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. IX > Part 49
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FUNERALS IN WILKESBARRE, IN TEN YEARS :- List of dead, buried in St. Stephen's Church-yard, since Nov. 8th 1822.
Adults, 21
Children, 13
Total,
34
Buried in the Common Burying Ground, since March, 1828.
Adults, 44
38
Children,
.
-
Total,
82
In Gen. Ross's Burying ground.
Adults,
2
Children, none.
Number of colored people not known.
JOHN MICHAEL KIENZLE,
Wilkesbarre, Jan. 2, 1832.
Sexton.
IMPONTS INTO BOSTON.
The imports into Boston from Philadelphia, in 1831.
of Flour werc 15,527 bis. and 501 half blø.
Corn, . 201,413 busels
Oats, - 8,160- 4€
Rye,
.
5,438
174
DEATHS.
[MARCH
STATEMENT OF DEATHS,
WITH THE DISEASES AND ACES,
In the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, from the Ist January, 1831, to the 1st January, 1832.
DISEASES.
From
From
From
From
Total.
From
From
From
From
From
From
From
From
From
From
100 to110
80 to 90.
90 to 100.
2 to 5.
Under
5 to 10.
40 to 50.
70 to 80.
1 year.
15 to 20
1 to 2.
60 to 70.
30 to 40.
50 to 60.
20 to 30.
10 to 15.
0
0
21
Abcess,
0
0
2
0
1
0
6
3
3
2
3
1
0
1
1
1
29
Atrophy,
16
0
1
2
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Apthæ,
Angina Pectoris,
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
7
7
9
12
13
8
3
0
0
60
Apoplexy,
00020
Aneurism,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
4
1
Asthma,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
0
0
0
0
6
Bronchitis,
11
8
12
3
1
2
5
5
3
2
4
4
1
2
0
63
Burns,
3
4
12
4
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
25
Bite of a Rattle Snake,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Consumption,
23
18
18
16
8
36
179
167
105
58
24
17
4
0
0
673
Convulsions,
174
41
31
9
0
2
5
7
5
2
1
0
0
0
0
277
Catarrh,
31
7
8
0
0
0
0
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
0
58
199
89
14
1
1
3
3
2
0
2
3
3
0
0
0
320
Cholera,
Child Bed,
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9
Caries,
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
Cancer,
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
7
3
2
2
0
0
0
19
Casualties,
2
0
3
1
1
4
3
3
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
21
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
4
Cachexy,
Contusions,
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
3
0
Concussion of the Brain,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
Cholic,
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
4
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Chorea Sancti Viti,
0
1
Cholica Pictonum,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Debility,
173
18
14
4
1
0
3
6
8
15
24
22
5
0
0
293
Dyspepsia,
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
Disease of the Heart, -
4
1
0
3
1
3
3
2
3
1
2
1
0
0
0
24
Hip Joint,
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
Knee Joint,
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Spine,
4
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
Drunkenness,
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
11
7
5
2
1
0
0
0
27
Drowned,
0
0
0
5
5
2
9
20
7
2
1
0
0
0
0
51
.
-
Diarrhea,
28
17
8
2
1
0
5
3
2
6
3
2
4
0
0
81
19
17
14
10
4
2
13
12
12
9
5
3
1
0
0
121
Dysentary,
Death by Lightning,
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Dropsy,
6
6
5
5
2
3
8
29
21
11
10
4
1
0
0
111
0
Of the Breast,
0
1
5
3
0
0
7
6
6
3
10
6
1
0
48
92
57
39
13
3
0
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Head,
208
Diabetes,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
Decay,
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
2
0
0
7
Drinking Cold Water,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
2
Erysipelas,
11
0
2
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
16
Epilepsy,
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
4
2
1
1
1
0
0
0
12
Eruptions,
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Effects of the Heat,
2
Found Dead,
18
0
2
0
0
0
0
5
8
8
2
2
0
0
0
45
Fracture,
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
7
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Fungus Hæmatodes,
0
Fever,
13
7
5
5
1
4
9
5
7
5
4
1
0
0
0
66
Bilious,
4
2
1
3
2
8
7
7
11
6
3
1
0
0
0
55
Typhus,
0
2
0
7
6
6
26
13
9
9
6
0
0
0
0
84
Remittent,
1
2
5
3
4
3
9
5
2
3
3
3
0
0
0
43
Intermittent,
4
1
1
0
0
0
1
4
0
0
2
0
2
0
0
15
Nervous,
0
0
0
0
1
0
4
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
8
Hectic,
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
14
Puerperal,
0
0
0
0
0
1
10
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
Malignant,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Scarlet,
13
31
91
54
5
1
4
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
200
Gout,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
2
0
0
0
7
Grangrene,
2
0
4
1
0
1
1
1
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
13
Hives,
39
23
52
12
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
127
Hooping Cough,
31
13
18
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
67
3
0
0
1
2
2
7
6
3
3
4
0
2
0
0
33
Hæmorrhage,
Hernia,
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
4
3
2
1
0
0
14
Insanity,
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
9
5
1
3
0
1
0
0
25
1832.]
