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 20

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 20

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The population of the county at this time is supposed to be about 22,000. The number of taxable inhabi- tants embraced within its limits, from an enumeration recently made, is ascertained to be 4192. " Maria Fur- nace, lately established by Messrs. Stevens and Paxson, at the distance of eight or ten miles from Gettysburg,

although yet in its infancy, is likely to prove a valuable concern to this section of the county. It is situated near the foot of the mountain near the south-west end of the county. .

I have thus given some details respecting this county; they may be in some instances imperfect, being the fruit of limited means of information; yet I may tender them to you as:tolerably correct in the general outline. The foregoing sketch has been drawn up in haste, and may not stand the test of criticism on the score of propriety of style, or of grammatical precision, but such as it is, is offered by the writer, out of a sincere desire to pro .. mote the objects aimed at in your periodical-the dis- semination of useful information from every section of the state. CIVIS.

Gettysburg, Jany. 1829.

The Pitttsburgh Gazette says, "Capt. Baker, the pre- sent commandant of the U. S. Arsenal, an enterprising and prudent public agent, has been the first to introduce steam power at the ordnance shops. Here was the go- vernment, until this late day, using the clumsy, trouble- sonie, irregular, and expensive horse power, surrounded with steam engines, and overlooked by coal pits. The steam engine is one of fifteen horse power; it was made and set up by Pratt, and is a sample of the work done uniformly so well and so cheap in this city. It is em- ployed in polishing arms hauled there from the Armory on the Potomac; and with more spare power, it could manufacture as well as polish them, 20 per cent. cheap- er than they cost when made atHarper's Ferry and car- ried to this depot."

The plan for introducing water intoPittsburg has been completely successful; a large body having been thrown into the reservoir, and thence conducted through the city in pipes. ;

We have received the able, and to us very satisfac- tory, report of the Committee on Roads, &c. presented by Mr. Duncan, its chairman, on granting the request of the Baltimore and Susquehanna Rail Road Company, and regret that it came to hand after our paper was made up, so that we are obliged to defer its publication to the next number. If the open avowal of the com- mittee themselves, that the great object of the road is to withdraw from Philadelphia a great portion of its internal commerce, and if the facts that Baltimore offers no advantages as a market over Philadelphia-that all the tolls, which will be derived from that road, will con- sequently be diverted from the state-that Philadelphia furnishes a large revenue to the state, which will be augmented as its internal trade increases-and that she has always furnished, and is still able and willing to fur- nish, a large capital for the prosecution and completion of the great public works already commenced -- If all these be not arguments sufficient to prove the impolicy of granting the request, we are at a loss to know what others will produce that effect.

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 receivedy 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-

THE

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

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.

VOL. III .- NO. 5. PHILADELPHIA, JAN. 31, 1829. NO. 57.

REPORT

Of the Committee on Roads, Bridges & Inland Naviga- tion, on granting the Baltimore and Susquehunna Rail Road Company the privilege of extending their Rail Road into the State of Pennsylvania-Read in the Se- nate, January 17, 1829.

Mr. Duncan, from the committee on roads, bridges and inland navigation, to whom was referred the petition of the inhabitants of York, and of other citizens of the commonwealth, praying that the assent of this state may be given to the provisions of the aet of the general as- sembly of Maryland, incorporating the Baltimore and Susquehanna rail road company, and the remonstrances of citizens of this state, against the incorporation of said company, made

REPORT:

