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. XII > Part 47
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To the upper extremity of the movable board, which is called a valve board, a short spear is attached which is connected with the mechanical power which sets the pump in motion ;- in the lower part of the chamber, a' piston is placed as in the common pump, with the valve turning inwards.
When the pump is appropriately placed for working, the space inclosed by the three sides of the pump and the valve board-or in other words, the chamber, (which in a 20 feet pump, is 10 inches in length, ) is fill- ed by the water, which, according to a well known law of hydraulics, ascends through the lower box; a single stroke of the lever propels the valve board against its corresponding side, and the water inclosed having no escape otherwise, is forced through the lateral open- ings in the valve hoard against the fourth side of the pump, where meeting with a new and increased resist- ance, the whole volume is thrown upwards to seek its way outwards, through the conductors attached to the head of the pump. The volume thus discharged is in the ratio of 10 to 1, compared with that discharged by a common pump of equal bore. For instance, the ca- pacity of a common pump to discharge water is regulat. ed by the extreme rise of the upper piston, which in a common pump of ten inch bore, under any effort of the lever, cannot be made to raise more than twelve inches, and consequently at the very most only twelve inches of water can be discharged at a single stroke; in a pump on Commodore Barron's principle, of an equal bore, 10 feet can be discharged by a single stroke-the lever in both cases describing the same arc.
The great superiority of this pump over the common pnmp arises at once from the comparatively greater field afforded by its interior arrangements for the develop- ment of the law which governs the ascent of water, and
the greater facilities they furnish for making this great advantage in the highest degree available for its rapid discharge.
It is difficult to imagine what might be the effect of this principle displayed on a great scale under the action of steam power; for its energies will always be commen- surate with the power applied to excite them, and at what point, with such a power at command as steam affords, shall we fix these limits? It is hoped the trial about to take place will call the earnest attention of an intelligent public to the principle of this pump-that whatever place it is destined to hold eventually, in their estimate-that place may be decided by its own single merits-ascertained by impartial, enlightened and pa- tient examination.
PITTSBURG, August 30, 1833. Memorials, of which the following is a copy, are now in circulation, through the city and county, for the rc- ception of signatures .- Pittsburg Gaz.
CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL.
To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Represen- tatives of the Congress of the United States :-
The memorial of the undersigned, citizens of Pittsburg and its vicinity, respectfully represents ---
That your memorialists have watched, with the deep- est interest, the commencement and progress of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, as a great national enter- prise, originating with the Father of his country, and displaying more clearly, as it advances, the enlightened sagacity and fur sighted patriotism of its illustrious pro- jector.
The claims of this noble work to the countenance and patronage of the general government have been so of- ten urged, and your honorable bodies already possess, in so many authentic forms, the fullest and most detail- ed evidence of its practicability and advantages, that the undersigned will not venture to repeat the argu- ments, or to spread anew before you the facts, which carried conviction to the minds of your predecessors, and the force of which time has only served to strength- en and confirm. But they would respectfully point to the present auspicious era, as offering a new impulse, and supplying an additional motive, to the further and vigorous interposition of Congress.
The national debt is discharged. That cherished ob- ject-of deep and absorbing interest to the whole coun- try, not only in reference to a just feeling of security and independence, but to the character and practical working of our Republican Institutions-has just been accomplished. We are rid of the accumulated charges of two costly wars, witnessed by the same generation. We transmit no burden to posterity, to clog its rich inheritance. And, surely, at this moment of complete disengagement from the pecuniary solicitude-when the great object of inquiry is as to the least mischiev- ous plan for employing a redundant revenue-we do not err in asking you to give back to the nation, in the shape of a diffusive blessing, a portion of what has been confided to your disposal.
The objection, urged with success, to solicitations, in reference to improvements of a local, limited range, and usefulness, will not be pretended to be applicable here. There is nothing in this enterprise of a narrow, sectional character; in it mingle freely the sympathies and interests, as do the waters of the cast and west. Nor will it fail to occur to your honorable bodies, that the question is not an open one, of original investment, but that a large amount of money, under an appropria- ation by Congress, has already passed into the work, and must share its fate. Shall the past expenditure be lost to the country? There is nothing, as the under- signed conceive, in the history of the work which can justify such infirmity of purpose, and rash abandonment of a great public stake.
