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 76
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Gentlemen,-I herewith present to Councils, an ac- count of receipts and payments of the Girard Trust, for the quarter ending on the 30th of September, 1833-by which you will find that $64,858 44 cents, have been received for interest and dividends, on loans and stock, that $15,018 32 cents, have been received for rents of real estates, during the quarter, and that $29,239 15 cents, has been paid towards the construction of the Girard College; $1650 for annuities; $1279 77 cents for incidental expenses, including salaries for the offi- cers of the Trust; and $12 100 56 cents, for repairs and taxes on real estates during the same period of time. The amount of rent due on the last quarter, (from the 1st of April to the 1st of July, is $153 10 cents.
The extent of country interested in these two im- provements, embraces probably more than half of the Union. No other improvements within our country can be projected, which will be so extensively useful. As a bond of union between the East and the West, the North and the South, they will be of the utmost impor- tance. The extensive internal trade, which will float upon them, will tend to bind together the remote sec- tions of our country, by the tie of common interest. In time of war, they will afford the opportunity of con- centrating the national force wherever required; they It is with much pleasure I inform Councils, that under the very judicious agency, of the real estate, all the houses, vacant lots, and farms, in the city and county of will ameliorate, and in a great degree tend to equalize the condition of the people in the different sections of our country, by affording to all, the means of a cheap Philadelphia, belonging to this estate, are rented to
264
REPORT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA AND OHIO CANAL COMMISSIONERS,
[OCTOBER
good tenants (with few exceptions) and at fair rates, and but one house vacant, (of which the city corpora- tion have possession (in the whole estate. )
I have also to inform you, that the Executors of Ste- phen Girard, passed over to me on the 15th inst.,a cer- tificate for 100 shares of stock in the Philadelphia Ex. change Company, the par value of which is $10,000. All of which is respectfully submitted by your obedient servant,
BRITAIN COOPER, Treasurer.
On motion of Mr. Wetherill, the Select Council con- curred in a resolution of Common Council, respecting the petition of Samuel Guss, and Messrs. Wetherill and Lippincott, were appointed a committee on the subject.
The subjoined communication from the committee on Scott's Legacy, was received and laid on the ta- ble :-
To the Select and Common Councils of Philadelphia.
The committee charged with the management of the fund, left by the late John Scott, of Edinburgh, to the corporation of Philadelphia, for rewarding the authors of useful inventions and improvements, offer the follow- ing report :-
Premiums have been awarded,
1. To N. C. Barrabino, M. D. of Philadelphia, for an improvement in the stomach pump-a Medal and Twenty dollars.
2. To Samuel D. Breed, of Philadelphia, for his dis- covery of the means of cementing leather soals, on the outside of gum elastic or caoutchouc shoes and boots as a substitute for pegging or sewing-a Medal and Twenty dollars.
Mr. Groves offered the annexed resolution, which was laid on the table.
Resolved, That a committee of three members of the Select, and three members of the Common Council, be appointed to take into consideration and report on the propriety of erecting a depot and Market house on the public square at the intersection of High and Broad streets.
COMMON COUNCILS.
The President submitted a communication from the City Commissioners, enclosing a printed statement of their expenditures and receipts for Market Rents, &c. during the third quarter of this year, and also of the expense of new paving and repaving in the middle dis- trict to the 30th inst. Also, an account of the appro- ยท priations overdrawn -- as follows :--
Appropriated. Expended. Overdrawn.
No. 3. Cleansing the city
$18,000
Received for sales of street dirt
3,400
21,400
$30,029 12
$8,269 12
No. 4. Docks and
Sewers
$5,000
5,611 38
611 38
No. 14. City Pro- perty
$11,000 34,040 65 23,040 65
The communication was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.
The President submitted a communication from R.H. Smith, City Clerk, enclosing a statement of his receipts for entries of hackney coaches, carts, drays, &c. and also of his payments to the City Treasurer for the third quarter of the year. Referred to the Committee of Ways. and Means.
Dr. Huston, from the joint committee to whom was submitted the resolution relative to appropriating $40,000 from the Funds of the estate of Stephen Girard for the improvement of City property, reported in fa- vour of the resolution, and the report was adopted. In Select Council the resolution was amended by the fol- lowing substitute, which was afterwards adopted by Common Council.
