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 38
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116
· It it proposed to take the route to Pottsville by a route explored to a point designated, then to diverge with one branch to Sunbury, and another to Danville. From the confluence of the north and west branches at Sunbury, the surveyed line will be 45} or 493 miles, according to the course pursued; the distance from Danville to Potts- ville 42} or 453 miles. The total expense will be 626,-
611 dollars, this includes every expense for both roads, and also an allowance of ten per cent. for contingent ex- penses.
It is not necessary at this time to adduce arguments to show that it is the interest, and in fact the duty of the inhabitants of this metropolis freely to lend their aid to. the formation of as many lines of communication on the Susquehanna, and to open to its trade as many avenues. leading to our market as the situation of the country and the means within our power may justify. In point of distance, geographical facilities, ease of construction and convenience for trade, a rail road from Sunbury and Danville on the Susquehanna to Pottsville on the Schuylkill, promises advantages not enjoyed by any other route; in support of this proposition we submit the following facts. Miles.
From Sunbury to Philadelphia via Columbia Rail-
road is
168
Do.
do. via Pottsville 152
Difference in favor of the latter
16
From do. by the Union Canal is 202
Do.
via Pottsville 152
Difference in favor of the latter
50
From Danville to Philada. via Columbia Rail-road
182
Do. do. via Pottsville 148
Difference in favor of the latter
34
From do. by the Union Canal
214
Do. via Pottsville 148
Difference in favor of the latter 66
It is thus shown that the contemplated roads offer to the trade of the north and the west branches of the Susquehanna, a shorter road to market than any now o- pened, and we have the sanction of engineers and gen- tlemen of the highest authority, for stating that the rail- roads in question will be the shortest avenues to our me- tropolis that can be opened. It should be held in re- membrance too, that the moment the produce of the Susquehanna passes the point designated, it is receding from Philadelphia, and approaching Baltimore, and may be drawn out of the state, but once embarked on the proposed rail-roads, its profits, toll and revenues are se- cured to our state, her citizens, and metropolis.
From Sunbury to Philadelphia, as before stated, is 152 miles; from the same point to Baltimore is' 155 miles; at Middletown the entrance of the Union Canal, you are via that canal 146 miles from Philadelphia, and only 88 from Baltimore, therefore after travelling from Sunbury to Middletown, a distance of 67 miles- nearer Baltimore, but only 8 miles nearer to Philadelphia, thus loosing 60 miles in distance. In favour of Danville it may be stated, that the termination of the branch at that place is 19 miles nearer Philadelphia than Baltimore, but at York Haven we are 16 miles the nearest to Baltimore. The points mentioned upon the Susquehanna are also the most conveniont for collecting the produce and minerals to be transported to market; Danville is the centre of a rich and populous district, and can of itself command a large trade; at Sunbury there is a spacious basin in which the merchandise of the surrounding coun- try and of the west and the north will centre.
It is worthy of remark, too, that those roads will not clash with, or in any way injure or lessen the value of the state works, but rather be of service to them. It is known that the north branch, the west branch, and the great eastern and western line of state canals, will pour their vast treasures into the 1st section of the Susque- hanna canal; it is obvious if the three several channels be filled, that the receiving section of the Union Canal and Columbia rail road, which are continuing branches
134
MEMORIAL OF THE GUARDIANS OF THE POOR.
[FEBRUARY
of it, must be inconveniently and injuriously thronged and glutted, and that the Sunbury and Danville roads, will afford a timely and very salutary relief and assist- ance.
We shall now proceed to show the amount of trade which will probably be attracted to these roads, and the revenue that will arise from it. On these points, a con- vention lately held at Sunbury, have furnished us with the following authentic data.
The descending trade of the west branch in 1826, was fairly estimated at 29,907 tons, chiefly agricultural. produce, 12,000 tons of which was collected within 20 miles of the Sunbury basin. The trade of Penn's creek may be estimated at 8000 tons, making together 37,907 tons, nearly all agricultural products of the west branch and Penn's creek, entering the Sunbury basin.
This estimate is independent of the trade in iron and bituminous coal of West Branch and its tributaries. The bituminous coal of Clearfield and Lycoming, re- cently uncovered, as well as the coal and iron mines of the Shamokin Valley, will offer additional subjects for transportation on the rail-way.
