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 78
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Centre, Clearfield and Lycoming-Henry Petri- ken.
Luzerne and Columbia-Uzal Hopkins.
Susquehanna, Bradford and Tioga -Almon H. Read.
Bedford and Somerset-Henry H. Fore.
Westmoreland-John Klingensmith, jr.
Washington-Thomas Ringland.
Allegheny -- William Ilays.
Beaver and Butler-John Dickey.
Fayette and Greene-John A. Sangston.
Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson, Venango and War-
ren-Philip Mechling.
Mercer, Crawford and Erie-Thomas S. Cunning-
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
City of Philadelphia-Abraham Miller, Wm. H. Keating, Wm. White, jr. John Weigand, Davis B. Sta- cy, Joseph T. Mather, C. P. Holcomb.
County of Philadelphia-Francis J. Harper, John Rheiner, jr. James Goodman, Peter Rambo, W. H. Stokes, Lemuel Paynter, Thomas Guirey, Thomas J. Heston.
Delaware-Samuel Anderson.
Chester-Qliver Alison, Wilmer Worthington, Tho- mas L. Smith, Samuel McCleane.
Montgomery-John E. Gross, John M. Jones, Joseph Fornance.
Bucks-Daniel Boileau, John H Bispham, Christian Bertels, William Watson.
Northampton, Wayne and Pike-John Westbrook, Jedediah Irislı, Adam Daniel, Charles E. Weygand.
Lehigh -John Weida, Jesse Grimm.
Berks-Benjamin Tyson, Jacob U. Snyder, Peter Kline, Jr. Adam Schoener.
Schuylkill-Charles Frailey.
Lancaster -- John Strohm, Levin H. Jackson, Jacob Erb, James Patterson, William Noble, Frederick Hip- ple.
Lebanon-David Mitchel.
Dauphin-William Ayres, Jacob Hoffman.
York-John R. Donnell, Henry Snyder, Wm. Mc- Clellan.
Adams-Thadeus Stephens, James Patterson.
Franklin-William S. McDowell, T. Hartley Craw- ford.
Cumberland-Michael Cocklin, Samuel McKeehan. Perry-John Johnston.
Northumberland-Albe C. Barrett.
Mifflin and Juniata-Andrew Bratton, William Sha- ron. Union-Robert P. Maclay, Simon Shaffer.
Columbia-Isaac Kline.
Luzerne-Albert G Brodhead, Ziba Bennet.
Lycoming, Potter and Mckean-Geo. Crawford, Wil- liam Piatt, jr.
Centre and Clearfield-Henry Barnhart, Alexander Irwin.
Susquehanna-Bela Jones.
Bradford and Tioga-Samuel W. Morris, Lockwood Smith.
Bedford-Thomas B. McElwee, Samuel M. Barc- lay.
271
MAD RIVER AND LAKE ERIE RAIL ROAD.
1831.]
Somerset-Bernard Connelly, Peter Will.
Westmoreland-James Findlay, James Moorhead, Jacob D. Mathiot.
Washington-Robert Love, Wm. Patterson, William McCreery.
Allegheny-Win. Robinson, jr. Robert Ililands, Wil- liam Kerr, James Scott.
Huntingdon-James Clarke, T. T. Cromwell.
Indiana and Jefferson-William Banks.
Armstrong- - Patterson.
Beaver-Abner Lacock, John Clarke. Butler-Samuel Kerr.
Fayette-Joseph Eneix, James H. McClelland. Greene-William S. Harvey. Venango and Warren-James Thompson. Mercer-William S. Rankin. Crawford-John B. Wallace. Erie --- John H. Walker.
! ' From the N. Y. American. MAD RIVER AND LAKE ERIE RAIL ROAD.
The facts and reasonings of the annexed expose by the Commissioners who are here to superintend the opening of books for subscription to the stock of the Mad River and Lake Erie Rail Road, cannot, we think, but have the effect of recommending the enterprize to the capitalists of the city.
"In presenting this road to the citizens of New York for patronage and support, it will be expected that the Commissioners offer to those who are asked to invest their funds in its stock, some evidence of its probable productiveness; together with its utility and importance to the public, as a thoroughfare of travel and commerce.
The connexion of the southern bay of Lake Erie, at Sandusky, with the northern bend of the Ohio river at Cincinnati, by rail road and canal, has long been looked to with interest and solicitude by the people of the west; and has struck with great force all intelligent travellers that have passed from one to the other of these points, as a work in every way worthy of the patronage and support of the citizens of New York and Ohio, whose interest so indissolubly unites. The fertility of the country through which this connexion must be made, its uniform soil and even surface, with its admira- ble adaptation to the construction of a rail road, point to it as one that, in a few years, must be as productive as any work of the same character in this or any other country.
