st. Anthony, the St. Croix,
Vermi!lion. Pokegama and Cannon
Falls, and hundreds of similar cascades
and rapids combine to give Minnesota
a water power which challenges the
world for Il parallel.
9. w. HANNA.
UNEQUALIZ.A 7ION or TAKES.
EDITOR ADVANCE: In Il recent issue
OF the ADVANCE; we note an article on
the disqualification Of Taxes" This
is we think a matter of the greatest
concern to all parties interested in tax
paying. Our taxes are about rs badly
mixed up as it is possible for any set of
affairs to become. Now, while we do
not wish to make any direct charges a.
galnst any one, we do wish to state
some facts and ask some PLAIN questions:
Why is it that when our assessors who
are elected (nolninally it seems) for the
purpose Of fixing values, set value on
two quarter secs. of land that are alike.
one is lowered and the other is raised!
Is this justice? Still another instance
has fallen under our observation. Two
men i'll the same neighborhood owned
parcels Of land, one so acres the ether
100 acres. The lands were apparently
OF equal value per acre originally, but
the 100 acre farm was well improved as