ular ridge like that of a house and the width of it, at this place did not exceed ten feet, when the descent of the other side formed a similar angle. It is rocky along its top and thinly covered with timber. The Mahoning Mountain is a continuation of the Pokono westward of the Lehigh. The Pohopoko Mountain is also a part of the Pokono on the east side of the Lehigh. the country does not populate,and from the Great Falls at Stoddartsville to Lausanne a distance of about 30miles there is not even one house erected, the country being a complete wilderness. The River is almost one contructed rapid through this whole distance and so obstructed by rocks that no attempt has yet been made to descend the river with any kind of boat, raft or craft except in one or two instances of the passage of The South Mountain called in the vicinity of the Le-a skiff or canoe. But from a careful examination of high river "The Lehigh Hills" is the first range of hills the river at two different times, once in a skiff and once which lie south of the Blue mountain and extend par- along the shore, I am of opinion that the river might be allel to it, indefinitely westward. These perhaps scarce- sufficiently improved for the descent of rafts and boats ly deserve the name of a mountain but as in some pla- at high water at an expense quite inconsiderable when ces they are quite steep and when viewed from the compared to the importance of the object; while an aslevel country below them appear very formidable.cending navigation could not probably be perfected, They have generally obtained the name of the South short of half a million of dollars. The rocks and mounmountain. tains are most of the way too abrupt from the waters edge to permit the canal to pass along side of the river unless indeed it should be excavated in the hills and form a subterraneous passage. The only mode would probably be to make slack water, by dams, in the manner which is practised on Connecticut river; but the rapids are so continued and the descent so much that a dam of twelve feet would not in most places affect the water forty perches. These several ranges of mountains which generally bounded the travels of early emigrants received originally the name of "the Everlasting or Endless Mountains" and are so distinguished on the early maps of this country published in England, The Rivers of Northampton County are the Delaware, the Lehigh and their branches. The Delaware which forms the eastern boundary of Pennsylvania received its name from the French who first commenced their settlements near the head of the bay. It was called by them "La riviere de la ware" or "De-la-ware" which words at length formed Delaware. This river has a very crooked course above and even below the Blue mountain and the country is very mountainous through which it passes until it leaves the water gap. It continues hilly along its banks below the mountain as far down as Welles' Falls below the village of New Hope in Bucks county. It has many rapids and shallows along its whole length, until it reaches Trenton Falls where it meets the tides, which renders its boat navigation very difficult above Easton. From Easton to the tide, the Navigation has been improved and at present a very considerable trade is carried on from Easton to Philadelphia in boats carrying about 20 tons. The branches of the Delaware in Northampton county are-Cobuss's creek, Martin's creek, and the Bushkill, below the Blue Mountain; and Cherry creek, Smithfield creek, Broadhead's, Pokono, and M'Mickels branches of Smithfield creek and Marshall's creek, above the Blue Mountain. Cobuss' Creek rises in upper Mount Bethel, and flowing eastward, falls into the Delaware about three miles below the Water Gap. It is not navigable. Martin's Creek rises at the foot of the Blue Mountain, and running a south-easterly course falls into the Delaware about miles above Easton, It is not navigable but affords several excellent mill-seats. Bush-kill Creek rises near the Wind Gap, at the foot of the Blue mountain, and running a south east by south course, falls into the Delaware about one hundred The Lehigh is a branch of the Delaware and receives perches above the mouth of the Lehigh. It is not navits name from the native Indians, who called it Leckhawigable, but has one forge and a number of excellent mills which is said to signify West Branch. erected upon its waters. The Lehigh has its whole course in Pennsylvania,and Cherry Creek rises at the foot of the Blue Mountain nearly the whole of it along the boundary of Northamp- on the north side near the Wind Gap, and running ton county. It rises in what is called the "great Swamp" ENE along the foot of the mountain, falls into the Delaor "Shades of Death" which last appellation it received ware at its entrance into the Water Gap. It is not navafter the battle of Wyoming when so many of the dis-igable, rapid, and has several mills erected on it. tressed inhabitants perished in its gloomy shade. From Smithfield Creek is formed by a union of the Pokono, this swamp it proceeds in a south westerly direction un- Broadheads and M‘Mickles creeks, near the village of til it passes the Blue mountain at