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 95

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 95

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).

G. KERN, Jr. GEORGE A. SNYDER.

Mr. SULLIVAN, from the Girard committee made the following report, which was laid on the table.

To the Select and Common Councils of the city of Philadelphia. The committee on Girard's Legacy respectfully re- port,

That they have had under consideration the Resolu- tion referred to them by the Common Council, on the fourteenth day of February last, authorising and direct- ing the Mayor to have all the Real Estate of the late Stephen Girard insured from loss or damage by fire.

The committee have ascertained that it was not the practice of the testator to insure any of his property against loss or damage by fire; and they believe that in declining to do so he proceeded upon just calculations

1831.]

PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCILS.

333

as to the chances of loss from that cause, compared with the great amount of premium which would be paid if insurance were effected. The committee there- fore return the resolution committed to them to the pos- session of the Council, by which it was so referred- together with the expression of the opinion of the com- mittee that it would not be expedient to insure.

When the resolution reported by the Girard commit- tee, which was passed by the Select Council came up for concurrence, Mr. Baker called for the yeas and nays on the question, and was adopted. Yeas, Fearon, Leh- man, l'age, Hood, Horn, Mayberry, Moss, Okie, Ryan, Sexton, Sullivan, Wainwright, Wetherill,and Leiper, 14. Nays, Messrs. Baker, Fritz and Oldenburg, 3.

SELECT COUNCIL.

Thursday, May 10, 1832.

Mr. PETTIT as Chairman of the Committee on the revised ordinances, reported the ordinance as passed by the Common Council without amendment, which was passed.

Mr. NEFF as Chairman of the Committee to survey Water street, made the annexed report and resolution which were agreed to.

The Committee appointed by the Select and Common Councils to cause Water street to be surveyed from Vine to Cedar street, and to prepare a plan for lay- ing the same out anew in conformity to the will of Stephen Girard, report:

That they have attended to the subject in conjunc- tion with the City Surveyor and after mature delibera- tion have agreed to recommend to Councils the adop- tion of a plan upon the principle, that the cartway in Water street shall be at least eighteen feet wide between the curb stone on the east and west sides of Water street, that being at present the established width from Vine to Dock street, and that the footways both on the east and west side of Water street shall he hereafter ten feet six inches in width which will make the whole width of Water street, within these limits thirty-nine feet, corresponding with the will of Stephen Girard, and as the same is fixed or nearly so before his late dwelling in North Water street, and his stores on the west side thereof. That part of Water street extend- ing south from Dock street to Pine street is now fifty- feet in width, and Penn street which is considered a continuation of Water street from Pine to Cedar street is also fifty feet in width, these streets to remain as they now are, except that the footways shall conform'to the other footways in Water street, so as to have them an uniform width throughout from Vine to Cedar street of ten feet six inches.

The committee submit also a description of Water street from Vine to Cedar street made out by Samuel IIaines, City Surveyor, showing distinctly the various distances the buildings should recede from the curb stones in accordance with the intention of Stephen Gi- rard.

The committee offer the following resolution:

Resolved, By the Selectand Common Councils, That the committee be and they are hereby authorized to prepare a plan and an ordinance agreeably to the prin- ciples laid down in the preceding report and submit the same at the next meeting of Councils for their adop- tion.

The following is a description of Water street, as surveyed and laid out conformably to the will of the late Stephen Girard, Esq. under the direction of a Com- mittec of Councils appointed for that purpose.

Beginning at the south line of Vine street at the eastern face of the building on the west side of the said Water street, thence in a straight line to a point in the north line of Sassafras street 3 feet 10 inches, west of the eastern face of the building on the west side of Wa- ter strect.

Thence from a point in the south line of Sassafras street 4 feet 5 inches, west of the eastern face of a

building on the west side of Water street, in a straight line to a point in the north line of Mulberry street, 4 feet 4 inches west of the castern face of a building on the west side of Water street.

Thence from a point in the south line of Mulberry street 4 feet 1 inch west of the castern face of a build- ing on the west side of Water street, in a straight line to a point 7 feet south of the south line of Stephen Gi- rard's store, No. 26 North Water street, and 4 feet west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street. Thence in a straight line to a point in the north line of High street, 4 feet 10 inches west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water strect.

