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 71
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The necessity of moving the line of the canal into the hill, renders it difficult to make the road which runs par- allel and close to the canal for a considerable distance. A great part of the excavation on the Pine creek line, was occasioned by this necessity. The great breadth of base required for both canal and turnpike road, and the hill being steep, the depth of cutting was increased in a great ratio. This, together with the slipping cha- racter of the ground, makes it troublesome and expen- sive to construct both canal and road between the hill and the river, and has tended much to swell the cost of the Pine creek line.
- In laying the formation of the out-let lock and pier head in Allegheny-town, great difficulty was experien- ced from the influx of the water through a loose bed of gravel, of which the bottom consisted. The length of masonry was 220 feet, which was sunk 7 feet below low water of the river, and the harbor fifty feet in breadth, and in length 120 feet, was excavated to the depth of 4 feet below low water. Much of the labour of men and horses had to be expended in pumping, which forms a large item of the cost of this work.
That part of the canal extending across the Allegheny through Grant's hill to the Monongahela, is in a state of forwardness proportioned to the magnitude of the work. The abutments and three of the piers of the aqueduct over the river are raised nearly to the full height; the remaining three piers are raised so high, as to be out of danger of injury. A great part of the superstructure is prepared, ready to set up, and the securing the foun- dations of the abutments and piers is going forward .- The work done at the tunnel and lock contract during the summer, has been chiefly confined to the locks. The out-let lock at the mouth of Suke's run is built to the height of the lift; the stone work of the three remaining is nearly finished, and the gates framed. The tunnel for the length of 85 feet at each end has been cut down to bottom. The arching of this distance and filling above the arch is going on, and the tunnelling about to be re- commenced.
The tunnelling proves to be difficult. The material of which the hill consists being so hard as to require blasting, but not sufficiently firm to stand without arch- ing. The main exertion of the contractors will now be directed to the completing the tunnel, and it may be expected that a correspondent progress will be made.
Respectfully submitted,
JAS. D. HARRIS, Engineer.
Pittsburg, 24th Nov. 1828.
No. 3.
Report on the Kiskeminetus and Conemuugh lines, by Alonzo Livermore, engineer, including estimates, &c. To the Board of Canal Commissioners of Pennsylvania. GENTLEMEN,
In obedience to the directions of Gen. Lacock, the acting commissioner, I herewith give a statement of the present state and progress of the work, upon the Kiske- minetas and Conemaugli line of canal under my super- intendance, together with an estimate of the work to be done before completion.
The amount of work yet remaining is calculated by the several assistant engineers, upon their respective lines, and comprehends all items contracted fer, with a liberal allowance for hill-slips, and other contingencies.
It will be observed, that the amount which this canal
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1829.]
CANAL DOCUMENTS.
259
will have cost when completed, will exceed the estimate of last season the sum of $117,000.
Many causes have combined to produce this increase of expenditure. In the first place enormous slips have come into the canal and lock pits; in one instance at guard lock No 3, lift No. 4, and canal adjoining, the in- crease of the excavation by this cause, will not cost less than $20,000. It is worthy of remark, that should a ca- nal have been adopted instead of slack-water navigation for the first three miles of this line, the slips which would have occurred, added to the natural expense, would increase the cost to not less than $40,000 per mile, thereby saving in this instance by slackwater to the amount of 75,000 dollars. Indeed it would be found, whenever this kind of navigation is adopted, cither on this or the Kiskeminetas line, that prodigious expen- ses have been saved by avoiding the foregoing difficul- ties.
It was my opinion last season, as well as of others better acquainted with the country, that the incidents attend- ant upon the above will be trifling, both upon this and the Kiskeminetas line. My calculations have come far short of the amount ofactual cost in these cases. When- ever the base of the hill has been disturbed by the for- mation of the canal, without exception the whole body of loose rock and earth has come in from the front of the hill, and in many cases swelled the amount of the excavation to more than double what was calculated .- The principal sections where these difficulties have oc. curred are Nos. 87, 92, 93, 94, 97, 98, 111 and 112. In some instances the towing path has slid from its base, and a further excavation into the solid rock to secure a permanent foundation for the banks.
