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 8
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A constant recurrence of the derangements to the trade upon the Reading Canal and consequent losses to the Company alluded to in the last report, as caused by the treacherous nature of the limestone
formation over which it passes, (rendered more alarm- ing by the decay of the sleepers and planking upon which reliance had been placed) required the Board seriously to consider, whether the time had not ar- rived for a change of location.
The necessity for this consideration was more fully demonstrated by an examination of the four combined locks in Reading, which were found to be effected by the same cause that had produced so much trouble and anxiety about the canal. It would have been obviously unwise to attempt to erect another set of locks alongside of them upon so bad a foundation, and yet it was mani- fest that some additional facdity there, for the trade, would be very soon required
The Board under these circumstances, after much se- rious deliberation, came to the unanimous conclusion, that it was necessary to resort to the location referred to in their last report, and sanctioned by the opinion of the Stockholders at their last annual meeting.
Having determined upon their course, in conformity with the wishes of the Stockholders, it was proper that as little time as possible should be lost, in carrying into effect so vital an improvement. Mr. George Duncan, a gentleman long and advantageously known by his ser- vices to the Company, was therefore engaged to superin- tend the work, part of which has been put under con- tract, and other parts are in progress under his direct management. It is hoped and believed that the work will be completed by the Ist of November next.
An estimate of the sum required to meet this extraor- dinary expenditure, and defray the expenses of other im- provements now in progress, is herewith submitted It is suggested that the money should be ra sed by loan, the former loan authorized by the Stockholders on the third of January last having been obtained on very favor- able terms, that is to say-
$150,000, at 43 per cent. 50,000, 5 do. payable on the 1st of January, 1850.
The holders of that part of the Company's six per cent. loan, who had the right of converting the same in- to the Company's stock previous to the 15th of Novem- ber last, have all availed themselves of that privilege, and have accordingly converted
$180,000 of the loan of 9th August, 1824; and
53,250 do. 20th October, 1823.
It has never yet happened that the navigation has been suspended by the want of water, although in some of the very dry seasons, within a few years past, a consi- derable deficiency has been experienced near the head of the works during two or three months in the fall. Ap- prehensions have been felt by many persons, largely con- cerned in the trade, that with the increase of business, increased embarrassment would be likely to arise from this cause, injuriously alike to tlre Company, and to those having occasion to use this channel of conveyance.
Repeated communications have therefore been made to the Board, urging very strongly the necessity of an early provision by reservoirs for supplying such occa- sional deficiencies." The Board have been fully aware of the importance of anticipating, and as far as possible preventing, an evil of so much consequence. After de- liberate reflection and examination, Tumbling Run Val- ley was considered the proper and indeed the only suit- able place for a Reservoir near the head of the Com- pany's works, and an opportunity being offered of pur- chasing the ground necessary for the purpose, which might be for ever lost by delay, the Board determined to secure by purchase such a quantity of the land as with what was already owned by the Company extends about two miles up the Valley. They have thus obtained the command of positions for several Reservoirs of sufficient capacity, to contain a supply of water, more than ade- quate to meet any deficiency by droughts in the sum- mer and fall. The quantity of land secured is upwards of 600 acres, which cost $11,300.
It has been determined to erect one dam immediately,
4
23
SCHUYLKILL NAVIGATION COMPANY.
1832.]
near to the outlet of the Run into the Schuylkill. It will extended, in a ratio somewhat accelerated by the check be made chiefly of earth, at a comparatively small ex- it has received, and that the income of the Company pense; others will he erected as occasion may require. will grow in the same proportion. The construction of the one already determined upon, By order of the Board. JOSEPH S. LEWIS, President. has been placed under the care of Mr. Duncan. It will be finished so as to be made available if necessary during the ensuing summer.
The following statements will further exhibit the busi- ness of the Company for the past year, and the President and Managers beg to refer to them as part of their re- port, viz:
The quantity of coal shipped from Mount Carbon, Schuylkill Haven, and other places on the Schuylkill, in 1831, including 2460 tons from the Union Canal, was Tons 81,854
On which the amount of tolls, was, $78,781 60
And the tolls received on articles of mer-
chandize other than coal, amounted to 55,224 32
Making the whole amount of tolls re ceived in 1831, $134,005 92
Of these tolls the ascending navigation produced $34,010 40
And the descending, 99,995 52
The whole tonnage conveyed on the Canal in 1831,
amounted to Tons 196,413
Of which there was of the ascentling trade,
Tons 40,791
And of the descending trade, 155,622
Of the tolls received in 1831, there was collected from boats which entered the Union Canal, $12.553 98 Boats coming from the Union Canal, 15,752 75
Making together, $28,306 73
The amount of rents received in 1831, from real estate, and from ground rents and water rents, was $16,035 59
And the arrears amounted to 4,789 38
The inc mefrom rents in 1832, is estimated at
$15,207 00
The accompanying accounts, viz:
No. 1, exhibits the general statement of the affairs of the Company, showing the whole cost of the improve- ments, real estate, &c. the amount of capital stock paid, and the sums borrowcd.
