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 51
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Quarrying or mining, (price paid on Lehigh and Schuylkill,) 50
Hauling by rail-road 20 miles, to Mauch Chunk,
at 5 cents per ton, 1 00
Toll on Lehigh, 1 01
Toll on Delaware, 30
Freight from Mauch Chunk to Philadelphia, con- tract price, 1 12
Amount, $3 96
Wholesale price at Philadelphia, 5 00
Leaving a nett proceed of $1 04
Which must leave to them a greater profit than the Lehigh company made last year on their coal, since the interest of the cost of the canal, ($90,000, ) operated up- on them as a toll of $2 25 on every ton they sent to mar- ket. The Beaver Meadow company have, therefore, no right to complain-but had the case been otherwise, unless the Lehigh company exceed the limits defined by the act of incorporation, they get no more than the boon which was held out to them by the legislature, as the reward of their patient and enduring perseverance in a herculean undertaking, subject to every discour- agement. But far from grasping at all within their reach, as represented by the memorialists, the compa- ny permitted the free use of their navigation to the pub- lie, and to the predecessors of the Beaver Meadow com- pany, for some years, after they were authorized to col- lect tolls upon it. Even at the present time, they charge on anthracite coal hut 12 cents, where the law allows them 23 cents. They are acting agreeably to and with- in their contract; and there is no reason why Pennsyl- vania shall be called upon to adopt expedients to compel
182
PENNSYLVANIA CANAL, &c.
[MARCH
the Lehigh Coal and Navigation company to change the terms of a contract, which, while making, were consi- dered as altogether to the interest of the state, and to the certain ruin of the other contracting party. No, if it turn out to be a good bargain the company is entitled to the benefit of it. The commonwealth is also benefit- ed by their prosperity. Your committee have ascer- tained that the Lehigh Coal and Navigation company have charged for their coal, during the last year, at Easton, $4 per ton; and at all intermediate points along the Delaware between Easton and Philadelphia, $4 75 per ton; and at Philadelphia, $5 per ton by the cargo, and $5 50 by retail: that they paid their boatmen, on the Delaware, the same price, for any portion of the dis- tance along the river, as for the whole distance; and that in consequence of the lumber of the boats bringing a better price in Philadelphia than any where above it, they lost more than the difference in the prices of the coal, by selling it short of that market. The memori- alists have therefore dealt unfairly with the Lehigh com- pany, by stating that the Mauch Chunk coal " was sold at New Hope, on the Delaware, sixty miles by water above Philadelphia, this last season, at higher prices than it was at the same time selling for in Philadelphia, where it is met by competition with the Schuylkill coal." If persons, who purchase the coal from the Mauch Chunk company, choose to retail at higher prices than the Lehigh coal sells for in Philadelphia, this is surely not the fault of the Lehigh Coal and Navi- gation company.
That company stand charged by the memorialists with a monopolizing spirit. The history of the last and previous seasons fully prove, to the satisfaction of your committee, that if they do wish a monopoly, they wish to obtain it by supplying the public with coalat a cheap- er rate than any other dealers. Their public advertise- ments in the newspapers show, that they continued, du- ring the intensely cold weather, to sell their coal at five dollars and fifty cents, the same rates as in the summer, while their competitors on the Schuylkill refused their's at less than $10. This is corroborated in the minds of your committee, by an assurance from one of the guar- dians of the poor of Philadelphia, who happened to be in this town, that the Lehigh Coal and Navigation com- pany had, in the month of December last, supplied the Philadelphia alms-house with 100 tons of coal, at five dollars and fifty cents, while at the same time they were asked $9 to $10 for Schuylkill coal by every other deal- er. They truly have but poor encouragement for such sacrifices, if at the moment they are making them, in- terested speculators can with impunity charge them be- fore the legislature with monopoly and extortion, and excite popular feeling against them by misrepresenta- tion and clamor.