Thence from a point in the south line of High street, 4 feet 6 inches west of the castern face of a building on the west side of Water street, in a straight line to a point in the north line of Chestnut street, 4 feet 10 inches west of the castern face of a building on the west side of Water street.

Thence from a point in the south line of Chestnut street, 5 feet west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street, in a straight line to a point opposite the middle of Tunn Alley, 5 feet 5 inch- es west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street. Thence in a straight line to a point 8 feet north of a range with the north line of the Mariners' Church, 4 feet 6 inches west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street. Thence in a straight line to a point in the north line of Water street, 4 feet 6 inches west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street.

Thence from a point in the south line of Walnut street, 5 feet 9 inches west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street, in a straight line to a point 328 feet south of Walnut street, and 4 feet 10 inches west nf the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street. Thence in a straight line to a point 100 feet north of Dock street, 4 feet 6 inches west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street-thence in a straight line pa- rallel to Front street to a point in the north line of Dock street.

Thence from a point in the north line of Dock street 39 feet east of the point last above mentioned, in a straight line to a point 100 feet north of Dock street, and 4 feet 6 inches cast of the western face of a build- ing on the cast side of Waterstreet. Thence in a straight line to a point 2 feet 6 inches east of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street. T'hence in a straight line to a point in the south line of Walnut street, 10 feet 4 inches east of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street.

Thence from a point in the north line of Walnut street 6 feet 4 inches east of the western face of a build- ing on the east side of Water street, in a straight line to a point 47 feet south of Tunn alley, and 3 feet 6 inches cast of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street. Thence in a straight line to a point in the middle of Tunn alley, 3 feet 6 inches cast of the range of the western face of a building on the south east corner of Water street and Tunn alley. Thence in a straight line to a point on the southi line of Chesnut street, 5 feet cast of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street.

Thence from a point in the north line of Chesnut street 4 feet 10 inches cast of the western face of a building on the cast side nf Water street, in a straight line to a point in the south line of High street, 4 feet 6 inches east of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street.

Thence from a point in the north line of High street, 4 feet 6 inches cast of the western face of a building on the cast side of Water street, in a straight line to a point 7 feet south of a range with the south line of S. Girard's store, No. 26 north Water street, 8 inches west of the western face of a building on the east side of Water

334

A DAY IN CHESTER.

[MAY

- street. Thence in a straight line to a point in the south line of Mulberry street, 2 feet 6 inches east of the west- ern face of a building on the east side of Water street.

Thence from a point in the north line of Mulberry street 4 feet 4 inches east of the western face of a build- ing on the east side of Water street, in a straight line to a point in the south line of Sassafras street, 1 foot 9 inches east of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street.

Thence from a point in the north line of Sassafras street, 1 foot 10 inches east of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street, in a straight line to a point in the south line of Vine street, 6 inches east of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street.

The above described lines are laid out parallel to the cartway in Water street, and at the distance of 10 feet 6 inches therefrom on each side of the street; the cart- Way is regularly 18 feet in breadth throughout the whole distance from Vine to Dock street.

Water street formerly called Plumb street, from Dock to Pinestreet, is now open and in use, 50 feet wide, having a cartway 30 feet in breadth, and footways 10 feet in breadth, on each side.

Penn street from Pine to Cedar street is now open and in use, 50 feet wide, having a cartway 30 feet wide, and footways each 10 feet wide from Pine to Lombard street alley-and a cartway 26th feet wide, and foot- ways each 12 feet wide from Lombard street alley to Cedar street.

Little Water street as it is usually called, extends from Lombard street alley to Cedar street, and east of Penn street, it has no communication with Penn or Wa- ter street, except along Lombard street alley, and therefore can hardly be considered as a part of Water street, intended to be widened and straightened con- formably to the aforesaid will.

Mr. PETTIT as chairman of the committee of confer- ence relative to the report of the Library committee, made the following report and resolution, which were adopted.

The committee of conference appointed to endeavor to effect a union of sentiment in relation to the resolu- tion attached to the report of the Library committee on the subject of "HAZARD'S REGISTER," respectfully re- port:

That they have carefully attended to the duty assign- ed to them, and have agreed to recommend the adoption of the following resolution, viz.

