The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-12-28


railroad. The inaccessibiity of this re-
yon has coused 1t to be very little explored,
and we find on the North mountain, pro-
Dably the largest stretch of Virgin forest
in the State. Stretching from
The head of the West branch of Fishing
Creek Eastward along Bowmans Creek
and the Mahoopany is vast extent of un-
explored territory, reaching North and
South from the waters Of the Loyalsock to
the face OF the North mountain an area Of
several hundred thousand acres, entirely
except few scattered clear
ings on its outskirts.
The Fishing Creek waters appear to af-
ford the best means of access to this terri
tory, and the route selected and surveyed
by Mr.. Brow gives road of workable
grades which can be constructed at modcr-
ate expense. Considerable distance, of
course, is lost In ascending the mountain,
but this is a necessity, to secure workable
grades. While / obtained a very fair
knowledge of the topography of the count
ry, more particularly of the valley of Fish
ing Creek proper and of the portion, North
of the mountain on my recent trip, could
not in three or four dPys max c critical
examination of the whole country. The
waters of Huntingdon Creek might give an
available route to the North mountain Pla-
teau, though it is very doubtful if such
route would be better than the one selected
by Mr.. Brown. 1t is question for you to
consider whether it is worth while to ex-
anime the Huntingdon creek route instru-
mentally. BY running directly to the foot
of the mountain, and using incline planes
to overcome the 1900 feet of elevation,
some II miles of distance could be saved.
am inclined to think, however, that it is
hardly worth while to consider such a
scheme A hurried trial line was run up
the East branch of Fishing Creek, but no
location has been projected on that route.
If that route would better develop the land
which you desire to reach, it might be well
to make a location on the East branch, and
compare the results with that of the pre-
sent location. An outlet for this reason
via. Fishing Creek will reach the principal
markets South & East by much less dis.
tance than can be had by road following
any of the streams which flow West of the
mountain crest.
The object Of my recent trip over the
line of your proposed Railroad, was to OBJ.
tain general knowledge of the country
and of its topography, character and re.
sources. was fortunate in being accom-
panied by Col. II. B. Ricketts, Of Wilkes.
Barre, gentleman who has made q
thorough study of the North mountain dis
trict, who is perfectly familiar with its to-
biography, Geology & resources, and who
kindly placed at my disposal his private
maps gave every explanation asked for,
and piloted me from point to point, so that
was enabled to see much more in thu
time at my disposal than could possibl.
have done without his aid.
The Fishing Creek Valley from Rupert
to the mountain is a good farming countr.
interspersed with numerous small villages
On either side of the valley is a farming
country, which at present has no Railroad
facilities nearer than the valley of thu
North branch of the Susquehanna. Imme
diately IN the vicinity of Bloomsbury ar,
large quantities of the well known fos 81
iron ore of the Montour ridge. With thi
exception there are no minerals of any com
mercial value along the line of the roat
South of the mountain. After leaving til
valley OF Fishing Creek we strike the tim
Der region. The mountain Plateau Is GOV
cred with heavy growth of Spruce, Hem
lock and hard wood, with few isolate
patches of White Pine. Col. Ricketts, VIII
has explored the region extensively, i
company with experienced lumbermen es
acres of Virgin timber land on the mour
tain Plateau in Sullivan Luzerne & Wyon
ing Counties. Immediately on the Loya
sock there are several saw mills, the lum
ber from which l saw being hauled to Be
nice. am informed that at Thorndale an
Laporte, both of which are West of the te
ritory / examined, there are tanneries,
operation, and | saw some Hemlock tin
Der which had been cut down, and frol
which the bark had been removed. l vi
tied high point on clearing near tn
Wyoming County line which overlookt
the valleys of the Loyalsock, Mahoopar
and Bowmans Creeks, from which coul
see vast areas of unbroken timber land e
tending to the limits of the horizon maj
miles from where l stood.
Ganoga Lake otherwise known as Lol
Pond, is a sheet Of water about mile lon
situated near the Turnpike road and abo
81 miles North from the crest of the mou
tain its outlet is by Kitchen Creek,
branch of Huntingdon Creek, which latte
: as before stated, is tributary Of FISH
Creek. At Genoga Lake is clea
ing, on which there is a large a
substantial two story stone house,
. three story frame boarding house, bal
and other buildings, the place having be
improved and fitted up as Summer Wat
> ing Place, capable of accommodating FRI
200 to $50 guests. After leaving the 10y
n sock creek to come eSouth-"Ganoga LAX
is the only habitation on the mountain, q
= East and West of it is an unbroken wild
y ness for many ililes in either direction.
u large tract of land around and includ
y Ganoga Lake is owned by Col. Ricke
=, who is the only person that has explo
- this section for minerals, and am indie
- - ed to him for the information which
," tanned in the matter. Col. Ricketts,
made u number of drifts, test pits
ie shafts, some of which | visited aud ex
nc ined. A bed of valuable Yellow Ochre
u been opened at a number OF places. 1t
~ les from to 6 feet thick. Col. Ricketts,
I'll Inmates it to average feet in thickn
IL and states that he has traced it sufficie
49, to warrant him in claiming that it un
ne lies 10000 acres what it may be hey
III this area is not known.
s Immediately under the Ochre bed
~ vein of iron ore about twelve inches Il
-, 1t shows at the outcrop as brown lii
oN tite whether il remains the same u
" cover, cannot be stated, as it has not
'o' developed. Col. Ricketts, reports
=" giving about 33 per cent, of metallic
'"i being very low in Phosphorus and