That the peculiar claims set forth in the petitions, and the important considerations suggested in the remon- strances, have engaged the serious attention of your committee; and they deem it most respectful to the Se- nate to lay before it the reasons which have led them to adopt the resolution submitted. In the petition of the citizens of York, they refer to the memorials presented by them at the last session of the legislature, as exhibit- ing their views in asking the passage of the act. By a reference to that memorial, it would appear that the main reason on which they urge their claim on the favor- able consideration of the legislature, is founded on that principle of public policy, 'which considers the improve- ment and prosperity of any one part of the common- wealth as diffusing itself and contributing to the welfare of every other part; and they respectfully hope, that the same policy may be extended to them, in encourag- ing and enabling them to use any advantages which their local situation may invite." While your committee are not disposed to deny, that the local situation of York would derive very great advantages from any system of improvement which would direct the immense trade destined to be transported on the Pennsylvania canal through its territory, they are yet to be convinced how this great advantage to be enjoyed by the citizens of York would diffuse itself and contribute to the welfare of every other part of the state. The inhabitants of York would, no doubt, reap a partial profit from the tran- sit of produce and merchandize through it; but in what way this transit would benefit every other part of the state, the petitioners have not thought proper to explain, and your committee are at a loss to divine. At the last session, the citizens of York petitioned the legislature to incorporate a company to make a rail road from the head of Conewago canal to the Maryland line-a company which was to be under the protection and cognizanee of the laws of this state. The petitioners now allege that they have abandoned this project; and now ask of the legislature to give the assent of the commonwealth to the provisions of an act of the general assembly of Ma- ryland, and to confer on the Baltimore and Susquehanna rail road company the. privileges and immunities of a corporation in this state. with authority to enter the ter- ritory of Pennsylvania to construct a rail road from the head of Conewago canal to the city of Baltimore.

has been necessarily directed to an inquiry into the views and objects of this Maryland company. in this inquiry, your committee are fortunately not left to conjecture; These views and objects are distinctly set forth in a re- port made at a meeting consisting of delegates from the Baltimore and York turnpike, the Conewago canal turn- pike and the York Haven company, held in the city of Baltimore, on the 3d day of August, 1827. The com- mittee consider the report worthy of great commenda- tion, for the candor with which the views of the compa- ny are officially exhibited, and the boldness with which their objects are openly avowed. It appears from this report and proceeding's, that the cause which gave rise to the assemblage of these various companies, arose from a serious apprehension of the injurious effects on the trade of Baltimore of the measures then lately adopt- ed by the legislature of this state, on the subject of in- ternal improvements; and the object of this assemblage appears to be, to adopt means to counteract those mea- sures so far as the city of Philadelphia was to derive a benefit from their accomplishment. The following ex- tracts from their report will fully justify these inferen- ces.

Extracts from the report and proceedings in relation to a rail road from Baltimore to the Susquehanna.

"The public mind has at length become directed to the improvement of internal resources; and it is inatter of great gratification to find the sentiment pervading the whole community, that the commercial existence of the city, rests upon opening an intercourse with the vast re- gions west of the Allegheny, and the extensive tracts of country included within the states of New York, Penn- sylvania and Virginia."

"To facilitate the natural means, or to create an artifi- cial means of easy communication with this immense re- gion, seems now to occupy the undivided public opinion. The liberal and enlightened, the bold and manly enter- prise which belongs to our city, is all directed to the completion of this magnificent undertaking, and we may look forward with a well founded confidence to the pe- riod, when we shall realize all its promised reward."_

"That the period for systematie and powerful exertion on the part of Baltimore has at length arrived, is no longer doubted. The great plans which are going on and in a great measure matured in New York, and those which are projected and will be completed in Pennsyl- vania, show a determination on the part of our rival ci- ties, to push as far as unlimited capital, seconded by liberal views and great enterprise, a competition whichi can only become dangerous, if we permit their schemes to be matured, and the current of trade to take a settled direction in the channels provided for it by our rivals. For commerce, like water, will seek its level, depending on natural or artificial causes, and if we once permit it to be diverted from its natural channel, it will be found most difficult to bring it back. If, on the other, we en- ter early into the field of competition, and improve our natural advantages, we make the efforts of our rivals tributary to our views, and they cannot make a foot of canal or railway, erect a bridge, or pave a turnpike road, which does not necessarily lead the trade or commerce embarked upon it directly to our door. We have noth-

Such being the character of the application of the inhabitants of York, the attention of your committee ing in fact to do but to take up the work where they VOL. III. 9

REPORT ON BALTIMORE PETITION.

