From the table just given, it appears that on the 18th of May, the westerly variation, as given by the horizon. tal needle out of doors, had two distinct points of minimum, the first at 9, A. M., and the latter between 94 and 103, P. M., and two points of maximum, the first at 3, P. M., and the second at some period, not ascertained, after 11, P. M. The same variation shown by the needle within doors, had its minima at 11, A. M., and from 6 to 7, P. M., its maxima between 24 and 44, P. M., and at some hour of the night which was not ascer-tached to the evening, the observer, as I have already tained. The Temperatures of the two needles being very different, the effect of changes of temperature should be ascertained to render the results strictly comparable; a remark which suggests the object, in part, of the observations upon those two needles, so differently situated. In the dip we find a minimum at 24, P. M., as the only point very decidedly marked: there is an apparent maximum at 7,,which the subsequent observations seem to indicate to have been the result of causes foreign to those producing the regular diurnal changes of dip. The observed changes for this day, just given, are not entirely regular, and should be considered, of course, in the light of particular results affording merely a term of comparison, which is sufficiently accurate for the purpose in view. I now give a table of some of the observations for May 17th, with a column of remarks, the portion of which relating to the aurora, is drawn from the description by Mr. Espy, already given. 8 -3.0 72 5799 101 11-13.5 68 -1.5 72 -13.5 72 "1274 8 cloudy. "36173.4 30 71.9 "30 70.3 sky ov'ct. "36,69.1low strat. Aurora bright; streamers; arch forms about 10, P. M.; arch disappears 10h. 20m. In the interval of an hour and a half, between 9 and 101, P. M., the needle had moved to the eastward 12', or one-fifth of a degree; and the observations during the early part of the phenomena tend to show, if they do not prove, that this motion took place in the latter part of the interval, the mean hourly rate of motion, as shown by the observations at 8 and 9, P. M., being only three minutes. I regret that the observations were not more regular; but as no particular interest atstated, not being aware of the presence of the aurora, I considered myself fortunate in the frequency of those observations which were made; this being a part of the evening in which, usually, there is nothing to require regular observations, being the interval between the evening minimum and the right maximum. The observations on the horizontal needle out of doors, do not contradict any of the remarks just made, and they show further, that at 11, P. M., forty minutes after the disappearance of the arch, the effect on the needle was still strongly marked; the westerly variation at 11, P. M., having been 10 minutes less than on the same hour of the next succeeding evening. The very rapid formation and disappearance of clouds during the evening, and the low stratus which formed about eleven o'clock, would all, in ordinary cases, have produced slightly marked changes in the variation, but nothing of the character of those noted in the table. The temperature having remained stationary, within doors, during the evening, no part of the changes in the position of the horizontal needle noted in the third column, were due to variations of temperature. The results, in the absence of correction for these changes, are therefore the more valuable. The dip, recorded in the fifth column of the table last given, has its minimum at 4, P. M., a rise then begins, which is so very irregular as not to permit any inference from it; diminishing between 7 and 8, P. M.. it increases between 8 and 9, decreases between 9 and 10, and subsequently increases to 11 o'clock. These changes do not seem to attach to the different phases of the aurora, and are not more considerable than ordinary meteorological phenomena would produce, such, for example, as are recorded in the first table. My aim having been merely to establish that a decided disturbance of the horizontal needle was produced by the aurora of the 17th, I have not thought it necessary to supply the corrections for the temperature of the needles which the successful establishment of the changes in diurnal variation will require. Journal of the Franklin Institute. ALLEGHENY COLLEGE. It affords us much pleasure to congratulate our fellow citizens of this region of country, and society at large, with the brightening prospects of this Institution. It was incorporated by an act of our Legislature about and raised up, by the enterprise and activity of a band fifteen years since, and was commenced, carried on, of zealous friends, aided by the unexampled liberality of a few; and kindly patronized by the commonwealth. By comparing the third column of this table with the A few years since it arrived at a state of completion for corresponding column of the first table, we find the reception of students, so far as relates to a noble colthroughout