the Lehigh water gap; Stroudsburg. It has a number of mills and a great mawhence it proceeds nearly south forming the boundary ny mill seats, as well as all its branches, but is navigable between Northampton and Lehigh counties, to the bo- but a very short distance from the river. The streams rough of Northampton; thence turning short to the east-which form this creek rise near the foot of Pokono ward it passes Bethlehem and falls into the Delaware at Easton. The Lehigh is navigable for boats carrying 15 tons as far as Lausanne at the foot of the Broad mountain, where a rocky rapid just above the Turnhole called Hatchel tooth Falls, bars all further ascending navigation. When the river is low which is generally the case in the months of August and September boats with loading cannot ascend farther than the borough of Northampton where the river receives considerable accessions from the Jordan and Little Lehigh creeks. From the confluence of the Lehigh with the Delaware the distance to the landing at the head of navigation is by the river about 45 miles. Above this place the country is so mountainous along the river as to be entirely uninhabitable. These hills or mountains extend as far up as the mouth of Bear Creek in Luzerne county and rise so steep and so abruptly from the bank of the river that they are in many places inaccessible, forming perpendicular ledges of rocks which overhang the river, forming a scene truly picturesque and romantic. This part of the country is so wild and so much similar to the Great Swamp that mountain, and flowing south-easterly fall into the Delaware about half a mile above the Water Gap, after have ing assumed the name of Smithfield creek at their junction. Marshal's Creek rises in Pike county, and flowing SW unites its waters with those of Smithfield creek directly at the mouth of the latter. It is not navigable but affords several fine mill seats. The branches of the Lehigh, in Northampton county are, the Tobyhanna, Duck creek, Drake creek, Stoney creek, Muddy run, Sandy creek, Laurel run, Quacake, Nesquihoning, Mauch Chunk creek, Mahoning creek, Lizzard creek, Big creek, Aquanshickola, above the Blue mountain; and Hockendoque, Caladaque and Manockisy creeks, below the Blue mountain. The Tobyhanna Creek rises in Pike county, and running a south-westerly course receives the waters of the Big and Little Tunkhanna creeks, and falls into the Lehigh about two miles below Stoddartsville. The Tobyhanna flows through a swampy country for several miles and is not so much broken but that it would serve the purposes of raft navigation for some miles, if rafts could descend the Lehigh. The country is a wilderness along the Tobyhanna and no mills are yet erected on it although there are several good seats. Duck Creek, Drake Creek, Muddy Run and Stoney Creek are all smaller streams, not extending more than six or eight miles back from the Lehigh river. They all rise between the Pohopoko mountain and the Tobyhanna creek, and fall into the Lehigh on the east side, passing through what is called the Pine Swamp. They are generally very rapid, affording mill seats every mile; and Stoney creek and Muddy run have one or two mills erected on each. Sundy Creek, otherwise called Spring creek, rises near the head of Nescopeck in Luzerne county, and running easterly falls into the Lehigh in Northampton county near the line of Luzerne. It flows entirely through a wilderness, and although it has a number of fine mill seats, no mills are yet erected on it. Sandy creek has a large branch coming in from the north, called "Terapin Pond Creek." Laurel Run rises in Luzerne county, and pursuing a SE course falls into the Lehigh about seven miles below Sandy creek. It is a very rapid creek, full of falls, but has no mill erected on it, the country being a wilderness. Quacake Creek rises near the head of Little Schuylkill, in Schuylkill county, and running easterly falls into the Lehigh at the foot of the Broad mountain upon the north side. It is very rapid, and has several mills upon it, but its falls prevent its being navigable for any kind of craft on any part of its course. Nesquihoning Creek rises at the foot of Broad Mountain, on the south side, and running easterly between Broad mountain and Mauch Chunk mountain, which rise like a rampart on each side, it falls into the Lehigh at Lausanne, the head of the Lehigh navigation. It is very rapid for about two miles from its mouth, when it becomes more gentle, passing through natural meadows. It has only two mills erected on it. Mauch Chunk Creek receives its name from the mountain at the foot of which it takes its rise, and tracing along the foot of the mountain in a very direct line falls into the Lehigh, on the west side, about a mile and a balf below the Nesquihoning. It is very rapid, and has two mills erected on it. Mahoning Creek rises at the foot of a mountain of the same name, and running easterly through a cultivated valley, to which it gives name, falls into the Lehigh just below the village of Lehighton, and nearly opposite old Fort Allen. Rafts descend this creek at high water about four miles, above which distance are several mills. Lizzard Creek rises at the foot of the Blue mountain, on the north side, and following along its base easterly falls into the Lehigh about a mile above the WaterGap. Lizzard creek gives name to a cultivated valley through which it passes; and is generally too rapid for navigation of any kind. Big Creek is formed by the junction of Pohopoko and Head's creeks, at the foot of the Pohopoko mountain, from which place rafts descend to its mouth. It flows south-westerly through a cultivated valley to which it gives name, and falls into the Lehigh on the east side about four miles above the Water Gap. It is navigable for rafts about 10 miles. 