DEATHS-CONTINUED.
175
Under
1 year.
From
1 to 2.
From
2 to 5.
From
5 to 10.
From
10 to 15.
15 to 20.
From 20 to 30.
From
30 to 40.
From 40 to 50.
50 to 60.
60 to 70.
70 to 80.
80 to 90.
90 to 100.
100 to 110
Total.
Influenza,
1
1
0
1
0
2
0
5
0
1
4
4
1
0
24
Introsusception,
3
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
Inflammation of the Lungs,
33
17
19
4
4
5
20
19
22
19
19
7
3
0
1
192
Stomach,
4
1
2
1
1
2
4
7
3
3
4
2
0
0
0
34
Liver
2
0
2
4
1
1
5
12
6
4
0
4
1
0
0
42
Brain,
17
5
6
13
4
3
10
15
8
4
1
1
1
1
0
89
Kidneys, Bladder,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
4
Knee Joint,
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Uterus,
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
4
Breast,
8
5
0
2
1
0
3
2
3
1
1
0
0
0
28
Heart,
0
0
0
2
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
Bowels,
31
14
10
2
0
3
6
5
2
1
4
2
1
0
0
81
Peritonæum,
0
0
0
1
2
7
8
3
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
23
Locked Jaw,
2
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
Laudanum to Excess,
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
Measles,
11
8
3
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0 0 5
0 2
0 0
0
0
110
Mortification,
4
1
2
1
0
1
1
5
1
4
3
0
1
0
0
24
Old Age,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 10
14
13 12
37
21
2
74 59
Perished with Cold,
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
4
Poisoned,
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Phlegmasia Dolens,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0 0 1 0
0 0 0 0
0
0
0
1
Rupture,
0
0
0
0
0
1 2
0 3
0
0
0 4
0
1
0
0
79 10
Suicide,
0
0
0
0
0
5
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
Sore Throat,
4
7
6
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
1
Scroffula,
12
3
3
0
3
I
0 4
0 2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
28
Still Born,
316
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
0 0
1
Tumors,
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
Thrush,
3
0
1
0 1
0 0
0 2
0 2
0 1
2
3
0
0
0
0
13 60
Varioloid,
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
7 0
1 0
1 0
0
U
0
4
Violence,
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
7
Worms,
0
2
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
1439 444
441
J217
74
$123
495
1559
380
278 220
145
91
30
3
4939
Of the following there were Males of 20 years and upwards, 1,256; 1,491 under 20 years; 962 Females, of 20 years and upwards, and 1,230 under 20 years.
There were 414 returns received at the Health Office, of persons who died in the Alms House of the City du- ring the year, and 475 People of Color are included in the statement of Interments.
Agreeably to the returns made at the Health Office, and collected from 155 practitioners of Midwifery, there have been born in the City and Liberties, from the 1st of January, 1831, to the 1st of Jannary, 1832-3,787 Male, and 3,555 Female Children; making the total number of births 7,342; leaving a difference between the births and interments of 2,403.
DEATHS IN EACH MONTH OF THE WITHIN PERIOD.
Adults. Children. total.
Adults. Children total.
January
159
147
306
August, . .
156
286
442
February,
166
170
336
September,
206
275
481
March,.
156
173
329
October,.
.175
203
378
April,
197
162
359
November,.
184
207
391
May,.
