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 72

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 440

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 72

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. BAKER, as chairman of the Paving Committee, made the following report and resolution which were agreed to.

The Paving Committee to whom was referred the different petitions for paving and re-paving, report:

That they have viewed the different Streets and Al- leys referred to them, and recommend the following re- solutions:

Resolved by the Select and Common Councils, That the following Streets and Alleys be graduated and pav- ed under the direction of the Paving Committee and su- perintendence of the City Commissioners.

Cubic Square yards of yards of digging. paving.

No. 1. Acorn Alley, from the pre- sent pavement to Spruce street, 4.7

2. Washington street, from

253

PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCILS.

1832.]

Cubic yards of digging.

Square yards of digging. 840

Eleventh to Twelfth street, 280

3. Pine street, from Willow to Schuylkill Front street,

880

2,640

4. Beech street, from Spruce to Pine Street,

1,366

5. Willow street, from Spruce to Locust street,

1,155

6. Lombard street, from Thir- teenth to Bank street, 7,000

14,831

7. Beech street, from Walnut to Chesnut street,

1,473

8. Schuylkill Fifth street, from .

Chesnut to High street, 699

1,398

9. Schuylkill Fifth street, from High to Mulberry street, 924

1,849

10 Filbert street, from Schuyl- kill Third to Schuylkill Fifth street,

866

2,598

11. Fern street. or Jones's alley, from Schuylkill Seventh to Schuylkill Eighth st.,

352

12. Vine street, from Schuylkill Front to Schuylkill Eighth street, 4,580

9,160

13. Schuylkill Seventh street, from Vine to Sassafras street,

946

1,895

14. Barker street, from Schuyl- kill Seventh to Schuylkill Fifth street, 770

1,155

15. Cherry street, from Broad to Schuylkill Eighth st., 400 880

16. Mulherry street from Schuyl- kill Fifth to Schuylkill Sixth street, 396

1,584

17,849

43,270

Resolved, by the authority afuresaid, That the Paving Committee,in conjunction with the City Commissioners, be authorized to contract with any person or persons for labor and materials for the completion of the above items, in whatever way may in their opinion appear best for the public interest.

Mr. Hoon, as chairman of the Committee on Markets, made the following report and resolution which were adopted.

The Committee on Markets to whom was referred the petition of the Chester County Farmers, beg leave to report: That in their opinion it is inexpedient for Councils to grant the request of the petitioners, namely the repeal of part of the Ordinance of December 23, 1831, and recommend the adoption of the following re- solution.

Resolved, That the Committee be discharged from the furtber consideration of the subject.

Mr. BAKER, as chairman of the Committee to whom was referred the application of David E. Shapley, made the annexed report and resolution which were agreed to.

The Committee to whom was referred the application of David E. Shapley, report: That they have taken the said application into consideration and are of opinion that the price and length of time that are asked for, by said Shapley, would be no inducement for Councils to contract for any portion of said ground, and offer the following resolution:

Resolved, That the committee be discharged from further consideration of the subject.

Mr. Honx, as chairman of the Library Committee, made the following report and resolution which were laid on the table.

"The Committee on the Library to whom were refer-

red a communication from Ma. SAMUEL HAZARD, re- questing the aid of Councils in behalf of a weekly paper conducted by him, entitled 'TIIE REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA,' respectfully REPORT: That the object of the work as stated by MR. HAZARD, is ' to col- lect and preserve all facts and documents which may be wanted for use or as materials for a history of the State. And that with this objectin view, a large portion of each volume is devoted to the city of Philadelphia, and con- tains the Proceedings of Councils, and all important Reports and other documents relating to the City and its institutions, as well as tabular views of its finances, expenditures, &c.'

. The Committee have carefully examined the volumes already published, and have no hesitation in saying that in their opinion the important and interesting object proposed has been thus far successfully accomplished. As a depository of rich and valuable information rela- tive to Pennsylvania; the work is entitled to the encou- ragment of her citizens generally, and as particularly connected with Philadelphia, its annals, and its institu- tions, it is deserving of the peculiar favor and patronage of the inhabitants of our city. It is suggested too, that without further assistance, the undertaking must termi- nate with the volume now in progress. From the cha- racter of the work, and from the fact that it cannot avail itself of the profits upon which papers open to advertisements usually in a great measure rely, it must receive its sustenance from l'ennsylvania, and more es- pecially from the people of Philadelphia, or it must close its existence. Impressed with the belief that it is worthy of patronage, and that as a book of reference, it will at all times be of great utility to the city authori- ties and officers, the Committee recommend it to the favorable notice of the Councils. The publisher will fur- nish the eight volumes already completed, at $3 per vol- ume, bound. The subscription price is $5 per annum. Two volumes are published in a year.