67 ship, and rnnning south-westerly falls into the Lehigh, in Lehigh county, about two miles below Hockendoque. It has three mills upon it. This Manockicy Creek rises in Moore township, and running southwardly falls into the Lehigh at Bethlehem. is a beautiful stream; flows through a delightful country, and has a number of excellent mills upon it. It is too small for purposes of navigation. These several streams peninsulate the county of Northampton in all directions, furnishing at all times sufficient water for the general purposes of mills, altho' most of them fail a little in dry seasons. The Aquanshicola and Cherry creeks offer a means of connecting the Lehigh navigation with that of the Delaware above the Blue mountain: but as the streams are rapid, and have a considerable fall in their whole course, the work would be very expensive, and I know of no object which will ever be likely to justify the undertaking. There is one other mode of connecting the navigation of the Susquehanna with that of the Delaware besides those mentioned in my former notes on this subject. It is by the means of the waters of Smithfield creek with those of Big Tunkhanna or Long Pond creek. In case the Susquehanna and Lehigh should ever be connected by a Canal, either above or near the mouth of Tobyhanna, I am of opinion that this route would be found the least expensive. The Towns and Villages of Northampton county are the following: EASTON, the seat of justice, is the largest town in the county. It is situate on the western bank of the river Delaware, at its confluence with the Lehigh river, and extends from the mouth of the Lehigh upwards, along the Delaware near half a mile to the Bush-kill-so that the town is bounded on three sides by water. The town is built on ground which ascends in an angle of about 5 degrees above the horizon extending directly west from the Bank of the Delaware. It contains five streets running E and W and three running N. and S. They are not paved, but have paved walks on the sides. In the centre of the town is a public square, in the centre of which stands the Court-House. The other public buildings are a Jail, a Church, and an Academy. The buildings are generally either of stone or brick, and two stories high. The number of dwelling houses in May last, was 254, besides shops and other out-houses. Easton was incorporated into a Borough in September, 1789, and the borough now forms a township.There is an elegant bridge built across the Delaware at this place, consisting of three archies, built of wood and covered; 600 feet long and 24 wide. Across the Le high is a chain Bridge, suspended upon four chains hanging in two loops and two hali loops. It has two pass-ways for teams, with a footwalk between, guarded by hand-railings. Lehigh bridge is 423 feet long and 25 wide. [Easton is 58 miles north from Philadelphia. In 1828, the number of taxables according to the assessment was 660-or a population of 3,300 inhabitants.] Bethlehem, the principal town of the Moravians or Unitas Fratrum, in Pennsylvania, is situate on the north bank of the river Lehigh, in a township of the same Aquanshicola Creek rises about a mile east of the wind name, at the mouth of Manockicy creek. It stands on gap, on the north side of the Blue mountain, and run- ground descending towards the river and towards the ning along its base SW by W or WSW, falls into the creek, which gives it a fine appearance when viewed Lehigh at its entrance into the Water Gap. It is a rap-from the south or west. It is closely built on three streets, id creek, and has several mills on it, but is not navigable for any kind of craft. Hockendoque Creek rises at the foot of the Blue Mountain, on the south side, near what is called Smith's Gap, and running south-westerly passing Kernsville and Kreidersville, falls into the Lehigh about ten miles below the Water Gap. It has a number of excellent flour mills upon it, but it is too small for navigation. Caladaque is a small creek which rises in Allen town the principal one extending N & S. and the other two running from this towards the east. The public buildings are a large Stone Church, built In the Gothic style, and plaistered outside with a grey cement. It is 142 feet long and 68 feet wide, of a proportionable height, and having a small tower rising from the centre of the top, surmounted with an elegant come in which is a small bell. It is handsomely finished on the inside, having rows of benches on each side for the two sexes. A Sister house or building for the unmarried women. A Seminary