Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-07-05
A TRIP TO PITTSBURG.
Via Toledo THIN, Mansfield and Al.
nance.

From Toledo to New Washing
ton. the country appears to be
a dead level; but | am inform.
= ed that it has an inclination
sufficient for drainage. 1t is what was
once allied the black swamp" and
when thoroughly underdraned will be
the garden OF Ohio Between Tinin
and Mansfield. we cross the region Of
the oil fields, studded with a forest of
derricks, extending several miles along
our line of road, and reaching back
into the country on either SIDE beyond
the power of vision. These deriicks
Indicate the numerous OIL wells over
this vast district, sunk hundreds of feet
below the surface, in such close prox-
unity that several of them are pumped
10y a single engine by means of coup
ling poles Millions of dollars have
been sunk with these wells The
mighty draught on this great oil basin
mas been such as to exhaust the supply
Of the subterranean reservoir, and the
pumps are now at rest most of the
time, to allow the wells to become
scantily supplied from the drainage /
that oozes from the porous oil bearing |
rock. On starting up the pumps. the
wells soon become dry.
The country shows gentle. undula-
ting surface before reaching Mansfield,
and continues to grow more so as we
advance. While Ohio presents good
farming country, think the lower pen
insula of Michigan will bear favor
able comparison The spring farm
work and growing crops are no further
advanced in Ohio than here in this por-
ton of Michigan. The snow and frost
on the 18th and 18th of May was as
severe through Central Ohio, and so on
to Pittsburg, as in central lower Mich
igan. 4
We pass many enterprisng manu-
80 ''""S III EASTERN ONO ana I
western Pennsylvania, giving Us a !
faint foreta'te Of the eternal cloud. of 9
smoke that oyershadow Pittsburg.
Our stay in the smoky city was from !
the morning of the 10th to the morning i
of the 2oth Of May, in attendance on a
the 10th General Assembly of the a
Presbyterian Church of the L. S. A.
which was repr, scented by an ENROLL ;,
ment OF 5s6 members, consisting of II
about an equal number IF ministers and 7,
elders and host of others were pres
mt. Every section of the Union from
Maine to Mexico, from Alaska 10 the
ape of Florida, and goodly number al
# home and foreign mission fields were vi
eprcsented. ~
The General Assembly ia an august
'ody OF intelligent men, capable Of die. FRI
atchng an immense amount Of bust. WI
ess IN very limited period Of time. IN,
overned by the intlexiblc parliamen- m,
ry rules, without let, hindrance. or
lvor The sound OF the gavel meant ces
u,lness. The order Oi business was far
'eled oil with the precision Of the tBc
IoNelhentS OF tlmepecc. In discus SUI
~ important questions, ana no others bus
ere entertained 1t frequently became I
'ccssary for time limited speeches in Ha
der to give opportunity To a greater bus
lmber to express their views. The as '
eneral Assembly is great represent. till.
i've body sent mp by the prcsbyterie. to t
roughout the United States. havinO q cejt
institution and laws peculiar 10 itself. per-
crclslng ecclesiastical jurisdiction 2ers
er the church at home and in foreign bu4
Ids. 1t possesses eccleSiastic leoisla- last
e, judicial, and executive 30 ,er over he u
e Presbyterian church. limited by its the
Institution In the exercise Of its iu- very
1al power 1t IS court Of appeals rails,
Il OF last resort. Fortunately we had Ri
one before the assembly on trial. says
q there been, ! have no doubt but pror
At Justice. as heretofore, would have frou
IN weighed out on an impartial the
am. n
Dur business hours were from = harr
10 u m. and from Ga ing
,cl, 80 H., ,.,,,,,,..:.,. W - r. III com
" 20 '"' '"'I'ii'ttce Work was done The
ring the morning, noon and evening seed
esses. The morning sessions were Nh
'ned with devotional exercises. and . .lie
the sessions closed with prayer. and
ne was observed As an important secor
tor IN opening and closing the daily al. bu
'ionS, subject, however to change small
a majority vote of the Assembly ond :
-.. SIN
osessions were held Saturd aft the !
oons' as 1t was necessary To use the which
lrnoon IN pren,rat,or . devel
!, .,,,.i,,,,, =. ''' Vnc oao- IL is
-, 9Oi 20 a. II was expected that by 40
the pulpits of the two cities. Pitts in tn,
y and Allegheny. A. vol a. III, the g
no TOWNS do,y,, ~. plt RENE,
'"o 'hio ~ mp the are a.
egnany and Monongahela Rivers. The
es away, would be filled nv Pros. soluti
pIlnn plpfUymaf from, a t.,.,.I Dlue-s