It is certain that the trade of the North Branch will be even greater than that of the west. The ascending tonnage will be about one-third of the descending, and equal to the present ascending trade of the Schuylkill navigation, which agreeably to the last report of the managers was 21,259 tons, which with the descending freights, as before stated, centering at Sunbury and Danville, would make an aggregate tonnage of produce and merchandize exceeding 95,000 tons.
In addition to this the rail road company are enti- tled to hold coal land and carry on the coal trade, a large amount of trade will also be received for the trans- portation of coal from the mines surrounding the eastern portion of the line. The road will be first made at that end, and for every section oftwo miles of road complet- ed, tolls may be collected. From these sources and from the Shamokin and Mahoney mines, freight to the amount of 150,000 tons may be calculated upon.
Another item of local tonnage, perhaps not inferior to any is the lumber trade. Owing to the diminution of lumber on the Delaware, immense quantities would yearly, for many years to come, pass on this rail road by the Schuylkill, and thence to Philadelphia, in plank, scantling, shingles, and staves.
The probable tonnage and revenue of the rail roads, may be stated as follows:
95,000 tons of produce and merchandize at 1 cent per ton per mile, for 45 miles, is $42,750
150,000 tons coal, average distance 15 miles at same rate 22,500
30,000 tons iron and ore, average distance -25 miles do. 7,500
Tolls on Lumber, &c. &c. &c. 10,000
82,750
Being nearly 15 per cent. on the capital expendedi and nearly equal to the tolls taken last year on the Schuylkill navigation. Allow but half this estimate to be realized per annum for the first ten years, and the stockholders will be sufficiently remunerated.
In conclusion, we cannot refrain from adverting to the very liberal and flattering preference which our fel- low citizens in the interior have shown for this their own metropolis, over that of a neighbouring state, as in- dicated by a recent vote in the legislature of our state, upon the application of the citizens of Baltimore to take a rail road from the Susquehanna to that city. But it cannot be concealed, that the vote of preference was given under the belief that Philadelphia would exert herself to open every advantageous avenue to her mar- kets. Should this just expectation be disappointed, it may occasion a reaction, and cause those who relied upon it, to throw themselves into the arms of their se- cond choice, which we know to be Baltimore. In ad-
dition, therefore, to the obvious dictates of their own interest, Philadelphia is pledged to do all that in her lies, to meet the favourable advances now made to her. Your committee, therefore, offer the following reso- lutions.
Resolved, 1st. That this meeting feel highly gratified to find, by the report of an able and experienced engi- neer, that a rail road from Pottsville, on the Schuylkill, to Danville and Sunbury on the Susquehanna, is practi- cable, and can be made at a small expense.
Resolved, 2dly, That inasmuch as the citizensof Bal- timore are using every exertion in their power to lead off the trade of the Susquehanna to that city, and there- by diminish the trade and wealth of Philadelphia, and of the state generally, it is important, that this work should be immediately commenced, and prosecuted with energy until its final completion.
Resolved, 3dly, That a committee of seven be ap- pointed to request the commissioners of the rail road to open books for subscription to stock: and to co-operate with said commissioners in procuring subscriptions, and in corresponding with other committees interested in the prosecution of this undertaking.
. SAMUEL WETHERILL, BENJAMIN W. RICHARDS, JOHN WHITE, JOHN BOHLEN, LAWRENCE LEWIS, ROBERT PARRISH, GEORGE TAYLOR.
MEMORIAL OF GUARDIANS OF THE POOR.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met. The memorial of the "Guardians for the Relief and Em- ployment of the Poor of the City of Philadelphia, the District of Southwark and the Townships of North- ern Liberties and Penn"
RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH,
That your memorialists have seen with deep regret a Bill, No. 81 on the Senate files, which proposes to change in very material features the existing system for the management of the poor in its District-and your memorialists beg leave most respectfully to state their entire dissent from all the features of that bill.