for young Ladies, where all the female Moravian children are educated, and also many others from various parts of the United States. The number at present is 100. A public Tavern, being the only one permitted in the town; where, of course, all strangers are lodged. Their burial ground is in the NE part of the town, and is laid out in regular alleys and walks planted with trees. The graves, contrary to the custom of other Christians, are laid with their feet to the south. The number of dwelling-houses is 72, besides shops and other out-houses-and they are generally built of stone only one story high, forming a great contrast with their large Church. Bethlehem is 11 miles W by S from Easton, and 52 miles N by W from Philadelphia. Here is a wooden bridge over the Lehigh, 400 feet long of four arches. Here is a Post-office. It is in Allen township. Kellerstown, a village about the size of Stroudsburg, situate on the south side of Saucon creek in lower Saucon township and about four miles S. E. from Bethlehem. I have no means of forming any correct opinion of the number of inhabitants in these several town and villages, but make the following, perhaps vague, estimate. 1400 Inhabitants. Easton, Berlinville 50 do. 30 do. 20 do. 50 do. Nazareth, another Moravian town, situate in Upper Nazareth township, on the head of a small branch of the Bush-kill. It is built principally on two streets forming a right angle to the south and west. Its public buildings are a Church and a Seminary for Boys. Here all the Moravian, male children are educated, and generally a number of boys from abroad. The ground on which the town is built descends to the south; and the houses are generally of stone and one story high; they are built close and the streets have a paved walk on each side. This is in magnitude the third town in Northampton county. The village of Nazareth is the oldest settle ment north of the South mountain in Pennsylvania.-natural curiosities. Among these I shall consider the The Brethren having all first settled here, and after wards removed to the river, where they built Bethlehem. Nazareth is 10 miles NE by N from Bethlehem. Richmond, a village and Post town, situate on the head of a small stream to which it gives name about two miles west of Delaware river. It is on the main road from Easton to the Delaware water-gap, and about 13 miles from the former place. It is in Lower Mt. Bethel township. Williamsburg, a village and Post-town, on the main road from Easton to the Delaware water-gap, about 16 miles from Easton and about 3 miles west of the Del aware river, in Upper Mount Bethel township. Dutotsburg a village and post-town situated on the west branch of the Delaware at its enterance into the water gap and at the foot of the blue mountain on the north side in Smithfield township. It is 22 miles N. E. by N. from Easton. Stroudsburg, a village and post town situated in Stroud township on the north bank of Smithfield creek. It is built upon one street and is the fourth in size in Northampton. An accademy has recently been established here. It is 3 miles N. W. from the Delaware water gap. Lehighton, a village situated on the west bank of the Lehigh river, about half a mile above the mouth of Mahoning Creek. It is 36 miles W.N. W. from Easton.Near this town stood the old Moravian settlement of Gnadenhutten, on the north bank of the Mahoning about 100 perches from its mouth where the old church is still standing. Here a treaty of amity was held in July 1752 between the Moravian brethren and the Shawnese Indians. Nearly opposite Lehighton on the east side of the river stood old Fort Allen. Here is a wooden bridge across the Lehigh 214 feet long and 25 wide.Berlinville a village and post-town situate on the main road from Easton to Berwick about two miles below the Lehigh water gap and about one mile from the Lehigh river. It is a small village built upon one street in Lehigh township. Cherryville, a village and post town situated on the main road leading from Easton to Berwick about 3 miles south east of Berlinville. It is in Lehigh town. ship. Kreidersville, a small village on the main road from Bethlehem to Berwick about 10 miles from Bethlehem. The others are more properly Post offices than villages containing but three or four dwellings each. Northampton county below the Blue mountain abounds in Limestone, but except a little Iron, I believe no minerals have been found unless we include stonecoal in that class which is found on the head of Nesguihoning creek and on Beaver creek or the meadow, a branch of Quacake creek. Northampton affords few Delaware water gap, the Lehigh water gap, the wind gap and the cascade of Moore's run at the Turnbole on the Lehigh. The first is where the Delaware passes the Blue mountain. It is a crooked passage forming a right angle in the mountain which appears as if cleft in twain for the passage of the river and forms perpendicular cliffs of rocks which rise 1200 feet from the river, so near the brink that the road is cut in the hill. Lehigh water gap is a similar passage but has not as large rocks and is not so steep. The wind gap has already been spoken of. of two separate pitches of