NEWS: The Alleghanian; 11 Feb 1864; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ _________________________________________ The Alleghanian Ebensburg, Pa. Thursday, 11 Feb 1864 Volume 5, Number 20 Chit Chat with Our Readers Not many years ago Ebensburg was a paltry insignificant village whose name was known scarcely a hundred miles away from home. Isolated and alone, it seemed the true embodiment of the poet's conception where he speaks about a creation of some sort or other as "blushing unseen and wasting its fragrance on the desert air." Although set upon a hill it was not known among men. In fact through its remoteness from the busy lines of trade and travel, its light was most effectually obscured by a bushel which prevented the world from taking note of and being enchanted with its multifarious natural advantages. Tell a stranger, ten years ago, that you lived in Ebensburg, and the odds were immensely in favor of his ejaculating – "Ebensburg! Where in thunder's that?" But then we got our Branch Railroad. An artery connecting us with the great throbbing heart of the nation, this beneficent enterprise soon to bear its legitimate fruits. It immediately made this a place of considerable importance. Business, which theretofore, had languished, received a fresh impetus, took a new lease of life, and the grass stopped growing in our streets. The old industrial and manufacturing pursuits, discovered to be paying investments, became more fully developed and new ones were largely engaged in. Thus the bushel was removed from over us and our light allowed to shine. Ebensburg, from an inferior position in the scale of enterprise and prosperity soon ascended to something near the figure intended by nature to be occupied by her. Her name is now favorably mentioned in New York, Philadelphia and Boston, to say nothing of Pittsburg and Oil City and when, at Cresson, the conductors on the Penna. R. R. cry out in stentorian tones – "Passengers change cars here for Ebensburg!" We smile contentedly for have we not evidence therein that we had ceased to blush unseen! The Railroad has proved all our fancy, painted it and a dot or two over. It has demonstrated that there is not only something in Ebensburg, but also that there is a way to get this something out, that the labor may be worth the pains. In short, it has proved that Ebensburg is a pretty good old town; for the railroad pays, which it won't do were Ebensburg not a pretty good old town. The Railroad is all right so far as it goes but there is something else we need here almost as badly as we need the Railroad and Ebensburg will never command that respect and esteem which are so pre-eminently her due until this need is supplied. We refer to our want of a Telegraph. It has often been a matter of surprise to us that our citizens with their acknowledged enterprise and liberality have never seen this or, seeing it, have never taken steps toward supplying the deficiency. We are assured by those who ought to know that the entire line of Telegraph from here to Cresson, poles, wires, instruments, &c., will cost only between $1,000 and $2,000, probably nearer the former than the latter figure. If this be the case, if this trifling sum is all that is required to build us a Telegraph, if $1,000 or $2,000 will put us in still closer connection with the great throbbing heart of the nation and enable us to speak in tones to be heard from the Atlantic to the Pacific – than is there no excuse for the non-investment of the money as herein indicated. There can be no doubt the enterprise would pay splendidly. We need a Telegraph and need it badly. As the county seat of a flourishing county, it is a shame and disgrace we are without such an institution. We hardly expect today, tomorrow or next day, to see any definite steps taken in the matter, but if, within the year, a Telegraph hence to the main line is not constructed, then we will say that our people are blind to their own interests, lacking in energy or else intensely impervious. Triplet A few days since, the wife of a man named James Trimble, residing near Cherry Tree, Indiana county, presented her liege lord with three bouncing youngsters, all girls, at one and the same birth. We understand the "progeny" as Artemus Ward says - are coming along finely. Local Correspondence Johnstown, Feb. 9, 1864 The Teachers' Institute for Cambria county met in this place last week and though the attendance was small everything passed off satisfactorily. Able addresses were delivered by Dept. Supt. Bates, Rev.'s Hartsock and Agnew; and by Major Potts. Unavoidable circumstances compelled me to forego the pleasure of a regular attendance thus preventing me from furnishing only this meager report. The Institute adjourned on Thursday evening to meet at Summitville in September next. The committees appointed to solicit money towards paying a bounty to our volunteers having reported the plan a failure, a meeting was called for Saturday evening to see what should be done. It was, at length, decided to petition council to issue coupons for $20,000 payable in ten years with interest and to borrow the required amount upon these coupons. To liquidate these