Your committee have thought it but justice, while Signed, JOEL JONES. they are examining complaints against one company, and find them perfectly unfounded, to examine also the nature and condition of the company which, for three years, has importuned the legislature with these mis- representations, and in whose favor such unprecedent- John Conard, one of the commissioners appointed by the within mentioned act, being duly affirmed according to law, doth declare and say, that books were opened for subscriptions of the within stock, at the coffee house in the city of Philadelphia, agreeably to the said act, and that one thousand shares thereof, were subscribed, and five dollars were paid on each share, and deposited in the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank, agreeably to the annexed certificate. JOHN CONARD. ed privileges are asked by the memorialists. They now lay before you the result of their inquiries. Joseph Barnes made an agreement with Nathan Beach and others, having adverse claims to title, which resulted in the Beaver Meadow coal mine tract coming into the possession of said Barnes, who mortgaged it to the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of the city of Philadel- phia, for about $23,000, which mortgage has not since been removed. In 1830, as the legislature were wil- Affirmed and subscribed this 3d day of July, 1830, Jos. BARNES. ling to grant incorporations for rail-roads and not for coal companies, application was made for the incorporation of the Beaver Meadow rail-road company, who, as a " compensation for making a rail-road from their own 3 DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Harrisburg, July 6th, 1830. mines to the river Lehigh, were to have the privilege annexed of owning and working 200 acres of coal land, SIR :- Your letter of the 3d instant was received this morning, and has been submitted to the Governor. In with the usual appurtenances of a coal company. The act was passed, and the following correspondence be- | order to incorporate the "subscribers" to the stock of
tween ] Samuel M'Kean, Esq. and John Conard, took place, which of itself shows the nature of the Beaver Meadow company.
The following certificates were enclosed in a letter from John Conard, of 3d July, 1830, to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, with a request that the letters patent should issue.
COPY.
FARMERS' & MECHANICS' BANK, Philadelphia, July 3d, 1830.
I certify that there is on this day five thousand dollars in this Bank, at the credit of the account of the president and directors of the Beaver Meadow rail-road and coal company.
Signed, WM. PATTON, jr. Cashier.
COPY.
We, whose names are hereto subscribed, commission- ers appointed by act of Assembly dated seventh day of April, 1830, entiled " An act to incorporate the Beaver Meadow rail-road and coal company," certify to his Ex- cellency the Governor, according to the provisions of the second section of the said act, that books were open- ed at Philadelphia and Easton, to receive subscriptions in compliance with the directions of the act; that one thousand shares of the stock of the company have been actually subscribed-and five dollars on each share of the said one thousand shares have been paid by Samuel V. Merrick, Joseph Barnes and others; and that five thousand dollars, being five hundred dollars on each share of the said one thousand shares are deposited in the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank in the city of Philadel- phia, on behalf of the president and directors of the Beaver rail-road and coal company, as appears by the annexed certificate.
Signed,
JOEL JONES, JOHN CONARD, JNO, PURDON, S. BADGER, Commissioners.
To be incorporated in the names of Samuel V. Mer- rick, Joseph Barnes, John Conard and others.
Joel Jones, one of the commissioners appointed by the within mentioned act, being duly sworn says, that books were opened for subscription of the within men- tioned stock at Easton, in the county of Northampton, and that five shares thereof were there subscribed, and five dollars were paid on each share, and the residue of the facts within stated, upon the representation to him made, he believes also to be true.
Sworn and subscribed the 3d day of July, 1830, be- fore me, WM. DUANE, Alderman.
1832.]
PENNSYLVANIA CANAL, &c.
183
the Beaver Meadow Rail-road company, it will be ne- cessary to know their names, with the number of shares subscribed by each. The Governor would prefer, (al- though not indispensably necessary,) that a majority of the seven commissioners named in the law, would sign the certificate. Your enclosure is herewith returned; as soon as it is forwarded in the corrected form the Go- vernor will direct the charter to issue.
I am respectfully, your ob't serv't, S. MCKEAN. JOHN CONARD, Esq. Philadelphia.
Philadelphia, 12th July, 1830.
Sin-Your letter of the sixth instant is received, re- turning the certificate of the commissioners of the Bea- ver Meadow rail-road and coal company. I have pro- cured two more names to the certificate, which make altogether a majority of the commissioners.