about 40 feet each. The 1st Easton, Upper Mount Bethell, Williams, Stroud, the mountain. Planfield Nazareth, Lower Nazareth, Allen, Moore, Hanover, Saucon, Lehigh, below the moun tain and Chesnut Hill, Ross, Towamensing, Lausanne, and Penn, above Since the above was written, the works of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company have been executed.They commenced in 1818 making a descending navigation in the Lebigh-and completed the slack water navigation in 1829. They have constructed a railway of 9 miles in length to the coal quarries on the Mauch Chunk mountain; on which the wagons travel by gravity from the summit of the mountain about 8 miles to the river. The Coal business has given rise to the town of Mauch Chunk, which now contains about 120 houses & 700 in 1830.] PENNSYLVANIA RAIL ROAD. habitants—a school-house, store, and a large and commodious hotel. The situation is remarkably romantic and has attracted numerous visitors for the last 4 years. Within the past year, a folio publication was commenced at this place, bearing the title of the "Mauch Chunk Courier & Lehigh Pioneer"-and conducted with conconsiderable ability. A village called Anthracite has also sprung up at the coal mines containing a population of about 250 persons, consisting of the workmen and their families. The descending navigation of the Lehigh is extended fifteen miles above Mauch Chunk to the immense forests of pine timber. Here the Lehigh Coal and Navigation company erected four saw-mills, and a grist-mill, a store, and a number of houses for the accommodation of the persons engaged in getting lumber for the construction of coal boats,and their families. This establishment has received the appellation of Lowry-town. It has general ly contained about 250 inhabitants. A road has been opened through this settlement connecting with Wilkesbarre at the one end, and the Berwick aud Lehigh turnpike at the other-by which, the distance from Mauch Chunk to Wilkesbarre is 32 miles. Two stores, a tayern, and four or five dwellings have been erected in Lehighton, which now has the appearance of a flourishing village. A town called Weiss-port has been laid out and improvement commenced along the canal near the site of old Fort Allen. Valuable slate quarries have been discovered along the Lehigh; and five associations have been formed to work them. Some of them are said to produce slates of a superior quality, fit for the use of schools, &c. The coal in this region has proved to be remarkably abundant and of a superior quality of Anthracite. This, with the other mineral productions of the county, will render it one of the richest in the state. Having published the proceedings of various meet ings in favor of the termination of the Rail-road according to the reports of the Engineers, we deem it but fair to publish the arguments on the other side, that posterity may have a faithful record of the different views on this subject. PENNSYLVANIA RAIL ROAD. 69 legislature, having reported in favour of this route----we consider it a duty incumbent on us, under present cirmentioned, with an additional line to Vine and Broad cumstances, publicly to approve of the location as above streets, and a branch to the Delaware through Penn Township and the Northern Liberties, for the following reasons, which are respectfully submitted to the consideration of this meeting. We have ascertained from authentic documents and other sources of information, that three of the four State Engineers employed on the survey of the contemplated road, the commissioned Regulators and Surveyors of the City of Philadelphia, Districts of Penn Township and the Northern Liberties, our able engineer William Strickland, the former and present Board of Canal Com. missioners, and the Senate of the state of Pennsylvania, by a resolution adopted by that body nem. con. all concur in the necessity of constructing a Rail Road from the inclined plane at Belmont, down on the west side of the river Schuylkill, to navigable water for sea vessels: thereby affording a direct communication with the ocean, citizens of Philadelphia, adopting unanimously a resoluwhich was also approved of by a Town Meeting of the tion recommending the same. If then, this opinion be correct, and it appears to be supported by highly respectable authority uninfluenced by private interest, east side of the river, when the one on the west side by there cannot be any necessity for another line on the crossing at Fair Mount, affords a convenient communication to all the places of termination designated by the State Engineers on the eastern route, with an additional one on the west side from Emlen's hill, the point of crossing opposite Fair Mount, to an extent of at least two miles down the Schuylkill. The cost of two lines will be nearly double, and the perpetual expense of keeping them in repair, are matters of serious consideration to the legislature. It is very probable that circumstance had great influence with the present Board of Canal Commissioners, in making a report in favor of this route alone, which answers all the purposes of both routes; embracing every public interest, by leading to all the