20 Bearer Meadow Mine. 



It is one mile and a half from the Berwick turnpike road upon 

 which we were travelling from Mauch Chunk to the Susquehanna. 



This mine was opened in 1813 and as the title was contested, Mr. 

 Beach of Salem, on the Susquehanna, who claimed it, could not give 

 a clear title till last winter, when he gained the suit, and sold five hun- 

 dred and fifty acres to Judge Barnes of Philadelphia. A company 

 is about to be formed to carry on the business of the mine. A rail 

 road is in contemplatation either to the Schuylkill or to the Lehigh. 

 If to the latter, it is said that it will be constructed down Beaver creek 

 to the Lehigh, and down this stream to Mauch Chunk ; the whole 

 length to be eighteen miles, eleven to the Lehigh and seven down that 

 stream. Active exertions are now making in Philadelphia* to accom- 

 plish the object of working this mine and conveying its coal to market. 

 It is well worthy of the effort. The coal is universally regarded as 

 being of the best quality ; all persons whom we heard speak of it 

 agreed in that opinion ; the appearance of the coal corresponds 

 with that impression, and its burning too, as far as we could judge by 

 limited opportunities of observation. The mine is in the side of a 

 hill ; there is no roof or only a very thin one ; it is worked, open to 

 the day like a quarry, it is already fairly disclosed, and there is no 

 apparent impediment to obtaining any quantity of the coal that may 

 be desired. The situation of the mine is not however much eleva- 

 ted above the general surface of the country in its vicinity but there 

 is descent enough, as we were assured, to carry off the water. 

 Smiths, it is said, come a great distance to obtain the coal of this mine, 

 because it is so free from sulphur and in every respect so good. 



The remainder of our ride to Berwick upon the Susquehanna 

 twenty two miles, presented nothing more interesting than fine scenery 

 of mountains, valleys and defiles which were particularly conspicu- 

 ous, as we travelled across the ridges. We passed the Susquehan- 

 na upon a good bridge, and pursued our way, up the western bank, to 

 Longshore's ferry. While our carriage was ferried over in the large 

 boat, our little party passed, a mile above, in a skiff, and enjoyed, in a 

 fine afternoon, the splendid scenery, in a great bend of the river, form- 

 ing to the eye, a fine lake just below the Nanticocke mountain, which 

 here, on the eastern side, comes down to the water's edge. Our ride on 

 the western bank was rendered somewhat inconvenient by the unfin- 

 ished operations on the great canal, which is destined to connect the 

 valley of Wyoming and ultimately the State of New York with the 



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* Private letter to the Editor since his return. 



