cleaning stove pipes 4.03, 8 13 Combs and tooth brushes, 7 93 1 of do. do. and Diarrhoea, Auris do. 13 This amount divided by 128, the average number maintained in the asylum, will give the cost of each,per annum, including boarding, clothes, and schooling, 45.78, or per week 88 cents. If the Alms house account be deducted, as has been the practice of former committees in estimating the cost, then the 128 will cost each per annum 35.44 dolls. or per week 68 15-100 cts. By the report of the committee, May 19, 1828, it appears that the cost of supporting 150 children in the asyium after deducting the Alms house account, was 5748. 97 dollars, or 74 cents per week each-being a difference of between 6 and 7 cents on each child per week, in favor of the present year. During the year there have occurred 13 deaths-of these, 6 were those of children who had been but a few months in the Asylum. The ages at which the deaths took place are In Between 2 and 3.. March.. April,. .2 1 There has been no death from Canker of the mouth as a primary disease, and only one recovery when secondary disease of sore mouth supervened; and this may be accounted for from the fact that the secondary disease found the young system so debilitated as to destroy the little sufferer without difficulty;-so rapid in its course as to defy the constant application of the most powerful remedies-henee sore mouth appearing as a secondary disease, leaves (if any) very little hope of recovery." Admitted into the Infirmary of the Children's Asylum, Diarrhea or bowel complaint, Ears, purulent discharge from, Nov'r.........3 Dec'r ......2 The health of the children throughout the year has been generally good. But few cases of the sore mouth have occurred, which formerly prevailed so fatally. There is one remarkable circumstance, however, that every child (without, we believe, an exception,) becomes afflicted with sore eyes, sooner or later after his admission; which disease, nevertheless, soon yields to simple treatment, without any permanent ill effects. The following report by Dr. Anderson, Physician of the Asylum, will give the Board an idea of the diseases which have occurred Died, (1 of Croup, 1 of Diarrhea,) On Convalescent list, On Sick List, .... From this statement the pleasing fact appears, that the Children's Asylum, for the first winter these many years, has been free from that horrible, and heretofore deadly disease-Canker of the Mouth. No case of which has occurred since November 1829. It is the practice to vaccinate each child on his first admission; unless it is known that he has successfully undergone that operation before. The committee have every reason to be satisfied with the progress made by the children in the School under the management of Sarah C. Dungan, daughter of the matron, aided by Felix M'Canna, one of the children, as monitors; as well as with the general order, cleanli 1830.] THE NEW ALMS-HOUSE. 347 The family consists of the Matron at a salary of 300 dollars, her daughter the Teacher at 200 do. per annum, an Infirmary Nurse at 2 dolls. per week, one Assistant at 1.25, and a Seamstress at 1.50, a Cook at 1.50, a Hull Maid at 1.25, a Nursery Maid at 1.25 a Chamber do. at $1.25, and a man as Gardener, &c. at $10 per month. ness, and arrangement of the house under the management of the matron, Martha Dungan. The children ap pear happy and cheerful; and when about to leave the Asylum, many of them do it, with the reluctance usual on leaving a very comfortable home. And your committee have a pleasing hope, that the moral impressions here made, upon their youthful minds, will accompany them through life, and influence their future conduct. Were it not from an apprehension of swelling this report to too great a length, they could relate some interesting occurrences tending to shew the moral effects already produced. One instance, however, they cannot refrain from noticing, of a remarkable change of conduct attributable to a different mode of treatment from that previously experienced, by a girl between 10 and 11 years of age, who had been several times returned to the Asylum from places at which she was deemed unmanageable. In all these places, in consequence of her supposed perverse disposition, and total want of principle, she had been treated with great severity; but since her last return to the asylum, by kindness, occasional re-placed, or importunity with the Committee, they cause wards, and confidence reposed in her, she has manifested a total change of character; and has confirmed your committee in the full belief, that many children are ruined by the application of severe treatment ill adapted to their dispositions and circumstances, who by a contrary course might be readily reclaimed and made useful members of society. Presuming that some account of the regulations of