the day, the general accordance in the re- lege edifice, an extensive and highly valuable Library, lative positions of the needle of a minimum of westerly and a respectable Philosophical and Chemical apparavariation at about 8, A. M., a maximum between 1, P. tus, but having reached this important point, and as we M. and 4. P. M,, a second minimum about 8 P. M., a fondly hoped, about to dispense its blessings throughtendency towards a second maximum, which was inter- out our land, to our great mortification, we learned rupted by the aurora. There does not appear to have through the many ineffectual attempts of its warm been any marked change from 83, P. M., to 9; so that friends to put it into active operation, that the prospect the first part of the phenomenon does not seem to have of doing this without the further generous aid of the affected the variation. Observations are wanting to Legislature, was entirely hopeless for years to comeshow when the effect began to be felt, and when it was that the funds necessary to procure and support a suita at the greatest, and the near coincidence of the observa- ble faculty of the college, could not under its existing tion at half past ten with the time of the disappearance circumstances be raised, in the ordinary mode of indiof the arch, must, of course, be regarded as accidental.vidual donations. Thus situated, it has for the last few 1833.] SKETCHES OF PENNSYLVANIA: 83 therefore, sell for any price, or lose all. We hold it to be a sheer fabrication, got up in malice, or in envy, at the prosperity which Columbia enjoys above most of the towns of the river. Still, it must be admitted, they are a shrewd and long-headed people-tight hands at a bargain-who do all they can to make hay while the sun shines, or rather to make money while the river is high. We have another reason for selecting Columbia as a place of temporary sojourn. It contains one of the pleasantest and best conducted taverns in the state, making no great pretensions to style, but embracing every thing essential to comfort. The landlord, Joe Jeffers, is a wag moreover, of the first order, brim-full of droll stories about the men and things of Lancaster county, and ringleader of all the fun and frolic of Columbia, for the last twenty years. His humour and his gossip have more than once refreshed us after a long ride, quite as much as his glass of good wine, or bowl of iced punch. As a preliminary to an attempt at describing the Susquehanna, it is necessary that we complete our view of the great mountain ranges of Pennsylvania, two of which (the Mine Ridge, and the Blue Ridge,) we have already described, as also of some other leading geographical features of the state. Without a previous knowledge of these, no one could fully comprehend what we propose to say in regard to the river, since the relative position of certain great features affects, mate. rially, the character of all. years been standing the silent but imposing monument of noble, but unsuccessful efforts in the cause of Literature and Science. In this embarrassing state of things, and when the extensive internal improvement system now in progress in the state, precludes the expectation of receiving much at this moment from that source, a kind Providence, as we sincerely trust, is opening its way to usefulness and fame, and, that at no distant day Allegheny College, surrounded as it is by a widely extended country, healthy and fertile, and rapidly in creasing in population and wealth: and where no institution of the kind, has yet been commenced, will justly rank among the most useful of our nation. With these introductory observations relative to this College, the brightening prospects alluded to, we will now explain. Some few years since an interchange of sentiment took place between some of the Trustees of said College, and clergymen of the Methodist denomination of Christians, having for its object an arrangement for securing to the College, the patronage of the Pittsburg Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. With a view to effect this desirable object, an agent from the board of trustees of the College attended the meeting of said Conference at Wellsburg, Va, in August last, and made known to them the wishes of the College. With a desire, therefore, to be prepared to act with the best information on the subject, the Conference kindly resolved to hold their next session at this place. The Conference met here on the 16th instant, consisting of the Rev. Bishop Roberts, presiding, and upwards of one one hundred clergymen. Those of us who have view- The third important mountain range of Pennsylvania ed them in the transaction of business sitting in Confer- is the Kittatiny, or Blue Mountain, (we shall use the ence, or have listened to them from the pulpit, or have former title,) which crosses the Delaware at the celehad intercourse with them in private life, must feel a brated Water Gap, 20 miles above Easton, and then trapleasure in attesting to their virtues-their talents, and verses the state in a general