The Committee submit the following resolutions:

Resolved, That the Clerks of Councils be authorized to purchase seven copies of the eight volumes now published of HAZARD'S REGISTER OF PENNSYL- VANIA; and to subseribe on behalf of the Corporation for seven copies of the said work continued from the eighth volume.

Resolved, That said copies be appropriated as follows, to wit:

One to the Select Council Chamber.

One to the Common Council Chamber.

One to the Mayor's Offiec.

One to the City Treasurer's Office.

One to the City Commissioners' Office.

One to the Watering Committee's Office.

One to any Department or Board which may be esta- blished relative to the Girard Estate."

April 12th, 1832.

The resolution relative to the appointing of a com- mittee to visit the lands of the late Stephen Girard, in Schuylkill county, passed by the Select Council at their last meeting, was called up for consideration, and was passed-Messrs- Sexton and Fritz were appointed the Committee.

254

SKETCHES OF PENNSYLVANIA.

[APRIL

From the New York Observer. SKETCHES OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PITTSBURG, March 28, 1832.

Messrs. Editors-Agreeably to my promise, I send you some notices, geographical, literary and moral, of the State of Pennsylvania, made during my journey from Philadelphia to this city. I ought, however, to say, that there are but few places of importance in this State which I have not visited, and many of them re- peatedly, within the last ten years. I mention this fact, because it would be consummate folly and presumption in any one to attempt to give general notices of this State who had only passed from Philadelphia to Pitts- burg in a stage.

Pennsylvania, according to the best calculation, con- tains 47,500 square miles; and if you examine the map, you will see that few States possess equal geographical advantages. On the east you first have the western side of the rich valley of the Delaware river, whose branches, the Lehigh and Schuylkill, with many small- er ones, flow from the west, taking their rise in the eastern range and spurs of the Allegheny system of mountains. As you look further westward, you have the great and fertile valley of the Susquehanna, which flows down from New York, and whose great tribnta- ries are the Western Branch and the Juniata, besides many of smaller size. The Susquehanna, with its wide- spread branches, drains a very large part of the State. The basin of the Susquehanna is a mountainous region, intersected with extensive and fertile valleys: whilst its mountains abound in stores of mineral wealth. As you proceed still westward, and take your stand on the dividing ridge of the Alleghenies, which in Pennsylva- nia is the last but one of the entire range, you see in the western end of the State, the upper end of the valley of the Ohio, composed of the valleys of the Kiskemine- tas, which is formed by the Conemaugh, its tributa- ries, French creek, Toby's creek, and the Mononga- hela, Youghiogheny, and the Allegheny, with the Loy. allhanna.

The productions of this State, which are those of the middle states in general, such as grains of all kinds, cattle, horses, sheep, together with coal, iron, glass, and lumber, &c. find a market through various chan- nels. On the north, by means of the lakes and the Erie and Hudson canal, the Delaware and Hudson canal, and many roads, they seek the city of New York; on the east, they naturally flow towards Philadelphia and the Delaware bay; on the south they find, by na- tural courses, their way to Baltimore, which is destined to have a very large portion of the trade of central Pennsylvania: whilst on the west the great outlet is the Ohio which flows from Pittsburg, bearing the produc- tions of West Pennsylvania to New Orleans.

ROADS AND CANALS.

But great and varions as the natural channels of trade are in this State, those which are artificial are adding much to the facilities of commerce enjoyed by the inhabitants. The public authorities of the State have for many years been intently engaged in promot- ing internal improvements. Two turnpikes have been made from the eastern to the western ends of the State; besides many shorter ones which branch out into various directions.

Many canals have also been undertaken, and some of them are completed. When they are all finished, the natural facilities of trade will have been greatly aug- mented, as you will readily perceive. These canals are, 1. The Lehigh, improving the navigation along that valley. 2. The Delaware. 3. The Schuylkill. 4. The Union, which joins the Schuylkill river to the Susque- hanna. 5. The Susquehanna, up along the east or ra- ther North Branch. 6. The West Branch of the Sus- quehanna from Northumberland to Lycoming county.

