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 7
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" One of the most striking features delineated upon the map of Pennsylvania, is the Susquehanna river, and its great branches. Entering Pennsylvania from the north, it passes nearly through its centre, and, with its tributaries, drains nearly one-half of the territory of the commonwealth. This portion of Pennsylvania is not sur- passed by any other tract of country, of equal extent, in the union, for the productiveness of its soil, and for the variety, value, and extent of its minerals. It contains, also, at least one-third of the whole population of the state.
A large tract of country, beyond our northern boun- dary, within the limits of the state of New York, rich in its vegetable and mineral products, and embracing a population of nearly two hundred thousand inhabitants, is also drained by the Susquehanna and its northern tri- butaries.
To the territory drained by this noble river, within the states of Pennsylvania and New York, containing above twenty thousand square miles, and a population of more than half a million, nature has pointed out the valley of the Susquehanna as the great highway to market.
The Susquehanna is regarded as a navigahle river. It is so, in a limited sense. Viewed in its whole extent, in connexion with its great branches, its ascending na- vigation is extremely limited and difficult; its descend- ing navigation is uncertain and of short duration, and both are at all times hazardous. A voyage across the Atlantic does not involve so much danger to life and property, as the navigation of the river from Newtown, in the state of New York, to the head of tide. It is be- lieved that the difficulties, delays, dangers and losses, which at present attend the navigation of this river, arc little known, and less understood, except by those inte- rested in the river trade.
boats upon the Susquehanna, for the transportation of the ascending trade, have gradually disappeared, until not a single boat is found plying upon the river above Northumberland. It is found that merchandize can be transported, by wagons, from the city of Philadelphia; the city of New York, and the heads of the Seneca and Cayuga lakes, with more expedition, at less expense, and less hazard, than by the river.
The descending navigation of the Susquehanna is un- certain, of short duration, and at all times dangerous. Property can only be floated down in the time of high floods, which seldom occur, except in the breaking up of the ice, and the melting of the snow, in the spring season. During these floods, the river is not navigated with any degree of safety or success, if at all, for more than a week or ten days. The consequence is; that the whole trade of the Susquehanna descends at nearly the same time; the markets, which are at all times very un- certain in the towns and villages along the river, are overstocked; the owners have incurred expenses which they cannot meet without sales, and they are frequently obliged to sell at a ruinous sacrifice.
It sometimes happens that there is no spring flood suf- ficient for the descending trade. When this is the case, great losses are sustained by the owners, not only in consequence of the embarrassments incident to disap- pointments and a failure of market, but also on account of the deterioration, if not the entire destruction, of many articles by the keeping. A summer flood, after the failure of a spring flood, generally proves ruinous. Being disappointed, and having property on hand, the owners embark it upon the summer flood. The water evaporates, the river falls, and with it all their hopes, before they reach a market. Indeed, very little pro- perty ever reached its intended destination by a summer flood.
Round and square-timber, scantling, boards and plank are floated down in rafts. All other articles are floated down in arks, which, although they carry from forty to fifty tons each, are very frail vessels, and are liable to many destructive accidents.
The loss occasioned by accidents incident to the river navigation, exposure to the weather, &c. is estimated at five per cent. upon the gross amount of exports.
The whole amount of property which descended the Susquehanna last year, was estimated at four millions and a half. The tonnage required for the transportation of those articles which could not be floated in rafts, must have amounted to more than one hundred thousand tons. Fifteen hundred arks arrived at Port Deposit, and it is known that there were many, and it is fair to presume that at least 500, found a market for their lading, at the towns and villages along the river, above that place.
Estimating the loss incident to river navigation, at 5 per cent. which is certainly very low, and the amount of exports at four and a half millions, the gross amount of loss annually sustained, would be two hundred and twenty five thousand dollars. Besides this, there is, and must always continue to be (whatever improvements may be made in the descending navigation, ) an enor- mous sacrifice in the item of arks. An ark of sufficient capacity to carry forty or fifty tons, will cost at least
Since the opening of the Erie canal, and the construc- tion of turnpike roads from the Susquehanna to the val- ley of the Delaware, the Hudson, and the Lakes, the | sixty-five dollars. It never can re-ascend the river; and VOL. III. 3
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THE VALLEY OF THE SUSQUEHANNA, &c.
