Deaf and Dumb Institution not to exceed $8,000 per annum, for 5 years from 1st April,

1833, per act of 1833, 36,000 00 House of Refuge, $5,000

per annum, from 2d March, 1833, for 3

years, per act of 1832, 10,000 00 Commissioners of Erie

County, to be collected from the owners of unpatented lands, Improving a road from the mouth of Juniata to Mohontongo creek, per act of April, 1827. The direction of this appropriation changed to another road, per act of 9th April, 1833, Penitentiary near Pittsburg, old balance,

2,500 00

600 00

114 98

Do. per act of 1833, 40,000 00

Eastern Penitentiary,per

act of 1833, Susquehanna and branch

es, act of 1821, Susquehanna, from Columbia to tide water. Act of 26th March, 1833, directs this bal ance to be paid to the Columbia Bridge com. double pany, when

tracks of rail-road shall be laid on said bridge, Susquehanna from Columbia to Northumber land,

Delaware River, per act

of 1821, new Commissioners appointed per act of 1833,

90,000 00

2,000 00

4,012 52

10,878 00

name that with the Ohio Canal, which is now the subject of discussion at the Warren Convention. Next to that we deem it important to connect the City of Phila delphia with the Erie Canal, by the North Branch of 8,000 00 the Susquehanna. We are mistaken, if the southern counties of New York would not then become the regular tributaries of Philadelphia, while the whole line of the Erie Canal, including the immense Salt Works at 5,000 00 Onondago, would depend for its fuel upon the Coal Mines of Wyoming.

In determining the latter connection, the proposed Rail Road between the Lehigh, at Mauch Chunk, and the North Branch, at Wilkesbarre, should not be lost sight of. Whenever the City of Philadelphia understands its true interests, that Rail road will be made.

*Up to the first of September. We have been unable to obtain the exact number of vessels cleared by these houses since that time, and therefore make a very moderate estimate, and set them down at 61-mak ing the whole number that have cleared in seven months FOURTEEN HUNDRED.

LARGE EEL-An Eel was caught in the pool of the Shamokin Dam, a week or two since, by Mr. John Dingler of Union county, which weighed seven and a half 5,000 00 pounds; it measured four feet one inch in length, and ten inches round. The skin may be seen at this office. Lycoming Chronicle.

1,000 00

Towanda Bridge, per act

of 1833,

10,000 00

Repairing and painting public buildings, per resolution of 4th April, 1833,

1,000 00 $362,783 00

1,000 00 $175,857-06

From the Commercial Herald.

COAL TRADE.

The following table, showing the number of vessels which have departed from Philadelphia, freighted with Coal, during the present season, up to the 1st Nov. furnishes one of the strongest practical illustrations of the benefits which our city has derived from internal improvements. The immense coasting trade thus exhibited has been literally created within the last six far to account for the continued pros. years-and goes perity and vigorous growth of Philadelphia, after a sen

sible diminution of her foreign commerce.

Any increase of our internal communications, by which the mineral and agricultural wealth of the interior may be poured into this market, and by which for eign articles of necessity and luxury may be returned, will have a corresponding effect on the prosperity of the City. Hence the importance of completing, with the least possible delay, the great system of improvement within our borders, and of uniting our public works at suitable points with those of other States. As first in value among the connections proposed, we would

THE REGISTER

PHILADELPHIA, DEC. 14, 1833.

During the session of the Legislature, there are many long but important documents to be inserted, which will occasionally exclude variety from our columns-but must ultimately render the Register more valuable as a work of reference, as it is principally designed to be. The present number contains the Governor's message, and the Treasurer's and Autor's reports on Finance. Our friends in the Legislature will confer upon us a favour by furnishing reports and other documents as early as possible, after they are printed. We are already under obligations to Mr. Mil. ler for his attention in this way. Our space will not permit the insertion of some notices of the proceed. ings of the General Assembly which we had prepared

Printed every Saturday morning by Wm. F. Gedde No. 9, Library street.

REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.

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

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.

VOL. XII.-NO. 25. PHILADELPHIA, DECEMBER 21, 1833. NO. 311

221

143

Columbia railway, being equal in cost to about thirty-six miles of double track of railway completed

Miles of railway, canal and feeder

Miles.

