But an
even greater period of expansion was ahead. In
1852 there were two major developments: 1--The
main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad was
completed through the city and the canal was soon
outmoded; 2--The Cambria Iron Company was
founded. It replaced a number of small iron
furnaces in the valley and was the forerunner of
Johnstown Plant, Bethlehem Steel Company.  A half-century of farming,
flatboating and canal transportation had
represented the first phase of Johnstown's
development; now the second phase was underway,
with the iron industry, the railroad and, later,
the coal industry providing the impetus.
With its basic
industrial operations and good rail connections
east and west, Johnstown was rapidly transformed
from a small canal village into one of the most
remarkable manufacturing centers in the world.
Contributing
to the early advances of the iron and steel
business was the abundance of natural resources.
Readily available nearby were coal, iron ore,
limestone, fire clay and an abundant water
supply.
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