7. The Juniata, which is a part of the great canal chain that is to unite the eastern part of the State with the western. 8. The corresponding part on the west of the mountains down the Conemaugh and Alleghe- ny, from Johnstown to Pittsburg. 9. The canal unit- ing French creek to Lake Erie. 10. The Beaver ca- nal.

A rail-road, of 40 miles in length, is building across the Allegheny or dividing ridge from Johnstown to the Juniata canal, which will complete the great line from east to west. Besides, the Chesapeake and Ohio canal will probably terminate on the Monongahela or Youghio- gheny, and so benefit the south-western angle of the State, which is already improved by the national road from Cumberland to Zanesville in Ohio, or rather to St. Louis, where it is to end. In addition to this, a rail-road is making from Philadelphia to Columbia on the Susquehanna, whilst another from the latter place is to continue to Baltimore.

Although the Allegheny range of mountains crosses the central part of this State, and occupies much of its surface, yet few states in the Union have so much fer- tile land. Agriculture is carried on to great perfection in Pennsylvania, especially in the eastern part of it. I have seen no part of our country where I had rather spend my days than in some of the valleys of the Alle- gheny mountains. The road from Philadelphia, through Lancaster, Harrisburg, Chambersburg, Bedford, &c. crosses several of these valleys. That in which Carlisle, Chambersburg, &c. stand, and which is called Cum- berland Valley, and in Virginia, the Great Valley, is a delightful region, possessing great fertility. Many of the smaller vallies, such as Penn's Half Moon, Ligonier, &c. are beautiful.

This State abounds in flourishing towns, which stand along the rivers, or the great roads, and have in gene- ral a good society. Among these may be reckoned, Easton, Reading, Norristown, Bethlehem, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Columbia, York, Gettysburg, Carlisle, Mer- cersburg, Chambersburg, Lewistown, Huntingdon, Northumberland, Bellefonte, &c. in the eastern and middle, parts of the State; and Pittsburg, Washington, Brownsville, Uniontown, Meadville, and Erie, in the west. Philadelphia is the great commercial capital, and Harrisburg, a beautiful town on the eastern bank of the Susquehanna, 100 miles west of Philadelphia, is the seat of government.

Some idea of the extent of the improvements which are in progress in this State, may be formed from the ·fact, that when they are accomplished, it is calculated that they will cost at least $20,000,000.

COLLEGES, THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES, ACADEMIES, &C.

I wish I could give you as flattering an account of the efforts made in this state to advance the education of the people. Until very recently, nothing was done to provide a common school system for the state. Within a year, however, the Legislature has commenced the foundation of a school fund. There is at present much excitement among the intelligent portion of the inhabi- tants on this subject. It is greatly to be feared that they will imitate the worst school system in New Eng- land, that of Connecticut-that is, aim at having a vast school fund, instead of raising by annual taxation the amount needed. It has been ascertained that many thousands of the children of this state are growing up without education.

As regards colleges, there is no want of them. Too many have been chartered by the Legislature, and none of them endowed as they ought to be. There are, 1. The University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, the Academical department of which is now doing pretty well, and the Medical, as is well known, is flourishing. 2. A college chartered at Easton, which never did any thing. 3. At Lancaster, which is now dead. 4. At Northumberland, also dead. 5. Dickinson College at Carlisle, now breathing its last, it is to be feared. This

255

REMINISCENCES OF PITTSBURG.

1832. ]

ill-fated college has often promised well; has been con- siderably aided by the state, but has disappointed, for reasons unknown to me, the hopes of its friends. 6. Western University of Pennsylvania, at this place, (Pittsburg, ) which is under the instruction of the Rev. Drs. Bruce and Black, and which has 50 or 60 students. 7. Washington college, at the town of Washington, lately revived and now flourishing. It bas a department for the education of clerks, teachers, &c. in the Eng- lish branches. 8. Jefferson College, at Canonsburg, very flourishing. 9. Meadville, which is under the presidency of Rev. Mr. Alden, but has hitherto accom- plished but little. 10. Madison College, at Uniontown, under the Methodists.

