322 SURGEONS REPORTS PENNSYLVANIA TWELFTH DISTRICT. 



traversing a distance of about thirty miles, it has assumed the proportions of quite a respectable 

 river. The valley of the Lackawanna averages about one mile in width. The surface is covered 

 with bowlders of all sizes, and possesses but little soil for farmiug i)urposes. The wealth lies under- 

 neath in the form of coal, and the inhabitants are engaged in mining it. The town of Scranton is 

 located in this valley, and has beeu built by the coal-interest dnring the lust fifteen years. It now 

 numbers, in an area of four miles, not less than thirty-five thousand inhabitants. The coal-trade 

 at this point has developed an extensive furnace for the manufacture of iron, the ore being tran.s- 

 ported from other parts. A rolling-mill for the manufacture of railroad-iron and an extensive 

 machine-shop for the manufacture of engines and cars are also established in the valley. 



To leave these valleys and pass west of the Susquehanna, we encounter the Kingston Mount- 

 ains, which border the WyomingValley. Farmers have climbed up their sides, and, at points, even to 

 the apex, and where a few years ago existed a vast forest are now found beautiful fields in a higii 

 state of cultivation.* Beyond the summit are rolling hills, rugged in places, but nearly all culti- 

 vated, and their inhabitants mostly engaged in tilling the soil. At the extreme west is a spur of 

 the Alleghany Mountains. At the foot of this mountain is Harvey's Lake, a beautiful sheet of 

 water, covering about nine square miles of territory. A first-class hotel has beeu erected near the 

 outlet, and the place is gaining favor as a summer-resort. East of the Susquehanna, bordering the 

 valley, are the Wyoming Mountains, higher and steeper than those west of the river. The sides 

 and apex are disturbed only by an occasional coal-shaft, and the railroads necessary to transport 

 the coal along the sides of the mountain. Beyond the mountain is a vast wilderness for miles 

 around, interrupted only by an occasional mill for the manufacture of lumber. The inhabitants are 

 consequently engaged in preparing the lumber for market. 



Farther on, toward the southeastern portion of the county, are other small streams, bordered by 

 well-cultivated and fertile farms. This part of the county is inhabited by that class of people 

 kuown as "Pennsylvania Dutchmen," who are treading in the tracks of their fathers, tilling the 

 same soil, and voting the same ticket. Still lower down, in the extreme lower end of the county, 

 are the Hazleton coal-fields; here there is a large foreign population engaged in mining coal. 



Bordering the Lackawanna Valley on the west are the Capouse Mountains, high aud rugged. 

 Coal-operators have settled down at the base at different points, and are takiug large quantities of 

 coal from underneath. Beyond the mountains are rolling hills, a portion of which is well culti- 

 vated, the inhabitants being mostly engaged in farming. 



East of the Lackawanna Valley are the Moosic Mountains, which are simply an extension of 

 the Wyoming Mountains. Beyond these the surface is uneven, and in places heavily timbered, and 

 but thinly populated. The inhabitants divide their attention between farming and lumbering. 



Susquehanna County lies north from Luzerne, and is bordered on the north by the State of 

 New York. It has an area of about nine hundred square miles, and in 1860 a population of a little 

 over thirty-six thousand inhabitants. The only important stream is the Susquehanna River, which 

 passes about twenty miles through the northern portion of the county. 



The New York and Erie Railroad follows the river at this point, and that company have done 

 nuich in the building-up of this portion of the county. They are now working extensive machine- 

 shops lor the manufacture of engines and cars at Susquehanna Depot, a town of some three thou- 

 siind inhabitants. The remainder of the county presents an extremely uneven surface. The 

 bills rise to a considerable height, but are not so steep as to prevent their cultivation. The soil is 

 better adapted to the production of grass aud hay than any other article of produce; consequently 

 the attention of the farmers is generally devoted to raising cattle, sheep, and horses, and to the 

 dairy business. It is considered one of the best grazing counties in the State. 



The most prevalent diseases in the upland or farming and lumbering districts are affections of 

 the lungs and liver. To so great an extent do these affections prevail, that in nearly all cases of 

 illness the practitioner is obliged to watch these organs closely. I can offer no other plausible 

 reason for this than the many sudden changes of the weather. In the mining-regions, there are 

 more rheumatic affections, attended with derangements of all the internal organs, more especially of 

 the heart and kidneys. This is acciounted for by the occupations of the inhabitants. The atmos- 

 phere in the uiines is close and dami), and the miners usually go in in the morning carrying their 

 dinners \x ith them, and do not come out till night. For this reason, ic is but seldom they get an 



