Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

Dec. 4, do May 19,1829 Sept.30, do Oct. 14, do 13, do 20, do 11,1825

Incidentals, rent of lot adjoining to the asylum,

50 00

14,947 79

1,596 57

Mary Ann Humphreys Gloucester

Henry Lacy

Pupils supported by their Friends.

Sabilla S. French Elizabeth S. Ogden Eliz. Wannemaker Isaac McCullough, Mary E. Gurfin Edward T. Taylor Ann Eliza Lewis Elizabeth Keck Edward Pray

Matilda Sowers

Baltimore city,
Botetourt co. Va. May 16,1827

Shenandoah, Va.
Gloucester, NJ.
Chester, Pa.
Lehigh, Pa.
Ohio, Va.
Charleston, S.C.
Mecklenburg, Va.
Albemarle, Va.
Northampton, Pa.

Philadelphia,

Frederick, Va.

27, do Oct. 11, do

Pupils supported by the Institution. Matilda Bollen, Washington county, Pa. admitted Nov. 15, 1827.

Joseph Sarger, jr. Lehigh county, Pa. on private funds, admitted Dec. 21, 1829.

Deaf and Dumb persons residing in the institution, whose terms of instruction have expired. One of these is employed on wages, and several of the others do something for their support.

Albert Newsam, Maria Deraker, Mary A. Reilly, Charles Leech, Charles Miller, Christopher Vancourt, Peter Martin, William 'M'Closkey, Mary A. Young, a boarder only.

Summary.

[blocks in formation]

24642

14

9

[ocr errors]

Dec. 21.-Balance due the institution

E. E. Philadelphia, Dec. 21, 1829.

JOHN BACON, Treasurer P. I, D. & D.

[blocks in formation]

REPORT ON DIVORCES.

Report of the Committee on the judiciary system, relative to divorces.-Read, January 9, 1830.

Mr. Parke, from the committee on the judiciary system, who have had under their consideration that part of the Governor's message referred to them in relation to divorces, made the following report, which was read, viz:

Applications for divorces, to the legislature become every year more numerous, and of necessity consume in the investigation of the concerns of individuals a large portion of that time, which might profitably be bestowed on the business of the public. In some cases it is feared, that application is made to the legislature and acted upon without sufficient evidence that the party

We have received 27 pupils during the past year, and complained against has been duly notified of the applidischarged 18.

B

For moneys received and paid on account of said institution, from Dec. 21, 1828, to Dec. 21, 1829.

The Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, in account with John Bacon, Treasurer.

cation intended. Would not all the ends of justice likely to be obtained by the granting of divorces be more certainly attained, if the jurisdiction of our courts were more extended over them and the causes of divorce more fully defined than at present?

The committee concur in opinion with the Governor, that the legislature is not the most appropriate general

counties, professedly in carrying the Law into effect, but without a correspondent benefit.

The application of a remedy for so lamentable a state of affairs, is a duty of the first order, and as far as it may be within its power, this Society aims to contribute its humble share of service, towards the discharge of that obligation. Renewed and untiring efforts are necessary, to animate Pennsylvania to put forth her strength in this noble cause, and thereby illustrate her intellectual power, as fully as she is now displaying her physical resources.

tribunal for the trial of applications for divorces. The constitution of our courts renders them undoubtedly more fit to hear and determine. But upon a careful examination of the existing laws in relation to divorces, the committee think that the numerous applications for divorces to former sessions of the legislature alluded to by the Governor could not have been made from the want of a sufficiently general and well defined jurisdiction in the courts. The act upon the subject appears to be so well drawn and carefully guarded, that the committe have not been able to discover any proper general ground of divorce that is not included. And the enumeration of the causes of divorce seems to be as definite as its requisite generality will admit. Unless the courts were invested with general power to declare at their discretion what is a good cause of divorce-a pow-to this vital matter, is to provide well qualified Teachers. er that would be dangerous from being indefinite-some cases will occur which, although not within the law, would be good causes of divorce depending upon their own peculiar circumstances. These must of necessity, and perhaps appropriately, be left to legislative hearing and enactment.