As to Theological schools, there are as follows: 1. The Theological Seminary of the Lutheran church, es- tablished at Gettysburg, under the instruction of I'ro- fessors Hazelius and Schmucker. Itis flourishing, and has at present about 50 students. This institution is destined to exert an immense influence on the cause of Christ in this state, and other states which have a Ger- man population. 2. German Reformed, established at York. This institution is in its infancy, and is strug- gling through many difficulties. It has but few students yet. 3. The Theological Seminary at Alleghenytown in the vicinity of this place, under the care of the Gen- eral Assembly of the Presbyterian church. It is con- ducted by Professors Ilalscy and Nevin, and has at present 30 students. Its prospects are encouraging. 4. The Theological school of the Associate Reformed church, or as it is called here, the Union church, em- bracing that part of the Associate Reformed church which in the West refused to unite with the General Assembly in 1820. The late Dr. Riddle of this vicinity was their Professor for several years. Very recently; the Rev. Mr. Pressly of South Carolina was appointed to this office. Ile has removed to Pittsburg, which is to [be the place of the establishment of this infant school of the Prophets. 5. The Theological school of the Associate church, established at Canonsburg, under the instruction of the Rev. Dr. Ramsay. It has some connexion, I believe, with Jefferson College; probably only so far as to allow the Theological students access to the Library, &c. of the College. 6. The school of the Moravians, or United Brethren, at Nazareth, which, although mainly a boarding school for other pur- poses, has also a considerable number of young men who are studying Theology.

I ought to mention here that besides the colleges and theological seminaries in this state, there are also aca- demies for the instruction of the youth of both sexes in all the large towns in the state. Still it is to be ac- knowledged that this state is far behind what it ought to be as it regards the subject of education. But it will not always be so. Many difficulties have to be encoun- tered. A vast proportion of the foreign emigrants to Pennsylvania, were German and Irish, and these gen- erally from the poorest and most ignorant classes of those worthy nations. And as they form a full moiety of the population of the state, and have in many instan- ces, but low ideas of the importance of education, al- though many of them are now very wealthy, it is diffi- cult to bring the public councils up to a work which is not yet very popular.

But a better day is arising. Many spirits are kind- ling up on the subject of education. My native state will not always be the Bootia of the United States. No state has more public spirit or political integrity both in the state and the national legislature. On all great national measures, and especially such as concern nation- al fuith, the representatives of this state will be found honest and firm men, whatever may be their party views. They seldom follow leaders blindly. Penn- sylvania is about to do more to put down the lottery system in this country than any other state in the Union. The people have been abused by those to whom they inconsiderately granted the privilege of es-

tablishing lotteries; and now they are rising in their might to destroy, root and branch, this great, this wide- spread curse. But I must stop.

I am, yours, &c.

A TRAVELLER.

From the Pittsburg Gazette.

Forty-six years ago, the late Judge Brackenridge, in the first number of the Pittsburg Gazette, commenced his contributions, and continued them with indefatigable assiduity for many years. Time has passed on, and the "Native of the Ohio," the son of this carly correspond- ent, has again become a resident of the fields of his youthful days. We gladly receive this first communi- cation of the " gifted son of a gifted sire," and flatter ourselves with the hope, that the assiduity and perse- verance of the present, will equal that of the first cor- respondent of this paper.

To the Editor of 'the Pittsburg Gazette:

I have lately read, with great pleasure, the beautiful and classic remarks of my much esteemed school-fellow William Robinson, Esq. in relation to the rapid growth of our native town of Pittsburg. Having occupied some leisure moments in preparing a narrative of the more remarkable incidents of my life, down to the tak- ing possession of Florida, where I acted as Secretary of General Jackson, the same ideas as those expressed by W. Robinson, suggested themselves, but it would not be possible for me to express them in the same felicit- ous manner. There may be some error in my descrip- tion, for it even goes beyond the period when his fa- ther was the only person who lived between the Alle- gheny river and the lakes. I send you an extract from my future book. H. M. BRACKENRIDGE.

EXTRACT FROM THE MS' MEMOIR OF THE NATIVE OF THE ORIO.

