The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. III, Part 15

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 440

USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. III > Part 15

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

If it should be urged that the rail road can be con-I or by rail roads through Southwark and the Northern

NAVIGÁTION OF THE SCHUYLKILL

18.29.]

Liberties to the river Delaware as by G to H on the north, and F K on the south.

" The regulation of the streets can easily be made to suit the ascent or descent of the road."

The ground on the western shore, opposite the city would enable the rail road to pass nearly on a level over hard gravel without interfering with any improvements.

On the eastern side of the river, the line designated would not interfere with improvements.

SAMUEL HAINS, City Surveyor.

Philadelphia, Jan. 1st, 1828.

" December 17; 1828.

" I have taken into consideration the project of building a bridge over the Schuylkill river in a line with Arch street, Philadelphia. The data you give is not sufficient for an accurate estimate; but a bridge can be built on the following dimensions per $63,500- calculating for three piers and two abutments, one to stand in the centre of the river, and one on each shore, the abutments to be placed on the brow of the bank or at the points to which each end of the bridge will ter. minate without allowing much to be filled in against the abutments. The piers and abutments to be stone laid in cement. The top of the piers to be four feet above low water, and to be 200 feet from centre to cen- tre, the abutments on the city shore to be 175 feet from the centre of the pier, the opposite one to be 125 feet, making* 700 feet of superstructure. The bridge to be divided into parts of twenty feet each, one for a com- mon road way and the other for a rail road, the whole to be roofed and weather boarded. * * * The object of extending the superstructure to each bank is to avoid the expense of filling in the abutments, and to give a free passage along both shores. I presume the length calculated will be sufficient, if not a little more will not add much to the cost; and from what I know of the lo- cation I think the estimate sufficiently large." * *

CANVAS WHITE.

Extract of a letter from William Strickland, Esq. Engi- neer, dated Dec. 12, 1828.

" I will now briefly state to you my views of this mat- ter-the commencement and termination of a great public line of rail road, such as the one under conside- ration surely is, should not stop short at any particular point or street of the city; nor should the line branch through streets at all, for reasons which may become obvious to you when you reflect upon crossing places at every street, lane, or alley, of a populous city.

" The proper points of commencement or termina- tion should be at the wharves of the Schuylkill and De- laware rivers, and where the products of merchandize from the country can be landed, and transhipped from and into vessels or wagons upon the borders of tide wa- ters, and where in all commercial cities similar situations are the scites of storehouses, landing-places, and de- pots, &c. &c."

NAVIGATION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE SCHUYLKILL FOR FOREIGN TRADE.

From a Pamphlet lately printed with this title.

The Board of Canal Commissioners recommend to the Legislature the adoption of a route along the shore of the Schuylkill, as "affording a complete communi- cation with the occan."

The river Schuylkill is navigated by brigs employed in European commerce, carrying 300 tons of coal, as well as by smaller vessels.

* The length of the permanent bridge from abut- ment to abutment is 554 feet 6 inches-that of the up- per ferry 353 feet 4 inches, by the measurement of a person who states the facts. By Samuel Hains' note on the draught, the end of the upper bridge, where it touches the abutment is twenty-two feet from the wa- ter. It has never been reached by floods or ice.

Two hundred and thirty-five sea vessels have, since the first of April last, been loaded in this river, for va- rious ports in the eastern and southern states.

John Brandt " deposes and says, that he is about thirty-five years of age-that he has lived since his birtlı, with the exception of about two years, near the mouth of the Schuylkill-that he is well acquainted with the trade of that river, and is sure, as well from his own ex- perience and observation, as from the declarations of masters of vessels navigating the same, that it is a per- fectly safe and convenient river for vessels carrying not more than 400 tons-that vessels having the wind in their favour may, and do, without risk or difficulty, come from the Delaware to the permanent bridge in from one to two hours, and that under any, unless the most adverse, circumstances the passage is effected in from three to six hours, and far oftener in three than six."