RECAPITULATION.

Placed under contract in 1826

461

36

and a half miles of the feeder at the town of Conemaugh, on the Western division.

Four years experience has convinced the board, that with an adequate supply of funds for the purpose of 47 making necessary repairs during the winter, the canals of Pennsylvania, in ordinary seasons, can be opened for navigation by the tenth of March; and the present condition of the improvements warrants them in assuring the public, that the following lines will be ready for use at the opening of the navigation next spring. A railway from Philadelphia to Columbia, twenty-two miles, with double tracks, and sixty miles with a single track,making 82 miles A canal from Columbia to Hollidaysburg

Length of the whole improvements-miles 720 December eighteenth, 1829, the Canal Commissioners reported that one hundred and ninety-five miles of canal were finished; but of this distance, only one hundred and eighty miles were so situated as to be partially navigable, on which, twenty-seven thousand and twelve dollars and ninety cents of tolls were received in 1830. On the twenty-first of December, 1830, four hundred and twenty-six miles of canal were reported as finished, and the water had been introduced into four hundred and six miles: but owing to its detached situation and insecure condition, only three hundred and ten miles could be used for navigation, on which, thirty-eight thousand two hundred and forty-one dollars and twenty cents of tolls were received in 1831.

Portage railway over the Allegheny mountain, between Hollidaysburgh and Conemaugh, from basin to basin

171

36

A canal from Conemaugh to Pittsburg 1044

Distance from Philadelphia to Pittsburg 394 miles. A canal from the junction on Duncan s Island, near the mouth of the Junia'a, up the Susquehanna and North Branch to the mouth of Solomon's creek, in Luzerne county, (two hundred and twenty-three miles distant from Philadelphia,)

A canal from the junction at Northumberland, up the West Branch to the head of the pool of the Muncy dam, in Lycoming county, (one hundred and ninety and half miles from Philadelphia,)

A canal from Bristol to Easton, on the Delaware, (eighty miles from Philadelphia,)

A canal from the Ohio river, twentyeight miles below Pittsburg, up the Big Beaver creek to New Castle, in Mercer county,

A canal from the Allegheny river at the town of Franklin,up French creek to near the feeder aqueduct, in Crawford county

By the report of December fifteenth, 1831, it does not appear that any part of the public works prosecut- The continuation of the Portage railed that year, was finished; hence nothing was added to way along side of the basins at Hollidaysthe four hundred and twenty six miles reported as fi- burg and Conemaugh-the Conemaugh nished the preceding year. It appears, however, that feeder and Alleghenytown branch on the eighty-seven miles were added to the navigable portion Western division-the South fork and of the canal, and this, with the three hundred and ten Raystown feeders on the Juniata division miles of the preceding year, made three hundred and and the Lewisburg side cut on the West ninety-seven miles, on which, fifty thousand nine hun-Branch division, form an aggregate of dred and nine dollars and fifty-seven cents of tolls were received in the fiscal year, ending the thirty-first October, 183.

On the first of November, 1832, four hundred and eighty and a half miles of canal and navigable feeder, were reported as finished, and also twenty-two miles of a single track of railway; of which, only four hundred | and sixty one miles of canal and eighteen miles of railroad could be advantageously used; the tolls on which, during the past year, ending on the thirty-first October, 1833, amounted to one hundred and fifty-one thousand four hundred and nineteen dollars and sixty-nine cents. In addition to the number of miles of canal and railway which was reported last year as finished, there has been added, within the present year, a second track on the twenty-two miles at the eastern end of the Columbia rail-way; and a single track on the remaining sixty miles of that road will be ready for use by the first day of January, 1834.

On the Portage railway, a single track along the whole road, thirty-six and three-fourths miles, and a double track on the inclined planes, will be ready for use in all this month.

It is also expected that, before the setting in of winter, water will be introduced into twenty-four and threefourths miles of the Beaver division, twenty-two and one-fourth miles of the French creek division, and one

Number of miles of canal and railway ready for use

Old Lines of Canal.

96

264

593

243

221

8

632

Those portions of the canal which have been declared navigable are all at present in excellent condition, and commerce upon them is brisk. The public is be ginning to experience the benefits of the improvement, and duly to appreciate its advantages.