A careful, and deliberate survey of the whole case, has led the Society to the conclusion, that the most important step to be taken in the great work which the People of Pennsylvania have before them, in reference

The best School system which it were possible to devise, must utterly fail in practice, unless instructors can be bad, equal in every respect to their high trust, in a Moral and Intellectual sense.

It is mortifying to be obliged to admit the truth of the too general impression, that the School Master is a From the apparent soundness and generality of the necessary evil, whose only merit consists in the smallexisting divorce law,together with some inquiry into the ness of his charges, and the brevity of the term in which nature of the applications which have heretofore he can promise to impart the rudiments of knowledge. burthened the legislature, the committee have come to In consequence of the indulgence of these erroneous the conclusion, that the evil to which the Governor al-ideas, it frequently happens, that persons the least fitludes, has arisen from the legislature itself having given ted for the office, are entrusted with the instruction of too ready an ear to petitions for divorce, without dis our youth. If instead of this delusion which exists in criminating between those which are by law referred many parts of the country, the public mind could be infor decision to the judicial tribunals, and those whose duced to discern the paramount value of teachers of repeculiar circumstances, although not cognizable before spectable acquirements, and well disciplined minds, the courts, render them fit instances for relief. If this who should be looked upon by the pupils, as the depobe true, the remedy is apparent. Let every applica-sitories of useful knowledge-be esteemed as examples tion be referred to the committee on the judiciary or of virtue, and cherished and honoured for these quali some other appropriate committee. Let it be under-ties, the happiest results would follow. stood that the primary duty of the committee shall be to ascertain whether the complaint of the applicant could be heard in court; and if so to report against it on that ground.

Pursuing this course, the legislature, it is presumed, would soon disburthen itself of much unnecessary business, and throw it upon the appropriate branch of the government, the judiciary. This would both remedy the growing evil of too numerous applications, and avoid as far as possible the danger of a hearing and decision without sufficient notice to the parties concerned. Your committee therefore offer the following resolu

tion:

Resolved, That they be discharged from the further consideration of the subject.

PUBLIC EDUCATION.

A Semi-Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Society for the Promotion of Public Schools, was held at the Franklin Institute, on Monday the 22d March, 1830. Roberts Vaux, the President took the Chair. Augustus H. Richards, was Secretary.

In order to provide this indispensable ingredient in any system of Education which can prove successful, the society would emphatically urge the necessity of training teachers, and for this purpose suggests that in each Congressional District of the State, a seminary should be established by law, where individuals may be prepared for conducting a uniform method of Instruction in the Common Schools, which can be commenced as soon as candidates for the station of Instructors are qualified for the discharge of the prescribed duties.

When the State shall be thus supplied with Tutors, the ordinary schools may be organized with economy and regularity, and the effects must prove as salutary as they will be certain. But without this preparation it would seem to be impossible to accomplish the generous design, contemplated by the advocates of universal education.

The preparation or selection of books and other means of instruction, is also essential to the contemplated plan. Too much care cannot be exercised in this department, and perhaps in no respect are we more deficient than in good elementary works for schools. The Society sensible of the importance of making provision in this particular, and also to ascertain whether this class of books cannot be furnished at cheaper rates than The Pennsylvania Society for the Promotion of pub-is now demanded, appointed a committee some months lic Schools, has through its Council been assiduously engaged, during the last six months, in prosecuting the interesting inquiries for which it was established.

The Third Report was read, as follows:

since, to inquire and report thereon; from this source valuable information may be expected at an early peri

od.

The Corresponding Secretaries soon after the last Without claiming any merit for its efforts, the socieannual meeting of the Society, were charged with the ty is gratified in being enabled to report, that it has not transmission of a Circular Letter, and interrogatories, only furnished a number of well qualified teachers in vaaddressed to influential and intelligent citizens in near.rious parts of the state, but has moreover been instruly all the counties, designed to obtain correct information relative to the actual means for imparting common school learning, more especially to the indigent Youth of this Commonwealth. The replies which were prompt ly made, and which manifest much solicitude on the subject, convey the facts, that in most places the act of 1809 providing for Education, is a dead letter; whilst in a few instances, some expense was incurred by the

mental in organizing several schools in remote places, before destitute of the means of education, which is now liberally conferred at a very moderate expenditure of money to the people where they are established. These instances are alone a sufficient reward for its attention, should no further advantage flow from its disinterested devotion to the subject.

