VOL. IX.-NO. 26.

From the United States Gazette. SKETCHES IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.

Extract of a Letter from the Mountains.

PORT CARBON, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY,
June, 1832.

Well, my friend,—here I find myself at last, in the very heart of the coal region,-UP on the mountains, literally enjoying the pure gratifications so often promised to myself, and so often deferred. And, after looking round for a while, and breathing this wholesome air and drinking copiously of the peerless water which rushes down the mountain side at every step, I retire to keep my word with you. But, to tell you the truth, I feel that every minute spent thus is a privation of the glories which tempt me rather to be without doors, so I must be excused if I tell you some things which you know already, and give you a long story, for I am in too much of a hurry to deliberate or be brief.

To make the beginning of my journey the beginning of my story, will, perhaps, be the best order for my narrative. Our first day's ride was to Reading-coaches, teams, and drivers above all exception. The beauties of this part of the country generally, and especially after you mount the western bank of the Perkiomen, and the unrivalled charms of this town, shall not be dwelt upon, for what cit has not been as far as Reading?

The

On the next morning, after comfortable entertainment at Herr's inn, we were on the road again, the scenery becoming more and more romantic until we reached Port Clinton, at the confluence of the Schuyl kill and Little Schuylkill or Tamaqua. This is the first of the great works as you ascend to the mountains. The dams, locks, basins, &c. appear to be in the best style of workmanship, durable and imposing. supply will be from extensive mines of excellent coal up the Tamaqua, to which a rail-road is already laid to a distance of some twenty-two miles. A second line of rail-way, which seems to be indispensable to a large operation, remains to be accomplished; when this is done, Port Clinton must thrive rapidly. Its friends claim an advantage in its being so much nearer to the city, and its exports being therefore liable to much less canal toll than those of places more remote. But then it is answered, the principal mines are farther from this port than from most others,-greater rail-way tolls are therefore to be paid. Perhaps these matters will be about equivalent, and, whether or not, it seems idle to dispute about COMPARATIVE advantages between positions, each of which has POSITIVE advantages enough to ensure its prosperity.

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best manner, no expense being spared for what is useful, and nothing wasted in mere ornament.

Schuylkill Haven is fed by a rail-way, double line, which runs up the banks of the West Branch river, often crossing and re-crossing it upon well constructed viaducts (like a giant striding his prostrate adversary, who may fret and foam, but cannot rise to harm him) by Minersville, some twelve or fourteen miles, as far as from the Haven, if ascent it may be called; as soon as the Broad Mountain. The mines begin as you ascend small intervals diverging rail-ways to the right and to you pass through the Red-shell tract, then you see at the left communicating with the numerous collieries already opened, and the principal one passing up the of F. B. Nichols, Esq., particularly attracts attention; valley of the West-west Branch. At Minersville, the mine it is opened into the mountain but a small distance from the rail-road, and the coal may be almost said to be delivered from its mouth into a large chute, from whence it is passed directly into the cars. This is, however, by no means a rare convenience. Passing still upward, and by the excellent mines of Mr. Dundas and many others, and numberless latent rail-ways, you come to Messrs. Eldridge and Brick's fine mine on the Broad Mountain, the coal of which is said to be harder than that of some others, and for that reason is sometimes preferred. These mines all appear to be in full and profitable operation-of this we have had evidence in the numerous trains of cars, five in a string, carrying twelve and a half tons, which we met on our way up, and overtook on our way down to the Haven. These were drawn, or rather accompanied by a single horse, for their traces are seldom tight.

The whole of this work, the rail-way, is in the first of the engineer, Dr. Kugler, and to the spirit of the order of perfection, and does infinite credit to the skill company. Nothing is to be desired but the iron rails, and when the company finds it convenient to substi tute them, the work will be found perfectly prepared for their reception. Every thing has been done in the most substantial manner; and we heard with pleasure that the increase of the transportation, and a small addition to the toll, must quickly extricate the company from its debts, and reward the stockholders with hand

some dividends.

From Minersville you may cross over a mountainous,

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but good road, directly to Pottsville-distance, say four miles, or by Schuylkill Haven, and then along the turn. pike, eleven or twelve miles, and now we are at Pottsville and Mount Carbon, for these are one. Prise at the view of this extensive inland city just startdescribable. Its splendid and costly hotels, taverns and ed into being, like the mountain from the ocean, is inpublic edifices, elegant and convenient dwellings, extensive shops and stores-all these make it difficult to give credit to the representations of what this place was some four or five years ago. You must see Potts

judge of its growth. Doubtless this has been somewhat disproportioned, and perhaps premature. Pottsville, as a town, displays the same physical precocity which is said to characterize the minds of our youth. But it will soon gain strength proportioned to its size.