The expense upon sections Nos. 111, 112, 118 and 119, will be increased by a removal farther into the sol- id rock, owing to the confined situation in which the river flows, which would endanger the banks, if made higher and of clay embankment.
There is an additional expense upon the aqueducts of $27,000. The original contract for the aqueduct ac- cross Blockley's creek, was forfeited and a higher price given. The foundation of this and Stony run was also more expensive than estimated. An aqueduct over Mill creek has been built where a culvert was intended. The great increase is upon the stone aqueduct over the Conemaugh. This was originally estimated at $28,000, the amount of the stone work was expected to be about 4,750 perches, and was soon after contracted for at $5 75 per percb, which would have come to more than the estimate. It was found in laying out the work that the intended length would not be sufficient to secure the abutments. from ice and driftwood; an additional length was added, consequently an increase of the number of perches. It was found that the contractor who first took this job, had not a sufficient price for the work to carry on with that vigor that was necessary. They had already expended their private funds, (as I understand to the amount of $2,000,) and involved themselves con- siderably in debt, which made it necessary for them to give up the contract.
A much greater price was requisite to carry on the work, owing to the lateness of the season, than would have done in the first instance.
The cost of this work will nearly equal the sum of $50,000.
Additional expenses have been put upon the dams, by substituting iron instead of wooden pins, increasing the thickness of the plank, adding more stone and wood work to the abutments, and facing the breast with two inch plank.
The expense of waste wiers is included in this estimate and was before not calculated.
The foregoing items make up the most of the increas- ed cost of the canal in comparison with the last year's estimate
canal adjoining of six chains an out let lock No. 17 of 10 feet lift, a towing path, bridge and culvert, amount- ing in all to $19,000.
A few general remarks remain to be made. This line of 25 miles in extent, may be said to be in a forward state. Many difficulties have been encountered which materially retarded the work; scarcity of hands existed in the best part of the last season. The weather has been unusually wet, not a month has passed without a considerable rise in the river. This has been particu- larly unfortunate for the contractors of dams. They are now, however, nearly secured; a small rise of about 3 feet in the river took place a few days since, the dams were filled, and the . water passed over without doing any injury. If three weeks of good weather continue, they can be secured from danger.
The arches of the stone aqueduct, will be closed in about fifteen days; the upper works can be done by the time wanted.
The tunnel is excavated upwards of 700 feet, and can be casily finished during the winter.
I feel confident, if no material accident happens to any of the works, that the canal will be ready for the water by the opening of the spring.
A great proportion of the section and locks, will be finished by the next estimate.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
ALONZO LIVERMOORE, Engineer. Canal line, Nov. 27th, 1828.
Total amount of work to be done at the estimate of November 10th, 1828. $120,415 97.
A. LIVERMOORE, Engineer.
No. 4.
ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF LIGONIER LINE.
Report and Estimate on the Ligonier line from Blairsville to Johnstown: by James D. Harris, Engineer.
Expense of sections,
$171,150 96
do. Locks,
142,067 25
do. Aqueducts,
52,800 00
do. Culverts,
6,815 00
do. Dams,
39,288 00
do. Guard gate,
1,500 00
do. Waste wiers,
11,000 00
do.
Tow-path bridges,
6,700 00
do. Bridge over canal,
7,650 00
do. Lack houses,
8,700 00
do.
Fence,
6,000 00
do.
Road, 1,260 00
Cost of 28 miles, 52 chains, $454,921 21
Add 10 per centum for contingencies, 45,292 42
$500,413 33
The foregoing is an estimate of the probable cost of 28 miles and 52 chains of canal, ending at Jolinstown, and including a basin and harbour at that place.
From inspecting the proposals for locks given at the letting, it appears that no material saving in the first cost, will eventuate in the construction of wooden locks instead of stone; and in consequence no lock contracts have been entered into, the estimates are made for stone locks.
The plans and specifications exhibited were: First, for the immersed or crib lock. This lock was to be built of square, timber, in the manner of crib-work, and planked . next the chamber; the crib-work to extend from the head of the lock to the lower gates, and to be filled in with stone, but left open enough to allow the water to pass around the head of the lock, through and among the stone and timber, as far as the crib-work ex- tends. These to be secured by sheetpiling, and pud- dled to the end of the wings, to prevent the water pas- sing outside of the lock farther than the end of the crib- work. From the lower gates to the end of the wings,
'The following work, or extension has been added since last season, sections No. 124. and 125 a piece of the walls to be built of stone, as in stone locks.