In the year 1831 and 1832, the Western division of the canal, and the dams on the Susquehanna, were much damaged by floods; the extensive and disastrous injuries done to these works, (defective in many instan ces in their original construction,) by frequent and high freshets, were repaid as speedily as the limited funds approriated for such purposes would permit. The new banks, and mechanical structures then made, have since proved their solidity, by resisting uninjured both frosts and freshets.

Expenses to a large amount were incurred, in reconstructing and strengthening many important works, on all the lines. In many places particularly on the Delaware division of the canal, banks were originally composed of sand, which was frequently washed away, and had to be replaced by gravel and other substantial

materials. In some instances, the distance between where the materials were got, and where they were used, added considerably to the expenses of current repairs.

that time boats fully loaded could not run, yet by the aid of scows there was no time when the forwarding merchants had to detain their goods at Blairsville for twenty-four hours for the want of water.

In making repairs, the supervisors have been instruct- The Board would here solicit the especial attention ed to have them done in the most substantial manner, of the Legislature and of the public, to this important and the beneficial effects of an adherence to those in fact: That the navigation of the main line of the Pennstructions, have been visible in all the lines during the sylvania canal, was maintained throughout the season last year. Most of the weak points in the canal banks with but slight delays. Notwithstanding which, men and mechanical structures, have been thoroughly re-interested in depreciating our public works, or governpaired; and the board have every reason to believe, that ed by mistaken policy, were but too successful, by exwith proper attention on the part of the supervisors, and aggerated statements of breaches and failures, in deter other agents entrusted with the immediate care of our ring western merchants and others from using the capublic works, disasters of a serious character can sel- nal as a medium of transportation. The effect of these dom occur hereafter. misrepresentations has been a serious injury to the Main Line. trade of Philadelphia and Pittsburg, and to the revenue of the Commonwealth.

The navigation of the canal between Portsmouth and Pittsburg, has been but little interrupted for the last year, except by ice, which closed it on the east side of the mountain on the twentieth of December, and on the west side on the tenth of January; and it opened on both sides of the mountain from the tenth to the sixteenth of last March. At two of the western collectors' offices, Blairsville and Leechburg, toll was taken in every month of the year.

During the period when little business was doing upon the canal above Blairsville, it was thought advisable to draw off the water from the Ligonier line, for the purpose of making repairs at several points. This was deemed important, as the opening of the Portage railway will bring that line of canal into active use. The most urgent of those repairs have been made, and the residue can be done during the ensuing winter.

two square culverts, and six bridges. The feeder is eighteen feet wide at bottom, thirty feet wide at top water, and four feet deep.

In the month of May last, one of the highest floods A feeder of one mile and one hundred and seventy. known for many years, took place in the Susquehanna. three perches, has been constructed at Conemaugh The canal, in many places on the Eastern division, was town, with a dam in Stoney creek three hundred and entirely covered with water; but after the flood had sub-fifty-eight feet long and seven feet high-a guard lock, sided, it was found that very little injury had been done, owing, in a great measure, to the solidity the canal banks had acquired since their construction; and it is gratifying to state, that the navigation was not at To guard against the effects of a very dry season, that time interrupted for more than forty-eight hours. when there is an active trade upon the canal, it will be The damages done by the flood, as well as the few necessary to construct one or more reservoirs on Stobreaches that occurred during the season, were prompt-ney creek, or the little Conemaugh. ly repaired. The commerce upon this division was Three heavy and expensive outside protection walls slightly impeded for a short time, in the month of Sep. had to be built upon the Western division, within the tember, when so much water escaped through the dam last year, to defend exposed points of the canal banks at Clark's Ferry, at a very low stage of water in the riv-against the floods of the river. New trunks and inner er, that the canal could not be sufficiently filled; hence gravelling the dam had to be commenced, which at its original construction was not considered necessary. At the same time the water was taken from the Columbia line, to make some necessary repairs, preparatory to the opening of the Columbia railway. A feeder for this line, to be taken either from the Swatara, or the river at Conewago, falls, is believed to be indispensable for an active trade.