points of termination, and affording a more general and extensive accommodation than any other proposed. The additional branch down the west side of the Schuylkill will be highly important to the county interest, thereby creating another market and outlet for the great quantity of produce that will be brought by this improved mode of conveyance, and at the same time promote the interest of the State by giving more encouragement to the use of the Rail Road, and the Pennsylvania Canal, with which it is connected. Great excitement has been occasioned, by a report that Fair Mount Works would be injured by a rail road passing near the works: we cannot think so. If therewas any real cause of alarm, we would not urge it, because it would not be our interest to injure those works from which we may at some future time want a supply for West Philadelphia. Not one word, or the least intimaAt a numerous and respectable Meeting, held at John tion of danger to the works, has ever escaped from any Elliott's Inn, in Blockley township, on the 16th day of of the Engineers who have been employed to survey January, 1830, pursuant to public notice: GEORGE C. this route, nor do we recollect any expression of that LENTNER, Esq. was called to the Chair, and John M-kind in their official reports, and they are certainly veNair appointed Secretary, The following report was unanimously approved and adopted; and by a resolution of the meeting, requested to be signed by the Chairman and Secretary, and transmitted without delay to both Houses of the Legislature, as containing the sense of this meeting. A committee of five appointed at a meeting held in West Philadelphia on the 8th inst. for the purpose of taking into consideration the location of the Pennsylvania Rail Road from the inclined plane at Belmont to its eastern termination, make the following REPORT: The inhabitants of West Philadelphia and Blockley Township, having petitioned the legislature last session, to locate the Pennsylvania Rail Road on the west side of Schuylkill, and the Canal Commissioners, chosen by the ry partieular in detailing every circumstance, in any manner connected with the different surveys; but on the contrary, their own drafts clearly demonstrate their opinion of the practicability of constructing a Railroad on the South of the Fair Mount Works, without the least injury to them; however, if apprehensions are yet entertained, it would be an easy matter to locate the line a little further south, towards the Upper Ferry Bridge, which would remove all the objections on that score. Another complaint is that the piers of a Bridge would occasion an obstruction to the water and ice, and cause back water on the wheels in Fair Mount Works; there seems to be as little cause of alarm in this case as in the preceding one. The Engineers do not mention it at all, and we cannot conceive how it is possible the water could have that effect, for let it be remembered that the contemplated bridge is intended to cross the river obliquely, and nearly parallel with the Dam, which would extend the length to 711 feet, and give it a favourable position to admit the passage of the water from the dain; and this distance, deducting from it 140 feet for 5 piers, each 28 feet thick, leaves a space by 231 feet wider than the whole opening of 340 feet, between the abutments of the Upper Ferry Bridge; which has always been sufficient to vent all the water and ice in the highest freshets, without causing it to rise any higher above, than the natural level on such occasions. This fact was made manifest at the high freshet in 1822, when the water rose 19 feet 5 inches at the falls Bridge, and swept it down the Schuylkill. This accident was occasioned by the ice forming a dam across the pool at or near Peters' Island; such very likely would be the fate of a bridge located at Belmont, because the ice would be obstructed by the piers in shallow water, assisted by the Island, and would soon form a Dam of great solidity, which would occasion the water to rise until the obstruction would be removed by the piers yielding to the great weight and pressuse of the water and ice above. cussion on this important question; but the same charge DISTRICT MEETING-RAIL ROAD. At an adjourned meeting of the citizens of the Incorporated District of the Northern Liberties, in the County of Philadelphia, held on the subject of the castern termination of the Philadelphia and Columbia Rail-Road, on Thursday evening, January 14, 1830, at the Commissioners' Hall, which was most respectably and nu merously attended by the people of the DistrictJOHN GOODMAN, Esq. was called to officiate as Chairman; and FRANKLIN LEE, as Secretary. The minutes of a preceding meeting having been read, JOHN MILES, Esq. from the Committee appointed for that purpose, (consisting of Messrs. J. Miles, Joseph Reakirt, Robert A. Parrish, James Goodman, and Peter H. Emerick,) reported the following resolutions with a preamble, which were severally read and unanimously adopted: Resolved, That this meeting view, with the greatest anxiety, and most serious apprehensions, the efforts now making to locate the Rail-road on the western side of the Schuylkill, near