Resolved, that the report and resolution be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means, with instructions to bring forward an ordinance appropriating $40,000 from the funds of the estate of Stephen Girard, for the specific improvement of the City Property, in accordance with the special provisions of the Will.
The supplementary ordinance relative to Wills' Hos- pital was agreed in Common Council, by the casting vote of the President, so that the choice of the Trustees shall devolve upon both Councils in joint ballot. Select Council refused to concur and appointed Messrs, Mere- dith and Price a committee of Conference. Common Council refused to recede, and appointed Messrs. To- land and Gilder, a Committee of Conference. The Committee rep. rted that they could not agree, and the ordinance remains unacted upon.
Mr. Chandler offered a resolution that the Library Committee be instructed to enquire into the expedien- cy and practicability of preparing a new digest of the City Ordinances. Adopted.
Mr. Gilder, called up an item of unfinished business relative to the opening of Cherry street, from Schuylkill 5th street to the river Schuylkill, which was adopted, and concurred in by Select Council.
Mr. Chandler offered a resolution that the Market Committee be directed to enquire into the expediency of erecting a new Market House, in the eastern part of the city, and if their opinion be favourable to designate the place of location. Adopted.
Messrs. Neff, Worrell and Meredith, of the Select and Messrs. Gilder, Montelius and Lancaster, of the Common Council, were appointed a Committee on the Delaware Avenue.
From the Ravenna, (O.) Courier, Sept. 27. REPORT
Of the Ohio Canal Commissioners to the Legislature of Ohio, in relation to the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal.
The survey and location of so much of the route of this proposed canal, as is within the limits of this state, was commenced by Sebried Dodge, Esq. in the month of October, and finished in the month of December last.
From the experience which Mr. Dodge has had, as an engineer for three years past in the actual construc- tion of part of the Ohio canal, as well as from his science and intelligence, the Board are warranted in placing full confidence in the general correctness of his exami- nations, plans, and calculations. The shortness of the time employed in these surveys precluded the possibili- ty of ascertaining, with minute accuracy, all the topo. graphical facts of minor importance connected with the location. Still, however, enough has been ascertained to determine the practicability of the proposed work, and to afford data for estimates on its cost, which can- not vary very materially from the truthi.
The route within this state has been found fully as fa- vorable as was anticipated; and it has been ascertained beyond doubt that the summit, as well as the lower le. vels can be abundantly supplied with water.
Commencing at the village of Akron where the pro- posed canal will unite with the Ohio canal: in a large and commodious basin, the line pursues an eastwardly direction, crossing the Little Cuyahoga in the village of Middlebury; thence in a northwesterly direction through the township of Tallmadge, until it approaches near the main Cuyahoga at the centre of north and south road in the township of Stow, thence continuing nearly the same general course along the south and southeast bank of that river until it passes the village of Franklin, it enters the immediate valley of the Breakneck creek or south branch of the Cuyahoga, and passing up that val- ley in an eastwardly course, it crosses the summit be- tween the waters of the Cuyahoga and Mahoning Branch of Big Beaver about half a mile southeast of the village of Ravenna. The line then descends rapidly in- to the valley of the west branch of the Mahoning river,
1833.]
REPORT OF THE OHIO AND PENNSYLVANIA CANAL COMMISSIONERS.
265
crosses that stream near its southwesterly bend, conti- nues along its north bank re-crossing that branch and also the south or main branch, a mile above the junction of those streams, then leaving the immediate neighbor- hood of the river, the line pursues an eastwardly course, again approaching the river opposite the village of War- ren, and thence continues in the immediate valley of the river on the right bank, in a southeastwardly direction to the line between the state of Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Some deep cutting occurs in the swamp near the vil- lage of Middlebury: the whole extent in length which exceeds proper cutting is upwards of a mile-the ave- rage depth about 123 feet. An.embankment of consi- derable magnitude is necessary to sustain the level of the canal across the valley of the Little Cuyahoga in the village of Middlebury. The greatest elevation of this embankment is twenty feet to bottom of canal, the whole will contain about 34,000 cubic yards.
The object in view in the location of this part of the line, was to adopt such a level as would preserve a pro- per medium between excessive deep cutting on the one hand, and of too high an embankment on the other; one or both of which difficulties, to a greater or less extent, it is necessary to encounter.