Nos. 2 and 3, exhibit the account of the articles and tonnage which ascended and descended the Navigation in 1831.
.
The Board have only to remark in conclusion, that the receipts for the year just ended, have not been equal to their expectations. This has been owing to two principal causes already alluded to, namely, the dis. couragement of the coal business in the carly part of the season, which prevented the dealers for several months, from availing themselves to any considerable extent of the means of transportation, and the unusually early and severe frosts in the latter part of it, closing the Naviga- tion by ice, some weeks before the ordinary period, and thus making it impossible to fill up the market, when it was ascertained, that there was a deficient supply and consequently an cager demand. The latter cause alone has been more than sufficient to account for the reduc- tion, which has been found in the income from tolls com- pared with that of the preceding year. It is satisfactory to know that the falling off has not been owing to any defect in the works: and it is encouraging to perceive, that while the diminution of the trade in coal has been owing to occurrences in their nature rare or temporary, and not likely to be encountered in the same force again, it has at the same time served to afford the most decisive evidence of an increased and increasing consumption, and to establish that for the future, a much larger quan- tity will be wanted of that valuable mineral than has hi- therto heen furnished. With this plain ground of confi- dence, there is no reason to doubt that the trade will be
Office of the Schuylkill Navigation Company, Philadelphia, January 2, 1832.
No. 1.
Statement of the Company's Accounts, January 1, 1832. DR.
Capital Stock, $1,137,950 00
Capital of Loans converted, 233,350 00
Permanent Loans,
1,118,923 60
Toll Account, 72,280 60
Temporary Loan,
20,000 00
Rents, 2,550 64
$2,585,054 84
-
CR.
General Charges, being the Cost of the Works, including Real Estate, $2,486,225 39
Current Expenses, 33,850 95
Balance of Individual Accounts, 6,605 35
Damage Account, 6,531 73
Interest Account, 34,388 53
Balance of Cash, 17,452 89
$2.585,054 84
No. 2. - Tonnage Ascending.
Merchandize,
8674
Fish,
2454
Salt,
2155
Plaster,
2345
Lumber,
9972
Grain,
628
Iron,
585
Blooms, Pig Iron, and Castings,
286
Limestone,
8306
Marble, and other Stone,
85
Iron Ore,
627
Bricks, 486
Wood, 259
Sundries,
1049
Stone, &c. passing Fair Mount Locks only, 2022
858
Tons, 40,791
- No. 3. Tannage Descending.
Coal, 818.54
Flour,
10248
Whiskey,
1839
Lumber,
9470
Grain,
6251
Iron,
1649
Blooms, Pig Iron, and Castings,
2569
Nails,
1666
Limestone and Lime,
29319
Iron Orc,
1384
Bricks,
14
Butter,
276
Leather,
222
Wood
566
Sundries,
798
Stone passing Fair Mount Locks only,
4977
Marble, and other stone, 2033
Tobacco, Hemp, Cotton, &c.
187
Tons, 155,622
Coal,
.
24
CANAL COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
[JANUARY
MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR AND COMMUNICATION OF THE CANAL COMMIS- SIONERS TO THE GOVERNOR,
In relation to the contractors upon the line of the Co- lumbia and Philadelphia Rail Road-and also in re- ference to the inclined plane section of said road at Columbia. Read in Senate, January 4, 1832.
To the Senate und House of Representatives of the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania. GENTLEMEN,
I'herewith transmit to the two Houses, copies of a com- munication received from the Board of Canal Commis- sioners in relation to the contractors upon the line of the Columbia and Philadelphia rail-road, and more especial- ly to those on the Middle and Western Divisions of the same, and also in reference to the inclined plane section of said rail-road at Columbia, to which I would respect- fully invite the immediate attention of the legislature.
Harrisburg, Jan. 3, 1832. GEO. WOLF.
CANAL COMMISSIONERS ROOM, 2 January 2, 1832.
His Excellency GEORGE WOLF,
Governor of Pennsylvania.