Compare this with any other route in the United States, and then ask yourself, where it is that you inter- cept as large a portion of the travel from the west to the eastern cities, as you do by this contemplated rail road.
Is it not by this route that you tap the great artery of the western travel and western commerce, at its most eligible point, and by that means at once throw your merchandize into the centre of our population, and agri- cultural wealth at the city of Cincinnati; which is now, and must ever continue to be the most important point in the valley of the Mississippi.
Cincinnati at this time concentrates nearly all the tra- vel from the nine western and southwestern states, to- wards the Atlantic cities, and hence the great import- ance of uniting New York by easy and expeditious con- veyance with that place. Construct this road to Lake Erie, and your Utica and other roads, on to Buffalo, and you have accomplished your object by opening an easy line of conveyance, that can never be supplanted, either by a route from Baltimore or Philadelphia, across the Allegheny mountains, nor by any other, connecting lake Erie with the great valley of the Mississippi. And the traveller from the far west, instead of having to pass through Baltimore and Philadelphia to reach New York, as is now the case, will then find it much more easy, and convenient, and cheaper, to pass through New York, in order to reach Baltimore and Philadelphia.
The time required to travel from the principal points in the western and southwestern states, by the route of the proposed road, (in connexion with a rail road from Buffalo and Albany, ) to New York, (and we intend to make ample allowance, ) will be as follows:
From New Orleans to New York, 13 days; from Nat- chez to New York, 11 days; from St. Louis, via the Great National (McAdamized) Road which intersects the proposed rail road at Springfield, 7 days; from Van. dalia, the capital of Illinois, by do. 6 days; and from In- dianapolis, the capital of Indiana, also by the National Road, 5 days; from Nashville, the capital of Tennessee, 7 days; from Louisville, Kentucky, via Cincinnati, 5 days; from Cincinnati, 4 days; and from Sandusky, 3 days-and here we will remark, that the proposed rail road will present the most direct route that can possibly be obtained, from Buffalo to each of the above named places.
We are unable to form a correct estimate of the amount of merchandise and agricultural productions that will pass and re-pass over this road, but we appeal with confidence to all who have travelled over the sec- tion of country through which this route passes, (and we have been pleased to meet with many of your citizens that have,) if in this or any other country, they have seen a better soil, with more industrious occupants, or a larger surplus of agricultural productions than is to be found along this very line of inland communication. We have travelled much in both the western and eastern parts of the United States, and without favor to this section of country, or prejudice against any other, we confess that we have yet to see the country capable of yielding the same amount of agricultural productions.
We are not, however, left entirely to conjecture on this point, but have at our command an official document, from which we will make a few extracts.
This road connects with the northern termination of the Miami canal, at Dayton. This canal is a mere in- dentation from Cincinnati into the country up the Mia- mi valley of only sixty-five miles; connecting no im- portant point, but merely operating as a drain to take off a portion of the surplus production along its route; and near its termination.
In the Report of the Canal Commissioners to the Le- gislature of Ohio, which will be found at pages 342-3, and 4, in the journals of their session, the following facts are stated:
"The saving by transportation on the Ohio Canal, (which is 310 miles in length) over the ordinary mode of transportation by wagons, is $231,004 and 94 cents- and the saving by means of the Miami Canal, which is 65 miles in length, is $81,152 and 82 cents. But the parallel in favor of this route does not stop here. The property that arrived at Cleveland during the last year by the Ohio Canal was the following :- wheat and flour amounting to 112,158 barrels; pork, 13,081 bar- rels; whiskey, 2, 150 barrels. During the same period of time, the property that arrived at Cincinnati by the Miami Canal was as follows: flour 97,578 barrels; pork, 19,758, whiskey, 40,425 barrels. Thus presenting the fact, from official documents, that in the exports of four, pork, and whiskey, the great staples of Ohio, there passed through the Miami Canal, which is only 65 miles in length, and yet connecting no important commercial point with Cincinnati, 29,662 barrels more have passed through the Ohio Canal during the same time.
In the same report we have the following of the tolls and water rents paid on each of those canals during the last year. On the Ohio Canal, there were paid $82,- 867 42; and on the Miami Canal, 40, 928 81-still keeping the same relative proportion in favor of the latter, and the productiveness of the country, through which it and the anticipated rail road is intended to form a line of communication.
JOSEPH VANCE, Commissioners. ISAAC MILLS,
NOTE .- It is proper for us to ate here, that there
272
MISCELLANEOUS.