After leaving the village of Middlebury, the line pass- es over a tract of uneven and in some places steep side- ling ground for about one and a half miles, requiring some deep cutting and a considerable number of em- bankments across ravines or on side hills. The earth is however of a character to be easily removed, and is of a good quality for canaling.
Continuing thence northeastward'y, the face of the country and elevation are remarkably well adapted to make a cheap and safe canal, until the line approaches the Cuyahoga in Stow. Between Stow and Franklin, the line passes along a side hill sloping northwardly toward the river; in some places steeper than could be desired, in others nearly level, or sloping so gently as to present a very favorable location. This part of the line is inter- sected by several ravines, two or three of which are of considerable depth, and one, the valley of Plumb creek, is six chains in breadth, requiring a large embankment.
Near the village of Franklin a small amount of sand- stone rock excavation will occur. As the slope of the ground is here very gentle, afforuing an opportunity of choosing the location, a large amount of rack excava- tion may be avoided, although the rock approaches near the surface.
It is proposed to cut down the summit near Ravenna, twenty-seven feet at the highest part of the ridge. The whole extent of the deep cut at this place will be sixty- six chains in length, and its average depth below -the natural surface seventeen feet and eighty hundredths. As the length of the deep cut is not great, and the earth appears favorable for the operation, it is even question- able whether good policy would not require reducing the summit level still lower. Every foot of reduction in the elevation of the summit will of course save double that amount of lockage, will aid the supply of water by diminishing the expenditure, and will afford greater fa- cilities for the construction of feeders and reservoirs.
The only difficulties encountered between the summit level and the state line worthy of notice, are the wash banks which the river on one side, and the hill or table land on the other, render it impossible to avoid .. These banks necessarily enhance the expense of construction and increase the danger to which the canal will be ex- posed when made. The aggregate length of these banks is not greater than must ever be expected in fol- lowing the valleys of rivers-nor is their character pe- culiarly unfavorable. It is estimated that the united length of hanks requiring to be protected against the current of the river will be two miles forty-seven chains
It is proposed to supply the summit level of the canal with water by the following means:
1st. By a Feeder from Breakneck creek. - This stream may be introduced by a feeder of three miles six chains Voz. XII.
in length, and is sufficient for the supply of the summit level and the contiguous levels, in ordinary seasons, during more than one half of the year. In the dryest seasons, when the flow of water is reduced to the least quantity, it yields about two hundred and forty cubic feet per minute. The quantity of water in this stream may be considerably increased during dry seasons, by using the lake at its head as a reservoir, retaining its waters in the wet season and letting them flow in the dry.
2d. By forming reservoirs of four lukes or ponds near the summit .- These bodies of water, Muddy Pond, San- dy Pond, Brady's Lake, and Lake Pippin, may be easi- ly converted into valuable and convenient reservoirs for the supply of the summit and the adjacent levels. The two former will contain an area of about two hundred and forty acres, when the water is raised to tlie con- templated heighth. Water to the depth of twenty feet, or even more, may be accumulated, retained, and drawn off from these ponds for the use of the canal, and con- ducted into it by means of a feeder of seventy-eight chains in length. A depth of eight or ten feet of water on the area of Brady's Lake and Lake Pippin, may be made available to supply the canal in dry seasons. These two lakes will together contain an area of about two hundred-and seventy acres. The two former ponds may be filled with water to any desirable height, by conducting a branch of the Breakneck into them by a short feeder, and the two latter by means of the propos- ed feeder from the main Cuyahoga.
It is computed, that three hundred and twenty-five million cubic feet of water may be reserved for use in these reservoirs, which will admit a uniform flow into the canal of upwards of eleven hundred cubic feet per minute, for two hundred days before it will be exhaust- ed.
3d. By a feeder from the main Cuyahoga .- The wa- ters of the main Cuyahoga may be conducted into. the summit level of the canal by a feeder of seven miles sixteen chains in length. The quantity of water run- ning in the river at the place whence this feeder is to be taken, may be computed at from 2,800 to 3,000 cu- bic feet per minute in the dryest season.