direction from north east their amiable deportment. A more pleasing state of to south west. It crosses the Lehigh at the Water society has never blessed our village, and with such Gap of that name, the Schuylkill just above Hamburg, an interest and influence united with the College, it the Swatara half way between Jones' Town, and Pine cannot, under the smiles of Heaven, do otherwise than Grove, and the Susquehanna about six miles above prosper. We believe the bounds of the Conference Harrisburg. West of the Susquehanna, it forms the extend to more than equal the size of Pennsylvania. On northern boundary of Cumberland county, separating the first day of their meeting they visited the College it from Perry, and then entering Franklin, is inflected, Edifice, and viewed the Library, &c, and after a few like the Blue Ridge, to the South, which course it condays, resolved unanimously to accept the proposition of tinues till it enters Maryland, and crosses the Potomac the Board of Trustees, by taking the College under at the village of Hancock. In Franklin county, where their patronage, and appointed a committee to unite it is crossed by the Turnpike to Pittsburg, it is called with the College in carrying the same into complete ef. the Cove Mountain. East of the Delaware, this great fect, and which has since been accomplished so far, as Range traverses the Northern part of New Jersey and relates to organizing a Board of Trustees, and appoint- a portion of New York, till it reaches the Hudson, where, ment of faculty, &c. A Roberts' professorship, in ho- it is known as the Catskill Mountain. South of the nor of the venerable Bishop of that name, has been Potomac, it pursues a south western course, under the endowed, and the college will be opened for the recep- name of the North Mountain, through Virginia and into tion of students, the first Monday in November next- North Carolina. By this time it has approached so near The following gentlemen have been selected Profes- the great Allegheny range, as that it can hardly be dissors, viz. Rev. Martin Ruter, D. D., President of the tinguished from it, and indeed the two are frequently' Faculty and Professor of Moral Science; Rev. Homer J. confounded, on the map. In its course through PennClark, A. M., Vice President and Professor of Mathe-sylvania it is far more distinctly marked, and exhibits a matics; and Augustus W. Ruter, A. B., Professor of Languages.-Crawford Messenger. From the Commercial Herald. Having reached the banks of the Susquehanna, we shall remain stationary for a while, in order to describe the course and character of that magnificent river, as accurately as our opportunities of knowing and our limited space will admit. Columbia too is one of those places where we always liked to tarry longer than for a change of horses. It contains an intelligent and enterprising population, several of whom we have found very agreeable companions. As to the story, that the merchants of this place lay in annually a stock of blind horses, and of watches without works, to trade away to up country people, whose rafts or arks chance to be wrecked on the rocks near the town, and who must, more uniform appearance than any other. Hence it often proves a boundary between counties, dividing Lehigh from Northampton, Berks from Schuylkill, Cumberland from Perry, and Franklin from Bedford. Viewed from some elevated and distant point, and particularly from the Blue Ridge, it has the appearance of a vast wall built across the state, of nearly uniform height, except where a deep notch indicates that it is broken by the course of a river. There is a hill not far from Easton, from which may be seen the whole line of the Kittatiny Mountain, from the Delaware to the Susquehanna, with the passes of those streams, and of the Lehigh, and Schuylkill, and Swatara, plainly marked. Half way between the Lehigh and Delaware is a remarkable depression called the Wind Gap, not because it abounds in wind, but because it appears to have been made without the agency of water. It is a deep notch in the Mountain, suddenly reducing its height by about two-thirds, and which seems to have been produced by some potent natural cause that has now ceased to ope rate. One of the heads of the Bushkill, the stream that furnishes Easton with its water power, is in this Gap. Through it passes the important turnpike from Easton to Wilkesbarre. The passage of the great rivers through the Kittatiny Mountain, affords some of the most magnificent scenery on the continent. Of these the Delaware Water Gap is the finest-superior in all respects to the justly celebrated Harper's Ferry, and worthy of a comparison with any thing of the Hudson. The Susquehanna and Kittatiny, as seen from the cupola of the Capital at Harrisburg, present also a most noble picture. While on this subject we may observe, that arrange ments have recently been made for the comfortable accommodation of strangers at the Delaware Water Gap. Our citizens who make a summer excursion for health, or pleasure, would find both at that