OCTOBER
were but 270 miles of the Ohio Canal, to wit: from Cleveland to Chilicothe, open during the whole of the last season; the balance of the distance, from Chillico- the to the Ohio river, was not opened until towards the latter part of the season.
EXPERIMENT ON THE RAIL ROAD .- We understand that an experiment was made a few days since on an inclined plane of the Danville and Pottsville Rail Road on the Broad mountain, to ascertain its practical opera- tion: the length of the plane being 800 feet, and per- pendicular height 200 feet. The ascending car which was raised by means of a descending one, passed up in the short space of ninety seconds, and without any thing to interrupt the smoothness of its ascent. It is under- stood that water power will be made use of on these inclined planes, which is attended with far less expense than that which is incident to steam machinery. - Mi- ner's Journal.
ACCIDENT .- On Thursday last about noon, while two men were employed in the mines of Mr. McIntyre, near the West Branch rail road, an immense body of rock and slate suddenly gave way, and before the mi- ners had time to think of making their escape, the gangway was completely blocked up, and they found themselves buried alive. In this awful situation they remained until three o'clock on Friday morning, at which time, through the unremitted exertions of their friends, who worked without interruption throughout the night, they were taken out in a state of great debili- ty and exhaustion, but strong enough to warrant the hope of speedy recovery. Great praise is due to those who exerted themselves with such persevering industry in behalf of these individuals, by which alone their mi- raculous preservation was effected. A horse which was in the mines was killed, being crushed to atoms by the overwhelming mass. - Miner's Journal.
LARGE TOMATO .- A Tomato grew in the garden of Mr. John L. Wright of this borough, this season, which weighed two pounds .- Columbia Spy.
THE REGISTER.
PHILADELPHIA, OCT. 26, 1833.
The increasing interest which is at present felt in our city with regard to the attraction of the western trade to Philadelphia, has induced us to devote a considerable portion of our number to articles bearing upon that subject. The article on the Mad river rail-road in con- nexion with the one which we lately published, exhibits the plans and the zeal of our neighbours of New York to endeavour to exclude us from any participation in the immense trade of the West. We understand, that one great object for forming the "Board of trade" in our city is to counteract those exertions -- and that they have already taken some steps towards it by the appointment of a delegation to the Warren Conven- tion.
EXPENDITURES BY THE CITY COMMISSION- ERS IN 1832.
Regulating ascents, &c.
868 00
Expenses of offices,
1,094 63
Services in the markets, 646 00
Incidental expenses of Councils,
166 36
Repairing over water pipes,
13,441 21
City property,
19,853 79
Purchase of paving stone,
1,673 25
Repairing footways,
1,008 08
Expenses authorized by Councils,
8,298 55
Sanitary fund,
38,782 76
$269,508 49
Composed of the following items,
Advertizing,
470 00
Blacksmiths' work,
1,812 28
Bricklayers' work,
2,420 22
Bricks,
8,107 84
Care of clocks,
250 00
Care of Franklin square,
342 60
Do Independence, do
467 12
Do Penn, do
24 12
Do Washington, do
1,032 37
Carpenters' work,
3,307 07
Cleansing docks and Sewers,
453 00
Do city,
27,883 26
Collecting vaccine cases,
258 75
Curbstone setting, &c.
1,237 41
Flag stone,
392 89
Fuel,
252 98
Gravel,
2,326 61
Hardware,
725 71
Hauling gravel and paving stone,
18,865 07
Killing dogs,
1,849 00
Laborers and Carters,
44,665 25
Lamp and tin work,
2,201 62
Lime,
353 00
Lumber,
3,247 87
Messengers of offices,
400 00
Miscellaneous, #
51,347 97
Oil,
15,935 20
Painting and glazing,
634 40
Paving stone,
31,084 93
Pay of Watch, 34,907 60
Petty bills paid,
3,492 66
Printing and stationary,
1,572 84
Pump makers work,
2,752 67
Regulating ascents,
896 50
Services in the Markets,
594 00
Taxes
434 3 4
Trees,
89 00
Turning,
504-30
Wharf builders' work,
319 09
Receipts into the Treasury from vari- ous sources during 1832, includ- ing $16,849 18, balance in Treasury, 1st Jan 1832,
Payments during the same period,
478,893 90
Docks and Sewers,
14,059 76
Lighting and Watching,
57,280 62
Balance in the Treasury,
$27,425 40
Pumps and Wells,
4,031 12
New Paving,
74,040 70
Unpaved streets,
6,365 95
506,319 30
Cleansing the City,
27,897 71
HAZARD'S REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.
EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.
VOI . XII .- NO. IS. PHILADELPHIA. NOVEMBER 2, 1833. NO. 305
MANUAL LABOR SYSTEM.
