12. PENN TOWNSHIP. F a . 283 





12. Penn township. 



The shape of the township is rudely triangular, with its 

 apex to the west about five miles distant from the river. 

 The measurements, however, would give no clue to its area, 

 which may be set down at about 18 square miles. 



The physical features of Penn township are entirely due to 

 the presence and direction of thePocono Sandstone mount- 

 ain. Entering it from Dauphin county, which it crosses 

 under the name of Peter's or Fourth mountain, it runs to 

 the southwest then curves around and turning eastward at 

 the Horseshoe returns to the Susquehanna river, which it 

 crosses passing again into Dauphin county. It is in fact 

 the western extremity of the southern angle of the great 

 Pottsville coal basin which divides at its western end some- 

 thing like the tail of a fish. The northern extremity lies 

 in Buffalo township. 



The outer slopes of the Cove mountain throw all the 

 waters coining from the west outside the township. 



Sherman? s creek is thus compelled to skirt the northern 

 face of the mountain until it reaches the Susquehanna 

 below Duncannon. 



Fishing creek, in the same manner, is compelled to flow 

 along the southern face. The district enclosed by the 

 mountain is drained by a small stream rising at the Horse 

 Shoe bend and receiving the waters from both slopes. This 

 district is peculiarly isolated from the rest of the county by 

 its physical conformation. Surrounded on two sides by 

 the mountain and on the third by the river, access to it is 

 very difficult. Two roads zigzag across the range to the 

 south from Rye township, and one enters from the north 

 through the gap of the Susquehanna and passes out at the 

 south by the same outlet. The Pennsylvania railway has 

 taken advantage of the same natural pathway to enter and 