.148
164
312
December,
380
328
708
June,
·114
198
312
July,
178
407
585
2219
2720
4939
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Jaundice,
7
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
2
1
0
0
0
13
Mania a Potu,
0
0
0
0
0
0
23
44
31
5
Palsy,
0
0
0
1
0 1
2
5
3
2
6
2
1
0
24
Pleurisy,
0
0
I
0
0 0
0
6
Stricture,
0
0
0
1
Sudden,
18
2
1
1
1
0
0 10
21
11
Suffocation,
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
Shot, (accidentally, )
0
0
0
0
0
1
Stroke of the sun,
0
0
0 0
1 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
316 4
Scirrhus,
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
8
Teething,
0 0
0
0
0
0
0
4
Ulcers,
2
0
0
2
1
7
11
8
Unknown,
15.
1
5
1
0
0
0
1
Syphilis,
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
1
0
0
0
25 3
Stone,
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0 0 0
0
1
Rheumatism,
0
0
0
0
Small Pox,
2
1
0
0
0
14
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0 0
0
0
0 0 0 0
0
0 0
0
0
0 1 1 0 9
0 0 0
1
8
3
0 0
0 0
0 0
0
4
0
2
3
6
07
From
From
From
From
From
From
By order of the Board of Health.
Health Office, Philadelphia, January 1st, 1832.
SAMUEL R. FRANKLIN, Health Officer.
0
0
23
0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 02:080100001100
I
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
7
0
0 2
DISEASES.
From
176
MINT OF THE UNITED STATES.
[MARCH
CONGRESS-HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. MINT OF THE UNITED STATES.
Message from the President of the United States, trans- mitting a Report of the Director of the Mint, exhibiting the operations of that institution during the year 1831.
JANUARY 17, 1832.
Referred to the Committee appointed on the 15th ult. upon the subject of Coins.
WASHINGTON, 16th January, 1832. 1 transmit to Congress a report from the Director of the Mint, exhibiting the operations of that institution during the year 1831.
ANDREW JACKSON.
To the Hon. the SPEAKER of the Ho. Reps. U. S.
MINT OF THE UNITED STATES,
PHILADELPHIA, 1st January, 1832. SIR: I have the honor to submit a report, on the gene- ral transactions of the Mint during the past year.
The coinage effected within that period, amounts to $3,923,473 60, comprising $714,270 in gold coins, $3,175,600 in silver, and $33,603 60 in copper, and con- sisting of 11,792,284 pieces of coin, viz:
Half Eagles, 140,594 pieces making $702,970 00
Quarter Eagles, 4,520
11,300 00
Half Dollars, 5,873,660
2,936,830 00
Quarter Dollars, 398,000
99,500 00
Dismes, .771,350
77,135 00
Half Dismes, 1,242,700
62,135 00
Cents,
3,359,260
33,592 60
Half Cents, 2,200
11 00
11,792,284.
$3,923,473 60
Of the amount of gold coined within the past year, about $130,000 were derived from Mexico, South Ame- rica, and the West Indies, $27,000 from Africa, $518,000 from the gold region of the United States, and about $39,000 from sources not ascertained.
Of the' amount of gold of the United States above mentioned, about $26,000 may be stated to have been received from Virginia, $294,000 from North Carolina, $22,000 from South Carolina, and 176,000 from Geor- gia. Gold has also been received within the past year, from Tennessee and Alabama not exceeding, however, $1000 from each of those states. An amount meriting little regard, except as indicating the progressive de- velopment of the gold region.
The first notice of gold of the United States on the records of the Mint, occurs in the transactions of the year 1804. From that year to 1823 inclusive, the ave- rage annual amount received at the Mint, did not exceed $2500. Since the latter period, the progressive increase has been remarkable. The amount received within the succeeding years, to the present time, may be stated as follows, viz:
In 1824
$ 5,000
1825
17,000 .
1826
20,000
1827
21,000
1828
46,000
1829
134,000
1830
466,000
1831
518,000
Previously to the year 1829, the State of North Caro- lina alone, had furnished gold to the Mint. Within that year it was received also from Virginia and South Caro- lina-from the former, $2500, and from the latter, $3500. Early in 1830, gold began to be received from Georgia. The amount received during that year from the various sections of the gold region, was as follows, viz: From Virginia $24,000, North Carolina $204,000, South Caro ina $26,000, and from Georgia $212,000.