It must be in the recollection of many ofthe members of your honourable bodies that the system now in prog- ress was adopted upon the earnest demand of the peo- ple of the city of Philadelphia, and the adjoining dis- tricts and townships, it was called for by them loudly -they complained, and had long complained of abuses resulting from the former system. They at last rose in their primary assemblies, in town meetings, and de- clared by acclamation that their grievances must be re- dressed. They referred the subject to intelligent and experienced men from the city and county. The plan which these men after long and anxious reflection pro- posed, was hailed with universal approbation; it was submitted to and approved of by the Councils of the City, by the Board of Commissioners of the Northern Liberties, of Southwark, of Kensington, and Penn Township; and by the former Board of Guardians, con- sisting of fifty citizens from all parts of the district. It was presented to the Legislature supported by nume- rous memorials in its favour. It was at your last ses- sion fully examined, debated & finally,adopted & passed into a law, and now is in the progress of execution & ex- periment. What then, your memorialists would ask, can have occurred to render an interference with this law necessary, before its operation has been tested? be- fore its principles have had an opportunity to unfold their results? Does the public voice call for this inter- ference? Your memoralists have not understood that it does-on the contrary they believe the feelings and wishes of the community to be all enlisted in favour of the act now in force. They cannot believe otherwise with-
1829.]
WAYNE COUNTY.
135
out imputing fickleness of sentiment to that public, who are equally the constituents of your memorialists and of the members of the legislature.
Your memorialists beg leave to remind you that one great subject of general complaint was, what is general- ly called the Out-door System of relief,-the practical operation of which was the establishment of a regular and constantly increasing list of pensioners, who feed upon the public purse without check or control,and de- manded as a right and received as a right, the produce of the labour of the industrious classes. There was no end or limit to this evil-it has attained an alarming mag- nitude. To arrest its course required the strong arm of the Legislature; it was interposed, and the people were thankful. Yet the first section of the bill against which we remonstrate, is intended once more to launch against us this engine of destruction. Your memoralists pray you to recur to the petitions of the last session, and to the course of policy then adopted, and predicated up- on these petitions. They beg leave too to suggest that the law as it now stands permits temporary relief to the sufferer and his family-but to be administered in food, clothing, medicine, and all the necessaries and comforts of life, while it forbides the baneful grant of pecuniary pensions.
Your Memorialists are also averse to that part of the bill, which compels them to erect a Hospital within the bounds of the city-allow them to ask why they should not be entrusted with this question? Are not your mem- oralists like yourselves elected to discharge the duties belonging to their station? Are they not responsible for the violation of these duties? Do they not act nu- der the sanction of a sacred obligation? Are they not members of the very community most interested in the matter under discussion? Do they not themselves con- tribute by payment of taxes, to the creation of the fund? And why then shall they not be permitted to execute the functions thus cast upon them, & in'which they have so deep an interest? Why must you be appealed to, to superintend, check, control, and pass upon each, & all their acts? If the people call for your interference, your memorialists admit the case, for interference would then arise; but while they are not dissatisfied your mem- orialists submit that such intervention would be equally unjust to them and burdensome to you. Again, it can only require to be mentioned, it need not be insisted upon-that the establishment of a Hospital at a distance from the Alms House, would be for many reasons impo- litic and imprudent-cruel to the tenants of the latter place-and by the process of removal and its consequen- ces fatal to individuals and offensive-in some cases per- haps dangerous to the public. An establishment for the reception of those who may suffer from sudden ac- cidents,or from illness which cannot be properly attend- ed to, in their families may become desirable at a future . period within the City, and will then be erected, But your memorialists respectfully submit that the people of this district, and the public bodies of this section of the State are competent to judge of the proper time, and occasion for such an erection. At this moment it would be burthensome, expensive and inconvenient .- Allow your memorialists also respectfully to ask wheth- er they are not entitled to judge of the rules, which should govern their mode of transacting their own bus- iness? Must they be driven on all occasions to recur for assent and approbation to other authorities, to Judg- es and Attorneys General-What other Corporation is so restricted-Why are not the members of this body to be entrusted with their own government? Will the city of Philadelphia, the district of Southwark, the townships of the Northren Liberties and Penn? Will they depute men to the performance of this trust, who are not wor- thy to be permitted to enact their own rules? Do not the principles of our government forbid this supposition, and allow us to ask can the authorities referred to in the third section be competent Judges of the necessity, or of the mode of operation ofthese rules? Can any body of them except those who witness their effects.