this interesting family of children may be welcome to the board, your committee make the following statement: When comparing the condition of these children, with their former one at home, or with that of the thousands in our streets, your committee cannot but regret, that there prevails so general an indisposition on the part of parents to place their offspring in the asylum when their own circumstances are such as not to justify them in keeping their children at home and render it impossible to discharge their duty to them. But such is the melancholy fact, that after witnessing the comfortable situation of their children in the Asylum, and even after they have been well provided with suitable places and trades elsewhere, they are not satisfied, till by interference with the families in which their children are their return to their former abodes of wretchedness and vice-thoughtless and dissolute parents thus deprive their children of good places, and a regular course of moral training; take them away from the Asylum well clad and healthy, to ramble the streets, or to be return ed in a short time ragged, diseased, and abused. A mel· ancholy instance of this kind recently occurred in a boy, on whom the small-pox appearing soon after his return, he was removed to the Small-Pox Hospital, where he died. Another boy, supposed to have caught the con tagion from him, was likewise removed to the Hospital, and is also dead. The committee are not aware that any others have taken the disease. sent One of the most trying duties of your committee is that of opposing, for the ultimate good of the child, the unreasonable demands and erratic affections of these inconsiderate and often worthless parents. During the last two years the average number of children has been diminishing. One reason for which, your committee presume is, that under the present system the parents are required to pay for their board if they remove them. Formerly, children half naked were to the Asylum, and after being well and comfortably clothed, and of an age suitable to be put out, their discharge was demanded and obtained, without compensation to the public-at present, the practice is otherwise, and the Board is aware that the Committee do not place children out even on trial (unless the persons who apply for them, come well recommended. Respectfully submitted. By order of the Committee, THOS. P. COPE, Chairman. Attest-SAMUEL HAZARD, Secretary. At about 6 o'clock they all rise and dress themselves, when the maid goes into their chamber-after dressing, each kneels by his bed side and prays; they then march in a line to their seats in the school room, whence they are conducted in classes of 12 at a time to be washed and combed; they then return to their seats until about 7 o'clock, when they breakfast-this, three days in the week consists of tea, bread, and cold meat; two days of coffee, and two days of chocolate. They are then permitted to amuse themselves in the spacious lot adjoining the house, until half past 8 o'clock in summer and 9 in winter; when they take their seats in School, which opens by reading the bible, singing a hymn,and repeating the commandments; at about half past 10 they are allowed an intermission of half an hour, when those who are hungry are furnished with bread, the larger boys serving the smaller ones; they then return to school, and continue till 12, when they are allowed to play till dinner time, which is about 1 o'clock-this consists two days in the week of soup; two of cold meat and vegeta bles; one of rice &molasses, or Indian pudding or dumplings; one of corned beef and vegetables, and on the Sabbath of bread and molasses. The afternoons are spent much in the same manner as the mornings-at about 5 the school closes, as it commenced, with religious exercises; at about half past 6 oclock they sup, on bread and milk-this meal is delivered to them in a limited quantity, but at breakfast and dinner they are served till by the uplifted hand they express themselves New Alms-House on the west side of Schuylkill, was satisfied. At each meal they approach the table in a laid in presence of the Board of Commissioners for its line; after a short pause they invoke a blessing, and hav-erection,-of the Board of Guardians, and numerous ing finished return thanks; no speaking is allowed at ta- other citizens. The following address was delivered ble; they stand while eating. After supper they are allowed to play for some time, then are washed and re- by Elhanan W. Keyser, Esq. President of the Board of tire to bed about 8 or 9 o'clock. Their sleeping Commissioners. apartments are very spacious; in cold weather mod erately warmed, and tin tubes are provided for carrying off the smoke,&c. of the lamps-about 70 of the gest and most healthy boys lodge in one room, which is ventilated and