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History of Cambria County, V.1

194 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.  
Susquehanna, explore the streams of the then new purchase from the Indians, and to discover if possible a route for a road to connect the waters of the Allegheny with the West Branch of the Susquehanna.
     On Monday, April 26, 1790, Mr. Maclay started from home to meet the other commissioners. On May 19th they were at Watsontown, then called Warrior Run. On June 14th they began to survey the West branch of the Sinnemahoning, about ten miles below Driftwood.
     We quote from the Journal:
     "Thursday, August 19th, 1790.--Got Ready Early in the morning started up the Kishacaminitas River. Saw two white men on the River in a canoe. Continued to make all the speed we could untill night, and then took up our camp on the west side, or rather south-west side of River at the foot of a Rocky hill near the mouth of a small spring.
     "Friday: August 20th.--Continued our Jorney up the River and arrived at the mouth of Loyalhannon at one oclock; and as we had had several days of showery weather and continued moistness in the air, our Cloathes of every kind were Damp and Disagreeable, and as the afternoon was a fine one we agreed to let the men rest and Dry their Cloathes, and ours. We had this day been attempting to procure some fresh Provisions on our way up, from the Inhabitants along the River, and had been unsucksesful; we therefore sent off two of our men in order to procure either Butter or meat of any kind. They Returned with (out) Sucksess."
     The Loyalhannon to which he refers is the Loyalhanna, which rises in the Laurelhill, above Fort. Ligonier, and flows in a northwesterly direction through Westmoreland county and empties into the Conemaugh river at Saltsburg, and forms the Kiskiminetas river. From Saltsburg to Johnstown the river is properly called the Conemaugh; sometimes it is designated as the Big Conemaugh, to distinguish it from the Little Conemaugh, which meets the Stonycreek at the point in this city. The distance from Johnstown to Saltsburg by the way of the river is about forty-nine miles, and to Blairville about thirty-three mile. The Journal continues:
     "Saturday, August 21st.-As all our attempts yesterday to procure provisions had been fruitless, we were obliged to stay this day in order to get a supply of Both flour and meat; we were Luckay enough this morning to get the half of a Veal from one Samuel Hoy, who lives a little way below the mouth of Loyalhanning, and sent off a man and horse to Denison's


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Created: 27 Mar 2006, Last Updated:
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Lynne Canterbury, Diann Olsen and contributors