In conclusion, your memorialists respectfully pray that they may be permitted without change or altera- tion of any kind, at least to give a fair experiment to the system now in operation-demanded as it was by the acclamations of the community, and granted by you in consequence of those acclamations which have hardly yet ceased to resound through your halls.
With these observations, your memorialists most res- pectfully remonstrate against the passage of any bill which may change the existing laws for the relief and employment of the Poor in the City of Philadelphia, the District of Southwark, and the Townships of the North- ern Liberties and Penn.
By order of the Board, THOS. P. COPE, Pres't.
Attest, GEO. HEYL,
Secretary of the Board of Guardians, &c. Philadelphia, Feb. 4th, 1829.
WAYNE COUNTY,
We have been favoured by JACOB S. DAVIS, Esq. with the perusal of his manuscript "Sketches of Wayne County," and been permitted to make such extracts from them as we wished, for the Register, and which we now present These Sketches, when printed, will, we presume, be highly interesting to the inhabitants of Wayne county especially-and be also very useful to the holders of lands in that county resident elsewhere- as a general map of the county, and a distinct one of each township, will accompany the work, showing the differ- 'ent divisions of lands agreeably to warrants, and refer- ring by notes to an index, which also will be published with it, in which are exhibited the names of the war- rantees and present holders, and the quantity of land held by each in every township of the county. There are also abstracts of acts of Assembly relating to the lands, as well as'other useful information respecting them and other local regulations. The township maps were commenced by order of the county commissioners in 1825, by whom Mr. Davis was employed for the pur- pose, and for which he has had the best means of acquir- ing authentic information, the county documents being in his possession.
WAYNE COUNTY
Is bounded, on the North, by the State line between Pennsylvania and New York in latitude 42º North, extending along this line 6 miles. North-Eastwardly by the Western shore of the Delaware river, which is also a boundary line of New York to the lower end of the Big Eddy, a distance of 30 miles in a direct line, but 45 by the meanderings of the river. The remaining boundaries are within this State viz-S. E. and South by Pike Co.and West by Luzerne and Susquehanna coun- ties. The direct lines of this county were run at different periods and excepting the State, line without regarding the magnetic variation; the bearings are therefore not found to agree with the respective stated courses. The north boundary line of the State was ascertained and fixed in December 1774 by David Rittenhouse on the part of Pennsylvania and Samuel Holland on the part of New York, who set a stone in a small Island in the western or Mohawk branch of the Delaware for the N. East corner of Pennsylvania marked with the letters and figures NEW YORK 1774 cut on the north side and the letters and figures Lat. 42° Var. 4º. 20' cut on the top of said stone; and in a direction due west from thence, on the west side of the river, collected and placed a heap of stones at the water mark & proceedin gfurther west four perches, planted another stone in the said line marked with the letters and figures PENNSYLVANIA Lat. 42° Variation 4° 20' cut on the top. The rigour of the season prevented them from proceeding.
136
WAYNE COUNTY.
[FEBRUARY
The further prosecution of this business was deferred until 1786 and 1787, during which years the line was " completed by Andrew Ellicot, on the part of Pennsylva- nia, and James Clinton and Simeon Dewitt, on the part of N. York. The western line of this county was runfin pursuance of an act passed April 17, 1795. The division line between it and Pike county was run by John K. Woodward, conformably to act of Assembly of Sept. 1814.
The AREA of the county is as follows, exclusive of an allowance of six acres per cent. for roads, viz.
Scott ..
31211
Preston.
32689
Buckingham. .25570
Manchester.
27487
Damascus
.48349
Lebanon
23409
Mount Pleasant. 36003
Canaan. .46283
Dyberry. .34328
Berlin ..
31613
Palmyra
.31748
Salem.
:36790
Sterling.
.30949.
Total.
.436429 acres.
TOPOGRAPHY .- Upland and Mountains. The sur- face of the county of Wayne is diversified with many inequalities; comprising on a moderate scale, much of that variety attributed to mountainous regions. The principal features of this outline are a continuous upland, occupying the largest portion of the surface-the long narrow vallies by which this upland is indented, and a few incidental eminences to which only the distinction of mountains ought to be applied. The general eleva- tion of the upland is estimated at about thirteen hun- dred feet above the level of tide water.