Peters' Farm, believing they tend to the injury, if not the destruction of the valuable objects of this contemplated improvement. der, and the object of affording access to the Market and Port of Philadelphia, it is the only one which can with propriety be adopted. The immense floods thus let loose, with the fragments of an extensive bridge, would occasion imminent danger to the Fair Mount works, both bridges, and extensive range of stores below. If such a catastrophe was to happen, which seems very likely from the Falls bridge being carried away by a similar cause, the whole line of the rail road would be rendered almost useless by the interruption being so far distant from navigable water; this would not be the consequence in case of accident to a bridge at Fair Mount, as the branch on the west side, from Emlen's hill, down the river, would continue uninterrupted, and the other bridges afford a communication with the city. Nor would a bridge at Fair Mount be so liable to danger, because the ice breaks into small Resolved, That this meeting respectfully, but strongly pieces in passing over the dam, and the water being recommend the route by the old Canal Road, on the deep, both would pass off as it has done heretofore with eastern side of the river,for adoption by the Legislature, out the least danger. At this situation, the channel and being firmly under the conviction that, as regards gendeep water run near the east shore, and could be over-eral utility, economy to the State, as well as to the Tracome by two arches, which of course would require but one pier in the deep water, and in so great a space would be little or no obstruction. It is matter of astonishment how the citizens could be so much excited by apprehension of danger to the Water Works, which on investigation into facts, appears to be entirely without cause, and at the same time overlook real dangers which threaten to corrupt the water, and render those important and costly works entirely useless, we allude now to the probability of towns springing up on both sides of the river, in the event of the Rail Road crossing at Peters' Island. The road there unites with the Schuylkill navigation, and combines local advantages favorable to that spot as evidence of the fact, a settlement has already commenced there, a new house, designed for a hotel, has been erected on the western shore the last summer; and it is probable, if the location is fixed at this place, six months would hardly expire before we should hear of lots for sale on the west side of the Schuylkill, and very soon after the same thing on the east side; and by way of inducement to purchasers, they would be sold cheap, to enhance the value of large tracts of land now owned by a few individuals at and near this place. The ground on each side of the river descends towards the pool, and the filth that usually collects in and about towns would unavoidably be washed down into the water which now supplies the citizens, and corrupt it to such a degree as would render it entirely unfit for drinking, without the possibility of legal protection. Let it be recollected that the pool is but partially replenished in a dry time, and that from other pools, dammed up to the source of the river, which renders it much more susceptible of contamination than if it was a running stream of water. Motives of interest will no doubt be attributed to us, as has been the common practice during the whole dis Resolved, That the safety of the Fair Mount Water Works and the Navigation Works, is a two-fold object to the people of the city of Philadelphia and the adjoining districts; the latter, to the whole community, of the most vital importance, and anxious concern, deserving at the hands of the Legislature that no work should be located in such manner as to endanger them, or either of them. Resolved, That this meeting recommend Legislative encouragement and assistance to the design for the construction of a Canal around one of the abutments of the Permanent bridge, on the Schuylkill, believing that it will essentially aid &promote the objects of the Rail-road. Resolved, That it is the duty of Representatives in the Legislature to advance the interest of their respective Districts, in connection with the interests of the State, unbiassed by considerations of private gain, or individual emolument. On motion, it was further Resolved, That this meeting highly approve the course pursued by the Commissioners of this District, in communicating their views to the Legislature, and confirming the wishes of the citizens. Resolved, That 500 copies of this preamble and these resolutions, signed by the chairman, secretary and the committee, be printed in pamphlet form; and it be their duty to address copies to the speakers of the Senate and H. of Representatives of Pa., with a request that they may be read before their respective houses, and that, as far as practicable, each member be furnished with a copy. Resolved, That these proceedings be published in the city papers, and that editors of papers in the interior of the state, be requested to insert them in their journals. JOHN GOODMAN, Chairman. FRANKLIN LEE, Secretary. |