" The deponent further declares, that he this day measured the depth of water on the bar near the mouth of the Schuylkill, and that he found the same to be fif- teen feet in the most shallow part that could be found, and that immediately inside the bar, the depth was five fathoms, or thirty feet, and that the tide this day was but a fair and ordinary one. The deponent further says, that he never heard of a vessel being lost in the Schuylkill, and that he considers this river a far safer harbour than the Delaware. The deponent further de- clares, that the bar near the mouth of the Schuylkill, which is the only impediment, has been for years, and continues to be, gradually decreasing."

Emly Sharp " deposes and says, that he is master of the sloop Caroline, and that he came round from the Dela- ware river to the permanent bridge over the Schuylkill, this day, at nearly low water-that his vessel draws seven feet, and that he came from the mouth of the Schuylkill to the wharf at the permanent bridge in fifty- eight minutes-that he has frequently come up with the wind a-head in three hours, and that the usual pas- sage, with a favourable wind, is from one to two hours.

" He further says, that he considers the Schuylkill a perfectly safe river, affording an easy and convenient navigation, having for the last ten or twelve years been in the habit of trading up this river."

Thomas Hewitt, Jr. sworn before Bela Badger, Al- derman, says, " that he has transacted business on the river Schuylkill for two years-that he has " during that time seen vessels of from 200 to 250 tons burthen, com- ing to and going from the wharves, and that 300 tons of coal have been shipped in one vessel which departed without difficulty-and that store rents on the Schuyl- kill are not more than half what they are on the Dela- ware."

Stephen Baker, being engaged in the Schuylkill trade, with the northern states, also sworn before Bela Badger, says, that he " employed Captain Powers, of the brig Volant, to sound the Schuylkill bar, which he did carefully, and reported that there was at low tide 8 feet, and at high tide 14 feet of water-that his house shipped, in 1827, between 80 and 90 cargoes, and that vessels drawing above twelve feet water pass the bar, and meet with no obstruction either there or in the river."

Gideon Scull, engaged in the trade on the Schuylkill, affirmed before A. Pettit, Alderman, says, that he has " shipped large quantities of coal on board of vessels drawing from eight to twelve feet water, and never found any difficulty in their ascending or descending said river:" That he believes " that all vessels not draw- ing more than thirteen feet of water, can with case and safety enter and proceed up to the permanent bridge- that the rate of store rent on the Schuylkill is not more than half that charged on the Delaware."

Timothy Caldwell, sworn before Bela Badger, Alder- man, says, that " the New York and Schuylkill Coal Company have constantly running from the city of Phi- ladelphia, at the Schuylkill, to New York, three vessels

MISCELLANEOUS.

[JANUARY

carrying from 200 to 250 tons of coal each trip. The brig Fame, when loaded, carries generally above 250 tons; these vessels come up the Schuylkill without dif- ficulty, and discharge their cargoes at the wharves. The brig Fame drew, when fully loaded, 12 to 123 feet of water, and always passed the bar without touching."

Gideon Scull states, that "coal, iron, castings, nails, &c. are delivered from the river Schuylkill to any part of the City, Northern Liberties, and Southwark, at 40 cents per ton-flour at 4 cents per barrel-whiskey at 6 cents per barrel, or 40 cents per hhd .- corn, as well as all other kinds of grain, at 13 cents per bushel- other articles not enumerated, at the rate of 40 cents per ton."

Trade of the Schuylkill in 1828.

J. R. and J. M. Bolton state that they have received, from April, 1828, to December, 1828, 5360} tons of coal at their wharf on the Schuylkill, of which 1898 tons have been shipped in brigs, schooners, and sloops, to New York, Salem, Providence, Massachusetts, and New Brunswick.

They have received, also, at the same wharf,- 26316 barrels of flour, 1811 barrels of whiskey, 633 hhs. of whiskey, 17468 kegs of nails, 1170 tons of sundries,

that is, wheat, corn, iron, butter, flaxseed, &c. &c.