delightful | spot, with the advantage of seeing nature in her grandest forms. Under the Kittatiny Mountain, and between it and the Blue Ridge, lies an extensive range of fertile, and comparatively level country, commonly designated as the Kittatiny Valley. The distance between these mountains, and consequently the width of the valley, is generally from fifteen to twenty miles. About half of the valley comprehending all the most level portions, is a limestone formation--the remainder, or more broken parts, rests upon a species of clay slate. The former is invariably, land of admirable quality, in a high state of cultivation; the latter is of a greatly inferior quality. The Kittatiny Valley includes portions of the counties of Northampton, Lehigh, Berks, Lebanon, Dauphin, Cumberland, and Franklin, in Pennsylvania; of Washington, in Maryland; and of Berkley, Jefferson, Freder. ick, Shanandoah, Rockingham, Augusta, Rockbridge, Bottetout, Montgomery, and Grayson, in Virginia. It extends, also, through North Carolina and Georgia, into Alabama. It contains a large portion of the important inland towns in these States-for instance, Easton, Bethlehem, Allentown, Kutztown, Reading, Womelsdorf, Myerstown, Lebanon, Palmyra, Hummelstown, Middletown, Harrisburg, Carlisle, Shippensburgh, Chambersburg, and Green Castle, in PennsylvaniaHagerstown, in Maryland-Martinsburg, Charlestown, Shepardstown, Winchester, Woodstock, Staunton, and Lexington, in Virginia. All the towns in Pennsylvania which we have named, stand the Limestone porupon tion of the valley, while upon the Slate, scarcely a village worth naming, except perhaps Hamburg, on the Schuylkill, has grown up. This Limestone formation abounds with cavities, and hence small streams frequently disappear for miles, and then suddenly burst from the ground in the form of copious springs. It is not uncommon for whole acres of ground suddenly to sink. To this range of country belong several of the caves of Virginia, and the celebrated natural bridge, which is a huge limestone rock perforated by a small branch of James river. The Shenandoah follows the Kittatiny valley throughout its whole course, running at the western base of the Blue Ridge, and remarkable as being the only stream of equal magnitude which does not break that mountain. It seems to be conscious of the gigantic ef. fort required for the purpose, and therefore waits until reinforced by the mighty Potomac. Immediately be low the junction is the pass of Harper's Ferry. In the same valley are the Conococheague, a branch of the Potomac, on which Chambersburg is situated, the Conodoguinet, a branch of the Susquehanna, and the Tulpehocken, running to the Schuylkill, opposite Reading. "That section of the valley (says Darby) which traverses Pennsylvania, is about 160 miles in length, and covers an area, of perhaps, 3000 square miles. The south-eastern part is formed of transition limestone, the north-western of clay slate, the two rocks touch each other as if placed by art." In Cumberland county the Conedoguinet creek forms, for many miles,the boundary between the limestone and slate. Near the point of junction will frequently be found a species of impure limestone from which the aqueduct cement used in masonry, exposed to water, is prepared. It owes its property of hardening under water to the presence of the iron and silex. In such a position near Hummelstown, the cement used for locks, on the Union Canal was obtained. That for the Le high and Delaware Canal was principally produced above Allentown. Experience has proved it to be of good quality, and equal, for most purposes, to the cel ebrated Roman cement. We believe it may be found (more or less perfect) at almost every point where limestone rock ends, and the slate begins. The Kittatiny valley is among the most fertile, and beautiful portions of Pennsylvania. A traveller who desires to see the State to advantage, should pass from Easton to Reading, thence to Lebanon, Harrisburg, Carlisle, and Chambersburg. In the whole dis tance he will pass but few spots which do not bear tes timony to the bounty of nature, and the successful industry of the inhabitants. He will find the population almost exclusively German, until he enters Franklin county, which contains a large proportion of Irish and Scotch descent. This fertile region is crossed at right angles by three important improvements, namely the Lehigh Canal, the Schuylkill Navigation, and the State Canal along the Susquehanna. The Union Canal follows the valley in its whole course from the Susquehanna to the Schuylkill. By these channels its surplus products are forwarded into the Philadelphia market. Franklin county and a part of Cumberland, however, find their outlet by the Potomac, and to Baltimore. In our next we shall complete our view of the great mountain ranges of Pennsylvania. No. 8. Our last was occupied by a brief description of Kit tatiny, or Blue Mountain, and of the magnificent valley lying at its base. In the present number we shall endeavour to complete our general view of