160
MISCELLANEOUS.
[SEPTEMBER
Your memorialists would respectfully venture to sug- gest that the character of the principal fund, which now flows into the Treasury with embarrassing profu- sion, may be considered as pointing to the proposed method of application. It is obvious that the impost at the Custom House ultimately presses with most severity on the consumer, who is furthest removed from the seaboard. The various agents of traffic, intermediate to consumption, take care to remunerate themselves li- berally, in the price of the article, for every charge to which it is subjected in its passage through their hands. There would seem, then, to be no more equitable ar- rangement than that the tax, which grows at each stage of transit, and carries its accumulated claim to reim- bursement into the remotest cabin of the west, should be employed in alleviating the burden, by bringing the two great sections of our country together, into close commercial contact.
The commonwealth, of which we are citizens, has ta- ken an early, decided, and magnanimous part on this subject. Her own resources and credit deeply pledged in the construction of works to which the one in ques- tion might, if viewed with narrow jealousy, be deemed a rival. She has not yet hesitated to raise her voice, and to exercise her influence in furthering a great na- tional object. Her Statute Books present the follow - ing resolution:
" Resolved, by the Senate and House of Represen- tatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in Ge- neral Assembly met, That the Senators of this State, in the United States' Senate, and the Representatives of this State in Congress, are requested to endeavour to procure the passage of a law authorizing the subscrip- tion of a Million of Dollars, on the part of the General Government, to the stock of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, to be expended on the Western sec- tion."
FREDERICK SMITH, Speaker of the H. of Representatives. WM. G. HAWKINS, Speaker of the Senate. Approved, 1st of April, 1831, GEORGE WOLF."
The undersigned respectfully ask that this appeal may now be listened to, when our financial condition no longer requires that the urgent claims of a just, wise, and comprehensive national spirit, should be slighted or postponed. And they will, &c.
From the National Gazette.
ANDREW WALLACE.
We had yesterday some conversation with Serjeant Andrew Wallace, aged one hundred and four years. He is, indeed, a phenomenon, highly curious and interest- ing in every respect. His mental faculties are in won- derful preservation; and with the exception of a strong and constant tremor of the hands and knees, and a stoop, his bodily frame seems to have suffered but little decay. His vision is good, and the expression of his eye ener- getic or lively according to his mood; his diet has always been simple and moderate, and as yet he has no com- plaint to make of his digestion. He walked lately fifty miles (from his residence to Philadelphia) in a few days. In extreme old age, the memory has become, in most cases, weak, faint, or capricious and irregular. But, with Mr. Wallace, this faculty remains exact and re- tentive as to all periods. He answers questions with promptitude and decision; makes and hears pleasant re- marks with a significative glance, and seems to take a lively interest in the leading questions of the day. The whole tone of the veteran is that of a hale-minded man of sixty or seventy. He enlisted in the military service of his country at the beginning of the Revolution, and con- tinned in it with little interruption for nearly thirty years. It was he who, at the battle of Brandywine, )
when Lafayette was wounded, after having contribut- ed to rescue the nation's patriot, bore him on his back, about two miles, to the house of a friend.
The purpose of his pedestrian journey to this city was to assist in selling a portrait of himself, which has been lithographed by Messrs. Frederick and Wild. It is a close likeness, and costs but a quarter of a dollar. The veteran lodges at Mr. Adam Magg's, corner of Eighth and Callowhill streets .- [See Reg. Vol. XI. p. 223.]
MUNCY, LYCOMING Co., August 27.
RIOT .- We learn that on Saturday morning last, a riot commenced near Dunnsburg, in this county, be- tween the Irishmen and (American) boatmen employed at the Great Island Dam, which lasted with little or no intermission until Sunday evening. One man (an Irish- man) was shot, and died shortly after, and several were dangerously wounded. On Sunday it was found neces- sary to call out the military, for the purpose of quelling the rioters. A company of cavalry from Centre, another from this county, and a number of companies of infantry and militia were marched to the scene of action; of their success in putting down the turbulents we have no ac- count. We have heard it stated that the quarrel arose about the disposition of a boat load of stone; the Irish- men wanting it placed on the spars of the dam, and the boatmen refusing to put it in any other place than the cribbing. There are many different versions of the affair, which we refrain from giving, as a great deal of reliance cannot be placed on rumor in such cases. In our next we shall probably be able to give a more full and correct account of this disturbance .- Telegraph.