Report of a Committee of the Trustees of Allegheny College, on the Manual Labor system.
Adopted and ordered to be printed, October 7, 1833. The Committee to whom was referred the subject of Manual Labor in Literary Institutions,
REPORT,
That they have taken the subject into deep and se- rious consideration, and are of the opinion that Manual Labor in Literary Institutions, possesses all the intrinsic properties of the great desideratum to preserve the health and morals of students-to promote a vigorous application to study, and a general if not universal spread of useful science throughout our community.
Your committee feel sensibly, the high responsibility resting upon the board in relation to this Institution; they being' the guardians of the munificence of the State, as well as numerous benevolent individuals whose funds have erected one of the most spacious and elegant buildings for collegiate purposes, " and furnished it with one of the best Librariest and Philosophical apparatus found in any Literary Institution in the West, and infe- rior to but few in the Union. And to answer the pur- poses of these benevolent designs, it is not only neces- sary to establish a classical school within the walls of the college edifice, but to have that school conducted on such principles as will be most conducive to the health and morals of the students.
But no fact is more clearly established in the annals of modern literature, than that the present most com- mon mode of instruction, is deplorably defective in both these important particulars. A constant application of the mind, without giving the body suitable exercise, en- ervates the system, stupefies the faculties, impairs the health, and of course prevents vigorous application to study, and eminence in the attainment of useful science. And such are the deleterious effects of this course upon the student, that, according to the estimate of several eminent Presidents and Professors in Colleges, one- fourth of those who may be called close applicants, come to premature graves, while the great majority of the remainder drag out a feeble existence, with sickly frames and shattered constitutions.
In the mean time, according to the proverb, "an idle man is the devil's work shop " He being an active agent, he will be doing something; and if not usefully employed, will be doing mischief. Hence the idle man- ner in which students usually spend their leisure hours, tends strongly to vice and immorality : so much so, that many pious parents have feared to send their sons to College, lest their morals should be polluted, and them- selves be rendered a curse instead of a blessing to the world.
That these evils exist, and that the best, if not the only remedy for them within human grasp is Manual Labor, to occupy the hours of relaxation from study, appears from the testimony of nearly one hundred gen- tlemen, Presidents and Professors in Colleges, and othì- erwise distinguished for their literary attainments and thorough knowledge of men and things.
Bodily exercise for some hours each day, was requir-
ed in the system of educatian adopted by Pythagoras. And in Persia, Rome, the Grecian States. and indeed, in every well regulated ancient government, their systems of education made daily bodily exercise, a requisition. This system prevailed generally if not universally until monasteries were established, and literary men turned monks, divorced themselves from useful and practical life, and ended their days in cloisters, where they be- came sluggards and dozed away a life that might, with activity, been rendered useful to the world.
In accordance with this ancient usage, we learn from the historians of those days, that the most distinguished Statesmen, Soldiers, Philosophers, Historians, and Po- ets, connected Manual Labor with Study, and many of them were dependant on the avails of their toil for sub- sistence, while employed in the literary pursuits which have immortalized their names, and placed thern on the imperishable pages of history as the benefactors of their sp cies
About two centuries ago, Milton wrote a pamphlet in which he urged the necessity of Manual Labor to secure the health and morals of the student. And since then, Jahn, Ackerman, Salzman, and Frank, in Germany; Jissat, Rousseau, and Londe, in France, have all written largely on the subject. But it was reserved for the Rev. Mr. Wesley, whose extensively useful labors ren- dered him one of the greatest benefactors of his age, to first revive this ancient mode of instruction by connect- ing useful labor with Literary studies; by founding and putting into successful operation, the "Kingwood Aca- demy" in England. And, also by establishing an itine- rant ministry, the economy of which requires the minis- ter to labor and study every day.
And considering the usual idle mode of recreation, or spending leisure hours at Schools and Colleges, as a sin- ful waste of time, and of course tending to immorality; and that regular exercise in some useful employment is necessary for health as well as morals; and above all, desiring to qualify the young men under his care for usefulness in life, he made it the duty of students to spend their hours of recreation or relaxation from study in some useful employment. And it is highly probable, as Mr. Wesley made the Bible the standing rule of his conduct, that when he founded this school he had his eye upon a similar one, founded by Elisha the prophet, -for "the sons of the prophets, " .- in which the students labored; for they "borrowed axes, and chopped timber to build them houses," &c.