260
REPORT OF PHILADELPHIA ORPHAN SOCIETY.
[APRIL
2d. For locks built of rongh stone laid in mortar. To be planked next the chamber, on timbers built into and bolted to the wall; the walls to be of the usual size of stone locks. This kind of work to extend from the head of the lock to the lower gates. Below that to be built of stone in the usual way: upon those two plans, both mitre sills and the upper hollow quoins to be of wood.
3d. For stone locks entire, as they have been usually built on the western division.
It is thought.best to build the part of the lock below the lower gates of stone in all cases, as the water could never be more than four feet in that part. It would therefore be subject to decay so rapidly,that the interest of the difference in the cost between wood and stone, would not compensate for the inconvenience of frequent repairs.
The foundation and the lock, culvert and paddlegates, are the same on the three plans, except that fewer foun- dation timbers are required for the crib lock than for either of the others.
The expediency of adopting the frame lock was con- sidered of, but it was thought odjectionable, particularly for heavy lifts, and in all cases where the wall must be high as the' timbers must either be exposed to the ac- tion of the weather for most part of the height, or be surrounded by a bank of earth which this kind of lock, from the nature of its construction, is illy calculated to sustain. In either case, the timbers would be liable to decay quickly. Filling in the frame with stone, and surrounding the timbers with water as in the crib lock, might answer the purpose, but it would be more expen- sive than the crib lock without possessing any advantage.
I would observe that the materials for stone locks are abundant and very convenient almost the whole length of the line, timber in the neighbourhood is generally of an inferior kind.
The estimates of the sections, aqueducts and dams, are made out at the contract prices, except where mark- ed "no contract," No contracts having been made for any other part of the work, the estimates have been made out at such prices as it is supposed it might be done for.
Preparations are making generally on the line as far as let, for a vigorous prosecution of the work. Many sections are already commenced.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES D. HARRIS, Engineer.
To the Board of canal Commissioners
of Pennsylvania, November 25th 1828.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PHILADEL- PHIA ORPHAN SOCIETY.
The fourteenth Anniversary Meeting of the Orphan Society was held at the Masonic Hall, in Chesnut street, on the 6th Jan. 1829. The Rev. Mr. Livingston gave an appropriate Address, and read the following Report:
The duty of presenting this happy family of protected Orphans to their generous patrons, is annually a source of grateful pleasure to the Board of Managers, who have ever had occasion to proclaim the beneficent care of Him who ruleth over the whole universe, and hath visi- ted this little household with unceasing mercy. Not on- ly in seasons of unclouded prosperity have they been permitted to make this acknowledgment, but at the close of a year of unusual trials, are more deeply im- pressed by its manifestation. During the summer and autumn of the past year, when the prevalence of inter- mittent fever was experienced in all the western dis- tricts of our city, the Orphan Asylum was the scene of much suffering. Of its inmates, amounting to one hun- DR. dred and nine persons, scarcely an individual escaped 1828. the disease, yet was it mitigated by unremitting care, by skilful medical attendance, and by those little domestic comforts which assuage the severity of pain, and keep off the sterner evils of life. Those who visited the Asy- Įum during this period, can testify how faithfully and | To cash, water rents and taxes,
affectionately each member of the family performed their duty. The Matron and Teacher were themselves invalids, but sought no exemption from the charge of the nursery and school-room on that account. The watchfulness of a mother could not be more alert, nor kindness more equally divided among the numerous claimants. The blessing of Providence has crowned these labours, and health is again restored throughout the family. The order and neatness, which have been a theme of praise to its admiring visiters, still distinguish the regulation of the house.
Eighteen children have been admitted during the year; one died on the 1st inst .- the only death which has taken place in the Asylum since February 1825, and eight have been bound out. The number now within the Asylum is one hundred and five. The Board are frequently interested by the sensibility of those who bring these helpless infants to the Institution. They have perhaps just witnessed the death-bed of a widow- cd mother, whose wretchedness and poverty had no other refuge than the grave, and whose only consola- tion in leaving her tender offspring in this hard world, friendless and unprotected, was the hope that they might be rescued from penury and vice within the walls of this Asylum. Blessings and tears of gratitude often flow together from their full hearts, as they express the wish, that should they too be called away, some kind friend may be near to claim the same shelter for their children.