SIR-By order of the Board of Canal Commissioners, I have the honor of submitting to you, for the informa- tion of the legislature, the following statement.
The act of the 21st March, 1831, appropriates $2,483,161 88 for certain purposes therein mentioned, and the 6th section of that act vests the sum appropria- ted in the Commissioners of the Internal Improvement Fund, to be applied by them to the repayment of a tem porary loan of $250,000, and to the payment of contracts necessary to finish work heretofore authorized; and the residue in the manner and for the purposes directed by that act.
On the 15th December, 1831, a statement was receiv- ed by the canal commissioners from the treasurer of the board, of which the following is a copy.
TREASURY OFFICE OF PENNSYLVANIA, 2 December 5th, 1831.
S
Amount of loan per act of 21st March, 1831, $2,483,161 88
Paid temporary loan, $250,000
Turnpike compa- nies,
125,000
Interest on 1st Au-
gust, 1831, 26,276 10
401,276 10
2,081,885 78
Paid on account of old work:
Abner Lacock, 411 51
John Mitchell, 28 31
Board of canal commissioners, 4,000 00
Board of appraisers, 423 00
John Barber, 93,337 52
Samuel Jones,
135,000 00
James Taggart,
114,259 57
James P. Bull,
58,100 00
William B. Mitchell,
40,000 00
Lord Butler
28,900 00
Amount yet required
70,000 00
544,439 91
$1,537,445 87 Pro. ruta.
Columbia and Phila. rail-road, $600,000 Columbia canal to Middletown, 116, 170
95,196 58
Juniata and portage,
700,000
573,621 52
West Branch,
200,000
163,891 86
North Branch,
100,000
81,945 98
Beaver,
100,000
81,945 98
French creek,
60,000
49,168 31
By the foregoing statement, the board were apprised that $1,876, 170, which had been specifically appropriat- ed "towards the expenditures" or new lines "during the present year," was reduced, by "payments of contracts necessary to finish work heretofore anthorized," to $1,537,445 87; hence it became evident that the appro- priation to some of the lines must soon be expended.
The anxiety of the canal commissioners to avoid an infraction of the 7th section of the act of March 21st, 1831, which prohibits them from "incurring debt on the faith of the state, in any way or manner, beyond the appropriation," induced them to pass resolutions,
1st. Dividing the $573,621 52 applicable to the Juni- ata division and the Portage rail-road, between those lines in proportion to the amount of work under con- tract on each of them-being $304,397 52, to the Juni- ata division, and $269,234 to the Allegheny portage rail- road.
2d. Directing the superintendent on the Columbia and Philadelphia rail-road, to set apart and retain, from the special appropriation to that line, such a sum as would be necessary to pay contracts then existing, for the iron for said road, and for the twenty miles of the road, west from Philadelphia, under contract; and,
3d That notice should be given to the several su- perintendents of the unexpended balance of the appro- priation, applicable to their lines; and that they should in due time notify the contractors thereof, so as to avoid incurring a debt on the faith of the state.
A few days since, letters were received by the board, from the superintendent upon the Columbia and Phila- delphia rail-road, stating that in conformity with the resolutions of the board, he had "found it necessary im- mediately to give notice to the contractors upon the middle and western divisions of the rail-road;" and he adds that the contractors upon the line "will be thrown into great distress, and under present circumstances all the contractors except those on the twenty miles, will stop work-their horses, carts, and men will be scatter- ed, and when the work shall be ordered to go on again it will be hard to collect them. It is sincerely to be re- gretted that the grading cannot be prosecuted.
"The whole amonnt expended under new
- contracts of every description, is about $285,000 00 Contracts for iron, say $120,000-$10,000 of which is paid, 110,000 00
$395,000 00 Leaves balance to be expended on 20 miles, 96,675 00
$491,675 00
"It will however be proper further to observe, that the per centage due on the middle and western divisions, is $33,523; and that an estimate on work done since the first of December, will be about $30,000.
"The inclined plane section at Columbia, will be in a deplorable situation; the embankment of the road way along the shore has been put in, and the contractors were vigorously prosecuting the work with 40 carts and 60 or 70 men, in order to secure the embankment by a slope made down to the wharves, which have recently been constructed; and which would have been entirely secur- ed before the breaking up of the river in the spring: but if left in the situation it is now in, will be damaged to the amount of several thousand dollars, to the loss of the commonwealth. $5000 would secure the embank- ment, and it is more than probable that if left, $5000 will not repair the damage. Many of the contractors have a large force on hand, and have laid in their win- ter provisions, and to stop operations will be very ruin- ous. Under present circumstances we cannot lay out any part of the $110,000 forthe iron until the Delaware opens, and at any rate but a small portion of it would be paid until towards spring. '
The Canal Commissioners have, since they received the above letters, passed resolutions directing the su-
$1,876,170 $1,537,415 87 | perintendent of the Columbia and Philadelphia rail-
Appropriated.