IMPROVEMENTS .- Thirty-eight houses, of four stories in height, have been erected. or are in progress of being built during the present season on Market street.
On Chesnut street, extensive improvements are also going on; between Eighth and Ninth streets, five dwelling houses are being converted into stores; and below Eighth, three of the fine dwelling houses on the south side have undergone a similar transformation-they rent- for from five to six hundred dollars each as dwelling houses, and as stores they now bring from ten to twelve hundred dollars each. Below Seventh, Mrs. Yohe's large Hotel is nearly completed, and the front of the adjoining building has recently been altered to corres- pond with Mr. Ash's book store, and is occupied by Messrs. Browning and Everett, Tailors. Below Sixth, opposite the State House, one of the large dwellings is now altering for a store. - Comm. Herald.
COLUMBIA, Aug. 31. THE CANAL .- The water has been drawn off the ca- nal between this and Middletown, in consequence of there being a scarcity above. We understand that it will be let in again in a few days.
Among the arrivals on the canal last week, were 20 hhds. of Tobacco, from Pittsburg, for Mr. Gable, of Lancaster. It was raised in Kentucky. We believe this is the first arrival at this place, of merchandize from our western emporium, by way of the canal. - Spy.
The evenings and mornings are unusually cool for this season of the year. Yesterday morning the frost ly quite thick in some places .- Spy.
REMARKABLE HEAD OF OATS .- A head of oats, we have been informed, was taken from the field of ELIJAH M'GREW, of North Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, on the 30th July, which was measured, in the presence of several witnesses, and found to be 27 inches in length, and every part of it well filled .- Republican.
RAIN .- The quantity of rain that fell during the month of August, as ascertained by the guage at the Pennsylvania Hospital, was 3 39-100 inches.
HAZARD'S REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.
EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.
VOL: XII .- NO. II. PHILADELPHIA, SEPTEMBER 14, 1833. NO. 29.
REPORT ON THE REVISED CODE.
Remarks upon the bill relating to Weights and Mea- sures, and to Atlmeasurement.
The regulation of weights and measures is a matter of much importance, not less so than the regulation of coin. It is to be regretted that these subjects should have been separated in the legislation of Congress. We find, however, that very soon after the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, several laws were en- acted relative to the coining of money and its value, while upon the subject of weights and measures, no definitive action has yet been had.
In the absence of national legislation many of the states have exercised the power of legislating on this subject. By a recent act of Assembly of this state, (11th April, 1825, § 11. ) commissioners were appointed to examine into the state and condition of the standards in use in this commonwealth, but they did not under- take the trust. As we supposed the section of the act mentioned to be expressive of the views of the legisla- ture in relation to the subject, we have made it our guide in the preparation of the accompanying bill. We proceed to make a few observations explanatory to the sections.
Section 1. The act of 1700 relates to county stand- ards. The object of this section is to provide state standards from which county standards may be copied, and by which they may be regulated. The provision is'new, but necessary to ensure the uniformity of the county standards
Section 2. This section is subsidiary to the first; it is designed to preserve the original value of the state standards. The frequency of trial and the modes of trial, are left to the discretion of the Governor. Sci- entific considerations suggest the propriety of abstain- ing from particular injunctions in the last of these par- ticulars. The Governor will doubtless preserve data for the application of the most approved tests.
Section 3. This section, which is a proviso to the second, is framed with a view to the possible future ac. tion of Congress upon the subject. The effect of it will be to secure the adjustment of the standards of this state to the national system as that shall become fixed.
Section 4, provides for the standard yard. Wehave not thought it necessary to refer to any other standard for determining its length. In the nature of things the root or primary unit of a system of metrology must be assumed. The word "yard" is understood to mean a certain length which custom has pretty definitely as- certained.
