REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD, NO. 51, FILBERT STREET. VOL. II.-NO. 9. PHILADELPHIA, SEPT. 13, 1828. REPORT ON INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS, Presented to the Legislature 1791. The Schuylkill next presents itself, not merely in order as a branch of the Delaware, but as one of those great The committee appointed January 5th last, to exam-highways, which, at a future day, will ine the reports of the commissioners who have been bear on its waters the immense produce employed in exploring the western waters, the Susque-and trade of the western country.-hanna, and the Delaware, &c. and to report a plan for This river is to be considered in a douimprovement of roads and navigation by the common-ble point of view: First, as a great nawealth, made report, which was read, as follows, viz. The committee, to whom sundry reports and petitions respecting roads and navigations were referred, beg leave to make the following report tural channel, tending to the metropolis ed at about They have paid a close attention to the important objects submitted to them; they have carefully considered the reports of the commissioners appointed by government to explore the northern and western waters, and have the satisfaction of uniting in opinion, that the communications between the metropolis and the northern The road from Reading to Harrisburg, and western parts of the state are by nature formed for Secondly, Pursuing the Schuylkill up producing the most desirable effects, at an expense as- the waters of Tulpehocken, it will be tonishingly trivial, when compared with the magnitude found they approach so near to the waof the object, and extent of country which they embrace.ters of the Quitapahilla, leading down In addition to the domestic convenience to be derived the Swatara to the Susquehanna, that a by accommodating the various parts of the state with canal and lock navigation force themeasy and cheap carriage, your committee extend their selves into our notice. The expense views to very distant regions, which, by means of the of which is estimated at western lakes, invite our minds to anticipate a boundless and beneficial trade, at a period not very remote, unless, by a faulty timidity, or illiberal parsimony, we should ingloriously leave so noble an undertaking to our more enterprising posterity. But, building on the enlarged and enlightened ideas of the citizens of Pennsylvania, your committee cheerfully bring before you the result of their deliberations. First, They consider the river Delaware as a most important channel for introducing the trade and produce, not only of the northern parts of the state, but as being capable of forming an easy communication, by a portage of 19 miles, with the north western parts of the state of New York, and extending, by two other short portages, to Lake Ontario. This river is capable of affording a safe raft and boat navigation, from the extreme northern bounds of the state. By the estimates given, the expense will be about, The portage from the Delaware at Stockport, near the north line of the state, to Harmony, at the great bend of Susquehanna is 19 miles, the expense is about, Descending the Delaware, we have considered the waters of Lachawac and Lehigh as claiming the public attention; but whether it will be expedient to enter on the improvement of those waters so extensively as their situations may warrant at a future day, we submit to the decision of the House: yet, as great benefit would immediately result from removing some of their obstructions, we think there may be allowed: For the Lachawać, For the Lehigh, VOL. II. 19 From this canal down the Swatara, the expense is The expense of rendering the Tulpe- Canal from head of Tulpehocken to Having entered the Susquehanna, 400 0 0 200 0 0 From the mouth of Swatara to the mouth of Juniata, NO:37: 1500 0 0 500 0 0 18,650 0 0 250 0 0 11,290 0 0 9700 0 0 300 0 0 From Juniata to West branch, 300 0 0 440 0 0 The Tioga branch being the uppermost great water leading westward from the Susquehanna, near the New York line, will very shortly open an extensive trade to the Genesee country, now settling with great rapidity, and is at present passable with large canoes nearly one hundred miles from its mouth.This water passing through the state of New York, no money can be expended on it by Pennsylvania; but it is mentioned by your committee, as inducing & more earnest attention to the clearing of the Susquehanna, so far as our state extends: The western branch of the Susquehanna comes next in view, carrying with it bold and prominent marks of a most extensive and lucrative navigation, inviting us to an early participation of its advantages. From the mouth of this river to the mouth of Sinnemahoning, the expense of clearing is estimated at From thence up the Sinnemahoning to its north branch, From thence up the north branch to a place called Driftwood, From Driftwood, a portage extending northerly