$491,675 64
832.]
REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
25
road to have the work which has been done in the month of December, estimated and paid in the usual manner; and to retain as much of the appropriation as will cover the retained per centage; and the contracts for the iron; leaving the residue of the appropriation applicable to the twenty miles west of Philadelphia.
The Board sincerely hope that immediate provision will he made by the legislature, for continuing the ope- rations on this important branch of the public improve- ments: cither by a further appropriation, or by an au- thority to use the unexpended balance of the present appropriation along the whole line of . the rail-road. This latter method would keep the work in as active progress as the winter will permit, until some time next spring.
The Board avail themselves of the present occasion, to state that unless a fund be soon provided for repairs, the finished portions of the canal cannot all be put in such a condition as to secure an active use thereof early next season. JAMES CLARKE, President of the Board of Canal Commissioners,
REPORT OF THE
COMMISSIONERS OF THE INTERNAL 1M- PROVEMENT FUND.
Read December 14, 1831.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania.
In compliance with the provisions of the 1st section of the act of 1st April, 1826, and the 2d section of the act of 4th April, 1831, the commissioners of the internal improvement fund respectfully submit the following re- port:
On the 7th February, 1831, the commissioners re- ported the cond tion of the internal improvement fund up to 1st February, 1831. The present report therefore com- mences at that time, and exhibits the receipts and pay- ments up to the 1st instant, embracing a period of ten months.
On the 1st February, 1831, the commissioners had no funds applicable to the construction and incidental expenses of the Pennsylvania canal and rail-road. The act of the 21st March, 1831, authorized a loan of $2,483,161 83, to be applied to those purposes; and the act of 30th March, 1831, authorized a further loan of $300,000 applicable exclusively to repairs on the canal and rail-road, to damages, and to the payment of the salaries of sundry officers attached to the canal. This last appropriation has been received in full, and appli- ed as follows:
Paid to the treasurer of the board of canal commissioners, $290,000 00 Paid salaries of toll collectors and lock keepers, 9,031 77
Balance on hand to be applied to lock keepers, 968 23
$300,0.0 00
It has been ascertained that this appropriation was in- adequate to cover the objects intended. The great ex- tent of new lines of canal which had to be tested by let- ting in of water for the first time, together with the ex- traordinary freshets during the carly part of the season, increased the expenditure for repairs much beyond any reasonable calculation. Many claims for damages, and disbursements for repairs remain yet unliquidated.
The loan per act of 21st March, 1831, was received by instalments, the first amounting to $700,000, and each of the others to ten per cent. on the aggregate loan. In this manner the sum of $1,693,264 72 has been borrowed, leaving a balance of $789,897 11 yet to be received, one instalment of which will probably be required about the 1st of February, and the balance | the provisions of the act of 30th March, 1831.
VOL. IX.
on or before the first of April next. The amount bor- rowed has been disposed of as follows:
Repaid temporary loan, per act of 12th January, 1831, S250,000 00
Repaid temporary loan in anticipation of the loan per act of 21st March, 1831, 230,000 00
Paid to the state treasurer amount appro- priated to sundry turnpike road com- panies, per 4th section of the act of 21st March, 1831, 125,000 0
Amount taken to supply the deficiency in the interest fund, on 1st August, 1831, per 2d section of the act of 30th March, 1831, 26,276 10
Amount paid to the treasurer of the board of canal commissioners, 1,061,988 62
$1,693,264 72
The temporary loan of $230,000 was considered es- sential to the vigorous prosecution of the public works, especially as the negotiation of the permanent loan was necessarily attended with some delay, during which time the contractors must have laboured under great pe- cuniary embarrassment, and the proper execution of their contracts heen neglected. The Governor there- fore believed it to be his duty, under the power vested in him by the act of 21st March, 1831, to anticipate a portion of the loan, and apply it without delay to the judicious advancement of the public improvements.
