one hundred miles. She returned laden with coal, and upon her second trip for another load was disabled at Nanticoke Dam, whither she had steamed for an excursion, and where she finally sunk.

The "Wyoming," another steamer, was put afloat in 1849, and during the years 1849, 1850, and 1851, she was employed in carrying coal from Wilkes-Barre to Athens and other places, but she too was finally abandoned, the enterprise proving unprofitable.

The last trial of the question belonged to the citizens of Bainbridge, N. Y., where the "Enterprise" was built with a stern-wheel of 14 feet, put in motion by a powerful engine. The first trip was made in 1851, and in three months time is said to have earned three thousand dollars, but when the rains had ceased, and the river had fallen, the "Enterprise" "lay high and dry." The sun opened her seams, and her machinery through rust became worthless. Thus ended the steamboat navigation era.

Ship-building next engaged the attention of the more venturesome speculators, and the subject received much consideration at an early day.

Messrs. J. P. Arndt & Phillip established a ship-yard in Wilkes-Barre in 1823, and launched a sloop of 12 tons burden, named "John Franklin." It reached the sea safely, the tidings of which occasioned the formation of a stock company at Wilkes-Barre, in 1811, when ship-building really commenced in earnest by placing the first vessel on the stocks. Wilkes-Barre was henceforth to become a wonderful town, and town lots in consequence took a magnificent leap in price. The ship was completed in April, 1812, and the "Gleaner," a newspaper of the place, gives the following description of its launch "Last Friday was the day on which the launch of the vessel on the stocks in this port was announced. A scene so extraordinary, 200 miles from the tide-waters of the river, raised the curiosity of every one. The old sailor, and the inhabitants of the sea-board, whom the vicissitudes of fortune had settled in this sylvan retreat, and to whom such scenes had once been familiar, felt all the interest so naturally excited by events

that called up early and interesting recollections. The novelty to those who had never witnessed such a view, excited curiosity to the highest degree. The importance of the experiment too did not fail to augment the general solicitude, for on its success depended the important consideration whether the timber of our mountains could be profitably employed in ship-building, and our country be beautified by the increase of business which such a pursuit would naturally produce.

"On the Sunday preceding the interesting day a beautiful new pair of colors was displayed from the stern, according to universal usage, as a token that in the course of the week she would be launched. From Monday till Friday all was bustle and activity. Early on Friday people began to gather from all parts of the country. The cannon on the bank at noon gave notice that everything was in preparation. A little after two, repeated discharges announced that all was ready. The bank of the river, far above and far below the vessel, was lined with persons of both sexes, and it was not among the least gratifications of the day to observe the smile of pleasure mingled with anxiety for the success of the launch, which was evident in every countenance. A little after three the increased bustle and noise around the vessel, and the sound of sledges and axes, gave the interesting notice that they were knocking away the block. The vessel was built on the bank of the river 100 feet from the water, and 15 feet perpendicular height above it, so that she had a considerable distance to move. She measures between 50 and 60 tons. Her colors were flying from the stern, and nearly thirty persons were on board. The after block was knocked away-all was anxiety-but she did not move.

"The news of the embargo had just come to town, and she seemed aware that there was no business for her on the ocean, and she might as well lie on dry dock. The men on board all gathered near her bow, and then ran in a body to her stern. She started, moving for half a moment slowly. The velocity increased, and she slid most gracefully into her destined element, amid the shouts of thousands. As she met the

water, Captain Chapman christened her, in the usual style, "The Luzerne of Wilkes-Barre.' Nothing could be more beautiful, and every spectator was amply gratified.

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"We hope her voyage down the crooked and rocky Susquehanna may be safe, though our

hopes are not without some fears for her safety, as she draws, without ballast, four feet of water." This hopeful ship was dashed to pieces on the rocks at Conawago Falls, near Middletown. Wilkes-Barre had invested heavily in her, and all was lost, including the decline in town lots and values in timber lands.

The ship building era with its many failures and lessons of merit, was succeeded by the more primitive art of descending the stream on rafts and arks. The lumber trade was about awakening an interest in the commercial world, and aside from this, much timber had been floated to Baltimore and other seaports, where it had been converted into masts and spars of ships.

The first ark that ever sailed down the Susquehanna was in 1800, although prior to that the more rude rafts had become quite a common affair. In 1796 thirty of the latter passed down the river past Wilkes-Barre.

Sawed lumber did not come into demand until an interchange of commercial relations by means of these rude pioneer vessels had brought the matter to notice. Thus the building of saw-mills followed the market opened by rafts. In 1804 22,000,000 feet of lumber were floated down the river.