"Pittsburg, at this time, was but a village. Two plains, partly commons, embraced the foot of Grant's hill, that which stretched along up the Allegheny, being much the longest; while the scattered town lay princi- pally on the bank of the Monongahela, near the junc- tion of the rivers. On the bank of the Allegheny, at the distance of a long Sunday evening's walk, stood Fort Fayette, surmounted with the stripes and stars of the old thirteen; and from this place, the King's orchard, as it was called, (and it was worthy of a king,) stretch- ed almost to the ditch of old FORT PITT, the name by which the town was then known. On the other side of the river just mentioned, the hills rose, rude and rough, without the smoke of a single chimney to afford a rhyme for the muse of Tom Moore. The clear and beautiful Allegheny, the loveliest stream that ever glis- tened to the moon, was still the boundary of civilization, tor all beyond it was called the Indian country, and as- sociated with many a fireside tale of scalping knife, hair breadth escape, and all the horrors of savage war- fare.

On the Monongahela side, the hills rose from the wa- ter's edge, to the height of a mountain, with some two or three ferry-houses squeezed in between it and the river. On its summit there was a solitary farm-house of Major Kirkpatrick; its friend, the barn, not long be- fore, had been burnt down down by the heroes of the Whiskey Insurrection, and this, happening in the night, threw so brilliant a light over the town, that one might see to pick up a pin in the street. How would it do- en passant, to erect a huge gas light lamp up there, for the purpose of lighting the town ?- To the cast, for I am now supposed to be standing on the brow of GRANT's IlILL, the ground was picturesque, and beautifully di- versificd with hill and dale, having undergone some lit-

256

STAGING-HOSPITAL FOR THE BLIND AND LAME.

[APRÍL

tle change from the state of nature. The hill was the favorite promenade, in fine weather, and on Sunday af- ternoon. It was so essential to the comfort and recrea- tion of the inhabitants, that they could scarcely form an idea of a town, without its Grant's hill. There was a fine spring half-way to the summit, which was supposed to afford better water than that of the pumps; some even thought it possessed of medicinal properties, which might be the case, after an afternoon's walk, and the toil in overcoming the steep ascent.

What a change in the appearance of Pittsburg since that day !- since the time, when I used to roll over and over on the smooth velvet side of Grant's Hill.

Fugit interea, fugit irrevocabile tempus-Yes, that beautiful hill itself, which might have continued to en- joy a green old age, has been prematurely murdered, and cut to pieces by barbarous hands! The shallow pond at its base, where we used to make our first at- tempt at skating, has been wickedly, and wilfully filled up, and is now concealed by brick buildings; the croak- ing of the town frogs having given way to noisy men. What is passing strange, as if in mockery of nature, the summit of the hill is half covered by an enormous re- servoir of water, thrown up there from the Allegheny by means of infernal machines, enough to frighten the ghosts of a thousand hills, while the remainder is occu- pied by a Cathedral church. What is still worse, the hill itself has been perforated through and through, and a stream has heen compelled to flow there, at an ex- pense and labor that would have deterred a Roman Em- peror -- streets have been cut in the side of the poor hill, as at Pompeii, in Italy, and perhaps, hereafter, houses will rise np along them, like those of the Cowgate, in Edinburgh, thirteen stories on one side, and a half a story on the other. It would fill a volume to enume- rate the changes produced in a quarter of a century, in which comparatively short space of time, a small vill ige has grown into a large city, possessing extensive capital, commerce, and manufactures."

STAGING-NORTRENN ROUTE.

We are gratified to state that the infatigable and able head of the Post Office department, Major Barry, has yielded to the wishes of the people, and made such an additional allowance to the enterprising mail contrac- tors, Colder & Wilson, as to enable them to run through their fast line daily, from Philadelphia to Bellefonte.

This daily line leaves Philadelphia in the morning, and arrives at Bellefonte early in the afternoon of the second day, affording an opportunity to the citizens of Bellefonte, and vicinity, to examine their correspon- dence, and answer letters by the returning mail of next morning.

The accommodation stage on the northern route, es- tablished particularly for the convenience and accom- modation of those who do not wish to travel after night, leaves Lewistown at 7 o'clock in the morning for Har- burg; and for the west at 5 o'clock.

It is confidently expected that the present contrac- tors for carrying the mail from Bellefonte to Erie will exert themselves to improve the staging on that route; which will add much to the reputation of that line, and cannot fail to increase travelling upon it. - Eagle.

HOSPITAL FOR THE BLIND AND LAME.

The corner stone of the "Hospital for the Blind and Lame" was laid on Monday last. The edifice is to be raised in pursuance of directions made in the last testament of JAMES WILLS, Esq. whose beneficent bequest for such an institution is well known.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 72

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870 Publication date: 1828 Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ; Number of Pages: 440

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 440