The following are the aggregate payments made to the treasurer of the board of canal commissioners, du- ring the period which this report embraces: Temporary loan in anticipation of the loan , per act of 21st March, 1831, $230,000 00 Part of loan per act of 21st March, 1831, 1,061,988 62 Part of loan per act of 30th March, 1831, 290,000 00
$1,581,988 62
This aggregate of $1,581,988 62 corresponds with the appropriations of the last session, as appears by the following calculation:
Amount appropriated per act of 21st March, 1831, $2,483,161 83 Amount appropriated per act of 30th
March, 1831, 300,000 00
2,783,161 83
Deduct amount not received of loan per act of 21st March, 1831, 789,897 11
Amount of appropriations received into the fund, 1,993,264 72
Deduct temporary loan per act of 12th January, 1831, re- paid, $250,000 00
amount paid to turnpike companies, 125,000 00
" amount taken for the payment of interest, 26,276 10
" amount retained for the payment of the sala- rics of toll collectors and lock keepers, 10,000 00
411,276 10
Balance for canal purposes,
$1,581,988 62
The following summary exhibits the whole amount paid to the commissioners of the internal improvement fund, applicable to canal purposes, from 1st February, to 1st December, 1831, and the manner of its disburse- ment, from which it appears that a balance of $968 23 remains in their hands, to be applied to the payment of the salaries of toll collectors and lock keepers, under
26
REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT FUND. [JANUARY
RECLIPTS.
Temporary loan in anticipation of the
loan per act of 21st March, 1831, $230,000 00 Part of loan per act of 21st March, 183.1, 1,693,264 72 Loan per act of 30th March, 1831, 300,000 00
$2,223,264 72
PAYMENTS.
Treasurer of the board of canal commis- sioners, $1,581,988 62
Repaid temporary loan per act of 12th January, 1831, 250,000 00
Repaid temporary loan in anticipation of the loan per act of 21st March, 1831,
230,000 00
Paid to the state treasurer amount appro- priated to sundry turnpike road compa- nies, per 4th section of the act of 21st March, 1831,
125,000 00
Paid salaries of toll collectors and lock keepers, under act of 30th March, 1831,
9,031 77
Amount taken to supply the deficiency in the interest fund on 1st August, 1831, per 2d section of the act of 30th March, 1831,
26,276 10
Balance on hand on 1st December, 1831,
968 23
$2,223,264 72
The transactions in the fund immediately connected with the payment of interest on the several canal loans, will appear by the following:
On the 1st February, 1831, a balance of $6,106 57 remained in the fund applicable to the payment of in- terest, to which was added by transfers from the state treasury, agreeably to the several acts regulating the in- ternal improvement fund, in the month of May, $42,000, and in July $209,078 76, making an aggregate of of $257,185 33. Out of this sum, however, had been paid $3,507 51, interest on temporary loans, and $4,850 19, salary of toll collectors, and lock keepers, under a resolution of the legislature of 8th January, 1830, and an act of assembly, entitled " An act direct- ing the Auditor General to settle the accounts of cer- tain collectors of toll and lock keepers on the Pennsyl- vania canal," approved 30th March, 1831, which left only a balance of $248,827 63 for the payment of inter- est due on 1st August, 1831. The interest payable on that day at the Bank of Pennsylvania, amounted to $275,103 73. The deficiency of $26,276 10 was sup- plied out of the loan per act of 21st March, 1831, agree- ably to the provisions of the 2d section of the act of 30th March, 1831. Other transfers and disbursements have been made since the 1st August last, which left a balance in fund on the 1st instant, amounting to $94,354 78, as appears from the following general state- ment of receipts and payments:
RECEIPTS.
Auction duties, $93,305 90 119,595 88
Premiums on loans,
Dividends on bridge, canal and turnpike, stock,
31,013 12
Collateral inheritances,
17,063 51
Escheats, 20 00
State treasury per act of 22d April, 1829, 50,000 00 Canal tolls, 35,365 81
Amount taken of loan per act of 21st March, 1831, per 2d section of the act of Suth March, 1831,
26,276 10
Balance in fund on 1st February, 1831, 6,106 57
$378,746 89
PAYMENTS.
Interest on temporary loan, per act of 12th January, 1831. $2,968 75
Interest on temporary loan in anticipation of the loan per act of 21st March, 1831, Interest on loan of 1826,
538 76
7,500 00
1827,
25,000 00
March, 1828, -
50,000 00
December, 1828,
20,000 00
April, 1829,
55,000 00
December, 1829,
5,062 50
March, 1830,
100,000 00
" 21st March, 1831, 11,445 58
" 30th March, 1831,
1,145 65
Salaries of toll collectors and lock keepers, per resolution of 8th January, 1830, &c. Balance in fund on 1st December, 1831, 5,730 87 94,354 78
$378,746 89
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