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PENNSYLVANIA. 



is generally a pure English, but, in many counties 

 the German prevails to u considerable extent. The 

 character of the I'ennsylvanians is somewhat diver- 

 sified by difference of extraction and various modes 

 of education, but this is chiefly in minor points. The 

 facilities of receiving education are great. There is 

 u university in Philadelphia, and colleges have been 

 established at Carlisle, Canonsburg, Washington, 

 Pittsburg, and Meadville, and provision has been 

 made by the legislature for the establishment of an 

 academy in every country in the state. There are 

 also flourishing Moravian schools at Bethlehem, 

 Nazareth and Litiz, and, by the will of the late Ste- 

 phen Girard, of Philadelphia, a fund of 2,000,000 dol- 

 lars (to be augmented, if necessary, by rents of real 

 property, and residuary personal estate) has been ap- 

 propriated for the establishment of a college for the 

 education of orphan children. The different religious 

 denominations in Pennsylvania, are Presbyterians, 

 Methodists, German Calvinists, German Lutherans, 

 Friends, Episcopalians, Baptists, Roman Catholics, 

 Seceders, Covenanters, Universalists, Swedenbor- 

 gians, Jews, and Unitarians. 



With regard to the face of the country, the moun- 

 tains strike the eye at the first glance on a map, as 

 the most prominent natural features. The Appala- 

 chian system in the United States generally extends 

 in a direction deviating not very essentially from 

 south-west to north-east, but in Pennsylvania, the 

 whole system is inflected from that course, and tra- 

 verses the state in a serpentine direction. Towards 

 the south boundary, the mountains lie about north- 

 norlh-east, gradually inclining more eastwardly as 

 they penetrate northward, and in the central counties, 

 many of the chains lie nearly east and west. But, as 

 they extend towards the northern border of the state, 

 they again gradually incline to the north-east, and 

 enter New York and New Jersey in nearly that di- 

 rection. The principal ridges on the east side of 

 the Susquehannah, are the Kittatinny or Blue moun- 

 tains, behind which, and nearly parallel to them, are 

 Peters, Tuscarora, and Nescopeck mountains. On the 

 west side of the Susquehannali are the Kittatinny 

 ridges, comprising the North or Blue, the Horse and 

 the Tuscarora mountains, Sherman's hill, Sideling 

 hill, Ragged, Great Warrior's, Tussey's, and Wills's 

 mountains; then the great Alleghany ridge, which, 

 being the largest, gives name to the whole ; and 

 west of this are the Chestnut ridges, including the 

 Laurel hill. Between the Juniatta river and the 

 west branch of the Susquehannah are Jack's, Tussey's, 

 Nittany, and Bald Eagle mountains. The mountain 

 area has been estimated at 6750 square miles, or 

 very nearly one seventh part of the superficies of the 

 state. Some of these mountains admit of cultiva- 

 tion almost to their summits, and the valleys between 

 them are often of a rich black soil, suited to the 

 various kinds of grass and grain. The other parts 

 of the state are generally level or agreeably diversi- 

 fied with hills and vales. The principal rivers are 

 the Delaware, Susquehannah, Schuylkill, Lehigh, 

 Alleghany, Monongahela, Ohio, Juniatta, Youhio- 

 geny, and Clarion, formerly designated as Toby's 

 creek. Besides these main streams, Pennsylvania is 

 watered by numerous large creeks and rivulets, to 

 as great a degree as the same extent of country in 

 any part of the United States. This state deserves 

 credit for her numerous improvements in turnpike 

 roads, canals, railroads, and bridges, which have 

 been constructed in a superior style of excellence 

 and durability. The first turnpike road in the 

 United States was made in Pennsylvania. 



The soil of Pennsylvania is much diversified ; in 

 some parts it is barren, but a great proportion of it 

 Is fertile, and a considerable part very excellent. 



West of the mountains, the soil of the first quality is 

 a deep black mould, equal in fertility to any part of 

 the United States. Wheat is the most important 

 article of produce. Indian corn, rye, buckwheat, 

 barley, oats, flax, hemp, beans, peas, and potatoes 

 are extensively cultivated. Apples, cherries, pears, 

 peaches, and plums are abundant. The trees 

 natural to the soil are hemlock, pine, hickory, wal- 

 nut, wild cherry, locust, maple, chestnut, mulberry, 

 oak, gum, sassafras, elm, and poplar. The mag- 

 nolia glauca grows in low grounds, and the acumin- 

 ata attains to a great height among the western 

 mountains. Grapes are common, and some of 

 them, mellowed by frost, with the addition of 

 sugar, make a pleasant wine. The wild plum and 

 crab apple grow in abundance. Foreign grapes 

 have in some counties been cultivated to advantage, 

 and wine and brandy, of good quality, have been 

 made. This article of manufacture has hitherto 

 been a matter of experiment only. The sugar- 

 maple, in the western and northern parts of the 

 state, is abundant, and the inhabitants generally 

 make therefrom a sufficient quantity of sugar for 

 home consumption. Iron ore is distributed, in large 

 quantities, in many parts of the state, and the 

 manufacture of iron from the ore, through the 

 furnace, the forge, the foundery, the rolling and 

 slitting mill, the nail cutting machine, up to the 

 finest cutlery, is carried on to a greater extent than 

 in any other state in the Union. Copper, lead, and 

 alum appear in some parts of the state. Limestone 

 and marble, of the finest quality for the purposes of 

 architecture and statuary, abound in various parts of 

 the state. In the middle counties, anthracite, BJid 

 in the western, bituminous coal, is found in great 

 abundance. 



This state is famous for its breed of draught 

 horses, and nature has abundantly supplied the 

 forests witli game. Deer, turkeys, pheasants, and 

 partridges are numerous. Wild ducks are found 

 on almost every stream. Wild geese, swans, and 

 pigeons are migratory, and frequently found in large 

 flocks. Singing birds of various notes and plumage 

 are common. In the eastern rivers are found rock- 

 perch, bass, shad, and herring, which come from the 

 sea in large shoals. In the western waters there is 

 a species of catfish, weighing from fifty to a hundred 

 pounds ; likewise pike, of an enormous weight and 

 size, are found. Sturgeon is common to both sections 

 of the state. In the smaller streams, trout, pike, 

 chub, sun-perch, mullet, catfish, and white salmon 

 are found in their several seasons. Bears, panther?, 

 wild cats, foxes, wolves, beavers, otters, and raccoons 

 are more or less common, in proportion to the pro- 

 gress of settlement and cultivation. Rabbits and 

 squirrels are still abundant. In the low grounds are 

 found minks, muskrats, and opossums. Of the 

 numerous tribe of snakes, the bite of the rattlesnake 

 and copperhead alone is deadly. 



The Pennsylvania farmer lives as comfortably as 

 any one of his station in any part of the world. 

 Commodious farm houses of stone or brick, exten- 

 sive barns and farm buildings, show the agricultural 

 prosperity of the state. Log and frame houses are 

 common in the new settled country. In the towns 

 and villages is a considerable proportion of brick 

 and stone houses. 



Pennsylvania exceeds all the other states in the 

 variety and extent of her manufactures, some of 

 which are of superior excellence. Those of iron 

 have been mentioned. The various fabrics from 

 wool and cotton give ample employment to the 

 capitalist and the artisan. All the necessaries of 

 life, and many of its luxuries, are to be found in 

 this state, the produce of its soil and the labour pi 