sufficiently spacious for the purpose. On the Sabbath they are carefully instructed in a religious manner. THE NEW ALMS-HOUSE. On the 26th inst. at noon, the corner-stone of the We have this day assembled in accordance with a long established custom, for the purpose of laying the lar-corner-stone of this building. One which, by the mu nificent and benevolent intentions of the united corporations of the several districts of Philadelphia, is dedicated to the relief and support of the poor and unhap py subjects whom vice or misfortune has cast upon public bounty. Our object is, therefore, emphatically to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, and to shelter the houseless. The humane intentions of our community in dispensing that charity so essential to the relief of the The physician attends at the asylum every day,and of tener when necessary. A large room is occupied as an infirmary, and a careful and kind nurse administers to their necessities when sick. distressed, have often been defeated or abused for want of an asylum of sufficient magnitude, wherein the proper classification and arrangement of its inmates might be attended to, with a view to promote, as well the comfort of the virtuous, as the reformation of the vicious. By an act of the Legislature of this state passed about two years ago, provision was made for the purchase of a lot of ground and the erection of suitable buildings. That object, we believe, has been attained by the possession of the present site. And here, on the verdant bank of the Schuylkill, we propose to erect a structure containing those advantages, which in an institution such as the present is contemplated to be, may best promote the objects we wish to accomplish. In the stone at the north east corner of the building, were deposited several newspapers of the day, and a glass vessel, with a ground stopper secured with sealing wax, containing the following record. "This corner stone of the New Alms-House, was laid on the 26th day of May, Anno Domini 1830, in the presence of the Board of Commissioners for the erection of suitable buildings for the accommodation of the poor, and the Thomas P. Cope, Erskine Hazard, Commissioners. Isaac Roach, Board of Guardians. Abraham L. Pennock, Thomas Rogers, Israel Cope, Jesse R. Burden, James S. Spencer. William Strickland, Architect. In the corner stone are deposited "The laws relating to the relief and employment of the poor in the City and Liberties." The rules for the Government of the Board of Guardians, together with the silver coin of the United States, for the year 1830." MAUCH CHUNCK RAIL-ROAD. The following extracts are from an article published by Mr. White, in the Mauch Chunk Courier: them in check by the breaks. We soon perceived our utter inability to keep the wagons repaired without reducing the speed or be subject to costs in repairs greater than the gains made over the good turnpike we had abandoned;besides the tremulous motion occasioned by the wagons going at those rapid rates ground the corners of the coal into powder, which enveloped the driver in a complete cloud of dust, Our Rail Road was new when we travelled at the high speed, and although not so perfect as it might have been made, I presume it was as evenly made as those which are more perfect in other respects in the first instance would be after one year's wear and tear, from one hundred thousand tons per year, geing on them at the Rail Roads in England, and until very lately had the motion of 15 a 20 miles an hour. Thirty years ago, their flanges on the track of the road, or most of them in that way; and as a consequence were always liable to Ours is of the modern be covered with dust, dirt, &c. down, so that they perform two ordinary days' work in construction, and we have adapted it to ride the horses each day. The only difference between our road and the most modern one in England is, that their work is put together more evenly and stronger, to carry their locomotive engines, which weigh two or three times as much as passes on our road. Our road is graded so as to have such a continued descent from the summit down, as for the wagons to descend on all parts of it by gravity. When they began to pursue this method in England, I know not: ours was the first of the kind we had any intelligence of, and the English have not improved on it. "With the utmost skill and experience of our mechanics, we do not find them to bore a steam engine cylinder perfect-the pistons all require packing to prevent the escape of steam. I never noticed a wheel cast perfectly true. We cast ours in (turned) chills, but they do not come out perfectly correct, and if they were cast or turned true, it is as difficult to wedge them perfectly correct, so difficult is the attainment of perfection on this side the grave. With these