The Board consider the duties of the Binding Com- mittee the most arduous, and most liable to disappoint- ment. Though they have generally been more fortu- nate in procuring good places, and finding their cares rewarded by the conduct of both masters and children, in some instances they have been obliged to interfere, and have indentures transferred, on account of the non- performance of these duties. The waywardness of children may frequently require discipline and habitual strictness, but can afford no apology for cruelty or total neglect; nor should those who assume the responsibili- ty of masters and protectors to orphan children, use them otherwise than mercifully and justly.
The girls retained in the Asylum have invariably an- swered the expectations of the Board. They live in the interchange of those affections which grow up and are cherished in a parental home; many have comple- ted their apprenticeship, who frequently visit the Asy- lum from attachment to the companions of their child- hood and gratitude to their protectors.
It will be seen by the Treasurer's report, that the re- ceipts from Annual Subscription is $456; expended by the Purchasing Committee for maintaining the family, $3290; balance in the Treasury, $37 83. The amount of expenditure this year is greater than on several pre- ceding ones, but only in proportion to the increase of the family; and the Board regret to say, their funds have been inadequate to meet all their expenses, not- withstanding the most vigilant economy in the purchase and use of every article provided for the Institution. Bills to the amount of 329 dollars remain to be paid out of the receipts of the next year. Again they call on their friends to "be not weary in well-doing," to observe how small a sum is derived from Annual Subscribers, and how great a charity depends on their support.
With this representation, the Board confidently trust that not one houseless orphan will be denied a home, nor one patron withdraw their succour from those who have none else to help them.
The Orphan Society of Philadelphia in Account with the Treasurer, from January 1st, 1828, to December 31st, 1828.
To cash paid Purchasing Committee, and ex-
pended by them in support of the Asylum, $3,290 00 To cash, premium of insurance, 25 00
To cash, repairs of real estate, 289 55
132 70
1829.]
BISHOP WHITE.
261
To cash, purchase of stocks,
6,208 00
To cash, freedom fees,
40 00
To cash, incidental expenses,
24 00
To Balance in the Treasury,
37 83
$10,047 08
' 1828.
CR.
By balance from 1827,
$81 17
By cash, annual subscriptions,
456 00
By cash, life subscriptions and donations,
240 00
By cash, dividends on stocks,
2,109 78
By cash, rent of Willis' house,
635 56
By cash, ground rents,
24 87
By cash, charity-box and collections,
34 97
By cash, binding fees from Mr. Christian,
7 00
By cash, legacies,
5,765 00
By cash, United States' stock paid off,
500 00
By cash, nett proceeds of sale of children's work,
157 93
By cash, fines on the managers,
15 00
By cash, sale of articles at Asylum,
19 80
$10,047 08
E. E .- Philadelphia, Dec. 31, 1828. Examined by the Committee and found to be correct.
BISHOP WHITE.
The beautiful and just panegyric on Archbishop Che- verus, copied from the Christian Examiner, has awa- kened our attention in a particular manner, to the ven- erable age of another eminent prelate, a native and res- ident of Philadelphia, whom all hearts and mouths equal- ly conspire to honour. We allude to the truly pious, learned and benign, Dr. White, first Bishop of the A- merican Episcopal Church, now in his 82d year, to which he attained on Tuesday se'nnight. He was born on the 24th March, 1747, (O. S.); educated in the College, the present University of Pennsylvania; and graduated at the age of seventeen, with the credit due to sound tal- ents and conscientious diligence. Towards the end of 1770, being then in his 22d year, he repaired to Eng- land for holy orders, and was there ordained a Deacon, in December, of the same year, and Priest, in April, 1772. In the following autumn, he returned to Phila- delphia, where, in a few months, he was chosen an as- sistant minister in the churches with which he has been ever since parochially connected.