the great mountain ranges of Pennsylvania. About fifty miles west of the Kittatiny, (measuring on the southern line of the state,) we come to the ridge generally known and distinguished as the "Great Alleland in a northerly direction, (a little inclined to east,) ghany Mountain." It enters Pennsylvania from Maryand continues that course, dividing Bedford from Somerset and Cambria counties, until it reaches the northern angle of Bedford; then turning to the north-east, divides Huntingdon from Cambria, and enters Centre on the angle between it and Clearfield; then north-easterly through Centre, till it strikes the west branch of the Susquehanna, just above the mouth of Bald Eagle Creek. Crossing the west branch, (according to the received maps,) it traverses Lycoming in a direction almost due east, and enters Luzerne at the angle between it and Columbia. Resuming its north-eastern course, it passes through Luzerne, crosses the north branch above Tunkhannock, and passes through the eastern part of Susquehanna county into the state of New York. South of Pennsylvania the same mountain has a general south-western direction, through Maryland, Virginia and Tennessee, and is lost in the northern part of Alabama. Between the line thus indicated, and the Kittatiny Mountain described in our last, is contained a portion of Pennsylvania, which, in general terms, may be called a parallellogram, of which Bedford county is the base, and the opposite extremity is the Delaware, in Wayne county. This parallellogram is about 250 miles in length from south-east to north-west, with a general breadth of about 50 or 60 miles, may properly be de signated as the Central Mountain Region of Pennsylva- scribed, and east of the river, is the Wyoming moun- A journey through this portion of the state, or an examination of it upon the map-presents a constant succession of mountains, which from their number, the want of accurate surveys, and especially from the infi nite variety of local names that have been applied to them, it is difficult to trace into separate ranges-some of the ranges however are strongly marked, and when enumerated will sound familiar to our readers. The Tuscarora mountains, for example, running nearly parallel to the Alleghany, and the Kittatiny, separate Franklin from Huntingdon, and Juniata from Perry, crosses the Juniata near Millerstown, and the Susquehanna above Liverpool. East of the Susquehanna it is known as the Broad mountain, which crosses the Schuylkill above Pottsville, and is probably identi cal with the Mauch Chunk mountain, and with the Pokano, which you cross on the road from Easton to Wilkesbarre. On the same side of the Susquehanna, between the Broad mountain and the Kittatiny, three distinct ranges may be traced to the Schuylkill and the Lehigh, known as Peter's, Third or Sharp mountain, and Second mountain. These also extend west of the Susquehanna, and cover a large part of the surface of Perry county. All travellers to Pittsburg remember Sideling hill, in Bedford county. This mountain, ranging north east, crosses the Juniata below Huntingdon. Under the name of Jacks it bounds the Kishicoquillas valley, in Mifflin, and then extends itself through Union, Columbia and Luzerne. To designate all these ranges would be useless, even if it were practicable. Suffice it to say, they nearly fill up the space between the Alleghany and the Kittatiny, leaving comparatively small interstices of valley or allu. vial land. The circumstance most worthy of remark, is, their general parallelism to each other, and to the other great ranges of which we have occasion to speak. In nearly all, a course from southwest to northeast is strictly preserved. the great rivers, or the sequestered valley of some smaller stream buried deep in the bosom of the mountains, held out inducements to the industry of the farmer. But the general aspect was rugged and unpromising and a great portion of the country apparently incapable of supplying the wants of any population, advanced by civilization above the rude hunter-state. In this very district, nevertheless, some of the choi cest bounties of Providence have been bestowed with a liberal hand. It is like the "toad, ugly and venomous, but "wears a precious jewel in its head,"upon it more than upon any other, Philadelphia must found her prospective greatness, and Pennsylvania her claims to superiority over the rest of the Union. In order to comprehend these views more clearly, we must beg our readers to recur to the map of Pennsylvania, and to fix their attention on the parallellogram included between the Alleghany and the Kittatiny Mountains, having Bedford county for its base; and for its northeastern termination the counties of Pike and Wayne on the Delaware. It is capable of a division into parts, separated from each other by strong natural boundaries; and each constituting a distinct quota to the wealth of Philadelphia and the state. That portion of the parallellogram which lies west of the Susquehanna, and south of the west branch, including the counties of