difficulties before us, I will take it for granted, the wheel of the cars is one-sixteenth of an inch out of truth, and that they are three feet in diameter; to go thirty miles an hour, would require them to revolve two hundred and seventy-eight times per minute, and the wagon and load weighing four tons, is one ton to each wheel; each wheel of the cars strikes the road, with a weight of one ton, two hundred and seventy-three times a minute, faster, I presume, than any man can count; besides this evil, the materials which compose the heaviest item of expense are of a perishable nature, whether used or not, and wear and tear proportioned to use. These are some of the reasons why I believe a road will not be made perfect, and if so made, will not last interminably long like the materials in a canal. "A canal has two advantages over a rail road, besides the economy of using. Their number of sites are known, and they are limited by water-and if they are made faster than the wants of the country, occasioned judgment, they do not decay whether used or not, by a feverish state of the public mind, or by any error of except the lock gates and wood work-of which there "We began our Rail Road early in January, 1827, and is very little, since hydraulic lime has been brought into finished it in May following. Up to this time we trans-use. I believe that a rail road can be made strong, ported on it more than one hundred thousand tons! Its solid, and true enough to not only admit of a speed upon entire length from the river to the mines, is nine miles; it of six miles an hour, but even sixty miles an hour, for single tracks—its branches at the ends and sidlings 44 a short time; but I do not believe there will be economy miles more. The elevation on the road, from the head in going more than six miles an hour with heavy loads, of the Chute to the summit is seven hundred and sixty- unless it is with passengers, valuable goods, &c. which seven feet, in a distance of eight miles, being an average will bear heavy tolls. Our company have no reason to of ninety-six feet to the mile. We have not had a week's dislike rail roads. Ours has undoubtedly saved fifty interruption from casualty since it was finished, so that thousand dollars already; but by our canal, we now go it may be called a practical road from its completion. an equal distance at one-fourth the cost of the rail road. The first two months' use of the road, our wagons moved But a canal cannot be made to the mines, so we resort fifteen to twenty miles an hour, as the men who had to the next best thing. charge of their descent were anxious to get through the route as soon as possible, to avoid the fatigue of holding The annexed calculation is estimated from the cost, &c. of the Mauch Chunk road. But that part of it only 156 13 miles, descending the entire distance, and the whole 53 hands 250 days being 1 hand to 2 miles For one mile, 20 tons plate iron,-Cost for iron and 2025 Annual cost of current repairs, 2025-9 miles 225-30240 tons is per ton a mile 74-100 of a cent. Total repair of wagons 1 16-100 cent per ton a mile. Cost of Hands and Animal power from the summit to the end of the road, descending all the way. 28 mules go two trips a day and draw up 42 coal and 7 mule wagons (to carry down the mules) each trip, &c. going 32 miles a day, the 42 wagons each carry 32 cwt. coal each trip-total 134 tons. 28 mules at 33 cents a day, 4 drivers at 90 cents do. 9 24 3 60 12 84 134-10 cents. for 8 miles, or 1 1-4 cents a ton a mile. CANAL ESTIMATES. Transportation and repairs of Canal. The Boat carrying 75 tons makes a trip loaded, down to Easton 46 miles and returns empty in 4 1-2 days. 3 men at 90 cents 270+4 1-2 days=12,15 2 horses and rope 85 cents-170+4 1-2 days= 7,65 Boat 70 cents a day 4 1-2 days 3,15 (Boat cast 700 dolls. and last 1000 days) 349 100,000 tons-156 13-100-1 1-2 mills or 15-100 a mile, which, added to 62 1-2 100 makes the total cost of transportation by canal, including wear and tear of canal 81 1-2 100 cents a ton per mile, exclusive of interest. Our present cost of transportation on our canal, in rough arks is per ton per mile, 1 cent to which add the wear and tear of canal, as above, .15 Total cost, at present per mile per ton, cent 1 15-100 Hence, it appears that our canal, used in the ordinary way; will cost less than one fourth of a first rate rail road. It may be observed that I have not noticed the cost of lock gate keepers; this was omitted, because the water power passing from one level to the other to keep them up, will produce a revenue greater than their pay. There are 2 items not heretofore taken in account, that will lessen the cost of transportation on the canal, where there is plenty of water as in the Lehigh and Delaware viz; one is that as the freight is mostly downwards, half the power may