Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-11-13
UP In PENNSYLVANIA.
"W. A." Concludes His Interesting Account
of His Recent Trip North.
Correspondence Of the Yorkville Enquirer.

| of His Recent Trip North.
Correspondence Of the Yorkville Enquirer.
BLAcKsBURG, November S.-As stated
in my communication of last week, the
land in Pennsylvania, before it is cleared
for cultivation, is not much, if any,
stronger or more fertile than the virgin
soil in our Piedmont region, and there
is a striking resemblance in the general
appearance of the surface Of the country
in the two sections, and of the primitive
growths of the forest, except that in
Pennsylvania the natural divisions of
hills and valleys are more decided; the
former higher and sleeper and the latter
of larger area and more continuously
level, 80 that it is not uncommon there to
see body of so or more acres as level as
floor, with high hills almost towering
into mountains on each side OF 1t.
One reason, think, for the continuity,
so to speak, of the lower lands, is the al
most entire absence of small streams of
water, which are very numerous here,
and tend to divide the level lands into
smaller bounds.
There is very little difference here and
| there in the kind and growth OF forest
Trees, except, that the pine doesn't flour
f., II as it does in the south, and missed its
majestic size and rich green foliage.
The population in the country, is much
greater than ours, and composed of an in
dustrious and thrifty class of people, who
are DEVOTED to their farms and homes.
i There is not much uncleared land ex-
cept on the steep mountain sides, and
since coal is SD cheap there-Sl to $3.50
per ton-it is from necessity as well as
economy the principal fuel used. Many
of the houses in the country are built of
the stones picked up off of the ground
but the larger number are OF brick, and
all built with view to thorough econo-
out the bitter cold air which prevails al
most continuously, and is so severe there
during the long winters.
| This year the fall was unusually late,
however, and the weather fine and warm
up to the time left there, and grapes
were still hanging in great abundance on
the vines and peaches, apples, pears,
plums and ounces on the trees.
At one time, Hollidaysburg was quite
an important iron manufacturing town;
but since the production Of cheaper iron
in Birmingham, Ala. and other places
south, and the concentration of the iron
industry i'm the larger plants at Home
stead and Pittsburg, the business has viz
tually been abandoned, and two Of the
principal manufacturers have gone to
Alabama. There is still one foundry in
operation, however, and rolling mill
occasionally. The getting. out OF lime
sides, are two of the principal industries
of that region. The limestone is used in
smelling the iron ore, and the canister,
which lies in great profusion on the sur
face of the ground, is very hard silicious
stone, and is crushed, ground into pow
der, mixed with fire clay and used to line
the converters Of iron into Bessemer steel.
Both of these products are shipped to
Pittsburg, Homestead and other places,
in immense quantities, and the work gives
employment to hundreds of men. An
other great help these people have and
which we are deprived of, is the liberal
distribution of pensions, which add much
to the general prosperity of the country.
Located few miles from Holidays
burg and in the same county, on the
main line of the Pennsylvania railroad,
is Altoona, the mountain city OF Penn
sylvania. 1t is one of the wonders OF
this age of railroad development, and
one of the most magnificent examples OF
the growth and progress of railroad
work. Not half century old, it is a
about 10000. Here are located the largest
railroad shops i'm the world, belonging to
the Pennsylvania Railroad company, and
they are the chief source of the wealth
and magic growth of the city. Through
the courtesy Of Master Mechanic Davis, l
was shown through a portion of the
shops; but am not equal to an intelligent
description of the ingenious and ponder
ous machinery and the many different
departments an engine or car is taken
through before it comes out ready for the
road. Thousands of skilled mechanics,
whose wages are from 50 To IS day, are
employed in these shops, and hundreds
more are in the city who are only hired
occasionally in cases of emergency or dur
| ing the buster seasons of the year.
In closing this brief and very imper-
feet sketch of visit which will always
he most delightful memory, l must say
that / never met with more hOspitable
or kinder hearted people. l was made
to feel quite at home wherever went,
and was treated with that consideration
and kindness which only intelligent ano
| liberal minds are capable of extending to
strangers. Among all those whom met,
there was always a kindly expression for
our Southland, and while could not, for
want of space, mention the many to
whom I feel indebted, yet cannot omit
telling of a most delightful day spent,
among the last, at Point View, a charm
lug TtSOIl WI Iilc iINEI1
about II miles from Hollidaysburg. This
beautiful and romantic spot was first no.
ticed and named by Mr.. P. w. Snyder,
citizen of Hollidaysburg, and a gentle
man Of means and culture.
A tract of mountain land was purchased
by MIR. Snyder and his brother several
years ago at this place, and a handsome
Stone cottage erected. Soon other wealthy
people of Hollidaysburg and Altoona,
perceiving the beauty Of the location,
bought lots and built cottages, and now
the Point is getting to be popular sum-
mer resort. Here is the three mile dam
of the old Pennsylvania canal, which
affords in summer delightful place for
rowing and boating, and in winter, mil
lions of tons Of ice for company which
has immense storage buildings on the OPP
posite side of the river from the Point.
| The Pennsylvania railroad has branch
line along the bank of the river, which
has daily passenger trains, and hauls
over hundred carloads Of lime and gam
lister stone daily, from the mountain
sides. My family and myself were the
guests of Mr.. Snyder and his accom-
plished wife and daughter, and besides
the genuine and warm-hearted entertain
ment given us, we were treated to some
very interesting historic lore, by MIR.
Snyder, about the place.
The old Pennsylvania pike, built before
railroads were thought of, and the great
thoroughfare from the eastern part of the
state and world to the Great West, passed
near here, and some Of the old mile