The Governor will doubtless have recourse to all means necessary to settle its just value with the utmost exactness attainable. Having done so, the principal object of the section will be gained by embodying its meaning or value in a fixed and palpable form. The yard thus ascertained is made the unit of all measures of length.
Sections 5 and 6, provide that all measures of length less than the yard, shall be engraved upon the yard, and (section 6 contains in general terms) that the mul- tiples and fractions of all measures shall be taken in parts of the standard unit.
beer gallon. It is only necessary to say that the di- mensions stated, correspond with those of the measures used at the custom house in Philadelphia. Adams' Rep. Table, (a. 2.) Both kinds of measures are re- cognized in the acts of Assembly-See acts 1705, 22d May, 1722, $4, 12th May, 1789, §3, $4.
Section 8. The standard measure of the bushel pre- scribed by this section, is that commonly denominated the Winchester bushel.
Section 9, is subsidiary to the three preceding sec- tions. The phraseology is general, and is applicable to every variety of smaller measures in use.
Section 10. This section provides for a different form of the bushel to be used for measuring lime. It is de- rived from the act of 23d March, 1819, §1-enacted for the counties of Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, Ches- ter, Lancaster, and York, and by this section proposed to be made general. But the remainder of this act (of 1819) is not introduced, and it will of course remain in force in the counties for which it was enacted. We have some reason to believe that this form of the bushel is used in other counties besides those above mentioned. The act of 2d April, 1822, §3, which is a general law, provides a fee for regulating the lime bushel.
Sections 11 and 12, relate to weights. It is usual to deduce the unity of weight, from the gravity of water taken in parts of the standard inch: But Congress ha- ving established a troy pound, (act 19th May, 1828) we have adopted it as the unit of weight. The pound thus established, is the troy pound of the English me- trology, to which the avoirdupois pound bears the pro- portion expressed in this (eleventh) section, or very nearly. The twelfth section provides, merely, that small weights shall be proportionate.
Section 13. This section, and the six following, re- late to county standards, and the duty of the inspection and regulation of weights. It may be proper to add a remark upon the method proposed for the compensa- tion of the inspectors and regulators. Fees do not seem to us a proper method of compensation. The duties of many officers, those connected with the courts for ex- ample, are susceptible of enumeration, and are suffi- ciently uniform to admit of a scale, and to these a fee bill is conveniently applicable. But of a regulator of weights, &c. the principal thing required is mechanical labor, varying perhaps in every case: this should be paid for according to its value. Of such general impor- tance is the regulation of weights and measures, that it would not be very unequal were it to be made entirely a charge upon the public. We propose, however, to make it a charge upon the public, only, in the first in- stance, with power to require, through the agency of their officers, a remuneration from individuals in pro- portion to the labor bestowed in each case.
Section 20. This section relates to guaging instru- ments. In England, by a recent act of Parliament, the capacity of the gallon is altered from the Winchester measure: An alteration of the gallon has also recently been made in the state of New York. We refer to these instances of legislation, merely to suggest a case for the application of the provisions of this section.
Section 21. This section is designed to prevent the sale of inaccurate weights and measures of all descrip-
Section 7, provides for the standard wine gallon and / tions. We believe the effect of it will be, to make the VOL. XII. 21
162
THIRD REPORT ON THE REVISED CODE.
LSEPTEMBER
regulation and adjustment of weights, &c. to the stand- ards, a part of the manufacture. Such it ought to be.
Sections 22 and 23, provide penalties for the use of false weights and measures. When there is intent to defraud, the act is treated as criminal, this is the com- mon law, (3 Burr. 1697, Com. Dig. Indictment D.) But it is necessary to guard against the inadvertent use of false weights and measures. This also, is herein pro- vided for. But the section does not require any person to have his weights, &c. regulated. It enacts, only, that if not regulated annually, the owner shall use them at his own risk. We think this method preferable to that of requiring an annual inspection of weights and measures.
The remaining sections of the bill relate properly to admeasurement, and certain terms of admeasure- ment.