bonds a tax of four mills upon the owners of property, two dollars poll tax upon others liable to be drafted and one dollar on exempts should be levied. A special meeting of council convened last night and the above resolutions were adopted with but one dissenting voice. Robert Hamilton, one of the first settlers of Johnstown, died on Tuesday morning last at the advanced age of eighty-two. The deceased enjoyed good health until Sunday night when he got up to see the conflagration, thus inducing a severe cold from the effects of which he died. Martha Kingston, a daughter of one of our most respected citizens, died on Thursday night last of consumption at the age of sixteen years. Her beauty and gentle unobtrusive disposition endeared her to all who knew her and her death leaves an aching void in the hearts of parents and friends. Yours, [Signed] May Leon Local and Personal Next Friday week, 19th is the day fixed by law for our Borough and Township elections. To the polls, freemen, to the polls! The Democratic Senatorial Conference for this district meets at Tyrone on the 17th March next to select a delegate to represent said district in their State Convention. At Home Adjt. Thos. D. Litzinger, of the 11th Penna. Reserves, is now at home on a fifteen days' furlough. He is looking fine as silk and seems to be in no wise injured by his two years and a half campaigning. "Tom" left here in Co. A, 11th Reserves as a drummer boy and by his fidelity and manly qualities soon rose through several intermediate grades to his present position which he is said to fill with great acceptancy. Success to him! Charles Kaylor, son of Mr. Peter Kaylor of Munster twp., and brother of Lieut. Peter Kaylor, dec'd., is also at home on furlough. He belongs to Col. Dick White's 55th Pa. Vols., and has reenlisted for the war. Success to him! We notice several other soldiers circulating around town with whom we have not the honor of an acquaintance. Success to them! A Change Capt. A. M. Lloyd of Hollidaysburg has been appointed Provost Marshal of this District, vice Capt. Campbell, removed, and entered on the discharge of the duties of his office on Monday week. We are not informed as to the nature of the charges brought against Capt. Campbell resulting in his summary discharge. We know it is customary to kick a man when he is down but we depart from the rule and say this much for Capt. C., that he executed his responsible trust with unusual promptitude and business-like fact and with apparent fairness and honesty. With Capt. Lloyd we have been acquainted for years. He will make a conscientious and faithful official, fearless in the performance of his duties and courteous and accommodating as fearless. The U. S. Service will contain no better or more highly esteemed man that he and none that will give more general satisfaction. The Draft The quota of this District (the XVIIth) under the call for three hundred thousand men was as follows: Blair 424 Cambria 381 Huntingdon 369 Mifflin 219 Total 1,393 Under the additional call for two hundred thousand, the quota of the District will probably be increased two-thirds or to 2,321. From 381 Cambria's quota will be increased to about 635. The quota of Ebensburg under both calls will be 20. Where a draft is made, fifty percent excess for exemptions will be added. Poor House - Extract [Snip] The number of inmates remaining in the Poor House January, 1863, was 56; admitted since, 54; discharged and absconded, 54; bound out, 3; died, 10; remaining January 25, 1864, 43. Of this number 18 are insane, 3 blind and 2 permanently disabled. The settlement with James J. Kaylor, Steward of Poor House, resulted as follows: To orders, cash &c: $649.40 By expense, &c: 703.20 Balance in favor of Steward 53.80 Misc. News An application for the erection of a new county to be called Tionesta, out of parts of Venango, Clarion and Warren, will be presented to the Legislature at its present session. The special election in the Indiana district for a successor to Senator Harry White takes place on the 19th inst. War News News from Washington up to the 8th inst., says: The late reconnaissance in force, by three corps of the Army of the Potomac of which the military authorities requested that no mention be made until fully completed, has been accomplished. The object in view was ascertained viz.: the finding of Lee and his army in full force a few miles south of the Rapidan river. When our troops pushed across at Germania Ford on Friday, they found the rebel rifle pits in the immediate vicinity occupied by but twenty- five pickets who threw down their arms and surrendered, stating that there was no rebel force within ten miles of their position. Our forces pushed ahead in the direction of Orange Court House but had hardly gone two miles when they were opened on by twelve rebel guns. Attacking the rebel force, we drove them from their position with considerable loss, our loss amounting in the whole affair to between 200 and 300 men killed, wounded and missing. A considerable portion of our army which had re-crossed to this side of the Rapidan was in line of battle last night to meet an attack from Lee, reported crossing the river.