It is stated in a respectable publication, that he was chaplain to Congress at the time of the Declaration of Independence, in 1776. This, we believe, is a mis- take. He was indeed appointed to that office, and ac- cepted it, at a very critical period, after the British for- ces entered Philadelphia, and before intelligence was received of Burgoyne's defeat and surrender, by which, when known, hope was revived in the public mind. On the removal of the Federal Congress, under our pre- sent Constitution, from New York to Philadelphia, he became one of the two Chaplains of that body, and con- tinued to officiate for it until the translation of the gov- ernment to Washington; from 1790 to 1801.
In April, 1779, he was elected Rector of Christ's Church and St. Peter's, in which station, and that of St. James's, grown out of the other two, he still flour- ishes, and will, we trust, long remain for the edification and reverence of the faithful. After the severance of the Episcopal congregation from the English hierarchy, circumstances indicated or specially called him to give a beginning to the organization of the Episcopal Church as an independent communion. With the favor of Pro- vidence and the aid of a few of his reverend brethren, and some estimable lay-members of the church, he was chiefly instrumental in producing the convention of cler- ical and lay deputies from the greater number of the States, which met in September 1785, and of which he acted as President. The consequent correspondence with the prolates of the English- Church having been
successful, he was elected, in September, 1786, Bishop of the church in Pennsylvania. Soon after, he procee- ded to England for consecration, being accompanied by his friend Dr. Provost, who went under a similar com- mission from New York. On the 4th of February, 1787, the two American divines were consecrated in the cha- pel of the palace of Lambeth, by Dr. John Moore, then Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by Dr. William Markham, Archbishop of York, Dr. Charles Moss, Bish- op of Bath and Wells, and Dr. John Hinchliff, Bishop of Peterborough. They speedily returned to the Uni- ted States, to exercise their hallowed and efficacious ministry. Dr. Provost has paid the debt of nature.
Bishop White has been a member of the American Philosophical Society, ever since its formation by a union of two societies, into one of which he had been chosen in his youth. For some years, be held the office of one of its Vice Presidents; of the College, now the University, he has served in the [capacity of Trustee since May 1784, having in some sort succeeded his res- pectable father, who resigned his seat at the Board of Trustees from indisposition, when the distinguished son was in England. Dr. White's presidency of the Dis- pensary dates from the foundation of that charity, in 1786. He has, likewise, constantly occupied the post of President of the Prison Society, the Magdalen So- ciety, the old Sunday School Society, the Philadelphia Bible Society, the Protestant Episcopal Society for the Advancement of Christianity in Pennsylvania, the Gen- eral Theological Seminary located in New York, the General Missionary Society, the Education Society for the aid of pious youths aspiring to the Ministry, &c. He had an important share in organizing all the institutions, which we have thus mentioned, except the College, and in the concern of this, he has exerted himself with zeal for more than the half of a century. We have designa- ted the many institutions, learned, charitable, or reli- gious, with which he has been so long and prominent- ly connected, in order to illustrate the force and stead- fastness of his public and benevolent spirit, and the esti- mation in which his fellow citizens have invariably held his name, dignity, and services.
Dr. White is a voluminous and successful author. It is not in our power to furnish a list of his many able ad- dresses to ecclesiastical conventions, recorded on their journals, and his various anonymous essays in periodical publications, intended principally for students in theolo- gy .. But we may cite the principal works which he is- sued in his name, or which were received at first as from his pen. His first publication of the kind, with the ex- ception of a sermon, was a pamphlet entitled "The case of the Episcopal Churches Considered," which appear- ed in the summer of 1782, a few days before the pros- pect opened of a speedy termination of the Revolutiona- ry War. Its design was the adoption of measures fer the continuance of the Protestant Episcopal Worship, to be considered as provisional until Episcopacy could be obtained. The others we shall mention in the follow- ing order:
"Lectures on the Catechism of the Protestant Episco- pal Church, with supplementary Lectures; one on the Ministry and the other on the Public Service; and Dis- sertations on select subjects in the Lectures; published in 1812, in 1 vol. Svo.
"Comparative View of the Controversy between the Calvanists and the Armenians"-published in 1817, in 2 vs, 8vo.
"An Essay containing Objections against the Position of a personal Assurance of the Pardon of Sin ;---- publish- ed first anonymously, and afterwards under the name of the author, with Notes occasioned by a Reply --- in 1817. "Memoirs of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the U. States ---- published in 1820, in 1 vol. 8vo."
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