The subscribers in Philadelphia are as follows: Sa- muel V. Merrick, 1000 shares; Joseph Barnes, 2500 shares; Jolin Conard, 100 shares, and Benjamin S. Jan- ney 2 shares, which makes altogether upwards of 1000, the number required by law to authorize the letters pa- tent to issue. There are more shares subscribed in other places, but we have not the books here, and cannot in- sert their names or number of shares. It has been usu- al, I believe, to insert in the letters, but two or three of the first named subscribers, and we wish in this case, the two or three first named to be inserted. It woukl take time to procure the books from Northampton, and as the season is so far advanced, we are anxious to be' organized as early as possible, so as not to lose the sum- mer. We hope the names inserted above, will be suffi- cient to authorize the issuing of the letters patent. They are all the subscribers in the city.
Respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN CONARD. SAMUEL M'KEAN, EsQ. Secretary of the Commonwealth.
P. S. Five shares more, as is understood, are all that are subscribed, but we have not the names.
SECRETARY'S OFFICE, 2 Ilarrisburg, July 14, 1830.
Sin-If the facts stated in your letter of the 12th in- stant, were embodied in the certificate signed by the commissioners, it would come under the provisions of the law. It has not been usual to issue charters, witlı- out having the whole number of subscribers named. In order to show the difficulty at once, I give you the ne- cessary form of that part of your charter:
"And whereas Joel Jones, John Conard, John Pur- don and Samuel Hadger, a majority of the commission- ers named in the said act of the General Assembly, to receive subscriptions to the stock of the said com- pany, aforesaid, have certified to me in writing, under their respective hands, and under oath, that the follow- ing named persons have subscribed the number of shares of the said stock set opposite to their names respective- ly; that is to say, Samuel V. Merrick, one thousand shares, Joseph Barnes, two thousand five hundred shares; John Conard, one hundred shares, and Benja- min S. Janney, two shares-amounting in the whole to three thousand six hundred and two shares. And it is also further certified to me by the said commissioners, that the sum of five dollars on each and every of the above mentioned shares, was paid to them at the time of making the said subscriptions, &c."
The Governor regrets the delay occasioned by the want of the necessary certificate, but is nevertheless confident that you would prefer that the charter should be issued in accordance with the provisions of the law, and not in a defective form.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
JOHN COWARD, EsQ.
JAMES TRIMBLE, Deputy Secretary.
Philadelphia, July 6th, 1830.
Sin-Your letter of the 14th instant was duly received, and the commissioners regret they should have given so much trouble in consequence of not understanding the necessary form of the certificate. They had pur- sued as near as practicable the letter of the law, which enacts " that when one thousand shares shall be subscri- bed, and five dollars paid on each share, and the fact of such subscription being certified to the Governor," let- ters should issue, &c. We have now, however, made the certificate to conform to the one given, but we are not able to get Mr. Jones' name to it, as he is now in Easton, and Mr. Ilolgate is up at Wilkesbarre, and will probably not return under two or three weeks. We have therefore only the names that are here. The law appears to us to authorize any two of the commissioners to act, and we hope it will be sufficient.
It will be seen that Joseph Barnes's subscription of 2500 shares is omitted, and the reason is that no money was paid by him, and therefore in this stage of the busi- ness goes for nothing. It was agreed between him and the other subscribers, that he should subscribe the mine, as the proprietor for so many shares and as was put down accordingly. This can be arranged with the com- pany when organized, and his name is left off for the present. I send the original certificate, which is signed by Mr. Jones, and may be added to the present one if thought necessary.
I remain, very respectfully, Your obedient
JOHN CONARD.
To the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
We whose names are hereunto subscribed, commis- sioners appointed by act of Assembly, passed the 7th day of April, 1830, entitled " An act to incorporate the Beaver Meadow Rail-road and Coal company," certify to his excellency the Governor of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, that books were opened according to the provisions of the second section of the said act, for sub- scription to the stock of the said company, and that the following named persons have subscribed the number of shares set opposite to their names respectively : That is to say, Samuel V. Merrick one thousand shares, John Conard one hundred shares, and Benjamin S. Janney two shares, amounting in the whole to one thousand one hundred and two shares, and that the sum of five dol- lars on each and every of the above mentioned shares were paid to them by the subscribers at the time of making such subscription.
JNO. PURDON, S. BADGER, JOIIN CONARD, Commissioners.
Philadelphia, 16th July, 1830.
City of Philadelphia, Sct.