They have sent into the country from the same place, of plaster, fish, salt, and merchandize, 5670 tons, 8 cwt. 2 qrs. being an increase of 50 per cent. over their busi- ness of 1827.

Waln and Morris state that the following vessels, con- signed to them, went into the river Schuylkill, landed their cargoes on that part of the city, took other cargoes on board at the same, and sailed for foreign ports, viz .- May 15. Schir. Post Boy, 162 tons. Capt. Dodge. July 30. Brig Freighter, 280 Capt. E, Saule. Aug. 22. Brig Two Sons, 220

Capt. J. Stevens

30. Brig John Harris, 313 ", Capt. G. Dennison.

Sept 18. Brig Clothier, 190 „, Capt. J. Davis.

19. Brig Mary Jane, 203 Capt. J. Thomas. Oct. 7. Schr. Post Boy, 162 Capt. Dodge.

J. Harman, Jr., whose store is on Spruce street wharf on the Schuylkill, states, that he has received from the 5th of July to the 23d of December,

By the Brig Arthur Donald, 446 bbls. mackeral.

,, Schrs. Volga and Henry, 778 do do.

" " 291 half bbls. do.

all of which were sent up the Schuylkill Canal, lle has received of flour 122 barrels.

Whiskey 24 hhds

Butter 205 bbls. kegs, & tubs.

Lard 40 kegs.

Soap and Tallow

10 barrels.

Nuts

11} bushels.

Lumber

124746 feet

Pig Iron

20 tons.

Coal 3489 tons.

1576 tons of coal were shipped by sea vessels, brigs, sc hrs. &c. to N. York, Boston, Wilmington, &c.

Isaac Stoddart States that from the 31st of March to the 18th of December, he has received at the North America Coal Company's wharf, on the Schuylkill, 11825 tons of coal-of which

8054 tOns have been shipped in sea vessels- the residue sold to citizens of Philadelphia.

J. W. Wynkoop states that he has received since March last, at his store on the Schuylkill, 1910 tons of coal-of which 508 tons were shipped to New York.

John Shippen and Co. state that they have received since March, 4978 tons of coal, lime, and limestone, of which 1878 tons were shipped to New York and New Jersey.

Daniel Wentz and Co. state that they have received from the 4th of March to the 23d of December,

8445 barrels of flour, 289 bushels of clover seed

342 hhds of whiskey,

482 bbłs. of do. 50 bbls. soap,

147 bbls. of tallow, 12 bbls. of beeswax,

136 bushels of oats,

40 bbls. of dried peaches,

1262 bushels of corn,

15 tons of leather. &c.

158 bbls. of flaxseed, 1635 tons of coal,

10 hhds, of linseed oil, 51312 staves,

60 bbls. of do. 740000 feet of lumber,

60 bbls. of butter, 327 tons of pig metal,

905 kegs of do.

2563 bushels of wheat,

110 tons of bar iron,

189 bushels of rye.

160 tons of castings,

That they have sent into the country from the same place, 3792 barrels of fish,

7613 bushels of salt,

1001 tons of plaster,

2081 tons of merchandize.

James Donley states that there have been sent from the Pennsylvania Canal Boat Company's wharf, on the Schuylkill, by way of the Union Canal, from the 17th of March to the 17th of November last, 3061 tons, 17 cwt. of merchandise, and that between the same periods there have been received through said canal the follow- ing articles-

8735 barrels of flour, 17 tons, 15 cwt. of

41145 bushels of wheat, lard, butter, &c.

499823 feet of lumber, 39000 shingles,

181 tons, 17 cwt. of iron, 119 bbls. of flaxseed

253 tons of coal, and clover seed,

9 hhds. whiskey, 7034 hoop poles,

251 bbls. whiskey, cider, &c. 35953 staves.

Robert Flemming certifies that the amount of coal re- ceived by him from Mount Carbon since the 1st of March; is 2500 tons-of which 2200 tons have been shipped to New York and Albany.