Bedford, Huntingdon Centre, Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, and Union, is the great central Iron region of Pennsylvania. The Juniata and Bald Eagle iron, so well known and so highly esteemed in our market, are produced in this region. It supplies nearly all of that article consumed by the manufactories of Pittsburgh. That portion of the parallellogram which lies east of the Susquehanna and north branch, and is bounded on the east by the Lehigh, from the Water Gap to its head; and then by the Wyoming or Moosac mountain, includ ing the county of Schuylkill, parts of Northumberland, Luzerne, and Northampton, and small corners of Dauphin, Columbia and Wayne, is the great Anthracite region. It will be our business on some future occasion to describe more minutely the Coal districts of Penn sylvania. Suffice it for the present to say, that the anthracite of the Schuylkill and the Lehigh, of Lykens valley, Mahanoy, Shamokin, Wilkesbarre, Carbondale, and Beaver Meadow, are all contained within the limits just indicated. Darby has described one other chain belonging to the division of the State, which is interesting, because in a part of its course, it forms the western boundary of the beautiful valley of Wyoming. "It leaves," (says he,) East of the Lehigh and Moosac or Wyoming moun"the Susquehanna above Northumberland, and travers-tain between the same parallel-is an extensive mouning Northumberland and Columbia counties, enters Lu- tainous district, including the head waters of the Delazerne, and is broken by the Susquehanna river 16 miles ware and its principal tributaries, from which Philadelbelow Wilkesbarre. Skirting the left bank about phia derives the immense supplies of lumber which an. eight miles, it is again crossed by the river, and contin- nually descend the Delaware. This division embraces uing its course northeast passes about 2 miles from, a portion of Northampton county, nearly the whole of and opposite Wilkesbarre. Preserving its course north- Pike and Wayne; Delaware and Sullivan counties of east, it is for the third and last time crossed by the ri- New York, and a part of Sussex in New Jersey. ver, above the mouth of the Lackawanna, 10 miles above Wilkesbarre," Parallel to the range thus de In making this division of the central mountain region of the state, into three great parts-namely, the land mountain of Kentucky and Tennessee, which in crossing the Tennessee river forms the celebrated Mus cle shoals. On the map of Pennsylvania, both these mountains are incorrectly marked as terminating with the Kiskiminetas river. They certainly extend northward into the state of New York. To an extension of these ranges we are disposed to refer the dividing iron, the anthracite and the timber region, we have left some intervals between the great natural land-marks which have been pointed out. Those intervals include about two-thirds of Columbia county lying west of the north branch, a part of Northumberland situated in the, forks of the Susquehanna, and a portion of Lycoming between the west branch and the Alleghany mountain. It is remarkable that these districts, which are not dis-ground, between the streams leading to the west branch tinguished for mineral wealth, are the least mountainous and far the most fertile of the range to which they belong. A journey up the west branch from Northumberland through Milton, Pennsbury and Williamsport, to Jersey shore, or from the same place along the north branch through Danville and Bloomsburg to Berwick, presents a succession of delightful farms, equal in productiveness to any in the state. and Semimahony, and those leading to the Alleghany river. This supposition would identify Laurel hill with the Elk or Boon's mountain in the northwest angle of Clearfield county-of this dividing ground we shall have occasion to say much hereafter. After passing Laurel hill, and Chesnut ridge, no other mountains, properly so called, occur in western Pennsylvania. The whole country, however, is hilly and undulating-the hills bearing about the same proportion to the mountains further east, as the waves of the Delaware bay do to those of the ocean. The sketch which we have thus attempted, of the mountain ranges of Pennsylvania is necessarily imperfect. With respect to many details it is probably inac curate, because we have been compelled to view things upon the largest scale. It may, nevertheless, answer as a general outline, and may aid the inquiries of those who feel enough interest in the state of Pennsylvania to desire a knowledge of its geography. One or two general remarks upon this subject, with some account of the relative heights of the several ranges, are necessarily reserved for another number of these sketches. PUBLIC LIBRARIES. From the Boston Mercantile Journal. BOSTON BOOKS.