Be it known, that on this sixteenth day of July, 1830, personally appeared John Purdon, John Conard, Sam- uel Badger, the three commissioners above named, be- fore me the subscriber, one of the Aklermen of the city of Philadelphia, and being respectively sworn or affirm- ed, did declare that the facts set forth in the above writ- ten certificate, by them signed, were true.
Witness my hand and seal, GEORGE BARTRAM, Alderman. [SEAL. ]
The patent was forwarded, but the fees still remain unpaid, notwithstanding a renewed application was made for the amount in November last.
From this it appears that there were two certificates furnished by the commissioners; the first of these says, that one thousand shares was subscribed by Joseph Barnes and others-that five dollars was paid by them on each share, at the time of subscribing.
The second makes out the whole one thousand shares, without mentioning Joseph Barnes at all; and one of the
184
LIFE OF CAPT. SAMUEL BRADY.
[MARCH
commissioners in his letter of 16th, says, that " no mo- ney was paid" by him; although in the first certificates he declares it was.
John Conard's letter of 12th, states there were 3602 shares subscribed, and the first certificate 1000 shares, and that the money was deposited in the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank. The bank certifies a credit to the "account" of the company, of but $5000. What he- came of the $5 per share which by law were required to be paid and certified on Conard and Janney's subscrip. tions?
But your committee have noticed enough incongrui- ties in this correspondence to show that considerable management and contradiction took place in the com- mencement of this institution. From other sources in- formation has reached the committee, from which they are led to believe that the following will appear to he the facts of the case, if an inquiry be instituted.
That Joseph Barnes and John Conard were jointly interested in the Beaver Meadow speculation; that upon the passage of the law, an arrangement was made for a sham subscription to the stock; that Barnes made an ar- rangement with Merrick, to subscribe 1000 shares, without paying one cent for them, and under a stipula- tion that he at least should not be a loser by it; that the property is not to this day cleared from the incumbrance of the mortgage, and therefore that it still stands in the name of Barnes, and that the company now has only a conditional existence; and finally, that the certificate given hy the cashier of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank was not predicated on money deposited there by the commissioners of the Beaver Meadow Rail-road and Coal company, but upon the deposite of a note for $5000, which was merely passed to their credit for the express purpose of being the foundation of that certifi- cate; and the company never had authority to draw for any portion of it on the bank.
From the Blairsville Record. SKETCHES, No. I, Of the Life, and Military and Hunting Adventures of CAPT. SAMUEL BRADY.
Who has not heard of Brady, Captain of the Spies? Of his perilous adventures by field and flood! Of his hair- breadth escapes in the imminent deadly breach? Of his chivalrous courage ?. Of his unmatched personal ac- tivity ?- Yet where do we read his history ?- It is to be learned only from the aged settlers of Western Penn- sylvania, or peradventure, from a time-worn Ranger: for a few of Brady's warriors still survive.
Actuated by a desire to preserve from oblivion, such portions of his life and actions as may yet be obtained. I have made several attempts to procure from individu- als the most interesting events in his military career, but hitherto witbout success. At length an aged friend has kindly offered to furnish such details as an intimate acquaintance with Captain Brady, enables him to give. We trust that the subject will be deemed of such inter- est that others will contribute their mite, and that a historian will yet be found to place Brady of the Ran- gers by the side of Wayne, Marion, Lee of the Legion, and other distinguished patriots, whose memories are immortal.
He is emphatically the Hero of Western Pennsylva- nia; and future bards of this region, when time shall have mellowed the facts of history, will find his name the personification of all that was fearless and fruitful of resources in the hour of danger. His the step that faultered not; the eye that quadled not, even in the ter- rific scenes of Indian warfare. Many a mother has quieted the fears and lulled to sleep her infant family, by the assurance, that the broad Allegheny, then the dividing line between the Indians, was watched by the
gallant Captain and his rangers; and to their apprehen- sions of death or captivity by the Indians, has replied encouragingly, "They dare not move on the river, for there lies Brady and the rangers."
In this number of my sketches, I can give little more than an introduction to the subject.
John Brady, the father of Capt. Samuel Brady, was born in the state of Delaware, A. D. 1733. Hugh Bra- dy, the father of John had emigrated from Ireland. At a very early period Hugh Brady settled within five miles of where Shippensburg now stands. The coun- try was then a wilderness, thinly settled by Irish emi- grants, simple, sincere, and religious. Many anecdotes are recollected, evincive of this, but they would he out of place here.