Although the waters of the main Cuyahoga alone are probably sufficient to supply the summit level of the Canal and the lower levels dependant on receiving a supply from the neighborhood of the summit, still it is desirable to draw only so much water from the Cuyaho- ga as may be absolutely necessary, and to rely as much as possible on the other sources. Vast injury must re- sult to the owners of mills, manufactories, and mill pri- vileges, and to the country, to which the water power of the Cuyahoga is of incalculable value, from diverting into any other channel a considerable portion of its wa- ters in dry seasons. In descending eastwardly, from the Ravenna summit, a small supply of water may be obtained from the west branch of the Mahoning, about three miles from the summit; and as the canal descends the valley of the stream, its accumulated waters, with that which has escaped from the canal by leakage, may be brought into the canal. About twenty miles east- wardly from the summit, it is supposed that a feeder from Silver creek, the most durable branch of the Ma- honing, may be introduced; and at Warren the whole volume of the Mahoning river, in dry seasons, may be brought into the canal, if desirable.
By an economical and proper use of the means of supplying the canal with water, above described, it is confidently believed that it will not be necessary to di- vert from their natural course any considerable part of the waters of the Cuyahoga.
The length of the line of this canal, as located within the state of Ohio, is as follows:
From Akron (Portage Summit of the Ohio canal) to Ravenna Summit
22 miles 79 chains.
34
266
DU PONCEAU'S ADDRESS BEFORE THE LAW ACADEMY.
OCTOBER
From Ravenna Summit to War-
ren
28 miles 16 chains.
From Warren to Pennsylvania line
24 miles 58 chains.
75 miles 73 chains.
Total length canal line
LENGTH OF FEEDERS.
Cuyahoga Feeder 7 m 16 ch
Muddy and Sandy
Ponds, Feeder 78 ch
Breakneck Feeder 3 m 06 ch
Warren Feeder 12 ch
Total
11 miles 32 chains.
Aggregate length of Canal and Feeders
87 miles 25 chains.
The estimated cost of canal and feeders is as follows. Cost of main canal from Akron to the Pennsylvania line $683,762 60
Feeder from the main Cuyahoga, in- cluding reservoirs at Brady's Lake and Lake Pippin 50,933 95
Reservoir and Feeder from Muddy and Sandy Lakes 20,249 95
Feeder from the Mahoning at Warren 4,031 00
Breakneck Feeder 5,397 10
Aggregate cost of canal, reservoir, and feeders, $764,372 98
The foregoing estimates were made under the imme- diate inspection and advice of the principal engineer. The amount includes ten per cent. on the nett estimate for unforseen expenses, and it is believed will fully co- ver the actual expense of the work.
The total ascent from the Por- tage to the Ravenna Summit, is
101 feet.
Total descent from the Ravenna
Summit to the Penn'a line, is 213 13-100ths feet.
Whole amount of Lockage, 313 13-100ths feet. To overcome this rise and fall, there have been locat- ed 36 locks, of which 11 are west and 25 east of the Ravenna Summit.
Of the commercial importance of this canal when fi- nished, no doubt can be entertained by those who un- derstand the interest and geography of our country. The route passes through one of the most wealthy dis. tricts of our state; and when executed, it will, together with the Ohio canal, open a direct and convenient chan- nel of commerce between the interior of Ohio and the great manufacturing and commercial city of Pittsburg, together with the whole of west Pennsylvania. Between these sections of country an extensive and highly bene- ficial commerce now exists, which must increase with the growing population of our common country, and with the development of its resources.
It is however only by looking forward to the time when the great Pennsylvania canal, in the construction of which that state is now engaged, and the contemplat- ed Chesapeake and Ohio Canal shall have connected the Chesapeake with the Ohio river, the Potomac and the Delaware, that the importance of the Pennsylvania and Ohio canal can be duly appreciated.
When these works shall have been executed, the farmer in the centre of our state may put the produc- tion of his fields on board of a boat which will convey them to Washington, Alexandria, Baltimore, or Phila- delphia, without unloading or re-shipping; and the merchant may bring his goods from either of those cities to his own door, without risk or change in the manner of transportation, and for an expense not exceeding one third of the present cost.
peake and Ohio or the Pennsylvania Canal, a direct in- tercourse between the great Lakes of the northwest on the one hand, and the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays and Atlantic Ocean on the other, will be carried on to an immense extent.