Morris and Johnson state that they have received from Mount Carbon during the last season, 4470 tons of coal, of which they have shipped 1217 tons.

Benjamin E. Valentine, the former agent of the New York and Schuylkill Coal Company, states that up to the 1st of July last, about 500 tons of coal had been re- ceived from Mount Carbon, and the present agent says that since that period about 2000 tons have been re- ceived, and that about 2200 tons altogether have been shipped.

Joseph Haines states that he has received about 2200 tons of coal during the last season, of which about 2000 tons have been shipped to Boston.

WEATHER .- 16th. For several days during the present week, the navigation of the Delaware was in- terrupted by floating ice; and the Schuylkill was com- pletely frozen across, and hundreds of persons skaiting upon it. But the heavy rain on the 14th, and the pre- sent mild weather will soon destroy the ice-of which there is still a considerable quantity floating in the Del.

4 wagon loads of Oysters in the shell lately arrived at Pittsburg from Baltimore. They sold at 25 cts. per doz. 1 wagon with 5 horses brought 68 bushs. Valued $170.

Printed every Saturday morning by William F. Ged des, No. 59 Locust street, Philadelphia; where, and at the Editor's residence, in North 12th st. 3d door south of Cherry st. subscriptions will be thankfully received. Price five dollars per annum payable in six months after the commencement of publication-and annually, there- after, by subscribers resident in or near the city, or where there is an agent. Other subscribers pay in advance

15 bbls. of potash,

THE

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

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.

VOL. III .- NO. 4. PHILADELPHIA, JAN. 24, 1829. NO. 56.

AURORA BOREALIS.

We comply with the request of a subscriber in pub lishing the following article-which gives a more de- tailed account than we have seen, of those. remarkable lights which were witnessed in this city in 1827 and 1828.

MR. EDITOR-

The frequent appearance of these lights during the summer and autumn of 1827, so unusual in our latitude, is probably within your recollection. Those which were seen in August of that year, exceeded in splendour any thing of the kind witnessed within the memory of the oldest observer. They were slightly noticed in our pa- pers at the time; but not with that attention which the extraordinary character of the occurrence seemed to demand. - The account which I enclose you, is taken from a New York paper, and is from the pen of a gen- tleman, distinguished for the accuracy of his observation, and the fidelity of his description; and is much more minute and precise, than any other I have met with. I should be glad to see it preserved in something less fugitive than the pages of a daily journal, and although it may not fall exactly within the plan of your work, I should be much obliged by its insertion. These phe- ' nomena have always been viewed with interest.by men of science, and their causes have furnished much matter of speculation to the learned; and the northern naviga- tors and travellers acting under the orders of the British government, have I believe been directed to notice and report upon them particularly. It would not be inap- propriate to your meteorological columns; and, I think, would be interesting to many of your readers.

A SUBSCRIBER.

January 12, 1829.

[From the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser. ] AURORA BOREALIS.

The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Light, which is very common in high latitudes, and rare in latitude forty- one, was seen from the city of New York, and many: other parts of the United States, in great splendour, on the nights of Monday and Tuesday, the 27th and 28th of August. For the gratification of those who did not see it on either night, or the bright arch which passed over the city on Tuesday night, and for the information of those who may be disposed to speculate upon the causes of these interesting phenomena, I propose to de- scribe their appearance, and to give a brief account of the weather immediately before and after. On Saturday the 25th of August, the wind was North Easterly, the sky cloudy, and the air cool, and there were strong in- dications of an approaching North East storm. Early on Sunday morning it commenced raining, and rained very heavily on Sunday and Monday. The wind was fresh on Sunday, but could scarcely be called a gale. In the afternoon of Monday the wind backed round . to the West of North, and it cleared off .. Early in the evening, thick clouds, the remnants of the materials of the storm, were seen floating in the: West, from North to South, a few degrees above the horizon. The moon went down, at eighteen minutes past nine o'clock, and a VOL. III. 7