Resolved, by the Select and Common Councils, that the Clerks of the Councils be instructed to purchase three copies of the volumes already published, of Ha- zard's Register of Pennsylvania; and that it shall be their duty to procure three copies of the subsequent volumes, as the same shall be respectively completed and published; and that one copy of said work be plac- ed in the Select Council Chamber, one copy in the Common Council Chamber, and one copy in the May- or's office.

Mr. GROVES moved to take up for consideration, the report of the committee to improve Chesnut street wharf, on Schuylkill, which was agreed to, and he then offered the following resolution which was adopted, and Messrs. Groves, Massey, Sexton and Patterson were ap- pointed the committee.

Resolved, that the report of the committee appointed to report a plan for the improvement of the city proper- ty on the east side of the river Schuylkill, and south of the permanent bridge, be postponed for the present, and that two members be added to that committee from the Select and two members from the Common Council,

and that the plan and report be re-committed to the committee thus enlarged.

Mr. LIPPINCOTT, as chairman of the committee of Ways and Means, made the annual report, which was ordered to be printed.

Mr. MASSEY offered the annexed resolution, which was adopted, and Messrs. Massey, Neff, Horn and Old- enburg, were appointed that committee.

Resolved, by the Select and Common Councils, that a committee of two members of each Council be ap- pointed to cause to be surveyed, and a plan made for laying out a passage or street on the east part of the ci- ty of Philadelphia, fronting the river Delaware, not less than twenty-one feet wide, and to be called Delaware Avenue, extending from South or Cedar street to Vine street, all along the east partiof Water street squares, and western side of the logs which form the head of the docks or thereabouts, and that they be authorized to call to their aid the City Surveyor, and to employ such other qualified persons as they may judge proper.

Mr. GROVES offered the annexed resolution which was laid on the table.

With the view of carrying into effect that part of the will of Stephen Girard, which makes it the duty of the corporation of the city of Philadelphia, to erect build- ings suitable for a College on the place and in the man- ner described in the said will, therefore

Resolved, by the Select and Common Councils, that a joint committee, consisting of members of each Council be appointed for the purpose of advertising for and procuring plans for the said college, and such outbuildings as may be necessary to accommodate 300 students, and that the said committee be authorized to offer a premium of dollars, for the plan which may be approved of, and dollars for the one next in point of merit, and for the third best plan dollars, which plans when received shall be reported to Councils, at a special meeting which shall be called for that purpose, who shall determine the premiums aforesaid.

The Select Council adjourned to meet on Tuesday evening next.

From the Philadelphia Ariel. A DAY IN CHESTER.

We ventured to recommend the village of Chester to our readers, a few weeks ago, since which we have again passeda day very pleasantly in the neighborhood. Leaving the city at seven in the morning, you land on the pier at Chester in less than two hours, after break- fasting on board that floating palace, the William Penn. Besides the cbarm of cultivated society, to be met with in the village, the ground is rendered doubly interesting by the historical associations which connect themselves with it.

At the distance of about a mile above Chester, imme- diately on the bank of the creek, are extensive quarries, where large quantities of stone are procured and sent down the river in boats. Here they are shipped in larger vesels, and conveyed principally to the Breakwater, now constructing near the entrance to Delaware Bay. The stone is obtained in large irregular masses, and is a rough granite, consisting of an aggregation of quartz, felspar and hornblende, irregularly combined.

We observed traversing the quarries, an occasional vein of sulphuret of iron, or pyrites, of a fine gold lustre, but imperfect in its crystalization; and some tolerably good specimens of tourmalin, though the crystals were not large. A fine lamellated felspor, of a pale red' co- lor, is abundant, and in some places it is found of a green tinge.

At this place we met Mr. W. C. Lytle, the son of the proprietor of the quarries, to whose polite attention we are indebted for much of the satisfac. tion resulting from our excursion. Leaving the quar- ries, he conducted us by a wild romantic path, about

1832.]

A SKETCHI OF EASTON.

333

a half mile farther up the creek, where near an old de- serted saw-mill, we found the traces of an ancient mine. Two shafts appear to have been sunk here, which are yet visible, but filled with water, and overgrown by bushes and briers. A considerable quantity of the rub- bish drawn from the mine is yet lying about the place, from an examination of which it is apparent that the shafts were sunk chiefly through a clear white quartz, containing veins of copper and molybdæna.