[JANUARY
consequently must be sold for any price which can be obtained for it. The average price of an ark, at the place of destination, is fifteen dollars. The loss, then, upon two thousand arks, the estimated number which descended the river last year, and which is annually in- creasing, will amount to one hundred thousand dollars; which, added to the estimated loss by accident, ex- posure, &c. amounts to the enormous sum of three hun- dred and twenty-five thousand dollars, -a sum, it is be- lieved, equal to the interest upon the capital necessary for canalling the Susquehanna, from the New York to the Maryland line. The whole of this sum, and other items of considerable magnitude, would be saved to the individuals interested, and consequently serve to in- crease the aggregate wealth of the state, by a canal na- vigation. The expenses of navigating an ark of the common capacity, (forty or fifty tons,) from Wyoming valley to the head of tide, amount to 120 dollars. The transportation of the same tonnage, by canal boats, it is believed, would greatly diminish this item of expendi- ture.
The country above the Wyoming valley is supplied with merchandize from the city of New York. The surplus products are floated down the river, sold, and the proceeds taken in cash by the merchants to N. York, and there laid out in goods, which are transported by water to some point upon the Hudson; or, by the Erie canal, to the head of the Seneca or Cayuga lake; and thence by wagons to the valley of the Susquehanna. In- deed, a considerable portion of the merchandize at this time, vended in Luzerne county, is purchased in New York, and thence transported by wagons-the difference in the distance between Wilkesbarre and Philadelphia, and Wilkesbarre and New York, being very trifling. When a canal shall have been constructed along the valley of the Susquehanna, from the northern boundary of the state, to intersect the Pennsylvania canal, the whole country above that point will be supplied with merchandize from the city of Philadelphia, and most of the produce of the country will find its way there to market. Until this is done, Philadelphia can never en- joy the trade of the Susquehanna. Hence, to the inte- rest of the state in general, and to the city of Philadel- phia in particular, the necessity and importance of this great improvement.
Of the two thousand arks which descended the Sus- quehanna last year, at least fifteen hundred must have received their lading above Harrisburg. The lumber, which annually descends the river, is estimatod at 175 millions of feet, the whole, or nearly the whole, of which, comes also from the country ahove Harrisburg. As before stated, the whole of this property nearly, in ordinary seasons, and in the present state of the river navigation, must arrive in the course of a week or ten days-and when arrived at this point, the principal part of the expenses will have been incurred; and the flood having borne it thus far, will quickly bear it further, and with trifling additional expense. Under these circum- stances, it never can be expected that the trade of the Susquehanna will stop at any point where the Pennsyl- vania canal shall intersect that river-that the owners will unload, storc, and reload, and incur all the expense, vexation, and delay, incident to a trans-shipment to Phi- ladelphia by the Union or any other canal, connecting the Susquehanna and the Schuylkill or Delaware.
If there was a safe and easy ascending and descend- ing navigation by canal, along the valley of the Susque- hanna, the products of the country would not be hurried to market in the course of a few days, in time of a high - flood, in craft of unwieldy size and frail structure; but the season would be occupied in their transportation in boats which could pass through the Pennsylvania canal to Philadelphia; losses by accident and exposure would seldom or never occur; an immense saving would be made in the item of arks, the trade would annually and rapidly increase; the extensive forests of wild lands up- on our northern border would be immediately settled
and improved; towns, villages, and manufactories, would spring up along the line; an impulse would be given to industry and enterprise, the market would soon as- sume a fixed character; and it is believed that the whole country drained by the Susquehanna and its tributaries, above its intersection with the Pennsylvania canal, would be supplied with merchandize from the city of Philada.
In the present state of the river, and after every thing shall have been done which can be done to improve the descending navigation by the natural channel, the im- mense and increasing trade of the Susquehanna, will continue to be, as it has hitherto been, divided between New York and Baltimore. Nothing can save it, (nor the other advantages before enumerated, ) to the state, or direct it to Philadelphia, but a canal from the north- ern boundary of the state to the Pennsylvania canal, along the valley of the Susquehanna. It is certainly worth contending for, and if not secured, it will not be on account of any deficiency in facilities or means. Of the first, nature has been liberal in her gifts; of the last the state can furnish an abundance.