[JANUARY

leave it, and to finish at a trifling expense a great line of internal communication, which the exertions of our spi- rited and enterprising neighbours have conducted with- in our reach."

"Baltimore must and will be the great central city of the Union-no rivalry can impede her progress-no competition disappoint her destined elevation, if her citizens are but true to themselves and unite with their characteristic enterprise, to improve advantages and cul- tivate the resources which Providence has placed at their disposal."

With such objects, thus openly avowed by the com- panies, it is asked of the legislature of this state to give its assent to the act of the general assembly of Maryland, incorporating the Baltimore and Susquehanna rail road company, by which they are to be accomplished. The attention of your committee has been therefore necessa- rily directed to an inquiry into the claims of this compa- ny for the passage of the act prayed for in the petitions, and the consequences of granting it, as they may here- after affect the policy and interest of this state.

It is true that the several states of the Union are bound by political ties, and are said to bear to each oth- er the relationship of sisterhood. In the intercourse of the states, these ties and this relationship necessarily call for the exercise of mutual acts of comity and kindness. But in no case, nor under any circumstances, can they claim a sacrifice of the interests of the one to the other. Each state has parted with a portion of its sovereign power to the federal government for the general good, the balance of power remaining in each is to be exerci- sed for the improvement of its own domestic condition, and the advancement of its own interests.

Should the state of South Carolina make a complaint to this state, that the late tariff acts of congress operated adversely on the planting interests of its citizens, and ask of this legislature to aid it in an application to con- gress to repeal the tariff acts, the legislature would con- sider the question involved in the application as it would operate on the agriculturalinterest of Pennsylvania, and act accordingly. And your committee, in their enqui- ries into the consequences of granting the act prayed for, will confine themselves to the question of state in- terests.

It appears then that the citizens of Maryland have projected the most extensive schemes of internal im- provement, directed to draw the trade of other states to its commercial city. It is represented in the report that a sentiment in favour of this system, pervades the whole community, and occupies the undivided public opinion; and it is well known that the most prominent of these schemes has received largely of the bounty of the le- gislature of Maryland. It may be asked then, to what object these mighty efforts are directed? Surely it will not be pretended that they are directed to the mere ob- ject of contributing to the exclusive aggrandizement of the city of Baltimore, or to the mere purpose of adding to the individual wealth of its inhabitants. Such efforts thus zealously adopted, and eagerly pursued, can pro- ceed from no other than a settled conviction, that gene- ral benefits will result to the state from the accomplish- ment of those schemes-that a rich and growing com- merce, attracted to that city, will diffuse its genial warmth over the whole state, add to its wealth, its pro- ductive industry, its power and population; and in return for its encouragement, yield a rich revenue to the com- monwealth of Maryland. Such have been the effects of the great improvements accomplished by the state of New York. Such are the auspicious results anticipated from the extended system of internal improvement adopted in this state, and such would appear to be the object to which the efforts of the several states are now directed, to draw the trade of the Union to their respec- tive commercial emporiums.

The advantages of a commercial city to the state in which it is located, are no where so strikingly illustrated

as in the state of Pennsylvania. During a short period prior to the commencement of the great system of inter- nal improvement, the state had expended a sum little short of 5 millions of dollars on roads, bridges and canals, and made large appropriations to other objects claiming legislative patronage .. And this vast amount of expen- diture has been encountered without a resort to direct taxation. A reference to the various reports of the finances of the commonwealth during that period, will show how large a proportion of this expenditure has been contributed by the revenue derived from the com- merce of the port of Philadelphia. In the opinion of the committee, the advantages of this commerce to the interests of the state, are most satisfactorily demonstra- ted in the report which exhibits the state of the finances of the commonwealth for the last year.