The ore of copper which we ohserved here in the greatest quantity, is the yellow feruginous sulphuret, though the green carbonate and several other varieties may also be found. The sulphuret of malybdæna is abundant, and so nearly resembles graphite or plumba- go (vulgarly called black lead) as not to be easily dis- tinguished from it by mere external characters. The two minerals are, however, essentially distinct in their chemical composition; the plumbago being a carburel of iron, i. e. iron combined with a large proportion of car- bon, while the other is the metal called malybdæna, combined with sulphur. It is a rare metal, and we are not aware that it has been applied to any use. Those persons who may desire specimens to add to their cabi- net collections of minerals, may obtain them without difficulty at this place.

We were informed by Mr. Edward Jackson, an in- telligent old gentleman whom we met at the mine, that about thirty years ago, three assays were made of the copper ore obtained hiere; the average result of which was 53 per cent. of copper, with 48 ounces of silver in every 100 pounds, and as he says, one grain of gold in each ounce of the ore. Before any great depth had been obtained, the progress of the work was suspended, owing to the want of funds, and it has ever since been neglected. But from the awakened attention, mani- fested at present to the mineral treasures of our coun- try, we venture to predict that the work at this place will be resumed at no very distant day. The strong probability of obtaining large quantities of rich ore by sinking the shaft to a greater depth, may induce some of our enterprising capitalists to make an attempt to render this mine productive.

From the Easton Whig. A SKETCH OF EASTON.

Perhaps there are few places that possess more at- tractions and afford more pleasures than that of old ro- mantic Easton, and I may add, that for few places has nature done more, or been more various in her gifts. A place blessed with peace and plenty, and producing girls that the state cannot vie with in point of beauty, sociability and refined manners. But to proceed, the site of Easton is upon a plain, situated on the west side of the river Delaware, and between the river Lehigh and the Bushkill creek, surrounded by hills, north, cast, south and west, forming one of the most rich and pic- turesque appearances imaginable.

Easton is incorporated into a borough, and is the seat of justice for the county of Northampton. It is about fifty-six miles north of Philadelphia, seventy-three miles south-west of New York, and twelve miles north- east from Bethlehem. Easton, contains, according to the census taken in 1830 a population of about 3700 seuls; there are between 5 and 600 dwelling houses, one-third of which are brick. It has five buildings devoted to public worship, one of which has lately heen erected by the Lutheran congregation of Easton. The interier is handsomely finished; during evening service it is brilliantly lighted by chandeliers and astral lamps and for neatness and durability its equal can scarcely he found-the exterior of the building is not y et finished; also, one court-house, 2 banks, 1 academy, 33 retail stores, S drug & medicine stores, one-jail, one market house, one wholesale grocery and liquor store, 4 print- ing presscs, from which issue five weekly papers, 1

post office, 6 watch and silversmith shops, 9 millinery shops, 47 confectionary and huckster-shops, 6 saddler shops, 13 taverns, 2 book stores and 1 bookbinder, 3 tanneries, 3 currier shops, 15 shoe shops and 3 fancy shoe stores, 12 tailor shops, 6 tobacco and segar manu- factories, 3 latter shops, 5 barber shops 8 cooper shops, 2 rope manufactories, 2 candle and soap do., 2 stone cut- ters, 2 mill stone manufactories, 6 lumber yards, 9 cabi- net and chair manufactories, 1 brush do. 5 tin and cop- per smiths, 3 bakeries, 7 butchers, 2 gunsmiths, 2 lock smiths, 8 blacksmiths, 21 carpenter shops, 5 mill wrights, 10 coverlet weavers, 5 coach and wagon manufactories, 1 pump-maker, 1 gilder, 3 brass and iron foundries, 3 livery stables, 8 merchant mills, 4 oil mills, 2 distilleries, 2 breweries, and about 40 Durham boats, among others there are many brick and stone masons, plasterers, painters, boat builders, &c. &c.

There are 4 bridges, viz: the Delaware bridge, a stately structure, unites the Pennsylvania with the Jer- sey shore; the Lehigh bridge unites Easton with Wil liams township; the remaining 2 cross the Bushkill creek, and unite Easton with Butzville and Meixellville, There is one Library, a large and commodious building, containing upwards of 3000 volumes and manuscripts, together with an elegant and splendid cabinet of mine- rals, and many interesting natural curiosities. There are also several private schools where the different branches of languages and sciences are taught, toge- ther with embroidery, music, ornamental and plain needle work.