> Another and a very important question presents it- self in the examination of this subject. Is it probable that the annual tolls upon the proposed canal will amount to the interest of the capital expended on its construction ?
No estimate has been made of the expense; but from the report of Mr. Bennet, the average cost per mile may reasonably be estimated at eight thousand dollars. If the Pennsylvania canal should be located by the West Branch route, (the distance from the northern line of the state being one hundred and sixty-one miles, ) the ex- pense of constructing the canal would be $1,288,000. The annual interest of which will amount to $77,280 If the Juniata route should be adopted, the length of the canal would be increased to 197 miles, which, by the above estimate, will amount to 1,576,000. The an- nual interest of which will be $94,560.
Of the vegetable products of the Susquehanna valley, it is estimated that more than one-third comes from the country above the West Branch, and at least two-thirds above the Juniata. This, in the present state of the ri- ver navigation, is annually increasing, and with the ad- vantage of a canal navigation, would soon be more than doubled. In the exportation of the mineral products of the country very little has as yet been done. Inconsi- derable quantities of anthracite coal, from the Wyoming valley, have for several years past been floated down in arks; but the losses by accidents, and in the item of arks have been so great, and the markets have been so un- certain along the river, as to deter capitalists from en- gaging extensively in the business.
The anthracite coal formation extends from the sources of the Lackawanna, along the valley of that stream to the Wyoming valley; thence through the Wyoming valley to the hills near Berwick, making to- gether, a distance of eighty miles. This coal tract is from half a mile to five miles wide, and is estimated at an average width of two miles: throughout the whole of which, coal is found in strata of from five to forty feet thick. Estimating the average thickness of the stratum of coal at twelve feet, (which is below the fact,) this re- gion contains one thousand three hundred ninety-five millions eight hundred and seventy thousand tons of coal, which with all the capital which could advantage- ously be invested in the business, and with all the facili- ties of canal navigation, could not be exhausted in ten thousand years.
It is believed that upon the construction of a canal, the exports of this mineral would soon amount to 50,000 tons annually, and would probably be increased to 100,000. Estimating the annual exports of coal from the Wyoming valley and the contiguous coal region, at 50,000 tons, and the toll at one cent. per ton per mile, the tolls upon this mineral alone, to the Swatara, the dis- tance of one hundred and nineteen miles, would annual- ly amount to $59,500. The return tonnage by the canal
19
DIFFICULTIES OF TRADE AND CURRENCY.
1829.]
boats, might fairly be estimated at one-fifth of the de- scending tonnage, which would increase the tolls upon the coal trade alone to $71,400, which, with the tolls upon other articles of trade, would immediately amount to more than the interest upon the capital expended, and at no very distant day, enable the state to pay off the debt which must necessarily be contracted in the construction of the canal.
The foregoing facts and observations have been thrown together in great haste, without order or me- thod; and it is frankly admitted that errors may be dis- covered in them; but it is insisted that they are gene- wally correct; and that the more the subject is examined, the necessity and importance of a canal along the valley of the Susquehanna will appear more strikingly clear and conclusive.
All which is respectfully submitted.
DAVID SCOTT, One of the canal commissioners of Penn'a. Harrisburg, Feb. 2d, 1827.
" From the survey of Mr. Bennet, it is ascertained that the total distance from the northern line of the state mpon the Tioga or Chemung river to Northumberland, is
161 miles 18 chains
Total fall 343,413 feet.
From the state line on the Sus- quehanna to Northumberland,
is
Fall
161 miles 5 chains. 337,093 feet.
From the surveys already made, and from the geologi- cal structure of Pennsylvania, it is doubted whether there can be found within her limits, so great a distance, in so direct a line, requiring so little lockage. The average fall per mile, in the whole distance, is but a fraction more than two feet; and from the head of Wyoming valley to Northumberland, a distance of se- venty-one miles, including the two principal falls upon this branch of the river, (the Nantecoke and Nescopeck) the average fall per mile is a fraction less than one foot nine inches.
The Susquehanna and its tributaries afford abundant supplies of water; and it is believed they may be used at-every desirable point, as feeders to a canal.