Neither the Juniata nor western division has been injured by floods during the past season. Upon the Juniata, several breaches have occurred. The only injury of any magnitude sustained by the Frankstown or "new line," above Huntingdon, (which passes through difficult mountain defiles,) since the introduction of the water in November, 1832, was one span of an aqueduct that gave way, and required re-building; and at the same time a very heavy bank breach took place, both of which were completely repaired, and the navigation restored in the short period of only six days.

Guard gates have been erected and the canal banks raised in the I.ong Narrows. A range of crib work has been constructed below the dam near the same place, and a new trunk has been put into the large aqueduct at Duncan's Island. Two spans of the aqueduct at Shaver's ford have failed and must be renewed; and another pair of gates must be built in the long Narrows, so as to form, with those already erected, a guard lock No breaches worth noticing have occurred upon the Western division during the past year. The commerce on the canal between Blairsville and Pittsburg has been but little delayed throughout the season, except for two or three weeks in the latter end of August and beginning of September, when the Conemaugh and Kiskiminetas rivers became so low that a full supply of water, (as the dams are not perfectly tight,) could not be maintained in the canal. Still, however, although at

arches were also required in the two large aqueducts over the Allegheny river; the timber for them has been procured, and it is chiefly all prepared for putting up, which will be done the ensuing winter, when the water is out of the canal. Ice breakers have been built to protect several piers of the aqueducts which were exposed to injury.

A strong crib work has been built below the Leechburg dam, in the Kiskiminetas river, to secure the dam from undermining, by the reaction of the water falling over it. This crib work is five hundred and fifty feet long, across the stream, thirty feet wide at the base, and twenty-four feet wide at the top, measured with the thread of the stream. It is sunk in water averaging twenty-six feet deep, and contains sixty-three thousand feet of timber, twenty thousand pounds of iron, and eleven thousand one hundred and seventy-six cubic yards of stone filling.

The dam has now a base of one hundred and twentyeight feet, and its average height, from the bed of the river to the comb, is thirty-four feet, or twenty-three feet above low water. It contains three hundred and seven thousand feet of timber, one hundred and twentysix thousand pounds of iron and forty-eight thousand three hundred and twelve cubic yards of stone filling.

Dam No. 2, on the Kiskiminetas, also requires a crib work below it, the timber of which is provided, and will be put in this season. The out-let lock in Alleghenytown, owing to a defect in the foundation, had to be taken down, and it is exceedingly difficult to re-build it in the gravel bed of the river. An outlet lock in the Kiskiminetas has also failed, and must be taken down and re-built this winter. The Monongahela branch of the canal in Pittsburg, has been rendered useless, being filled with mud, which is carried down from the neighboring heights by heavy rains. By the estimate of the engineer, it will require nine thousand nine hundred

and fifty-eight dollars, to construct sewers for avoiding the mischief. A number of water ways around locks, and other necessary works, had to be suspended for want of funds.

Susquehanna Lines.

while unsafe, but it has been repaired, and they are all at this time in good condition.

In 1832, a portion of the Nanticoke dam on the North Branch, was carried away by a freshet in the river, and has since been replaced by a new dam built on a better plan. In last month, one hundred and thirty feet of the old part of this dam were also carried off; preparations are now making to rebuild it.

A feeder from Fishing Creek should be introduced into the North Branch division, to obviate the present necessity of supplying the canal with water for fiftyfour miles, from Nanticoke dam. This will be rendered still more necessary, when the trade upon that division shall have increased, by the completion of the Wyoming line.

Delaware Division.

