RAILCAR GOLD Chapter 7 . . Driver . . Part 5
RAILCAR GOLD is a historically accurate multi-generational fictional tale of hidden treasure, primarily set in York County, Pennsylvania during the latter half of the Nineteenth Century. This is Part 5 of Chapter 7 . . . Driver. A new part will be posted every Thursday. New readers may want to start at the beginning.
CHAPTER 7 . . . DRIVER . . . Part 5
The following evening after supper, Charles quizzed Dan on the first half of the article. Dan did not do very well. Charles firmly warned Dan, “Your education is important. This is part of your education. Study harder on the whole article. I’ll quiz you again in a few days. I’ll expect better results!”
Dan was embarrassed that he let Charles down; especially after everything he had done for him. He studied the rest of the article intently. He was not going to disappoint Charles again.
Lower part of article entitled The Borough of York in The York Gazette issue of September 4th 1860
The Yorkers were very patriotic in the Revolution. As early as April 13, 1775 they wrote an address to Boston, sending 246l. 8s. 10d. as “material aid.” As early as June 14, 1774, a town meeting at York took the side of liberty, and what is curious, called a county meeting on the fourth of July, two years before the Declaration of Independence. The first company that marched from Pennsylvania to Boston was a rifle company from York, on July 1, 1775. These were strictly volunteers. They had not been even requested to march by the State of Congress. The 11th Pennsylvania regiment which left in March, 1776, was from York. The next May a rifle company followed, and in July 1776, no less than five battalions. Two of these were attached to the “Flying Camp.” They suffered severely in the Revolution, especially at Fort Washington. Two signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried at York, Philip Livingston of New York and James Smith of Pennsylvania. Again in 1814, the York volunteers, nearly one-hundred strong marched to the defense of Baltimore, and fought gallantly at the battle of North Point.
It is very much to be regretted that the old Court House, in which Congress sat, was torn down, at the building of the handsome edifice, which has succeeded it. Such a relic, with the exception of Independence Hall, hardly existed in America, and it should have been preserved for all time.
York was laid out in 1741. It is beautifully situated in the heart of the lovely valley we have described, on the banks of the Codorus; a stream which in Europe would be considered a highly respectable river. It is difficult to describe the peculiarity of the York scenery. The impressions made by it are of a plentiful richness, a home-like quietness, and a combination of elements that produce a singularly harmonious result—One never wearies of it. Nothing but challenges attention, everything invites to a serene enjoyment. We have never known scenery more satisfying. The mind and heart rests on it.
Business is done quietly in York. They do not claim to be a prodigious emporium, but they go on increasing steadily and substantially in population, and wealth. York is now one of the towns in Pennsylvania containing 10,000 inhabitants or upwards. They are Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Reading, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Scranton, Pottsville, Erie, Easton, and York. Its public buildings are very creditable and almost the whole town in substantial and well built. It is an eminently comfortable place, and the means of subsistence, considering their abundance and good quality, are comparatively cheap.
There are a number of churches; substantial and well built. The Presbyterian congregation are now putting up on their extremely beautiful lot of ground covering half a square, a new church of Norman architecture, to cost about $20,000. No citizen of York, in a word, need desire to remove elsewhere. He had better let well enough alone. For one who betters his condition a dozen will make it worse. It is such a town that exists no where but in Pennsylvania, and we are proud of its honest, steady substantial character—Phila. Bulletin.
[The above article needs two corrections. The York, Wrightsville and Gettysburg Railway has never been completed; and railroad communication between Gettysburg and our borough is had by means of the Northern Central, Hanover Branch and Hanover and Gettysburg railroads. The other error is in regard to the slack water navigation between this borough and the Susquehanna River. This improvement at one time considerably used, has since the building of the railroad become relics and has been allowed to go to ruin. In all the other particulars, we believe the article is entirely correct. Eds.]
The next time Charles quizzed Dan on the whole article, Dan was prepared. Charles only tripped Dan up on a minor point. Charles exclaimed to his son, who watched the whole quiz, “George, looks like Dan is going to give you a run for your money in schooling.”
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