be saved by letting a current pass down the canal; the other is that by using propellers,and having two locks at each lift, one for ascending and the other descending, we can save all the animal power by substituting water power, and one third of the hands-thus reducing the cost of transportation about one half. Our rail road friends must allow us to avail ourselves of improvement in canals, if they take that course in rail roads. But in making my estimates I have endeavoured to consider what expenses have occurred, rather than what may occur, for many of our supposed improvements oftimes prove injurious rather than beneficial to those who have been at the trouble and expense of making them. May 20, 1830. JOSIAH WHITE. Pennsylvania Canal.—At the letting in Johnstown, last week, of about three miles of canal, the basin, &c. &c. we are informed, there were upwards of two thousand proposals received for the work; the whole of which was disposed of, to good contractors, at about one half the prices heretofore given for the same description of work. The contracts are all to be completed before the first day of August next, at which time the whole line of the western division of the Pennsylvania canal is expected to be completed. The contracts were entered into on Saturday evening last, and we are credibly informed, that active operations were commenced on every section but one on Monday morn ing-this avidity for work on the part of the contractors augurs well for a speedy completion of their jobs. Johnstown is fast increassng in population, and consequently in buildings. Proposals have been issued, by Messrs. Hendricks & M'Cague, for publishing a weekly newspaper, to be entitled the "Genius of Improve ment and Johnstown Herald."-Blairsville Record. Erie. The population of our town is increasing with great rapidity. The number of buildings commenced and in preparation this spring, far exceeds any for22,95 mer year, and some of them are extensive, valuable, and calculated to be an ornament to the place. 46 miles a ton a mile Wear and tear of the Canal. The lockage from Mauch Chunk to Bristol in tide is 524 ft which in 8ft lifts is 66 locks, distance,106 miles; 66 locks will require their gates renewed every 10 years and the cost of a set of gates say 500 dolls. +66-33,000 10for their duration, is per year $3,300-106 miles per mile 31 13 dolls. The situation of Erie is universally considered one of the most delightful spots for a summer residence, in the United States. The scenery around is beautiful and romantic enough to satisfy the finest eye, and to fill the feelings of the most ardent heart; and the air from the lake comes so pure, so refreshing and so invigorating, that while it braces the system to health, it from the summit down to Mauch Chunk, being eight Medical Department. For medicines, 524 04--wine, 26 gallons, 33 Ale, porter, beer and cider, 277-skins, 9 62-- Household Expenses. For beef, veal, mutton, and pork, 56.905 lbs. 2544 17-fish 189 71--poultry 291 42eggs 156 15-butter, 2155 lbs. 469 88cheese, 336 lbs. 29 60-flour, 389 bbls., 2105-biscuit 29 08-meal 59 28-rice, 7761 lbs. 237 99, salt 62 77, spices 2004, mustard 14 90, Brown and Havanna sugar, 11909 lbs. 1141 54, molasses, 736 galls. 238 42, tea, 12623 lbs. 704 11, coffee 2083 lbs. 271 98, chocolate, 1000 lbs. 176 37, fruit 198 85, vegetables 526 89, malt and hops 11 80, filling ice house 50, tobacco 17 96, vinegar, 224 gals. 28, sugar, loaf and lump, 393 lbs. 62 81, For bedding, 866 01, clothing 2103 44, furniture, 626 69, Stone coal, 266 tons, 1695 75, charcoal, 296, wood, 169 cords, 785 04, Sperm oil, 3624 gals. 296 01, soap and candles 172 61, potash 19 25, water rent 60, floor sand 88 20, Live Stock For cows and calves 169, pigs 15 63, Cats, For curb stone and setting in Ninth street, from Bricklaying 332 54, digging and walling a sink Lime and sand 10 93, earth and gravel 42 43, Plumbing 232 41, painting and glazing 486 18, Tin and coppersmith's work 35 72, black- New drapery, and re-guilding the frame of Carts and carriages 153 87, engine and hose Medical Library:-For Books and binding 434 Stationary and Printing, 135 90, maps 14 75, 1821 91 722 20 1618 54 1633 4S 649 67 269 80 6715 55 795 44 152 65 16 10 29 50 $636 92 For funeral expenses 104 78, tax on cattle 4 49, 109 27 183 25 50 33 32.00 420 45 $32,368 02 14,666 67 5,091 67 1,130 44 $53,256 80 RECEIVED THIS YEAR. Balance due from Treasurer, April 25th, 1829, 1379 60 1061 29 2440 89 22971 267 1782 70 | 134 25 >25072 01 25 40 Clothing, Funeral expenses, Articles destroyed, Wages of servants of patients, Manager's fines, 625 89 Donations: From, enclosed in a letter to 169 07 60 00 326 66 196 67 16 07 9538 54 1356 50 11322 54 41,170 32 12,086 48 Dividends on Bank&Turnpike St'k 427 50, 169 99 Principal of Bonds paid in 4930 90 53,256 80 |