The navigation on the North Branch division closed about the eighth or tenth of December; and on the West Branch and Susquehanna divisions, on the twentieth of December, 1832. The Susquehanna division opened last spring, on the twentieth of March, but owing to damage done by a flood on the North Branch, and by watermen on the West Branch canals, little business was done until about the twelfth of April On the fourteenth of May, the navigation was suspended by the great flood, and was not again resumed throughout the lines until the twenty-fifth of July. Since then, but few interruptions have taken place. The Delaware division of the Pennsylvania canal, is On the twenty-fifth of March last, the watermen en-destined to become one of the most profitable lines in gaged in running arks and rafts down the West Branch the State, on account of the mineral coal that must of the Susquehanna, made a breach in the canal a short distance below the Muncy dam, through which they this line has suffered severely from the effects of extrapass through it to market. During the past season, passed with their craft, and which cost to repair it ordinary floods in the Delaware river and some of its nineteen hundred and seventy-six dollars and sixty-six cents. About the middle of May, both branches of tributary streams, which cross the line of the canal. the Susquehanna rose to an unusual height. On the In December, 1832, and in May, June and October, West Branch Division, an extensive breach was made 1833, extensive reaches occurred, which required through the protection wall, near the pier head at the large expenditures to repair: and in addition to the efentrance of the canal into the Muncy dam; and the wa- fectual repairing of breaches, weak points in the banks ter from the river broke into the canal below the guard have been strengthened-the dam in the Lehigh river lock, and passed out again about five miles further at Easton, has had crib work sunk below it for its supdown, making a large breach at each place, destroy-port-a large water way has been constructed round the ing several bridges, and doing much damage to the banks. The repairing of these disasters, cost sixteen thousand and thirty dollars and ninety-seven cents. The damages thus sustained, were so far repaired as to admit the water again into the canal on the fifth of June. Since then there has been but little interruption to the navigation.

The North Branch division rose twenty-eight feet above low water mark, and covered the canal for nine miles down from Nanticoke dam. The lock-house at the guard lock was carried away; the abutment of the dam, and a quantity of protection wall were thrown down, and the canal was partially filled with sand for a long distance. Serious and extensive injury was done at many places to the canal banks by breaches, and washing away the lining. Those injuries were repaired, and the canal again opened for navigation on the nineteenth day of June.

guard lock at that place-several other water ways and waste wiers have also been made-and a few safety gates erected; some more of which are yet required for the entire security of the canal. These new works have cost about fifteen thousand dollars.

Some difficulty still exists in filling the thirty-five miles of canal between Easton and New Hope with wa ter, especially after the water has been withdrawn for the purpose of doing repairs. It has been suggested that a feeder from the Deleware river near Black's Eddy, would remedy the evil. The expense of such a feeder, is estimated at forty thousand dollars. The water works at New Hope have been completed, and are a valuable improvement.

French Creek Feeder.

This isolated piece of canal was put under contract in 1827 and 1828, and for several years past, has been reported among the finished lines, although, as it could not be filled with water, it was entirely useless. Since it was taken off the contractor's hands, it has been going to decay for want of repairs. A commencement was made, during the summer, to put it in repair, so as to be ready for the reception of water upon the completion of the new lines, but it proved an arduous as well as expensive undertaking, and had to be suspended for the want of funds.

On the Susquehanna division, several bridges were destroyed; the water also broke around the stone abutment attached to the short feeder dam which connects with the wall of the chute at the Shamokin dam, and washed away so much of the bank as to endanger the safety of the canal. But the most formidable breach, and the one which required the most time to remedy, was at Penn's creek, where the mound which carries the canal across one of the branches or outlets of that stream, was entirely carried away. When the work A weigh lock at Alleghenytown, which was put upon this breach was nearly completed, it was a second under contract in 1832, has been finished, and its utility time swept off, by a sudden rise in the creek. These proved. Four other weigh locks have been put under breaches have been substantially repaired, the stone contract. The one at Portsmouth and the one at Eas alone, used for that purpose, cost fifteen thousand and ton are completed and in use, and the one at Hollidays. ninety-four dollars and thirty-five cents. To the above burg will be finished this season. The one at Northum causes is to be attributed the delay in opening the navi-berland had to be suspended for want of funds. The gation upon those lines, in the spring, and the length of time during which it was suspended. It is believed that, by the erection of a few safety gates, which are now in progress, and the strength of the repairs which have been made at weak and exposed points, but little danger may hereafter be apprehended from floods in the river.

The chutes of the Nanticoke and Shamokin dams, have given but little interruption to the river trade during the past season; the one at Muncy dam was for a

lock at Easton weighs one hundred tons, and the others eighty tons each. Those that have been finished are so accurate, that from twenty-five to fifty pounds will turn the beam. Weigh locks upon the canal are indispensible, for ascertaining the correct tonnage of boats and for preventing frauds upon the revenue, and also for protecting those engaged in the business of transportation from imposition. A few more are required.

The following is a summary of the work upon which