It is as evident, as it is consoling, that the public at

[blocks in formation]

tention is now more than at any former period directed
to the considerstion of furnishing Pennsylvania with a
system of education for all her youth. This great pur-
pose has found a cordial friend in the present governor,
who has made a specific proposition to the legislature
for its accomplishment. The responsibility now rests
upon the representatives of the people, from whom
some preparatory measures at least, may with confi-
dence be soon expected. It is assuredly of deep con-
cern that whatever be done in regard to this subject
should be the fruit of patient investigation, and of wise
counsels, so that the foundation being laid upon pure
moral and religious principles, with adequate pecuniary
support, may endure and yield abundant blessings,
through long ages to come.

On behalf of the society,
ROBERTS VAUX, President.

A. H. RICHARDS, Secretary.
Philadelphia, March 20, 1830.
When on motion it was Resolved, That the Report
be accepted and published.

On motion it was Resolved, That the thanks of the
Society, be and they are hereby presented to the coun-
cil, for the zeal and faithfulness with which it has dis-
discharged its duties.
On motion it was Resolved, That the thanks of this
Society be tendered to those Authors and Publishers of
School Books, who have made donations of their works
to this Society, and which with others expected to be
received, will be found to be essentially useful in pre-
paring for a System of General Education.
On motion it was Resolved, That the Society enter-
tains a grateful sense of the efficient co-operation of its
Corresponding Members, as well as of the promptitude
of a large number of other citizens of Pensylvania, who
bave most cordially and successfully promoted the views
and inquiries of the Society, and thereby advanced the
cause of Education in this commonwealth.

On motion it was Resolved, That the editors of newspapers in Philadelphia, and in the several counties of Pennsylvania,are entitled to the thanks of this society for the insertion in their gazettes, of the report which this society has heretofore made, and that they be respectfully requested further to aid the purposes of the Society, by the publication of the transactions of this day. Ordered that these proceedings be printed and distributed throughout the State.

Attested. A. H. RICHARDS, Recording See'ry.

METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER.

[blocks in formation]

Barometer. 1|20|37|32|29||28 80128 80 28 86/28 821NW Monday 2 28 29 24 27 90 29 03 29 05 28 56 NW Tuesday Wednesd 319 35 32 28||29 10| Thursd'y 4 20 44 40 34 519 27 20 22 Friday Saturday 6 8 18 14 13

03

0029 04 SW

28 93

[ocr errors]

00 28 31 SW

29 30

30

55 29 38 NW

60

60

58 29 59 NW

Sunday

7 419 16 13

54

45

40 29 46 NE

Monday

[blocks in formation]

30 29 25 N

Tuesday 9

[blocks in formation]

30 29 30 SW

[blocks in formation]

Wednesd 10 16 41 36|31|
Thursd'y 11 26 24 1923
12 14 42 3830)
Friday
Saturday 13 25|29|20|24|
Sunday 14 17 40 38 31
Monday 15 19 40 32 30
Tuesday 16 31 41 36 36 28 70
Wednesd 17 32 40 38 36
Thursd'y 18 38 42 39 39|
1930 49 44 41
Friday
Saturday 20 39 54 50 51
Sunday 21 32 48 45 4129 04
Monday 22 39 48 42 43
Tuesday 23 32 50 41 41
Wednesd 24 33 49 45 42
Thursd'y 25 41 46 44 43
26 40 44 36 40
Friday
Saturday 27 32 50 50 44
Sunday 128'39'4845143

28 83 28 80 28 85 28 82 NW 93 90 28 62 N

05 29 22 29 30 29 57 N M 28 29 29 StE

[ocr errors]

20

30

[blocks in formation]

28 93 28 85 28 80 28 86 SE 29 0529 10 29 20 29 11 NW 25 29 25 W 35 29 35 W

25 25
351 351

On the morning of the 7th, Thermometer at 4° above 0-the lowest.

The noon of the 20th, Therm. at 64°-the highest,
Range 60°, in the month.

On the morning of the 6th, Barometer at 29.60, the highest.