If it is to be lamented that the town has not gone

forward more slowly,-keeping pace with the actual increase of business and accumulation of wealth; still some excuse is to be found in the abrupt opening of such a scene of enterprise and adventure, perhaps without a parallel-and unavoidably tending to invite and encourage a spirit of reckless and thoughtless speculation. It might have been expected that a purgation would follow-that things would settle down at last into a more reasonable condition. This has proved to be the case. Still you see very few houses untenanted, and Pottsville is now again starting on the course of great prosperity, with an exchequer full of experience. The population consists generally of men of business, who calculate upon gaining a livelihood, less by their wits than by their works,- industrious, well-informed, intelligent, and even acute, generally temperate, certainly not less so than we find that of other similar towns. Here we met faces, and shook hands with young and old, whom we had missed for years, and now found fully occupied with respectable and profitable employment, as principals or agents. These meetings were occasions of reciprocal delight. They were like those with lost friends found in a land of promise.

The mines about the towns are hard to be numbered. But besides these, there are those of the Little and Big Norwegian Creeks-with excellent rail-ways, by which the mineral is poured from exhaustless stores into the lap of Pottsville. This beautiful town is of itself worthy of a journey ten times as long, even if it were less pleasant. I leave it here, as I did yesterday, when I left Col. Shoemaker's excellent inn, not without regret. But, if it were possible to say all I have to say about it, I would not, some things must be left for you to see and to wait until then to be known by you. Thence we go to Port Carbon, distance 1 to 2 miles, over an excellent road, which brings you suddenly to a fine view of the site of this junior town. Like the elder sister, it lies in a basin, rising as you recede from the river, upon a hill, forming an amphitheatre. It stands at the confluence of Mill Creek and the Schuylkill, occupying both banks of each, and at the head of the navigation of the latter, which suddenly terminates here, but with a full depth of water.

The prosperity of Port Carbon is already secured, by an extensive (ten miles) double rail-way,-leading along the river, sometimes in its very bed, and often crossing it-already as far as the Tuscarora Mountain, where passing by numerous other mines and lateral ways, you come to the valuable mines of Messrs. Blight, Wallace and Co., Lawton and others. A company is chartered to tunnel the mountain, and make a direct communication with the rail-road to Port Clinton. But the cost! It is perhaps too great to be encountered now,-nor is it at all necessary to Port Carbon. She has enough to employ her fully, and for centuries, in her immediate vicinity. From Tuscarora, Mauch Chunk may be seen, and there is a good road thither; with a line of stages passing daily each way.

endless water powers, to which forests of the finest timber are already bending their lofty heads. Its valleys too are said to be unusually fertile, affording the best pasturage, and its hills excellent arable, while the mountains give fine ranges for black cattle, sheep, swine, &c. Here are to be the fine farms which are to reward richly the toil of the husbandman, and to feed the mouths of the surrounding inhabitants with the fatness of the land. But the coal,-that is now every thing. The "ploughman has been tempted to leave his proper occupation by the prospect of sudden gain; but he will return more and more as he finds that he takes his tithe of profit from every ton of coal that is raised, by feeding the miner, not less surely than if he himself were working in the drift.

Up the creek and at a small distance, you begin with the invaluable mines of Col. Wetherill and others, yielding the mineral of a quality certainly, to say the least of it, not inferior to any. A double rail-way conducts it towards the port, near which it ends with numberless branches, like the mouths of the Nile, to the basins and landings of the numerous proprietors, where the coal is passed into large chutes, and thence, being by a simple contrivance screened in its descent, it goes into the boats waiting for their cargoes.

The town already contains a goodly number of well built, comfortable dwellings, and one especially, that of Mr. Lawton, is remarkably tasteful. The splendid store-house, of stone, built by Col Wetherill, would be an object of interest and admiration any where. Not a few of the inhabitants have had and improved the advantages of the best education; others too are intelligent, well-informed in matters of business, and of kind tempers, all forming what may lay fair claim to the appellation of a good society-with the more common, but not less valuable qualities of industry and integrity.

You have heard of late wicked attempts to fire this town, and it is surprising that no detection has yet been made of the perpetrators. It may be delayed, but it can hardly fail to come at last. In the meanwhile inquiries are zealously prosecuted, and measures taken to prevent a repetition of these cruel crimes.

A commodious bridge has just now been thrown across Mill Creek at the expense of Col. Wetherill, which shortens the communication between parts of the town; and it is contemplated to make other improvements which will open and beautify the whole scite, and must make Port Carbon as charming to the eye as it is destined to be prosperous.

Down the valley, as it is called, we come again to the port, and may take a fresh departure up the Mill Creek. This is a powerful, full, unfailing stream, and might well challenge the title of the river-affording

and west. It is unnecessary to dwell on the benefits which Port Carbon must receive from the change.

fects at different places. I believe there is but one doctor here (not one whole lawyer!) and the only patient I have heard of his having since I came, is in a line of practice indicative of the opposite of unhealthfulness, and affording employment in the city, as I am told, only to a very few of the profession, while for some DISEASES there is a doctor or an apothecary at every corner. In