few minutes after, the sky in the north appeared very bright, as if illumined by a distant fire. I immediately went to the third story window of a very elevated build- ing on the west side of Broadway, and from a window saw a very extraordinary light in the north. To obtain if possible a still better view of it, I proceeded imme- diately to the roof of the house, an elevation of about ninety feet above the street, which enabled me to over- look the whole city, and afforded a clear view of the horizon in every direction. From this situation was seen a broad band of light, in the form of a long low arch, stretching round' from five to six points of the compass, and extending in the centre a few degrees above the horizon, and the north star directly over the centre of it. Immediately under the arch, and apparently extending from the horizon to the . under part of it, there was a pretty dark thick cloud. In this arch, and immediately under it, on the upper part of the dark cloud where the arch and cloud seemed to touch each other, were two remarkably bright spots; one near the eastern, and the other near the western extremity of the arch; and from those spots, a large quantity of bright light, of a circular form, seemed to issue and to rise to a small distance above the arch. Shortly after, similar spots of bright light appeared, at various distances from one another, all along the arch, and from these the light seemed to issue, and to rise, to various heights above the arch.

"About 11 o'clock a new appearance presented itself. A number of perpendicular bright white columns or pillars, apparently several degrees in length, were seen in quick succession, moving horizontally and appa- rently directly over the arch from the eastern to the western extremity of it. : These columns or pillars, were wholly invisible until they came within the range of the arch or its light, and disappeared the moment they passed it. Upon reflection I was inclined to think that these columns or pillars were vapour in that form, driven along or over the arch by a current of wind and illumined by the bright light of the arch, or of the light which' produced the arch, as they came and passed . within its range. The brightness immediately above the western extremity of the arch, and in that part of the" heavens where these columns had disappeared, seem- ed to me to become more vivid immediately after- wards. " Not long after these columns or pillars had disappeared, the dark cloud beneath the arch seemed to be rising, and by half past eleven o'clock, or therea- bouts, had covered the arch, and had spread over a considerable part of the northern section of the sky, and in a short time afterwards was driven by the wind to the south east, and the arch again appeared as bright as before. Some time after this, the horizon beneath the arch again became darkened as before, and another dark cloud seemed to occupy the place of that which had risen and been dispersed.

About half-past twelve o'clock, there was another and a very extraordinary display-a row of pillars of ex- treme beauty and brightness appeared all at once stand- ing along or on the the arch, extending apparently from five to ten degrees above it. They appeared to be at equal distances from one another, but of unequal heights. This colonnade remained for one or two minutes and vanished.

AURORA BOREALIS.

[JANUARY

Shortly afterwards, bright spots again appeared in the arch, as in the former part of the night, and from which large quantities of bright light seemed to issue, and to extend, as before, to unequal heights above the arch. These appearances continued in greater or less degrees of magnitude and brilliancy, until the light of clay intermingled with the light of the Aurora; and the - light of the North was lost in the light of the East, or ceased to be distinguishable from it.

There may have been some other displays of it which were not seen by me; but, as I was very anxious to see. an Aurora Borealis, and watched its appearances, with some intermissions of a few minutes, from half-past nine o'clock until broad day light in the morning, it is not probable that any very interesting displays of it escaped my attention.

This Aurora appears to have been seen all over the Northern and Eastern section of the United States, where the storm had entirely ceased, and the weather permitted-and was most probably seen all over the Northern section of this continent, unless prevented by the state of the weather-but it does not appear to have been noticed in the newspapers, and probably was not seen south of Baltimore.

The North-east storm appears to have commenced , and terminated much earlier, and to have been much more violent in the South than in the North; to have been of nearly the same duration in most places, and to have extended more than a thousand miles along the Atlantic sea board of the United States, and several hundred miles into the interior of the country.

