Year: 1866




Since my return from my trip, lew lot-
tings Of which YOU were good enough 10
print, have tried to compare our city with
those have seen, and venture to give you
some of the thoughts that have suggested
themselves to my mind.


And first in answer to the question: Have
I seen any more advantageously situatedg
am sure have not, because we have the
first great essential of all true advancement,
"a rich agricultural cottntrg-let me COM
pare. AT Pottsyille, all food has to be brought
many miles. AT Allentown, Reading and
Harrisburg, they have fine grain and stock
farms, but almost no vegetables orr soil TO
raise them. We have west OF us, as fine a
grain and stock country as is TO be found.
South of us very much fine grain land and
the rest of it, perhaps, without superior for
trucking, while North of us, we have what
did not see anywhere in my trip-a first
rate dairy country.


Next to this, should, think, come pro-
ductions of mines. OF these we have none
Nor have they at Harrisburg. Pottsville, in
its coal, and Reading, in its iron ore, are su-
perior to us in this, but we have what they,
none of them, have, tide aoqtsgzaapart Of u
mile on the Delaware-open to all the marts
of the World, by the cheapest mode of CON
veyance.


In the matter of water-power we are equal
to any and superior to most places. Well,
l ask myself what is it we need? Isnot the
answer, RaU products at first cost We
now must get our coal by way of either
Philadelphia or Baltimore, and, of course,
pay more for 1t. We must get our iron by
way of Philadelphia, and pay more for it..
Our lumber by way of Philadelphia, and
pay more for it. Our cotton from Philadel-
phia Or Baltimore and pay more for it. Now
If with all Of these disadvantages our ma
| chinists, our cotton and woollen manuiactur-
ers, our iron. boat builders, our carriage max
ers and our other successful manufacturers
various kinds, can pay the extra cost of trans
portation in almost all the raw material they
use to Wilmington, and then meet the com
| petition OF the great markets in which they
sell their wares, there must be some good
reason torit in the situation of our city.
believe there is in the fact that our agricul,
tural products are so varied and cheap
think any one can lie convinced that the
Railroad to Reading, which will put us
nearer TO Harrisburg, Pittsburg and Buffalo,
than Philadelphia now is by the Pennsyl
vania Railroad route, and as near to the
/ great iron and Anthracite coal districts oi
Eastern Pennsylvania, and, of course, give
US all these raw materials us cheap II moi
cheaper, than they now are in Philadelphia,
thus saving the present charge on them ol
transportation by rail OF water from Phia
delphia TO Wilmington, will give us such d
pre-eminence OF position tharour city will
start into new life Perhaps am too eli
thusiastic. l intend going over the SAINT
ground again, and would suggest TO til,
President OF the Wilmington and Reading
Railroad that he should arrange for an ex
clrsion as soon as the weather will permit
to take Il party Of the most enterprising o
our citizens over just about the route have
been, and l think it will result in as full
conviction to their minds as it has 10 mine
that we ought not to rest until we hear The
whistle of the locomotive as it passes along
the banks of our now quiet


BRANDYwINE.