Easton is advantageously supplied with fresh, pure water, conveyed in iron pipes from a spring about a mile from the borough, through all parts of the town, which renders it highly convenient, useful and import- ant to the community.

There are 5 engines, 3 hose carriages, and about 2300 feet of hose, all of which are under the superin- tendence of young men, who are active, vigilant and at- tentive-there are also 2 volunteer companies and one troop of horse, whose equal for the correctness of manual exercises, splendid equipage and soldier-like appearances, cannot be found in the State.

Easton is well provided with professional gentlemen; there are no less than 5 divines, who are.strong advo- cates of the sacred truths, 7 physicians, 13 lawyers, 5 justices of the peace, 3 constables, and one chief bur- gress, and all of whom are strict and zealous in the dis- charge of their duties. XERXES.

From the American Sentinel.

Messrs. Editors-Having seen a paragraph in one of the daily papers respecting the old sign of the Bull's Head, which recently hung for so many years in Straw- berry street, and attributing it to the pencil of the late Sir Benjamin West, I beg leave through the columns of your paper to contradict the same, and likewise to give "honour to whom honour is due." The aforesaid sign was painted by one Bernard Wilton, an English artist who visited the country in the year 1760. He kept a small shop at the corner of Strawberry street and Chestnut, and followed the business of painting and glazing for several years after the tavern was es- tablished, when he returned to England with a conside- rable sum of money which he had acquired by untiring findustry.

I will relate an anecdote connected with the origin of this sign. Wilton was sitting one day in the tavern, previous to any sign being hung out, and was conversing with the landlord about a subject for one, when a bull furiously pushed his head through the window and broke several decanters and glasses. This little inci- dent was immediately seized upon by the facetious painter, who humorously exclaimed, "I tell you what, landlord, that bull has been one of the best customers you have had to-day, and in respect to so worthy a patron, you ought always to keep him in remem- brance,"

336

MISCELLANEOUS.

[Mar

The landlord was at a loss to know in what manner this might be done. Wilton soon cleared the matter by telling him that he would paint the resemblance of his worthy patron, that he might always have him in view. He accordingly painted the above sign, which has been hoaxed on an English gentleman as Sir Benja- min West's. Yours, &c. '76.

TOWANDA.

It is supposed that 1,600,000 shingles will be sent to market this spring from one township, in this county. About a million will go from this place, and Monroe will send several hundred thousand. A great many feet of boards will also be sent to market from this county. We should be pleased, if we were enabled to say, that two or three hundred thousand bushels of wheat were about to be sent from the county-this, we are sorry to say, we cannot do and tell the truth. Although the land in this county is good for most kinds of grain, we are obliged to pay $1 for wheat whilst it is selling all around us for 75 and 80 cents. The produce of a farm com- mands a better price in this county than in any other county in the state the same distance from market, and a good farmer can make himself independent in a few years .- Bradford Scttler.

CARPET FACTORY.

The committee of the "Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for the promotion of the Mechanic Arts," appointed at the request of Isaac Macauly, to examine and report the condition of the manufacto- ry of carpeting, recently established by him at Bush Ifill, near Philadelphia, respectfully report --

That they have visited the establishment and that the proprietor afforded them every facility for a satisfacto- ry investigation. The carpeting made there consists of the varieties usually denominated Brussels, common Venitian, Brussels Venitian, Damask Venitian, and In- grain. The looms and the apparatus connected with them are of the most approved construction, embracing all the most eligible modern improvements; and the workmen appear to be skilful and intelligent, nearly all of them having learned their business in the carpet ma- nufactories of Kiderminster in England. After a care- ful examination of the several kinds of carpeting made at this factory, the committee do not hesitate to express the opinion, that in the materials used, as well as in the colors, patterns, and workmanship, they will bear an advantageous comparison with the imported fabrics, both as to quality and price-and that our country is much indebted to Mr. Macauly for his assiduous and success- ful exertions to establish efficiently, the manufacture of so many varieties of an article calculated to promote the comfort, and to embellish the halls and parlours of his fellow-citizens.

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 95

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