Silver bullion has been supplied, throughout the year, in quantities amply sufficient for our present power. The coinage of silver alone has exceeded the whole amount of coinage in any former year, and the coinage of gold, silver and copper, has exceeded that of any previous year by nearly one million of dollars.
The employment of copper coins in circulation is be- coming obviously more general than heretofore. They are transmitted at the public expense and risk, to all parts of the United States, within the range of ordinary means of transportation, and their use and value are be- coming familiar and acknowledged, where, until recent- ly, they have been in little estimation.
The profit on the copper coinage of the past year will somewhat exceed $10,000. This profit is regular- ly accounted for to the Treasury of the United States, thereby refunding so much of the sum appropriated for the expenses of the Mint establishment. The whole effective expense of the Mint, for the past year, will thus be reduced to less than $28,000.
It is with much regret, I have to state, that the early acccession and continuance of intense cold, unexampled here in recent years, had the effect to arrest, most un- expectedly, certain parts of the work of the new Mint edifice. A suspension thereof became thenceforth in- evitable until the rigorous season shall be past, perhaps until April, and the whole of that month will probably be required for the completion of the establishment.
Notwithstanding, however, the impediment alluded to, the extended efficiency of the Mint establishment may be relied on to be in action early in the second quar- ter of the present year. Thenceforward the institution will be able to accomplish the payment of deposits, with only a very brief delay, in coins of such denomi- nations as may be preferred by the depositors; and should the supply of bullion be regular and competent, it is not doubted that the amount of coinage for the year now commencing, will be equal to six millions of dollars. Of this amount, it is proposed to make such a propor- tion, of denominations less than the half dollar as will sensibly improve the condition of the currency.
I have the honor to be, With great respect, Your obedient servant, SAML. MOORE.
The PRESIDENT of the United States.
ECONOMY .- The difficulties which lately existed be- tween the society in this village, and that portion which had seceded, have been amicably arranged. On the 6th instant, articles were signed, in which it is agreed that the society shall pay to the seceders $105,000, deduct- ing eighteen hundred, due the society, by the Count and luis family :
$33,200 to be paid in hand, $35,000 in six months, $35,000 in twelve months:
The Count and his family to move off in six weeks -the dissenters within three months. - Pittsburgh Ga- zette.
There were fifty-one deaths in the borough of Easton during the past year-31 of these were children. 36 were males and 15 females.
Printed every SATURDAY MORNING by WILLIAM F. GED- DES, No. 9 Library Street, Philadelphia; where, and at the PUB. LICATION OFFICE, IN FRANKLIN PLACE, second door back of the Post Office,(front room) subscriptions will be thankfully re- ceived. Price FIVE DOLLARS per an'rim, payable annually by subscribers residing in or near the city, or where there is an agent. Other subscribers pay in advance.
-
HAZARD'S REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.
EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.
VOL. IX .- NO. 12. PHILADELPHIA, MARCH 24, 1832. NO. 221.
PENNSYLVANIA CANAL, &c.
Report of the committee to whom were referred the me- morials of a number of citizens of the commonwealthı -of Pennsylvania, praying that the same rates of toll may be charged on the Delaware division of the Pennsylvania canal, as are charged by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation company, for the use of the Le- high canal; and praying that additional privileges may be granted to the Beaver Meadow Rail-road Com- pany. Read in Senate, February 16, 1832. Mr. Livingston, chairman.
REPORT.
The committee to whom were referred the petitions of sundry citizens of this commonwealthi, complaining of the monopolizing conduct of the Lehigh Coal and Na- vigation company, and praying to be relieved from the grievances to which the whole community is subjected, by reason of the assessment of exorbitant and prohibi- tory tolls on the Lehigh canal, have taken the matter in- to their serious deliberation, and respectfully Report:
By an act of Assembly, passed the twentieth March, eighteen hundred and eighteen, " to improve the navi- gation of the river Lehigh," Josiah White, George F ... A. Hauto, and Erskine Hazard, were authorized to im- prove the Lehigh, between the Great Falls and the mouthi of the river, by making "a good navigation downward, at least once in every three days, except du- ring winter."