To the interests of Pennsylvania, and of those engag- ed in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, as well as to Ohio, the proposed canal is of the first importance. It is the most advantageous route between Pittsburg and Lake Erie, the most direct from the western parts of Lake Erie, Detroit, and the northwestern lakes to Pitts- burg, Philadelphia, and Baltimore; it unites with the navigation of Lake Erie at a point further west, and longer clear from obstruction by ice than any where in Pennsylvania; and above all it intersects the Ohio Canal before it strikes the lake, and by that means precludes the necessity of trans-shipment, and avoids the danger of lake navigation, as it respects the commercial inter- course between the state of Ohio and the ports of the Delaware and Chesapeake.
Should the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal be complet- ed, we shall see an active commerce between the city of Pittsburg and the western part of the state of Penn- sylvania, on the one hand, and the country bordering on the Ohio river below the mouth of the Scioto, on the other, carried on through that canal and the Ohio canal, during those seasons when the water in the upper part of the Ohio river is too low for steamboat navigation.
The profit of this work to the proprietors must be commensurate to its commercial importance; and it is believed to offer one of the best opportunities for a profitable investment of capital than can be afforded in the United States.
Respectfully submitted.
ISAAC MINOR, BENJAMIN TAPPAN, N. BEASLEY, JOHN JOHNSTON, ALFRED KELLY, M. T. WILLIAMS, A. BOURNE.
Columbus, Jan. 17, 1828.
DU PONCEAU'S ADDRESS BEFORE THE LAW ACADEMY.
A series of addresses delivered before the Law Acad- emy has been placed in our hands, with an intimation that their insertion in the Register would be gratifying to the members of that institution: we therefore, cheer- fully comply, by inserting this week, the address of Pe- ter S. Du Ponceau, Esq. which although not the first in the order of time, may aptly be considered as intro- ductory to the remainder of the series-as it furnishes an historical account of the rise and progress of this Academy; and points out the advantages to be derived by the members, from their connexion with it.
Address delivered before the Law Academy of Phila- delphia, on the opening of the Session 1831-2, by Peter S. Du Ponceau, LL. D., Provost of the Acade- my.
Gentlemen of the Law Academy :-
Ten years have elapsed since this Institution was es- tablished in its present form and under its present name. Before that time there had existed only ephe- meral associations of students of law, denominated Law Societies, which seldom lasted more than two or three years, and were never heard of beyond the walls, where, without compass to steer by, and without guides in whom they could confide, they performed their modest exercises. It was my good fortune, in the winter of
Through the northern part of the Ohio Canal, the proposed Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal, and the Chesa- | 1784-5, or perhaps in that which next preceded it, for
267
UU PONCEAU'S ADDRESS BEFORE THE LAW ACADEMY.
1833.]
recollection is not very particular on this point, to be a member of one of those societies, with the late but for ever illustrious Judge Washington, who at that carly period of his life displayed the germ of those talents by which he was afterwards so eminently distinguished, and won the affection of his fellow students by thie ex- cellence of his heart. What became of that Society after I left it, I have not been able to learn; one more of its members only I remember, John Wilkes Kittera, who became distinguished afterwards at the bar, and in the senate. I believe it was dissolved soon after the admission to practice of those who then composed it.
From this time until the year 1811, I heard no more of Law Societies in this city, although some might have existed without my knowing it. In that year there was one formed, which for the first time conceived the idea of calling to their aid, one of the elder members of the bar, and I was honoured with the office of their Presi- dent. How, and by whom the idea was suggested to them I cannot tell, much less how they came to make choice of my humble person; all I can say is, that the moment the offer was made to me, I perceived all the good effects that might result from this honorable coa- lition of experienced age with unexperienced youth; and I accepted without hesitation. But the time was not yet come for the seed to bear fruit; the society last- ed only two years, and was then dissolved. I have for- tunately preserved the volume of its records. It is in the possession of your Secretary, and I recommend its being kept with care. The opinions delivered by the President were not preserved, but there is no reason to regret their loss.
The seed however had been sown, and it bore its fruits in due time. Towards the latter end of 1820, a new Law Society was formed, and again I was chosen their President, In that Society there were young men of exalted views, some of whom had been lately admit- ted at the bar: among those were particularly distin. guished one of your Vice Provosts, * and the late la- mented John Keating, Jr. who, if he had lived, would most probably be also seated on this bench. Those gentlemen suggested the appointment of a committee from their body, to confer with me on the subject. I regret that all their names are not present to my mem- ory. By that committee the plan of this academy was formed.
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