Moosic mountain rises above the upland in this county about 600 feet, having a total elevation of 1910 feet above tide. Its southern extremity is in Luzerne county, whence it extends in a direction east of north, crossing the west line of Wayne county in Canaan town- ship, and subsides in Mount Pleasant township, forming for some distance a barrier between this and the adja- cent counties on the-west. Beyond the northern ex- tremity of the Moosic rises Mount Arrarat which reaches a short distance into Preston township, and is about of the same height as the Moosic. The summits of these mountains overlook an extent of country, the former to the east the latter to the west, as far as the eye can reach; still farther north and between the head waters of Lackawanna creek is the Sugar Loaf mountain, which is comparatively a small eminence. Besides these, there are some eminences of minor note, only a few of which are designated by particular names.
The upland with its appurtenant vallies affords the greatest and most interesting variety of feature : the up- land being broken into much uneaviness by the ramifi- cations of the vallies and the gradual subsidence of their bottoms, from which circumstances much of the moun- tain character is derived. These inequalities, however, present no serious obstacle to agricultural operations: the slopes are generally gradual, and with a few excep- tions, every part is susceptible of cultivation.
Valleys and Waters .- The valleys"are the peculiar drains of the county; each valley having its proper chan- nel, into which the waters are collected from the conflu- ent springs and rivulets. Lakes are found in every township except Sterling. These elegant little sheets of water, clear as chrystal, comprise from 50 to 300 acres cach in extent, and contribute much to the natural beau- ties of the landscape. Their outlets form some of the capital streams of the county. At first the course of the waters is generally rapid, and this circumstance, togeth- er with the favorable slopes of the banks, affords innu- merable situations for mills.
From the northern part of the county the Susquehan- na river receives a portion of its waters, by the Staruc- ca and Lackawanna creeks, which have their sources within the space of a few rods of each other, in Preston township, and thence running in nearly opposite direc- tions, discharge their respective waters into the Susque- hanna, upwards of a hundred miles apart. The heads of Great Equinunk creek, emptying into the Delaware river on the north-eastern side of the county; and of the west branch of Lackawaxen, running southward, are al- so in the same vicinity. In wet seasons the most proxi- mate of these heads unite and thus form a complete in- osculation or super-union of the Delaware and Susque- hanna waters. The Moosic mountain, rising like a wall along a great part of the western line of the county, de- termines the waters from its eastern foot to the Lacka- waxen river, but beyond its southern extremity the wa- ters again diverge from a small space. The Lackawan- na creek again receives a branch from this county, which has its head in a laurel swamp; and nearby, in the same swamp, are the sources of the Lehigh river. The Tobihanna and Wallenpaupac creeks, all running in different directions, to the Susquehanna, Lehigh, and the Lackawaxen. " Delaware river bounds the north- eastern side of the county. It receives from Wayne county, besides the Lackawaxen river, the waters of the northern end of the county, and much of the eastern waters, amongst which the Great Equinunk creek is a stream of some magnitude. There is much alluvial flat along the margin of this river. The upland declivity is lofty, bold, and sometimes precipitous. The greater part of the river shore in Manchester township, from the mouth of the Great Equinunk creek downwards, is bound by lofty perpendicular rocks, from the water's edge, which effectually interrupts a direct land commu- nication along the river for that distance. Lackawaxen river flows through the middle of the county, in a deep valley, which no where exceeds half a mile in breadth. It unites the waters of the greater part of the county, which it discharges into the Delaware river. The bot- tom of this valley is for the most part an alluvial flat of fertile quality. Its principal branches are the Dyberry, which it receives from the north, flowing through a val- ley similar to the Lackawaxen valley. The WestBranch, which is considered the principal branch of this river, flows through a similar valley and unites its waters with the Dyberry, forming together the true Lackawaxen river. The Middle creek enters the Lackawaxen near the south-eastern line of the county; it is a stream. of considerable magnitude, but its channel is rocky, and its course very rapid. The Wallenpaupac creek on the county line, is a considerable branch of the Lackawax- en, and has much alluvial flat extending almost its whole length. It has a high cataract near to its mouth, from which cause it enters the Lackawaxen with much vio- lence.
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.