J.W.ORRSC.NY

NORRISTOWN.

quainted. It contains several very extensive cotton and woollen factories, iron foundries, rolling-mills, and machine shops, with numerous other industrial establishments, of more or less extent, nearly all of which are located on the river bank, and are supplied, like Manayunk, with a splendid water-power from the canal. The present population is probably between eight and ten thousand, and must greatly increase in the future under ordinary circumstances of favor. A brighter day than we have known for the last five years is, we think, about to dawn upon our workshops. We hope so, at any rate.

Norristown was formerly included in the township of Norriton, comprising a manor belonging to William Penn. The land on which the town now stands was subsequently owned by several parties, when it finally came into the hands of Wm. M. Smith, who, in 1784, laid it out into town lots. During the revolution it was occupied as a farm, and belonged to a certain John Bull, who, notwithstanding his name, was a thorough-going Whig, and the British, on their way to Philadelphia, paid him the passing compliment of burning down his barn. A short distance below the town, on the banks of the river, are still to be seen the traces of former entrenchments or breast-works, thrown up by Gen. Du Pontel, by order of Washington, at a time when he expected the British to cross the river at this place.

The first canal improvement undertaken in the United States, was commenced at Norristown, about the year 1792, of which the outline features are still to be traced. The project contemplated both a navigable water course, and a water works for Philadelphia. For this purpose, the canal was to be carried to Philadelphia on one level, without locks or outlets. After completing several miles of the heaviest part of the work, and spending over $400,000, the company became embarrassed, and were compelled to abandon the enterprize, many of the principal parties having themselves been involved in commercial and financial ruin. The company, however, was afterwards consolidated into the Union Canal and the Schuylkill Navigation, of both of which we shall presently have something to say.

Montgomery is one of the richest and most favorably situated counties in Pennsylvania. In all the elements of real wealth and true prosperity, it is unrivalled. The soil consists principally of limestone and red shale-the latter performing well under good tillage, with the addition of the lime close at hand. The soil is traversed by several fine streams, of which the Schuylkill, comprising the greater portion of its southwestern boundary line, is the principal; the others next in importance being the Perkiomen and its branches, the beautiful and romantic Wissahickon and its branches, the Pennepack, Tacony, Neshaminy, and others--all of which afford excellent water-power. There are at this time not less than thirty merchant, one hundred and twenty grist, seventy-six lumber, eight marble, twenty paper, thirty-five oil, twelve clover, and about the same number of powder mills, in Montgomery county; besides which, there are fifteen or more iron-works of various kinds, twentyfive large cotton factories, ten woollen factories, twelve fulling mills, and some thirty-five tanneries. This, for a county comparatively small in area, exhibits a productive capacity not easily surpassed.

The county is supplied with some of the best turnpike roads and stone bridges to be found anywhere in Pennsylvania. One of these bridges (that over the Perkiomen) cost over $60,000, and was built nearly fifty years ago. The people seem early to have realized the importance of good roads, and an immense amount of money was freely expended to make them of the best and most durable character. This principle should always be acted upon by the constituted authorities, for nothing contributes more to the lasting benefit, or enhances property to a greater extent, than good roads and bridges.

The first settlers of Montgomery county were principally Welsh, with a few Germans and English. The Germans gradually dispersed to the northern part of the county, where the language is still spoken to some extent. The Welsh, or their descendants, have long since abandoned their native language, in favor of the predominating English. The early settlers comprised some of the best men who ever landed on our shores-remarkable for their morality, industry, intelligence, and uniform respectability of deportment. The oldest place of worship now standing in Pennsylvania, was erected by them near the present town of Manayunk, in 1695. It was a Friends' meeting-house, and is still occupied by that respectable society.