Stewart Pearce, in mentioning this era, thus graphically runs up an exhibit of the water commerce:-"In the same year, 84 arks and 19 Durham boats laden with wheat, furs, and fat cattle destined for Baltimore, and valued at $190,400, passed down the river. In speaking of this fleet of arks and boats, with their valuable cargoes, the editor of the Federalist, published in WilkesBarre at that time, expressed regret that the Easton and Wilkes-Barre Turnpike was not completed, so as to induce a transhipment of the produce at Wilkes-Barre, and secure its transporta

tion over the road to Philadelphia. In 1827, during a single freshet, from March 1st to April 5th, 1830 rafts and arks, many of them laden with agricultural productions, passed WilkesBarre on their way to tide-water, and to Balti

more.

Baltimore was long the natural, and only'market for the Upper Susquehanna trade. But after the construction of the Columbia and Philadelphia Railroad, and the state Canals, the trade became divided between Baltimore, Philadelphia, and other populous places. The demand increased from year to year, and lumbering became an established business. With many it became the primary, while agriculture was a secondary pursuit. From 1827 to 1849, the increase of the lumber trade was rapid and enormous. From March 22d to April 17th, in the last-named year, 2243 rafts and 268 arks passed Wilkes-Barre, on the swollen waters of the river. They contained about 100,000,000 of feet, and were valued at $600,000. Since 1849 the number of rafts and arks has gradually diminished, owing to the scarcity of timber, and to the diversion of trade by the construction of the New York and Erie, and of other railroads, in Northern Pennsylvania and Southern New York."

It may prove interesting to the residents who may recall the earlier faces of Northeastern Pennsylvania, to examine the following list of the first saw mills of Luzerne county:

1774. A saw and grist mill were built at pub

lic expense, at the Falls on the Lackawanna river, in the present boundaries of Lackawanna township, then Pittston. The saw mill passed into the possession of Solomon Strong the year following, and was destroyed by a flood.

1776. Upon a small stream four miles above the Wyoming battle ground, in the township of Exeter, James Sutton put up a saw and grist mill. They were destroyed by the invasion at the time of the battle of 1778. The mill-irons were carried away excepting the cramp, which is now in the collection of the Wyoming Historical Society.

1778. In Kingston township, on Toby's creek, James Sutton erected a saw-mill in the spring of the year.

1779. Mr. Keys put up a saw-mill on Keiser's creek, Lackawanna township. It was at this mill that the lumber was manufactured for Lord Butler's house, in the village of Wilkes-Barre.

1780. Solomon Finn and E. L. Stevens built the first saw-mill in the township of Pittston, on the Lackawanna.

1782. The first saw-mill on Mill creek, near the present site of Wilkes-Barre, was by Samuel Miller.

1788. The first mills in Sugarloaf Valley, Butler township, were erected by Samuel Woodring on the Nescopeck creek.

1788. In Huntington township a Mr. Hop. kins built a saw-mill, in addition to a grist-mill, on the Huntington creek.

1789. On Black creek, in Black Creek township, William Idenes built a saw-mill, and was among the first to build log cabins in that section.

1804. James Brown erected a saw mill on the outlet of Chapman's Lake, in Scott township.

1806. James Dean and William Clark erected the first saw mills on the Tunkhannock Creek, in Abington township.

In Buck township, Hugh Connor, in 1806, built a saw mill on the site of Stoddartsville.

1810. The first saw mill in Hazle was erected on Hazle Creek, and stood where the borough of Hazleton now stands.

In the same year John Cawley built a sawmill on the Nescopeck Creek, in Sugar Loaf township. 1813. Dallas township had its first saw mill built by Jude Baldwin on a branch of Toby's Creek.

1820. James Wright, one of the first settlers, built the first saw mill in Wright township, on the Wapwallopen Creek.

1836. Spring Brook township was the last of the list to erect a saw mill. Henry Yeager built one on Rattlesnake Creek in the above year.

As early as 1810 the settlers had become amazingly modernized. The "City of Rome" scheme was an example of the tendency of the growing settlements, which was carried out in somewhat this wise:

Buck township and those adjoining are cov ered with the Great Swamp, famous in the earlier history of the settlements as the "Shades of Death," through which the fugitives from the defeat at Wyoming were compelled to wend their flight. A number of Philadelphia speculators, who acted in conjunction with a few near the locality, laid out on paper a prospective city with the above classic title. A president and eighteen councilmen were chosen, and extensive regulations were printed which should govern the future emporium. Several were induced to purchase lots, and not until the "Gleaner," a paper of Wilkes-Barre, had exposed the fraud, did the scheme fall through.

But few of the genuine old stock remain in the different townships, and the number is lamentably decreasing. The stock, wherever it is seen, convinces the student of human nature that sterling worth and model integrity were marked characteristics in the general "make-up," and wofully in contrast with too many of their direct descendants.