876 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



When they urge water as the best beverage, they should be prepared to supply it of 

 good and wholesome quality. For our part, we never drink the article in Lancaster, 

 except in the fonn of tea or coffee, and even these are rendered unpalatable by the 

 properties of the water. We do not know whether any plan of supplying the city 

 with pure water is practicable. If it be so, we would hold up the example of Easton, 

 Reading and Columbia, all situated, like Lancaster, on a limestone rock, and yet all sup- 

 plied with excellent water from the surrounding hills. 



From Lancaster we proceed westward on the Rail Road through the great limestone 

 range which we have heretofore described, and through farms of the best quality, to 

 its termination at Columbia on the Susquehanna, a distance of twelve miles. One 

 mile beyond Lancaster we cross the turnpike leading to Harrisburgh, the great mail 

 route from Philadelphia to Pittsburg. Two miles further we cross the Little Conestoga 

 by a viaduct 804 feet long, and 47 feet high. At the upper end of the borough 

 of Columbia the Rail Road descends to the level of the Susquehanna by an inclined 

 plane 1,720 feet long, with a perpendicular height of 90 feet. From the foot of the 

 plane it is conducted imnrediately on the bank of the river along the whole front of 

 the town, to the Basin at the upper extremity, which terminates the Pennsylvania 

 Canal. Near the same spot is a noble bridge across the Susquehannah, a mile in 

 length. This coming together of thi'ee such works, promises to make Columbia a most 

 important position." 



The water-works, supi)lying the City with Conestoga Water, were erected in 1837-'38, 

 at an original cost of about $106,000. Subseqent alterations and enlargements have, 

 perhaps, doubled the original cost. 



Gas was introduced into the City, February 21, 1850. The Gas company was char- 

 tered April 7, 1849. The works were erected at an original cost of f 28, 555.00. The 

 fu-st Gas was manufactured from rosin, but the works were adapted to the manufacture 

 of Gas from coal in 1852. 



Lancaster City has 9 Banking establishments, 10 places of Worship, 57 Common 

 Schools, 2 daily, 1 semi-weekly and 6 weekly Newspapers. 



IVIore particulars concerning the public buildings will bo found in Division IV, con- 

 cerning Churches in Division Y, concerning Education in Division VI, concerning Phi- 

 lanthropic institutions and beneficiary Societies, in Division VIII. 



Leacock.— Bounded N. by Earl, E. by Sahsbury, S. by Paradise, W. by E. Lampe- 

 ter and N. W. by Upper Leacock. Area, 11,272 acres; Population in 1860, 2,051; Tax- 

 ables, 483; value of real and personal property, |1, 018,158. It contains 2 Grist, and 2 

 Saw mills, 3 Hotels, 8 Stores and 10 Common Schools. Mill creek flows along the North- 

 ern and Pequea creek along the Southern boundary of the township; the Pennsylvania 

 R. R. traverses its S. W. extremity; station at Gordonville, where as well as at Inter- 

 course are P. O. 



Leacock, UppEn.— Bounded N. by W. Eart, E. by Earl, S. E. by Leacock. S. by E. 

 Lampeter, N. W.;by Manlieim. Area, ll,272acres; Population in 1860, 2,112; Taxables, 

 547; value of Real and Personal Property, $1,062,882. It contains 3 Gnst, and 3 Saw- 

 mills, 6 Hotels, 5 Stores and 12 Common Schools. This township is extremely well wat- 

 ered, the Conestoga flowing along the N. W. and the S. boundaries. P. O. at Bareville, 

 Groff 's Store and Leacock. 



Little Britain.— Bounded N. E. by Colerain, S. E. by Chester co., S. by the 

 State of jVIavyland, W. by Fulton township, and N. AY. by Drumore township. CentraUy 

 distant from the city of Lancaster 20 ms. S. E. Greatest length 10^ ms., breadth G ms. 

 Area, 18,900 acres; surface, rolling; soil, clay. Pop. in 1860, 1,822; taxables, 412. 

 The Octoraro creek and its W. branch flows on the N. E. and S. E. boundary, and the 

 Racoon Run crosses it centrally from N. to S. ; near the middle of the township is situated 

 Little Britain church. Little Britain P. O. is near the S. W. boundary, 81 miles 

 from W. C. and 58 from Harrisburg. There are in this township 2 Forges, 5 Tan- 