On the morning of the 17th, Barometer at 28.65, the lowest. Range, 00.95 in the month."

The Wind has been six days East of the meridian, 19 days West of it, and three days North. On the 1st, there was a fall of snow about 6 inches deep. There were light snows on the 5th, 7th, and

Extract from the Meteorological Register, taken at the 17th. There was Rain on the 21st, 24th, and 25th.

[blocks in formation]

Extracted from a letter written by a gentleman of this
City to a member of the Legislature,

"The Coal Tax is unjust, because the lands from
which it is raised, and which are valued only on account
of Coal, are taxed in the county rates and levies in pro-
portion to their value-it is in fact taxing farm and crop
too. It has been argued that the Tax should be laid be
cause Coal is to be benefitted by transportation on ca-
nals and rail roads-then by parity of reason why not
tax thereon all other mineral and agricultural products
I have heard that this al-
that are equally benefitted.
leged advantage to the Coal trade was strongly urged

in the argument before the House in order to promote the Tax-but I pray you to mark the sophistry and utter absurdity of this argument as applied to the canals and rail roads now in operation. The argument implies that the canals and rail roads in question have been erected at the expense of the state. Not so,-they have been (those I mean on which Coal of any importance reaches a market) exclusively erected by the wealth and contributions of individuals—not a dollar of the five millions which they cost, was received in aid thereof from the state treasury by the Lehigh or the Schuylkill -look at the immense expenditures also of the citizens of Philadelphia in the completion of the Union Canal (aided it is true by a lottery revenue sanctioned by a law of the state, affording that incorporation a slight as sistance while it entails a curse on the community by the gambling effect it nurtures and produces, a nuisance which every good citizen must desire to see put down) -look also at their immense expenditures on the Delaware and Chesapeake, and partially too on the Delaware and Hudson. The state has not contributed a dollar to the completion of these splendid works. These Herculean undertakings of individual enterprise, have at length been consummated through good and evil report, and in opposition to all kinds of difficulties. Their Managers respectively have been fondly anticipating an early day, when they should begin to repay the unexampled patience and patriotism of the Stockholders by the declaration of a dividend on their investments, and paying off the debts they have necessarily incurred: but how have their sanguine anticipations been prostrated, by the recent development at Harrisburg. Instead of experiencing the fostering and protecting care of the State Legislature, they are instantly singled out as sources of revenue that will bear squeezing-a kind of no man's land, that the legislature may pounce upon at pleasure, modestly commencing with twenty-five cents per ton and gradually increasing the burthen as their wants and our good nature will permit; and thus having commenced with the calf, we shall be made to carry the bull in good earnest. Thus are they to be rewarded for acting as pioneers in the work of internal improvement, for bringing into productive usefulness, immense tracts of barren, sterile and inaccessible country; and connecting distant points which from natural causes seemed heretofore impossible; and this reminds me of our friend Miner, of the Village Record, who with the feeling of a poet, which he so happily possesses, "his eye in a fine phrensy rolling," once declared, that certain points on the Lehigh "were intended by God and Nature for an eternal solitude;"-but this long tried friend of internal improvements has since rejoiced to know that these very inaccessible points of wilderness have been made to blossom like the rose-these heretofore impassable gorges of the mountain and the stream, by the advance of arts and science, and the determined perseverance of a few individuals, have become the most busy and crowded thoroughfares which connect the valuable agricultural country, north and south of the Blue Mountain. And that on a river, which a legislative enactment of 1794, gravely required, should have a canoe navigation maintained near its mouth, should now for near 50 miles above, by the abstraction of its waters from their broken and impracticable channel, be made competent to sustain the navigation of keel boats of 150 tons burthen these remarks apply to the Lehigh. On the Schuylkill changes equally remarkable and important have occurred-lands, the surface of which yielded no crop, and upon which the crow could scarcely live, are now continually changing owners at advanced prices, until some of them have been sold from 100 to 700 dol

lars per acre, in consequence of the coal and iron they contain (more valuable to a working and energetic population, than could be the gold or silver mines of Mexico or Peru) and which are now permitted to reach a market by means of these canals and rail roads and which will eventually enrich the state, if not strangled

in the birth by untimely, unequal, and unwise taxation.