SEC. 10. The Lehigh is divided into two grand sec- tions-the first from the mouth of the river to the mouth of the Nescohoning creek, the second from the Nes- cohoning creek to the Great Falls.
By the second proviso to the twelfth section, they were to commence the improvement of the first grand section " within two years from the passage of the act, and finish the same in six years;" and by the third pro- viso, they were required to commence the second grand section, ending at the Great Falls, within the pe- riod of seven years, and finish the same within twenty years.
Upon the completion of the first grand section, and obtaining the license of the Governor, according to the provisions of the eleventh section, they may assess and collect tolls, but by the second proviso of the first sec- tion, they are not allowed "to demand tolls for any boat, &c. in going up the river, unless the same is converted into a complete slackwater navigation, as provided for by the act."
The tolls allowed on making the downward naviga- tion, are provided for by the proviso to the twelfth sec- tion, and are not to exceed three cents per mile per ton, from the Great Falls to the mouth of the Nescohoning creek, and one cent per mile per ton froin thence to the mouth of the river Lehigh.
The fifteenth section provides, that at any time after the periods fixed for the completion of the navigation of each grand section, if the legislature should deem the navigation insufficient, "they should convert the said na- vigation into a complete slackwater navigation," and in that case, are permitted "to charge and receive for the passage up and down, through each lock of six feet fall or lift, a toll not exceeding eight cents per ton."
VOL. IX. 23
By the sixth section, after the legislature shall have approved of the improvements, as provided for in the first seetion, they may use or sell, in fee simple, or rent all the water of the river Lehigh, provided they do not at any time impede or interrupt the navigation. So in the seventeenth section, after they shall have completed! the slackwater navigation, in either or both of the grand sections, and the same shall have been approved, as therein provided for, they "have the privileges, and are entitled to use all the water from the river, sluices, canals or other devices, to propel such machinery as they may think proper to ereet on the land which they may previously have purchased from the owner or own- ers, or to sell in fee simple, lease or rent the same, for one or more years, to any person or persons, to be used in such manner and on such terms as they may think proper: Provided it be sn donc, that it shall not at any time impede or interrupt the navigation."
By the nineteenth section, after the expiration of thirty-six years, " the legislature shall have the privilege of purchasing every right and title to the navigation." The purchase money is to be ascertained by the aver- age of tolls for six years next preceding the purchase, the one-sixth thereof being considered as equal to the interest of the purchase money, at six per cent. per an- num.
It is provided by the twentieth section, that if they " misuse or abuse any of their privileges," they may be revoked.
No provision is made in this act for commencing a slackwater navigation, until after the descending navi- gation of each grand section shall have been completed. The act of incorporation, to which reference will here- after be had, provides only for the improvement of the first grand section by slack water navigation, and makes no mention of the improvement of the second, except in the proviso to the third section, which has been modi- ficd or repealed by the supplement passed April sixth, eighteen hundred and thirty. But by the third section of their act of incorporation, the rights as well as the obli- gations to improve the second grand section are devolved upon the Lehigh Coal and Navigation company. The lia- bility of this company to improve the second grand see- tion, although it can be enforced only at a distant day, places in the hands of the commonwealth a right, the value of which it deeply concerns the community that the legislature should duly appreciate,
By an act passed thirteenth February, cighteen hun- dred and twenty-two, page twenty-one, "The Lehigh Coal and Navigation company" were incorporated, It heing stated in the preamble that the "company were desirous of completing as speedily as possible, the im- provement of the navigation of the river Lehigh, and it being the manifest interest of the commonwealth to pro- mote, by all proper means, an object so important to the state."
The eighth section secures to the " Lehigh Coal and Navigation company" all the waters of the river Ichigh, to use, sell in fee simple, lease, &c. " Provided, it shall be so done, that it shall not at any time interrupt or im- pede the navigation."
By the tenth section " it is not lawfid for the Lchigh Coal and Navigation company to demand at any tinie mere than one-third of the tolls authorized and provided
17S
PENNSYLVANIA CANAL, &c.
[MARCH
for by the fifteenth section of the act passed twentieth March, eighteen hundred and eighteen."