From the report of the finances of the state, made by the Auditor General at the present session of the legis- lature, it appears that the whole amount of the revenge of the commonwealth for the past year is $547,370 94; and by a reference to the various items of which this re- venue is made up, it appears that the city and county of Philadelphia contributed $340,783 94; and that a single branch of the revenue derived from auction commissions and duties, constituted nearly one third of the whole re- venues of the commonwealth. It is important to bear in mind, that the productiveness of this fruitful branch of the revenue will ever be in the ratio of the increased facilities afforded to transportation and an extended in- tercourse. This statement of the relative contributions to the revenue of the state is presented, as exhibiting in the opinion of your committee, the most satisfactory de- monstration of the advantages of the commerce of the city and county of Philadelphia to the interests of the state, and the most conclusive proofs of the soundness of that policy which cherishes that commerce by open- ing and directing the avenues of trade to the commer- cial metropolis of the state. In the great plan of inter- nal improvement, so happily devised to elevate the poli- tical power of the state, and unfold its physical capaci- ties, it cannot be forgotten that an estimation of the ad- vantages which the state would derive from the great impulse which the system would give to the trade and commerce of the port of Philadelphia, formed one of the inducements to its undertaking. This plan of im- provement as originally commenced, and subsequently extended, was laid on the broad foundation of conferring its benefits on all the great leading interests of the state, including its great manufacturing city in the west, so happily situated as to command the immense trade of the regions watered by the Ohio and its tributaries, and embracing within its scope its prosperous commercial city, destined to be the great mart of its varied and mul- tiplied productions. To meet the large expenditure which the execution of the great work would necessa- rily require, and to pay the interests on loans before the various sections of the canal could be brought into suc- cessful operation, it cannot be forgotten how large a calculation was made of the important aid which the city would give, and the revenue its commerce would yield. Nor have the calculations of the friends of the system in these respects proved erroneous. A reference to the amount of the revenue derived from the city and county of Philadelphia in 1825, when the system of in- ternal improvement was adopted by the legislature, and the revenue for the last year, will show an increase of the revenue from the city and county of $80,783 94; an increase which affords an earnest of what the advanta- ges the commerce of the city will be to the state, when the great works now in progress shall be brought into active operation.

Under these circumstances, and with every demon- stration in favour of that enlightened policy which has enlisted the state in its system of internal improvement, a rival city of a sister state, jealous of its effects in aug- menting the trade, and increasing the commerce of the port of Philadelphia, and with a view, and for the avow-

REPORT ON BALTIMORE PETITION.

18%9.]

ed object of counteracting the system so far as the city of Philadelphia is to derive a benefit from it, now asks of this legislature to give its assent to an act which is to be the very instrument employed in accomplishing those objects and views. Your committee do not deem it ne- cessary to multiply arguments against the impolicy of yielding to the application to give the assent of the state to the act of the general assembly of the state of Mary- łand; and relying on the intelligence of the Senate to perceive the true interests of the state, and its firmness of character to support those interests, your committee will not indulge in speculations on the disastrous conse- quences to the interests of the commonwealth, which in their opinion would flow from the passage of the act prayed for by the citizens of York.

"The able expose of the views and objects of the Bal- timore and Susquehanna rail road company, abound in facts and materials in justification of the refusal of the state to give the required assent. When this expose was made, the legislature of this state had not made provi- sion for the extension of the Pennsylvania canal beyond Middletown, and taking it for granted that Middletown was the place of the termination of the state improve- ments, the report is led to indulge in the remarks:

" We have nothing in fact to do but to take up the work where they leave it, and to finish, at a trifling ex- pense, a great line of internal communication, which the exertions of our spirited and enterprising neighbours have conducted within our reach."

"Upon reference to the view of the country, and the improvements now going on in Pennsylvania, it will be observed that our rail road contemplates intersecting the Susquehanna at the point where the immense line of canals now in progress in that state terminates."