But I have digressed from the subject.-Coal does not abound in all parts, and in most parts of the State is not known or used-the Tax is therefore unequal. It is unwise and impolitic, the object of the State is to get tonnage for her canals and rail roads when they shall be completed-in this point of view a bounty on the article for exportation would be wiser than a Tax operating a prevention. To you I would leave a question which has arisen in the minds of many good citizens, how far the Legislature are debarred by constitutional compact, from imposing Taxes on articles afloat on canals and rail roads fairly on their road to market, much of which may simply require only a transhipment or hauling from the river boat to the sea vessel, to become decidedly articles of export.

I wish you would come out on this constitutional point, and like -, cry aloud, and without sparing-I really think this objection is not fanciful.The direct operation of the Tax is to prevent the use of Coal-it cannot under the present circumstances of the trade be afforded for less than $6 in Philadelphia, nor in the Eastern cities for less than about $9 per tun.When all the canals and rail roads are finished, and the Coal trade extended to five times its present demand, the dealers will be able to take a less profit per ton, and to pay a tax if it must be so without feeling it so op pressive as at present. But while the prices are so high necessarily, that it is questionable whether coal or wood is the cheapest, people cannot be expected to change their habits to make an experiment of doubtful economy. It is said that steam boats cannot now afford to use coal at the rate of $5 per ton-if it could be brought down to a price they could pay, their consumption at present would equal 200,000 tons. The Tax will therefore procrastinate its consumption, and the toll will be lost to the canals-could the price be reduced, the demand would be proportionably increased, and when people got into the habit of using it, they would not relinguish it for any small tax that might be laid thereon.

The imposition of this Tax would act as a Bonus in favour of Virginia, and of foreign coal, and as contemplated in the rejected bill, was a premium offered to the exertions and ingenuity of those dealers who should contrive to get their Coal to market without resorting to canals or rail roads.

It seems to me that owing to the peculiar wording of the rejected section, the Susquehanna and Pittsburg Coal passed to market tax free. I am rejoiced that our western sister should be so lucky-but do not perceive why the Baltimorians should have been equally favoured. Nor can there exist the slightest reason, founded in equity or justice, why one portion of the Commonwealth should be taxed on an article that is exempted in another, much less that decided favour should be granted to Maryland. I will stop short although many reasons and objections of strong import are strug gling for utterance. You will excuse the freedom with which I venture to address a Senator, and the liberties I have taken when speaking of the past proceedings of the lower House, touching this odious Coal Tax.

I am, respectfully, &c.

On the 26th March, William G. Hawkins, Esq. of Greene county, was elected Speaker of the Senate, in the room of Mr. Sturgeon, resigned, in consequence of his accepting the appointment of Auditor General of the State.

GEDDES, No. 59 Locust Street. Philadelphia; where, and at

Printed every SATURDAY MORNING by WILLIAM F

door back of the Post Office, (back room) subscriptions will be the PUBLICATION OFFICE, IN FRANKLIN PLACE, second thankfully received. Price FIVE DOLLARS per annum, payable annually by subscribers residing in or near the city, or wheze there is an agent. Other subscribers pay in advance.

THE

REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.

VOL. V.-NO. 15.

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.

PHILADELPHIA, APRIL 10, 1830.

PENSNYLVANIA CANAL.

JUNIATA DIVISION.

JUNIATA CANAL OFFICE, Lewistown, December 5th, 1829. S To the Board of Canal Commissioners. GENTLEMEN -The accompanying report of Alexander C. Twining, the engineer on the ninety miles of canal entrusted to my care, which is marked A. will supersede the necessity of my giving you a detailed history of the operations on the Juniata division of the Pennsyl. vania canal, for the last year. I will therefore confine this report to a few general observations.

The River Trade.

NO. 119.

advertising would admit. And in their contract, they were bound with sureties, in a penalty of fifty thousand dollars, to complete it "on or before the first day of August, 1829."2 To expedite which, every facility was given to the contractors which the attention of the engineer, and nine several current payments on estimates could afford; and to enable them to prosecute the job vigorously, a greater proportion of the estimates was paid to them than the terms of their contract required. But, notwithstanding the prompt and cheerful aid that was always readily afforded them, they abandoned the contract on the 10th of August last, having completed only three-sevenths of the whole work required. The work remaining to be done was immmediately relet to substantial and experienced contractors, who are to have

The accompanying report of the engineer marked C. shows, that during the three months which have elapsed since the present contractors have taken the job,one half of their work is done, and the other moiety can be readily completed within the four months which is allowed them for finishing.