During the French and Indian wars, that part of the country was much harrassed by the Indians. John Brady and several other young men had been active against them; and as a mark and reward of merit, he was appointed a Captain in the provincial line, which at that time was no small distinction. He married Mary Quigly: and Samuel, their first child, was born in the town of Shippensburg, A. D. 1758.
After the war and a purchase had been made from the Indians in 1758, John Brady moved with his family to the west branch of the Susquehanna, where Samuel resided with him until June 1775. Capt. John Low- den, a widower, raised a company of volunteer rifle- men, seventy in number, and all unmarried, and march- ed to Boston. Samuel Brady was one of this band, and the Captain intended that the should be an officer, but his father objected, saying, "let him first learn the du- ty of a soldier, and then he will know how to act as an officer."
While the riflemen lay in the "Leaguer of Boston," frequent skirmishes took place. On one occasion, Low- den was ordered to select some able bodied men, and wade to an island, when the tide was out, and drive off some cattle belonging to the British. He was consider- ed too young for this service, and left him out of the se- lection; but to his astonishment found Brady was the se- cond man on the island and behaved most gallantly.
On another occasion, he was sitting on a fence, with his Captain, viewing the British works, when a cannon ball struck the fence under them. Brady was first up, caught the Captain in his arms and raised him, saying with great composure, "we are not hurt Captain." Many like instances of his coolness happened while the army lay at Boston.
In 1776, S. Brady was appointed a First Lieutenant in Captain Thomas Doyle's company, raised in Lancaster county. He continued with the army and was in all the principal engagements, until after the battle of Monmouth, when he was promoted to a Captaincy, and ordered to the west under Gen. Broadhead. On their march he had leave to visit his friends in Northumber- land county. His father in 1776 had accepted a Cap- taincy in the 12th Pennsylvania regiment, was badly wounded at the battle of the Brandywine, and was then at home. [Whilst there he heard of his brother's death, who had been murdered by the Indians on the 9th day of August, 1778. He remained at his father's until the beginning of 1779, when he started for Pittsburg and joined his regiment.
Shortly after he had arrived at Pittsburg, he heard the news of his father being murdered by the Indians on the 11th day of April 1779. He then vowed vengeance against all Indians, and he never altered his mind. Here commences his western exploits, which must be the subject of another paper.
At the battle of Princeton he was under Col. Hand of Lancaster, and had advanced too far; they were nearly surrounded. Brady cut a horse out of a team, got his Colonel on, jumped on behind him and made their es- cape.
At the massacre at Paoli, Brady had been on guard, and had laid down with his blanket buckled round him.
1832.]
LIFE OF CAPT. SAMUEL BRADY.
185
The British were nearly on them before the sentinel fired. Brady had to run; he tried to get clear of his blanket coat, but could not. As he jumped a post and rail fence, a British soldier struck at him with his bayo- net and pinned the blanket to the rail, but so near the edge that it tore out. He dashed on, a horseman over- took him and ordered him to stop. Brady wheeled, shot him down and ran on. Ile got into a small swamp in a field. He knew of no person but one being in it besides himself; but in the morning there were fifty- five, one of whom was a Lieutenant. They compared commissions; Brady's was the oldest: he took the com- mand and marched them to head quarters.
No. 11.
In 1780 a small fort within the present limits of Pitts- burg, was the head quarters of Gen. Broadhead; who was charged with the defence of this quarter of the frontier. The country north and west of the Allegheny river was in the possession of the Indians; for that river was not " the line between the Indians," as I am made to say in my first number by a misprint of the Record, but between the Indians and Whites.
General Washington whose comprehensive sagacity foresaw and provided against all dangers that menaced the country, wrote to Gen. Broadhead to select a suita- ble officer and despatch him to Sandusky, for the pur- pose of examining the place and ascertaining the force of British and Indians assembled there, with a view to measures of preparation and defence, against the depre- dations and attacks to be expected from thence.
General Broadhead had no hesitation in making the se- lection of an officer qualified for this difficult and dan- gerous duty. He sent for Capt. Brady, showed him Washington's letter, and a draft or map of the country he must traverse; very defective as Brady afterwards. discovered, but the best no doubt, that could be obtained at that time.
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