through a good country for roads, 23 miles to the river Allegheny, 200 miles above the mouth of Toby's creek, From the end of this portage, down the Allegheny to Connewango, Up the Connewango to the head of Chetaghque Lake, Road from Chetaghque Lake to Chetaghque creek, emptying into Lake Erie, Chetaghque creek, and the harbour at its mouth, Making the whole expense from the main branch of Susquehanna to Lake Erie, 12,710 0 0 460 0 0 Total expense to Presque Isle, by the 2570 0 0 The western branch of the Sinnemahoning, leading, by means of a portage of 14 miles, to the head waters of Toby's creek, will open a communication with the Allegheney, about 200 miles below the place where the northern route crosses that river; but this western branch of the Sinnemahoning not having been sufficiently explored, no dependable estimate is attempted, tho' it is spoken of by the commissioners as capable of being made navigable in some seasons of the year; but it is described as being crowded with rocks. In the report on the west branch of Susquehanna, a communication is presented by descending the Allegheny to French creek. The expense on this creek is estimated at And the road from thence to Presque Isle, on Lake Erie, 500 0 0 400 0 0 We come next to Juniata which, extending through a settled country to Frank's town, is estimated as capable of being rendered navigable at the following ex 2d. From Philadelphia to mouth of Juniata, as in the foregoing estimate, From mouth of Juniata to Pittsburg, as by the foregoing estimate, The particulars of this calculation, with an estimate of the expense of boats, &c. on which the foregoing result is founded, accompany this report. Your committee could not overlook the uniform report of all the different commissioners on the subject of fish-dams erected on all the waters, in direct violation of the law, and which calls for efficient remedy, without 36890 0 0 which every improvement and expenditure on the navigation will be rendered abortive. 5250 0 1.60,870 0 0 To these expenses must be added a proportionate sum for superintendants, and other incidental charges, perhaps about ten per cent. By the best information which your committee can obtain, not only from the reports submitted to them, but by conversation with several of the commissioners, we are induced to believe that the sums herein specified will produce such essential benefit to the state of Per.nsylvania, as will over-balance the expense to a degree beyond all possibility of calculation. To give a faint idea of some of those benefits, your committee beg leave to introduce the following calculation of the expenses attending the transportation of produce and merchandize to and from a small part of the western country, by which it will appear, that, if the same commodities could be conveyed by the proposed navigation, there would be an actual saving of one hundred and forty-eight thousand pounds in the short space of eight years, exclusive of the great advantages resulting from the employment of all those extra men and cattle in the more profitable business of agriculture. The calculations are as follow: In the year 1790 there were 150,000 bushels of wheat brought down the Susquehanna, and passed through Middletown, for the Philadelphia market, a large pro portion of which came down the Juniata. In the year 1788 considerable quantities of grain and flour went up the Susquehanna, for the use of the settlers in Northumberland; but since last March about 30,000 bushels of wheat have returned down the stream for the city. The proportion which the north-western country bears to the country which sends wheat down the Juniata may be supposed as five to one. Therefore it may with propriety be assumed, that when the navigation of the northern and western waters of the Susquehanna is rendered more easy and safe, the annual increase of grain brought down will be very considerable. If this increase is admitted to be only one eighth annually, which must be esteemed a very moderate computation, the total amount of wheat brought down in eight years, ending in the year 1800, will be 2,175000 bushels, which at 2s. 6d. per bushel, the present price of carriage by land, is two hundred and seventy-one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five pounds. If only onethird of the weight of the wheat is supposed to be carried back in salt, liquors, and other On the whole, your committee are united in their belief, that the proposed improvements are not only desirable, but are brought into view at a time when the finances of the state will warrant an immediate commencement of the business. Your committee therefore submit the following resolutions, viz. 1st. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to bring in a bill, authorising the Governor to contract with individuals, or with companies, for the purpose of undertaking part or parts of the work necessary for improving the roads and waters, to be specified in said bill. 2d. Resolved, That the following sums be appropriated for the purposes mentioned in the foregoing resolve: For the Delaware 2500 0 0 3d. Resolved, That the Governor be requested to issue a proclamation, inviting proposals for undertaking the canals and locks on and near the waters of Tulpehocken and Quitapahilla, and also the canal from Frankstown to Poplar run, and report to the legislature. 4th. Resolved, That a committee be appointed, to bring in a bill to empower the Governor to sell, from time to time, so much of the public securities of the state, as may be necessasy to provide for the expenses of the roads and navigations, as contained in the second resolve. 5th. Resolved, That the annual sum of five thousand pounds, already appropriated by law for claims and improvements, after every annual claim is satisfied, shall hereafter be appropriated to the improvement of roads, reserving only the annual sum of pounds, for such other improvements as the legislature may from time to time direct. 6th. Resolved, That the Governe be authorized to appropriate the balance, hitherto unapplied, remaining of the annual sum of five thousand pounds, appropriated to roads and inland navigation, for the immediate improvements of roads within the state; and that the following sums be allotted: For a road leading from Wilkesbarre to the Wind Gap For a road leading from Susquehanna, at on the Delaware to For a road leading from Harrisburg thro' the narrows, at the foot of the Blue and Peter's mountains, up to For a road to be explored from Frankstown, in the straightest line and over the best ground, to Pittsburg For a road from Bedford to Pittsburg For a road from Reading to Sunbury For a road from Bedford to Youghcageny For a road from mouth of Juniata to Sterret's, by General Watt's and Hugh Miller's For a road through Long Narrows and Jack's Narrow's on Juniata For a road from near Catawissa, on the north branch of Susquehanna, to Minick's on Schuylkill 7th. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to bring in a bill, for the purposes contained in the fifth and sixth resolutions. 8th. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to bring in a bill, for the more effectual suppression of fish dams on such navigable waters within this state, as are or shall be by law declared to be highways. Your committee have examined and considered the memorial of the Society for promoting roads and Inland Navigations, and are happy in so perfectly harmonizing with those gentlemen in their views. The memorial contains very interesting information, and your committee would recommend its being printed on the minutes. Ordered to lie on the table. BANK OF THE UNITED STATES. At the General Triennial Meeting of the Stockholders of the Bank of the United States, held at their Hall in the city of Philadelphia, on Monday the first day of September 1828, ROBERT RALSTON, Esq. was called to preside-and JOSEPH HEMPHILL, Esq. appointed Secretary. In conformity to the provisions of the charter an exact and particular statement of the debts which remained unpaid after the expiration of the original credit for a period of treble the term of that credit, and of the surplus of profits after deducting losses and dividends, was laid before the stockholders for their information by the President of the Bank. Mr. Biddle then presented & general view of the situation of the Institution, with an account of its progress since the last meeting of the stockholders, referring to and submitting to the meeting tion of Charles Chauncey, Esq. it was resolved, That various documents and statements: Whereupon, on mothe matters submitted by the President, together with the statements laid upon the table by him, be referred to a Committee. The Chairman then appointed the following gentlemen, viz. CHARLES CHAUNCEY. ALEXANDER HENRY, CADWALADER EVANS. CHARLES J. INGERSOLL, JAMES RONALDSON, JAMES C. FISHER. On motion Resolved, That when this meeting adjourns, it adjourns until to-morrow morning at nine o'clock. Tuesday morning, September 2, 1828. The Stockholders met pursuant to adjournment. Charles Chauncey, Esq. on behalf of the Committee appointed yesterday, submitted the following report, which with the resolutions accompanying it were unani300 0 0 mously adopted, and ordered to be published in pamphlet form and in the newspapers. 500 0 0 300 0 0 The committee appointed at the meeting of the stockholders of the Bank of the United States, on the 1st inst. report: That in executing the duty assigned to them they have examined the books and accounts of the Bank, and will proceed to state the result of their inquiries, in re300 0 0 gard to the distribution of the stock of the Bank-the 500 0 0 present state of the funds-and the mode of administer300 0 0ing them. 400 0 0 1. The Stock of the Bank is at present divided as fol. Shares. lows: Names. For a road from Callender's mill, over Croghan's gap, to West's mill For a road from Fulton's ferry on Susquehanna to Newport |