-We mentioned recently that there were at least 76 periodicals in this city. Nor ought it to be forgotten that the citizens have made a provision of about 45,000 volumes of book in public libraries, most of which are selected with great care, besides about 20,000 in the circulating libraries. The two largest collections on the continent-small enough indeed in comparison with those of the old countries-are at the Athenæum in this city (almost 28,000,) and at Cam In describing the course of the great Alleghany mountain, we must be understood to have marked its extreme eastern limit-the line which separates the transition from the secondary formation. It is a common remark of those who cross this mountain, that it has but one side. The ascent from the east is bold and rapid. Arrived upon the summit, you proceed for miles upon comparatively level ground, and the descent is so gradual as scarcely to be perceived: The true base or width of this mountain is probably about 20 or 25 miles. If a line be drawn parallel to that which we have indicated as the range of the Alleghany, pursuing a distance of from 20 to 25 miles; and terminating at the north branch of the Susquehanna, it will include the counties of Somerset and Cambria-the eastern part of Clearfield, the western part of Centre, the northern part of Lycoming, and a portion of Bradford. This belt or strip of country, we would designate as the western slope of the Alleghany mountain, and as generally the locality of bituminous coal. Accurate investigations would probably trace this mineral throughout the whole district. It has already been found at various points in Somerset and Cambria, and is procured in large quantitics at Curwensville and Karthauss, in Clearfield, at Phillipsburg, in Centre, and at Dunnstown, in Lycoming. To this range belong the coal veins on the heads of the Lycoming, the Tioga, and the Towanda. In the same range, also running with the coal, will generally be found abundance of iron ore, and springs impreg-bridge (about 36,000.) Thus we have something like nated with salt. The bituminous coal extends throughout a large part of western Pennsylvania, and into Virginia and Ohio. The veins of bituminous coal always lie parallel to the horizon, and belong therefore to the secondary formation. Hence, as a general rule, it will not be found east of the Alleghany mountain. The only exceptions to this rule which we are aware of, is a locality on the Raystown branch of the Juniata, in Bedford county, and one other on the Tangaskertock, in Lycoming county. The former is admitted to be an anomaly as to the latter, we have accounted for it on a supposition which we have long entertained, that the course of the Alleghany mountain as generally laid down on the maps is incorrect. The map makers have followed the common nomenclature of the country. It is probable, however, that if the Alleghany mountain were traced by its known geological peculiarities, it would be found to run for some miles parallel to the west branch, and to cross that river many miles below the mouth of Bald Eagle, so as to leave the Tangaskertock formation on its western slope. Here again we feel sensibly the want of accurate surveys with reference to the geological structure of the state. Nay, many important geographical features remain to be ascertained and marked on our maps. 100,000 volumes, kept constantly accessible at these depositories, independently of the numerous and excellent collections which remain in the hands of individual owners. We believe there is a good library in Philadelphia of 25,000 volumes, and one in Charleston of 16,000. New York and Baltimore are supposed to be rather indifferently supplied, but we should be glad to find ourselves, as to this, in an error. We ought certainly to feel highly complimented by this notice of our depositories of learning. It reminds us strongly of a statement made not long since by some of the Boston papers, of the value of the real estate in this city, in which they modestly claimed double the amount for Boston that was allowed to Philadelphia. When the value of our property was ascertained, it turned out to be nearly four times greater than had been stated, and about double the amount stated as the value of the property in Boston. We think the number of volumes contained in our public Libraries will turn out somewhat similarly. The Philadephia Library alone, (comprising the collections of the Philadelphia and Loganian Libraries) contains more than 42,000 volumes. About ten thou sand of this number are rare and valuable works in Foreign Languages. The Loganian portion contains the best collection of Ancient Classical and Medical Works in America. On the road from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, after passing the Alleghany, we cross two other mountains, the Laurel Hill and the Chesnut Ridge-not remarkable for their elevation, but nevertheless constituting well During the past year the valuable and well known defined geographical features. They are said to extend Botanical Library of the late Zacheus Collins, and that as distinct chains to a great distance north and south, of James Cox, principally on the Fine Arts, have been and Laurel Hill is said to be identical with the Cumber-purchased by the Directors of this Institution. |