Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-08-02
PENNSYLVANIA LUMBER.
HemIock 0ispIacing Pine--A Journal
ist Inspired by Nature.
Yhs Calahsiaa q q lahosss-tlis Phiieeoohy
Supsriss b Our Ova.

AIeffNs "a, aug t--f lod1nk mySe1
durin. one of my frequent wanderings, in
the Lumber regions Of Pennsylvania. a
which wiliiams2ors, in Lycominy county,
is the center. the journalistic instinct and
habit have 50 asserted themselves as 10 lead
NE to observation Of things around me
and to their chrunicling.
Potter As well as the adjacent counties
are in general Sparsely settled aud remark
ably wild, considering their oontiguity to 80
many large Old towns The regioa lie
mostly among high, densely wooded hills
which furnish lumber supplies, and through
which narrow valleys offer opportunities
for building railways for the transpoftA-
ton of timber.
The two sawnaills in this village. owned
by single firm, use hemlock alone, and
the larger one produces more lumber, it is
said, than any single mill in the entire re-
public, or the world indeed. The two ex-
haust, hear. not less than 1000 acres OF
timber land annually. The firm are own
ers of nearly loo, 600 virgin acres and are
continually buying more land, which gives
a good idea of their ravages on the native
forests. They are Obliged therefore to build
new railroads into new districts every two
or three years, in order TO keep up their sup
ply Besides many miles Of these tram or
wood roads they are constructing q regu-
lar permanent line, the Buffalo and Sus-
queLanna, 20 miles long to Galeton, which
Will open upa vast area OF primal hem
locks. As the sawmills here turn out l20,
no,os0 feet of lumber year, great interest
is felt in the enterprise.
have been over bits Of the road again
and again l have ridden on the engine,
talked with engineers, brakemen, contract
ors, roadmasters, and have gained, as it
seems to me, quite railway education for
"a journalist. l have started out at early
dawn, when the valleys were shrouded in
fog, and have seen it gradually dispelled as
the morning advanced until the sun over
topped the wooded hills and burst in glory
over the broad, pictorial landscape under
my adIniring eyes. The experience is so
novel and refreshing to New York jour
nalist. who usually lies in bed till near
noon. that have enjoyed it greatly, feeling
in this thiuly inhabited region as IL were
thousands of miles from the hustle and dis
traction of cities and concentrated trade.
have taken my meals of humble fare
with the railway employees and have rel
ished them through exercise and appetite
as could not the daintiest dishes prepared
by Sherry or Delmonico, How true it is
that hunger is the best sauce and contact
with nature the finest tonic. In fact, the
life here is both invigorating and exhila-
rating. have tramped through the woods
from Is 10 20 miles without fatigue, my
blood all aglow and my pulses throbbing
from wholesome exertion and the stimulat-
ing open air.
Most of the railroad makers are foreign
ers-Seandinsvians, Hungarians and ltal-
ians particularly These are chiefly Gala.
brians and though they have less muscle
than the other uationalities they are pa
tient, sober, plodding. Ignorant, dull, SUI
perstitious, passionate, they are seldom
troublesome, and they generally give salts
faction if let alone. But il imposed upon
they fly into violent rage and whip out the
knife they always carry and become dan
gerous, desperate foes. Then they are eager
to shed blood While their fury lasts they
seem incapable of fear or mercy. They are
converted into wild beasts. and homicide is
frequently the result of any brawl
These Caiabrians have small, rude vii
lages. which they put up themselves and in
which they appear to be content. Wretch
el As their habitstions are, these are less
uncomfortable than those they have in
their own country. They earn sl25 day,
and on this they live and send something
home nearly every month. Coarse bread,
cheese and beer compose their diet, with a
few vegetables of their own raising, and
their solace is cheap, rank tobacco They
make US Americans feel what pampered
minions we are. Despite their semibar-
barism, as we regard it, they are instinct
lively considerate and polite-ten times
more so than our own people of lower
grade would be
They look very melancholy. as most of
their compatriots do, out of their own land.
They seldom smile, even when addressed in
their own language by native, and never
manifest any surprise, which is with us one
Of the evidences Of high breeding. They
speak dialect much like that Of the Sicil
iaiis-very different from Tuscan, though
Ineligible to any one who has studied
Italian.
Having, like most Americans who have
travelled abroad to any extent, a smattering
of tongues, have had little trouble in un
derstandins and making myself under
stood. Indeed thought the other day tho,
was getting ON excellently with them coll
sidering that had not been in Italy fol
years, when one Of their number Of superior
intelligence, who has been here good
while, said to me, You spheak fue word
Italian yer veil TO- Americana" When /
laughed audibly at this unintentional
irony at my linguistic attainments, he look
ed surprised, plainly not perceiving any
reason for my laughter.
When I observe how civil, patient, un
complaining, laborious. these poor, Hitter
ate Calabrians are, digging and wheeling
among the Pennsylvania hills 5000 mil /.
from their sunny. romantic, pictorial lar =.
I can't help admiring them and bel"
touched in way with their practical p
Iosophy, so much superior, in the facs =
pretense. to our boasted own.