We have thus, somewhat briefly, given an exposition of some of the leading features of this interesting and remarkable valley, from the Falls of the Schuylkill to Norristown. Both sides of the river, we have previously remarked, are traversed by railways, running parallel with the Schuylkill navigation. The extensive manufacturing establishments, receiving their driving-power from the river, are all located on its eastern side, which will account for its dense population and busy aspect, as compared with the opposite shore, traversed by the Reading railroad. It is this fortuitous circumstance which creates the sole trade of the Norristown railroad, at the same time that it materially aids the Reading railroad;—for while the one is in the exclusive enjoyment of the local miscellaneous trade, the other has an abundance of tonnage in supplying a large portion of the fuel consumed. We should judge that at least fifty thousand tons of coal are annually transported by the Reading railroad for the supply of the lime-kilns and ordinary consumers, between Norristown and the Falls. The two railroads, therefore, (as well as the canal) are auxiliary to each other's success.

For the reason referred to, we have little of interest to note, between the points designated, on the western side of the river. The sccnery, in general, is attractive; but owing to the splendid works of man, it has more of an artificial stamp, than the usually broader and more impressive one of Nature. The tunnel above Manayunk-the Schuylkill Navigation, with its numerous locks, and dams, and bridges— the towns and villages, with their busy work-shops and towering factories the numerous lime-kilns, furnaces, and mills-the turnpike roads, with their ponderous teams and carts; the railroads, with their snake-like trains; the electric telegraph, with its lofty poles stretching

H

out, single file, in magnificent procession; the canal-boats, with their faithful, tugging horses, and sun-burnt crews-all evince the restless activity of man, and proclaim his glory to the passing observer.

Leaving Norristown, we cross the Schuylkill by a splendid wooden bridge (indicated in the engraving), eight hundred feet in length, and again join the Reading railroad, which henceforth traverses every town and village on our route. Here, indeed, is a sprightly little village before us, just embarking in the world. It is but yesterday since "it set up," and already we find it a considerable town, under the name, style and title of Bridgeport. The Reading Railroad is the guardian and patron of the little fellow, and under its friendly auspices it will grow and thrive, until it becomes a good-sized, old-fashioned borough.

After leaving Bridgeport, four miles beyond, we reach the village of Port Kennedy, of which we have already spoken in connection with the production of lime, constituting its sole trade. Two miles beyond this place is VALLEY FORGE. Here every inch of ground is sacred to the cause of liberty and patriotic suffering. There is not a heart in America-there is not a lover of liberal institutions anywhere, that will not swell with mingled awe and admiration, as he contemplates the scenes and incidents with which this region is identified. Here was concentrated, in the darkest hour of the revolution, the

REDOUBT AT VALLEY FORGE.

sole reliance of freedom against oppression; here were centered our hopes and our fears-here were quartered, amid the snows and blasts of a severe winter, without clothing, and almost without food, sick, famished, barefooted, and dying, Washington and his army.

Valley Forge derives its name from a forge which stood near the mouth of valley creek, some time previous to the revolution. The grounds occupied by the largest portion of the encampment comprised both sides of the hill, south-east of the stream. The name of this hill is Mount Pleasant, and of that on the other side of the stream, Mount Misery. These terms were bestowed by William

Penn, who, on one occasion, lost his way on the latter hill, and having regained it on the former, bestowed the names accordingly. Several extensive redoubts and breast-works were thrown up at sundry places, some of which, on the south-eastern side of the hill, are yet distinctly visible, and of which the engraving on page 58 conveys a correct idea. These works consist of large embankments of earth, arranged one after the other, along the slope of the hill, so that, in case of attack, the men could remain behind them, secure from the fire of the enemy. These breast-works, moreover, were surrounded with deep ditches, thus rendering the approach of the enemy hazardous amidst the fire of the soldiers within the redoubts. The redoubts now lie in the depths of the forest, but their outlines, as well as the former sites of the miserable huts of the soldiers, are still distinctly visible. The head-quarters of General Washington were in a

WASHINGTON'S QUARTERS AT VALLEY FORGE.

small stone house, which stands near the railroad, and from which a good view of it is afforded. A slight addition has recently been made to the back buildings, which originally consisted only of a small kitchen, erected by Washington himself. The room occupied by the General had a secret closet, in which he kept his official papers. In other respects the house is quite small, and without interest.

Washington moved with his army to this romantic spot soon after