In the introduction of Methodism into America, the economy of its founder was adhered to in this particu- lar. And Cokesbury College, near Baltimore, founded by Bishops Coke and Asbury about forty-five years ago, had connected with it work shops, gardens, &c., in which the students were required to spend their hours of recreation, instead of idle plays which were strictly forbidden. But this building was consumed by fire, (as was supposed, ) by the hand of an incendiary. Another was built, but it sharing the same fate, the Methodists became discouraged and made no more attempts of the kind for many years.
The next effort was in "the Maine Wesleyan Semina- ry," the model of which was taken from the above named schools. But these institutions being under the patronage and general superintendance of the Methodist
*120 by 44 fect.
VOL. XII.
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274
MANUAL LABOR SYSTEM.
[ NOVEMBER
Episcopal Church, and having grown out of her econo- my, appear to have attracted no attention out of that body, and to have been viewed as a part of her religious institutions, and suitable only for the members of her communion, or of their sons.
But shortly after the establishment of the Maine Wes- leyan Seminary, some enterprising spirits in the state of New York, succeeded in getting up the "Oneida Insti- tute," to test the Manual Labor System; and such has been its success, that the system has become the most popular of any mode of instruction now extant, and not only new schools and colleges are being erected on the plan in different parts of the Union, hut many of the old colleges are also adopting it, as an important improve- ment in the modus operandi for instructing the youth of our land
And such is the prevailing conviction of its utility, that the benevolent societies of the day, have added to their mighty phalanx one in New York to promo'e Ma- nual Labor in Literary Institutions. This Society em- ployed Mr. Theodore D Weld as its agent, during the year 1832, who travelled very extensively, and corres- ponded with literary gentlemen much more so, and in his report has collected a mass of information apparent- ly sufficient to satisfy the most skeptical mind, that this is the best, if not the only system of education in use, in which the health and morals of the student can be safe.
And that our young men can prosecute their studies with great success, and at the same time labor, not only enough to preserve their health, but also, to defray all the expenses of tuition, board, books, clothing, &c., is easily demonstrated by numerous cases in which men have risen to the highest eminence by their own exer- tions. Thus, Gifford, the cabin boy, became one of the most influential writers of his day. Metastasio, a friendless boy singing verses through the streets, became one of the great ornaments of Italian literature. The two Milner's, raised themselves from the weaver's bench to the highest eminence in the literary and religious world. Epictetus, born a slave, became the pride of the stoics, and the familiar friend of the best Empe- rors of Rome. Ferguson and Murray, raised themselves from being shepherd boys to be distinguished instructers of mankind. Brown, the author of the Concordance Commentary, and Dictionary of the Bible, was a shep- herd boy. Pope Adrian, was the son of a barge builder, availed himself of the privilege of a charity school at Lou- vane, and being too poor to buy candles to study by night, he would read in the church porches and at the corners of the streets, where lamps were kept burning. By unwearied diligence in this course, he became emi- nent for his acquirements, and rose to be preceptor to Charles V., by whose influence he was promoted to the papal Chair. Terence was a slave, yet raised himself to such eminence that the haughty Counsels of Rome courted his society, and delighted to do him honor.
Franklin, a printer, raised himself, by studying while laboring at his business, to such an eminence in literature and general science, that he became the greatest phi- losopher and ambassador of his age . The two Ste- phen's, Robert and Henry, father and son, rose from being the most laborious printers, to be among the most learned men of the age. Brindley, when a boy a carter and ploughman, afterwards a mill-right, became a cele- brated engineer in constructing canals, tunnels, aque- ducts and locks. Sir Humphrey Davy, the son of a wood carver, and an apprentice to an apothecary, became the greatest chemist of the age. Columbus, a sailor, became the greatest geographer, astronomer, and dis- coverer, of his times Ben Johnson, the dramatic poet, was a muson and a soldier, when young. Roger Sher- man, a shoemaker, became one of the most distinguished orators, and patriot Statesman of the American Revolu- tion. Herschel, a British soldier in Nova Scotia, first commenced studying the motion of the planets when walking on the sentry's post at night, and being dis- charged that he might pursue his studies to greater
advantage became one of the great teachers of the world in the science of astronomy. Shakespeare, was a butcher when a boy.
Samuel Lee, a carpenter, labored and studied toge- ther, in carly life, yet became the most distinguished linguist of the age, and professor of Hebrew in the University of Cambridge, England. Adam Clark, a farmer's son, an apprentice to a draper, became one of the most celebrated linguists and divines in the world. And Rittenhouse, the astronomer, was a brass founder. To these distinguished names might be added a host of others, well calculated to inspire the youthful mind with ardent desires for like distinctions, and to remove those barriers which poverty may seem to interpose to prevent their progress; and especially as very few of the above named individuals enjoyed the facilities offered the Stu- dent by the Manual Labor System.
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