In compliance with the provision of law, that prohibit ready for public use by the middle of next April.its the obstruction of rivers by dams, unless a passage equally safe be provided, there was a river lock of 17 feet wide by 90 feet long, within the chamber, built at each of the two dams that were erected below Lewistown. These locks were completed in the fall of 1828; but in March last, the unusually thick ice of the preceding winter was broken up suddenly by a freshet, which injured both locks so seriously as to render them impassable, and made it necessary to rebuild the one at North's island.

The repairs necessary to the dam and river lock at the head of the Long Narrows were put under a good contractor, and have been effectually repaired and strengthened; and the lock has been used by the boatmen since early in last October. As soon as the spring floods had subsided sufficiently to ascertain the extent of injury done by the ice, and it was discovered that a new lock would be required at North's island, proposals were received for building it; and it was assigned to the lowest bidder, who was well recommended as an efficient contractor. The contract with him is dated April 28, 1829: but, on the 27th of September following, his contract was abandoned; as the palpable neglect to fulfil his engagements had jeopardized the interests of four counties, and it was consigned to other men; since which time it has advanced with rapidity, and will be entirely completed within a few days, so that those citizens who may prefer the old method of floating to market, may henceforward rely with the utmost confidence on an uninterrupted river navigation.

Lower line, 45 miles.

Should the navigation of the canals open in the spring before the aqueduct at Duncan's island is finished, there will necessarily be a transshipment and about half a mile of portage, until it is completed; from which time a boat leaving Philadelphia may proceed uninterruptedly 220 miles towards Pittsburgh; leaving 112 miles of hauling by land between these cities.

In finishing off the lower line, many small jobs occurred which could not conveniently be included in any regular contract; partly as incidental appendages to the completion of the canal, and partly as repairs. These were performed by jobbing contractors and assistant supervisors, at a per diem allowance for their own wages and the necessary expenses or actual cost for men, tools, &c. to be rendered under oath and taxed by the engineer. The amount expended in this way is $8,126 51, as will appear in detail on the list marked D.

The aggregate estimates of the Engineer for work done and settled on the lower line, per his report, amounts to $991,899 56. The work done, but not yet finally estimated, amounts to $25,300 00; and the work not yet finished, including the big aqueduct and repairs is computed to cost $73,805 00.

Upper line, 45 miles.

The want of funds, the supply of which became irThe protracted severity of last winter, and the em- regular, in May last, and ceased altogether in Septembarrassments of the state treasury, during the summer, ber, has retarded the completion of the lower line, and have tended to postpone the completion of the canal for greatly paralized the efforts of the contractors on the public use, but I have great pleasure in stating, that 31 upper line. But a large majority of them have continmiles of it has been navigated by boats laden with goods ued to prosecute their contracts, notwithstanding the direct from Philadelphia, and the remaining distance has pecuniary embarrassments under which they laboured. had the water introduced into it, throughout, except These embarrassments have produced great irregularibalf a mile at the lower end. For more minute inform-ty in the prosecution of the work, as many of the easy ation respecting this part of the line, I refer the board to a report made to me on the 21st ultimo, by General Mitchell, the supervisor, marked B. in which an account is given of the repairs which have been made, and of those that are yet deemed necesssary.

The large aqueduct over the Juniata at Duncan's island was let to Moore & Winslow, on the 11th of June, 1828, being as soon after the final decision of the canal board upon its location, as the time required by law for VOL. V.

29

jobs are completed, while but little advance has as yet been made on some that are much more difficult; contractors could not in justice be forced to prosecute their work without money to pay them. But with a supply of funds, the whole work can be finished before next fall, so as to be ready for public use, to the borough of Huntingdon, early in the spring of 1831.

The amount of estimates for work done between Lewistown and Huntingdon is 466,181.41 dollars; and

« PreviousContinue »