From the report of Mr. Bennet, it appears that the proportion of rock excavation will be unusually small, when compared with the distance on either side of the river; and that the soil throughout the whole explored route, is principally alluvial, composed of clay, sand, ulid some mixture of ground, in which clay predomi- rates, is of a firm texture, and of easy excavation.
Jt is believed that few, if any, of the narrow passes, where the bases of the mountains or hills composed of vock, form the banks of the river, present greater diffi- culties in the construction of a canal, than are to be met with at Peter's, Short, and the Kittatinney mountains; and that no point upon the whole line presents impedi- snents so formidable, as are found at Butler's falls, upon the Delaware, where the canal of the Hudson and Dela- ware canal comp.my is now in successful progress."
DIFFICULTIES OF TRADE AND CURRENCY. ( Continued from p. 8. )
In 1739, the following report of the different issues of Bills, was made to the house.
An Account of the several Acts passed in the province of Pennsylvania, for creating or issuing paper bills, or bills of credit, with the account of those bills, and the value thereof, in money of Great Britain, &c. &e.
erected for that purpose; and that the sums so lent out' should be annually repaid into the office in such equal sums or quotas, as would effectually sink the whole ca- pital sum of forty five thousand pounds within the time limited by the aforesaid acts; which sum being compu- ted in silver, as it was then received and paid among us, and reduced to sterling money of Great Britain, amounts to £29,090.13 4; but in the year 1726, the sum of £6,110 5s. part of the capital suin of forty-five thousand pounds, by virtue of the two aforesaid acts, being totally sunk and destroyed, the province found themselves greatly straightened by means thereof, and likely to be- come subject to many disappointments and losses, for want of a sufficient medium in trade, if the remaining quotas or payments, should continue to be sunk accord - ing to the direction of the acts; therefore, an act was passed for continuing the remaining sum of $38,889 15, for and during the term of eight years, by re-emitting, or lending out again, the quotas or sums to be paid in, by the respective borrowers on the same securities and provisions as were directed by the former acts.
The bills of credit, emitted in the year 1723, being thus reduced by the sinking of the aforesaid sum, and the inhabitants of the province growing exceeding nu- merous through the importation of foreigners and others settling among us; by which means the trade became greatly enlarged; and the difficulties still increased, and the province found themselves under the necessity of making an addition to those bills of credit; and accord- ingly, in the year 1729, the further sum of thirty thou- sand pounds was then created, and issued upon the same security of real estates, in fee simple, to be mortgaged in double the value of the sum lent, and to be paid in by yearly quotas, and sunk and destroyed as the former acts, passed in the year 1723, hvad provided and directed in the case.
In the year 1731, the acts for issuing bills of credit, passed in the year 1723, being near expired, and the an- nual quotas remaining due on the said acts, by virtue thereof, being at this time to be sunk and destroyed, which would unavoidably have involved the merchants, as well as farmers in new difficulties, and laid the pro- vince under a necessity of making new acts of assembly for emitting more bills of credit in lieu thereof, an act was then passed for continuing the value and currency of those bills, for the term of eight years, by lending out the same as they became due, with the same provi- sions, and on the same real securities, provided for and directed by the former acts.
The amount of the bills of credit in the present year 1739, by virtue of the several aforesaid acts, amounting only to £69,889 15, from the daily increase of the inha- bitants, and the continued importation of foreigners among us, being found by experience, to fall short of a proper medium for negociating our commerce, and for the support of government, an act was passed for crea- ting and issuing a farther sum of eleven thousand one hundred and ten pounds five shillings, and for continu- ing the whole amount of our bills of credit for a short term of years, under the same real securities, and with the same provisions and limitations as directed by the former acts; by means of which additional sum the whole amount of the bills of credit, current in the province, is at this time eighty thousand pounds: which sum being computed, as now purchased here, and reduced to ster- ling money of Great Britain, makes £50,196. Yet, not- withstanding merchants and others have given some ad- vance to purchase gold and silver, we are assured, from experience, that difference arises only from the balance of our trade with Great Britain, being in our favour, by means of the far greater quantity of English goods im- ported into this province since the creating and issuing our bills of credit; for the adventurers advancing the price of their commodities; and, encouraged by meet- ing with a ready sale, became great gainers, while wheat, flour, and all the valuable produce of the province, con-
"In the year 1723, two acts were passed for creating the fist bills of credit, by which forty-five thousand pounds were issued; and for the effectual discharging, or sinking the said bills, it was therein provided and enacted, that a real estate in fre simple, of double the value of the sum lent out, should be secured in an office, I tinued at or near the usual prices, and are at this time
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PROGRESS OF LITERATURE.