Since this report was made, in conformity to the ori- ginal plan, the legislature has made provision for the canal from Middletown to Columbia, and for a rail road from thence to the city of Philadelphia-important links in the great chain of internal improvement; and these lines are now in the way of construction. The exe- cution of these extended works are to involve a large amount of expenditure by the state, and have been un- dertaken with a view to transport the immense trade destined to be carried on the Pennsylvania canals to the commercial metropolis of the state. With a view to show the amount of revenue to be derived from the ca- pital invested by the Baltimore and Susquehanna rail road company, in constructing the road from Middle- town, selected, as a point of intersection, to Baltimore, the report furnishes data on which a calculation may be made of the revenues that the Pennsylvania canal, from Middletown to Columbia, and the rail road from thence to the city. of Philadelphia, will yield to this state, and which it is asked of the state to give to the citizens of Baltimore.

Extract from the report.

"As we before observed, it would be difficult to form any thing like an estimate of the quantity and value of the produce which will descend the valley of the Sus- quehanna in a few years, but some opinion of the kind and amount of these commodities may be formed by re- ference to the following account of the arks, rafts, and boats, which descended the river last spring, under all the inconvenience, and at all the hazards incident to that perilous navigation.

" From an accurate account kept by a respectable ci- tizen of Harrisburg, it appears that between the twenty- eighth of February, and the twenty-third of June, 1827, there passed that place,

"Rafts 1631, arks 1370. It is supposed that the rafts contained on an average, 25,000 feet of lumber, which would amount to 40,775,000 feet.

"Two hundred of the arks were laden with anthracite coal, averaging 55 tons each, making 11,000 tons.

carried on an average 400 barrels each, making 468,000 barrels.

" It is supposed that about 300 keel bottomed boats, carrying from 800 to 900 bushels of wheat descended during the same, period, say 800, makes 240,000 bush- els of wheat, at 35 bushels to the ton, makes 6,857 tons.

"The articles above enumerated found their way to market over the difficult and dangerous navigation from York Haven to tide at Port Deposit, from whence it was transhipped into bay crafts and taken to Baltimore.

"From information derived from persons residing on the margin of the Susquehanna for many years, and per- fectly conversant with the nature and extent of its trade, it is ascertained that if a rail road was constructed from York Haven to Baltimore, not; exceeding eighty miles, and it could be travelled at the rate of three cents a,ton per mile, it would absorb the whole trade which now descends the river, as the transportation upon the rail- way would be at least one-third cheaper than by way of the river, and in bay erafts after it reaches the tide. At this rate the transportation of the produce which came down the river between the twenty-eighth February and twenty-third June last, would be as follows, upon a rail-road sixty miles only :

Two hundred arks, 55 tons of coal each, mak- ing 11,000 tons, at 3 cents per ton a mile, for sixty miles -

$19,800

One thousand one hundred and seventy arks of flour and whiskey, each ark having 400 barrels, making 468,000 barrels, equal, at 200 pounds to the barrel, to 41,785 tons, at 3 cents per ton per mile . 75,213

Three hundred keel boats, each 800 bushels of wheat, say 35 bushels of wheat to the ton, 240,000 bushels make 6857 tons, at 3 cents per ton per mile . 12,342

One thousand six hundred thirty-one rafts, con- taining 25,000 feet of lumber, is 40,775,000, at 2 cents per mile per thousand feet 48,930

$156,285

" If the data upon which these calculations are found- ed be correct, the conclusion cannot be avoided. That even upon the small quantity of produce which de- scended last spring, the above amount of tolls would be received. The produce which descended last autumn, would also contribute to swell the amount.

" This table is merely given as a practical example, and illustrative of the probable revenue from the rail road, even in the present condition of the trade; and when the intercourse shall have increased to the extent to which it must inevitably swell, the calculation which shall include both the ascending and descending trade, will indeed assume the appearance of extravagance."

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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 20

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