Under the provisions of these acts, the Lehigh Coal and Navigation company have completed a canal and slack water navigation from the mouth of the river Le- high to Mauch Chunk, a distance of forty-six miles. It would seem to be manifestly their interest, as a canal company, to extend the slack water navigation up the river Lehigh as " speedily as possible," and to endeavor to connect with the Susquehanna, by means of a canal or rail-road. By extending their navigation to the mouth of the Quacake, a distance of only six miles above the mouth of the Nescohoning, the canal would receive the trade of an extensive district of country north of Broad Mountain. This region abounds with anthracite coal of a superior quality, has extensive forests of valuable tim- ber, and needs only access to market to become one of the richest and most prosperous sections of the common- wealth. A rail-road would be immediately made from the Beaver Meadow coal mines to the mouth of the Qua- cake, and probably in a year or two, be extended, by the way either of the Nescopeck or the Catawissa, to the Susquehanna, provided the slack water navigation was completed to the mouth of that creek, and the tolls were fair and reasonable.
Broad mountain is situate between the Quacake and Nescohoning and bluff's on the river Lehigh. There is difficulty in constructing a rail-road round the end of this mountain down the Lehigh, as the ground, in some places, is unfavorable. To these natural difficulties in the way of such an undertaking, may be added the un- founded apprehensions that the Lehigh Coal and Navi- gation company could hereafter destroy or render use- less such a rail-road by means of their great privileges and dominion over the waters of the Lehigh.
It has happened, that whilst rail-roads connecting with the Schuylkill canal are extended up the Little Schuylkill twenty-two miles, Mount Carbon eight miles, Schuylkill Valley ten mdes, Mill creek three miles, West Branch fifteen miles, and all these inter- sected with lateral rail-roads in different directions, not a solitary improvement of the kind is made on the Le- high, except at Mauch Chunk, although the country so strongly invites them, by an exhibition of its abundant and inexhaustible riches.
The reasons why no attempts have been made, or are likely voluntarily to be made, by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation company, further to improve the naviga- tion of the river Lehigh, will appear in the sequel.
The complaints against this company are that the tolls assessed on the Lehigh canal are so high as to depress enterprize, retard the general prosperity, and diminish the revenues of the commonwealth. The cost of trans- portation on the canal is as great, if not greater, on many articles, than it was on the bed of the river; and on coal the tolls are an actual prohibition of all coal which is not owned by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation company themselves.
These grievances are not complained of merely by those who primarily suffer, but by the whole mass of our citi- zens who are interested in the trade and prosperity of that part of the commonwealth.
The complaints are, that the assessment of tolls on all articles is unreasonable, but in the case of anthracite coal the principle involved in the assessment of tolls up- on it, is one of the very first impression. If the Lehigh Coal and Navigation company have the right to assess tolls on coal for the purpose of prohibiting all coal trade but their own, they may do the some on any other articles whether of manufacture or production. They may erect iron works, flour mills, in short any machine- ry whatever, having the advantage of such immense wa- ter power, and then prevent all competition in the trade on those articles by means of excessive tolls on the Le- high canal.
to confer corporate privileges so destructive to the general prosperity?
In attempts to negotiate with the Lehigh Coal and Navigation company on this subject, they have decla- red a willingness, on the commonwealth's granting them certain immunities, to take reasonable toll on every thing but anthracite coal, "but as they have coal of their own they will assess higher tolls upon it, being determined to keep the coal trade in their own hands.33
By the fifteenth section of act twentieth March, eigh- teen hundred and eighteen, the toll for the passage up and down through each lock of six feet fall or lift, shall not exceed eight cents per ton. The tenth section of the act thirteenth February, eighteen hundred and twenty-two, declares that the tolls thereafter shall not exceed one-third of the tolls authorized by the fifteenth section of the act twentieth March, eighteen hundred and eighteen. The amount of the tolls therefore, which . the law allows to be charged, for passing up and down through a lock of six feet fall or lift, is one-third of eight cents, or two cents and two-thirds of a cent per ton. This divided upon the passage up, and upon the passage down, will make the toll one cent and one-third of a cent per ton for passing up, and the like sum for passing down through a lock of six feet fall or lift.
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