Section 24, defines the acre: we have introduced it into this bill, merely because we found an English sta- tate upon the subject, reported to be in force by the judges of the Supreme Court, (31 Ed. 1 St. 6.) Were there no such statute, we should not think the section at all necessary .
Section 25, is taken from a local act; 10th March, 1817, $2. It provides for the dimensions of a cord, and for the manner of cording.
Section 26, is taken from the act of 16th January, 1823. This act does not specify the kind of gallon: we suppose the wine gallon was intended, and have there- fore added the words, in wine measure.
Sections 27 and 28. These sections are taken from the act of 10th March, 1818, $1, $2, without any alter- ation in substance.
Section 29. This section is taken from a local act passcd 2d April, 1822, §1. We have introduced it, because there seems to be a propriety in having but one rule for the sale of the same article throughout the com- monwealth.
Sections 30 and 31. These sections require no par- ticular remark in this place. In respect to the proviso contained in the thirty-first section, we take leave to refer to some remarks made upon the 118th section of the bill relating to counties, &c.
A. Bill relating to Weights and measures, and to Ad- measurement.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Section 1. Governor to procure state standards for weights and measures.
Sect. 2. Standards to be verified from time to time, &c.
Seet. 3. Standards made to conform to United States' standards when established.
Sect. 4. Standard yard to be the unit of length; one- third of the yard to be a foot; one-twelfth of such foot to be an inch.
Sect. 5. Standard yard to be graduated so as to ex- hibit all customary divisions.
Sect. 6. Multiples and fractions of the yard, foot, or inch, to be in parts of the standard.
Sect. 7. Wine gallon to contain 231 cubical inches; beer gallon to contain 282 cubical inches.
Sect. 8. Bushel to contain 2150.42 cubical inches.
Sect. 9. Measures of the aliquot parts of wine gal- lon, beer gallon, and bushel to be proportionate. Sect. 10. Liine bushel, form of.
Sect. 11. Weights-pound troy, pound avoirdupois. Sect. 12. Weights of aliquot parts of the pound, &c. to be proportionate.
Sect. 13. Governor to procure standards of weights, &c. for the respective counties, and cause them to be delivered to the commissioners.
Sect. 14. Standards of the counties to be verified once in ten years.
Sect. 15. Commissioners of the counties to appoint inspectors and regulators.
Sect. 16. Inspectors to make oath, &c. of office.
Sect. 17. Compensation for regulating weights, &c. Sect. 18. Weights, &c. when regulated, to be stamp- ed.
Sect. 19. Penalties for injuries done to weights, &c. by inspectors, &c.
Sect. 20. Guaging instruments to correspond to the standards of this state.
Sect. 21, Weights, &c. sold, deemed to be war- ranted, &c.
Sect. 22. Penalty for selling by weights, &c. not duly regulated.
Sect 23. Persons selling by false weights, &c. with intent to defraud, indictable.
Sect, 24. Acre of land to contain 4840 horizontal square yards-proviso.
Sect. 25. Cord of wood contain 128 feet in solid measure.
Sect. 26. A hogshead of cider to be 110 gallons in wine measure.
Sect. 27. Grain may be sold by weight-proviso.
Sect. 28. Foreign salt may be sold by weight-pro- viso.
Scct. 29. Anthracite coal may be sold by weight or measure.
It is enacted by the Senate and House of Representa. tives of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, as follows:
Section 1. It shall be the duty of the Governor to procure, for the use of the commonwealth, metallic standards for the weights and measures, according to the denominations of weights and m asures which have been hitherto used and approved in this commonwealth; which standards shall be inclosed in suitable cases, and be deposited and carefully preserved in the office of the State Treasurer.
Section 2. It shall also be the duty of the Governor. from time to time as he shall judge expedient, to cause the said standards to be examined and tried; and, if ne- cessary, to be corrected or renewed, so that they shall at all times be of their original measure or weight, and proportions.
Section 3. Provided nevertheless, that if the Congress of the United States shall hereafter establish a standard for any of tbe denominations of weights or measures, it shall be the duty of the Governor to cause the standard of this commonwealth for the same denomination to be made equal in all respects, and to be at all times con- formable thereto.
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