[JANUARY
to be purchased with our bills of credit as low or lower than has been almost ever known, when gold and silver were the medium of our trade; and all tradesmen, hired servants, and other labourers, have always been, and are still, paid at the same rates and no more, for their labour than they formerly received before the creating or issuing our bills of credit."
Accompanying that report was the following state- ment of the value of gold and silver in the province at different periods.
"An account of the several rates of gold and silver coin, and what prices they were accounted, received, taken and purchased at, and sold for by the ounce; and what rates of gold and silver coin, are purchased at, and sold for, by the ounce, at this time.
From the year 1700, to the year 1709, gold was re- ceived and paid at five pounds ten shillings per ounce; and silver at nine shillings and two pence per ounce.
From the year 1709 to the year 1720, gold was receiv- ed and paid at five pounds ten shillings per ounce; and silver at six shillings and ten pence half penny per ounce.
From the year 1720 to the year 1723, gold was re- ceived and paid at five pounds ten shillings per ounce; and silver coin was purchased with gold, at seven shill- ings and five pence per ounce.
From the year 1723 to the year 1726, gold was pur- chased and sold at six pounds six shillings and six pence per ounce, and silver at eight shillings and three pence per ounce.
From the year 1726 to the year 1730, gold was .pur- chased at six pounds three shillings and nine pence per ounce, and silver at eight shillings and one penny per ounce. '
From the year 1730 to the year 1738, gold was pur- chased and sold at six pounds nine shillings and three pence; and silver at eight shillings and nine pence per ounce.
And now in the present year 1739, gold is purchased and sold at six pounds nine shillings and three pence by the ounce; and silver at eight shillings and six pence per ounce.
Submitted to the correction of the House, by
ISAAC NORRIS, THOMAS LEECH, ABRAHAM CHAPMAN, JAMES MORRIS, JOHN KEARSLEY, ISRAEL PEMBERTON. Philadelphia, November 23, 1739."
In 1749, the subject of the currency was again taken into consideration, and the following account rendered of bills emitted from 1739 to that time.
In obedience to the order of the House, we have taken into our consideration the present state of the bills of credit which have been issued, and are now current in the pro- vince of Pennsylvania, and the times appointed by law for paying in and sinking the same; together with the value of the whole sum of those bills in sterling money of Great Britain. And we do report,
That in the Year 1739, an Account was settled by the Assembly, of all the Bills of Credit issued by seve- ral Acts from their first Emission in the year 1723, to that Time; by which it appears, that the sum of 1.80,000 and no more, was then current in this Province; which being reduced to sterling money of Great Britain, a- mounted to 1.50,196. At which Time also, the same Assembly, upon an exact and careful Enquiry, settled the Rates of Gold and Silver Coin, by ascertaining the Prices at which they were received and paid, or bought and sold, from the Year 1700 to that Year. Since which, our Bills of Credit have continued nearly the same, bothi in the total sum, and the Value, when reduced to Gold | by Thomas I. Wharton.
and Silver, or Sterling Money. But such Alterations and Addition as have been since made, we have com- prized in the following Account.
In the Year 1745, an Act of Assembly was passed for continuing the Currency of the aforesaid 80,000l. for sixteen Years; during the first ten Years; whereof the whole sum is to be kept up, by lending out or re-emit- ting the Yearly Quotas, or Payments, as they become due, upon the same real Securities, and under the same Penalties and Restrictions, as directed by former Acts: In which, besides obliging the Borrowers to give Land, Plate or Houses in Security, of double the Value of the Sum borrowed, it is further provided, that no one per- son shall borrow more than 2.100. And after the Expi- ration of ten Years as aforesaid, the Act provides, that one sixth Part of all the Bills of Credit shall be paid in yearly, in order to be sunk and destroyed; by which Means the whole Z.80,000 is to be paid in and destroyed in sixteen Years from the Time of issuing those Bills, which was the 15th of October, 1746.
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