On Tuesday night, at half past nine o'clock, I again ascended to the roof of the same building from which I had viewed the Aurora Borealis on Monday night. In the north, there was a broad band of light, in the form of an arch, very similar to that which was seen the night before, and the position and colour of the arch were nearly the same, except that it appeared to stretch about one point farther to the east and west, and may have extended from six to seven points of the compass, and the light was less bright than that of Monday night. The north star appeared to be directly over the centre of it. Immediately over. the arch, and a few degrees above it, there was another arch of nearly the same form, but not very bright. I at first supposed that these arches might have some connexion with the moon, which was then about half an hour high; and shining pretty brightly; but after the moon had set, I observed no other change than that both the arches appeared brighter than before it went down, and the upper arch had risen a little higher than it was when I first saw it; and I then supposed the light of the upper arch might be produced by the light of the lower. The upper arch continued to move slowly from north to south, in- clining a little to the east, and as it moved towards New York, it seemed of course to rise and to extend to the east and to the west, until the centre of the arch became vertical to New York. At this time, the eastern limb appeared to me to pass over Long Island, a little to the north of Brooklyn, and to extend nearly to the eastern horizon, and the western limb to pass over New Jersey, a little.to the south of Powles Hook, and to extend nearly to the western horizon. The arch seemed to re- main in this situation a short time, then passed our ze- nith, and was shortly after broken, dissolved, and disap -: peared. After this arch had risen to a considerable height, and extended its limbs to the east and west, its brightness was greatly increased, and it became an ob- jeet of great beauty, and its novelty attracted general attention; but when its centre reached the zenith, and its extremities extended nearly to the eastern and western horizon. and it stood suspended under the blue and spangled vault of heaven, across the bright arch of- the milky way, it became an object of supreme beauty and of universal admiration; a more beautiful and magui- ficent spectacle cannot be conceived.

In the progress of this arch through the sky, there

were several changes in its appearance, and some cir- cumstances connected with it which deserve to be no- ticed. "A considerable time before it became vertical to us the limbs seemed to have become narrower, and much more dense than the centre of it; and small per- pendicular columns of light seemed to be moving hori- zontally under the arch, from its eastern. towards its western limb. Some time afterwards, there appeared to be a row of small perpendicular pales or panels of bright light nearly under but not attached to the arch. These pales, or panels, were at equal distances from one another, but of unequal heights, decreasing regularly from the centre of the arch towards its western limb; and they appeared to be moving horizontally and slowly from the centre towards the western limb of the' arch, and as they disappeared the western limb appeared to become more dense and brighter. Shortly before this the ends of the arch secmed to have a spiral motion, and to have become twisted into the form of a roll, and about the time the centre of the arch became vertical to us, the whole arch, from one extremity to the other, assumed the appearance of a great roll, and appeared to increase in brightness. About the time it assumed this appearance it passed our zenith, and shortly after the eastern end of it seemed to unfold it -. self, and spread, and melt away; and then the centre unfolded and melted away in a similar manner, leaving the western limb very bright, the largest end upper- most, and greatly resembling an inverted column or cone. It remained in . this situation a few minutes, the upper end gradually inclining more to the south than the lower end, and soon after it seemed to unfold and to float off in small patches, and melt away as the other parts of it had done. While the centre of the arch was nearly vertical to New York, there was a bright path or streak of light stretching a considerable distance across the North river, immediately under the arch, and similar to the reflected light of the moon, when in its first or last quarter, and a few degrees above the horizon. During the greater part of the time, and particularly when the arch became vertical to us, the stars were as distinctly' visible as they are through a light cloud or mist, and. had the same appearance. This arch may have appear- ed to others differently, and many of those differences may have been owing to the situation of the spectator, the position of the arch, and the time when it was seen. "As it moved from north to south it must have been verti- cal to those north of us, and over whom it passed, be- fore it became vertical to us; and by those far south of the place of its final dissolution, it could not have been seen in its greatest beauty and magnificence. I had a fair . view of it from half past nine o'clock, when it was not probably more than ten degrees above the horizon, until about eleven o'clock, when it dissolved and disappeared.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. III, Part 15

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870 Publication date: 1828 Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ; Number of Pages: 440

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 440