Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

144

They have viewed the Coal Trade as one that is in an infant state, in this country,and requiring the united aid and support of all, to bring it to a successful issue. They view it as a trade capable of great improvement, and that as all are but new in it, all should throw their experience in the general stock, that the whole may derive the benefit.

Acting on this principle, they have pursued the one grand object, that of knowledge of, and improvement in the trade; and they feel gratified that the result has, thus far, answered their fullest expectations. Respectfully submitted.

B. H. SPRINGER, President.

Pottsville, Jan. 5, 1835.

At a meeting of the Coal Mining Association, held at the Pennsylvania Hall, January 5, 1835, the following persons were unanimously elected the officers of the Association for the ensuing year:

President-Burd Patterson.

Vice President-John C. Offerman.
Treasurer-Samuel Lewis.

Secretaries-Andrew Russel and Charles Lawton.
Board of Trade-Samuel Brooke, Samuel Lewis,
Thomas C. Williams, Samuel J. Potts, Martin Weaver,
G. G. Palmer, and James Wilde.

B. H. Springer, President of the Board of Trade, having resigned, it was

Resolved, That the thanks of this Association be tendered to Mr. Springer, for the ability, research and diligence that he has evinced in the discharge of his duties as the President of the Board of Trade, and while we regret his intended removal from among us, we sin cerely wish success to his intended establishment in the Coal Trade in Philadelphia, and the Secretary is requested to communicate this resolution to Mr. Springer, and append it to the the Report.

Extract from the Minutes.

C. LAWTON, Secretary.

At a meeting of the Board of Trade on the same evening, G. G. Palmer, was elected President, and T. C. Williams, Secretary.

From the Pittsburg Gazette.

NAVIGATION OF THE OHIO.-The editor of the Philadelphia Commercial Herald,* some time since, request ed us to give some account of the times at which the navigation of the Ohio was usually interrupted by ice and low water, for some years past. We had intended to do so, but other matters have prevented it. The opening of the rivers, yesterday, has called our attention to it again, and we now perform that duty in part. Messrs. Jacob Forsyth & Co. have politely furnished us with their steam boat reporter, since 1829, from which we collect the following information.

This book commences on the 4th of August, 1829, and gives arrivals and departures from and to Louisville, Cincinnati, throughout August, September, October, November and December, of that year, and through January, February, March, and the succeeding months of 1830, until the 14th of July.

The last arrival in January was the Talisman on the 18th; and the last departure the Lark, on the 19th.Probably about the 20th or 21st, the river was closed Subse. by ice, though the book does not state this.

quently we find the following note:-River opened Feb. 20, 1830." From the 14th of July, and through the months of August, September, and October, there were no arrivals or departures. On the 23d of November, 1830, navigation was resumed, and continued open page

* Editor of Register? See Vol. XIV. 318.

until the 14th of January, 1831, when it ceased. Sub-
sequently we find this note:-"River opened 19th of Feb.
Boats continued to arrive and depart until
1831.”
the 27th of September, 1831. The last arrival was
the Versailles, on the 26th, and same boat departed
next day.

From that time, there were no arrivals or departures until the 10th November, when navigation recommenced. Afterwards we find the following note:-" River closed Dec. 4th 1831." Then the following:-"' Ice broke Jan. 7th, 1832." Subsequently the following:"Navigation again stopped with ice, January 26th, 1832." It continued closed, however, but a short time; for, on the 1st of February, the Talisman departed for Louisville; and, on the 2d, the Herald (a new boat) for Mobile.

From this time, steam boats arrived and departed with ordinary regularity, until the 29th of June-from that day, there was neither an arrival or departure until the 11th of August, when navigation recommenced, and continued until Sept. 4.

From the 4th of September till the 9th of November, navigation was suspended by low water. From the 9th November, 1832, there was no interruption until the 21st day of July, 1833, except from the 14th till the 19th of January, that being the longest period in which there was no arrival or departure.

On the 21st of July, 1833, departed the steamboats Mount Vernon and Albion, being the last. There was then neither an arrival or departure until the 23d of September. From that day till the 1st of November, there were 13 arrivals and 19 departures. During the months of November, December, and up to the 3d of January, 1834, the navigation was brisk and active. Then we find the following notes.Monongahela River closed January 9th, 1834.Allegheny closed same day." Immediately below is the following note:-" Ice broke up, with high flood, Jan. 12." From that date, until the 29th of July, navigation was regular and uninterrupted. During August and September, there was neither arrival nor departure.

Then comes the following note:-“ Navigation commenced for Steam Boats, Oct. 13," and continued until January, 1835, when we noticed the following minute"River closed on the night of the 3d of January, 1835.” Then-" River opened on the 23d."

Navigation then became quite brisk-but, on the 6th of February, inst., it was again stopped by ice. On the 19th inst., the ice broke up again, which brings us to the present time.

Here, then, we have a faithful account of the interruptions of navigation during five years and a half, by which it appears that

In 1830, the interruption by ice was about 30 days.

1831

.6

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors]

661
66

62

12

5

3

112 days.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

HAZARD'S

REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.

OKVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.

VOL. XV.--NO. 10.

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.

PHILADELPHIA, MARCH 7, 1835.

NEW YORK AND ERIE RAIL ROAD. We are indebted to a New York subscriber for the proceedings of the Common Council of that city, a report of a Special Committee of the Board of Aldermen, and also the report of Benjamin Wright, Engineer, in relation to the New York and Erie Rail Road, intended to counterbalance the effects which would result from the efforts making in this state to attract to this city the western trade. These documents we conceive highly important to our citizens, and therefore present them for more general inspection, than they would otherwise probably receive.

Proceedings of the Common Council of the city of New York, in aid of the New York and Erie Rail Road. On the 1st of December, 1834, the Board of Assistant Aldermen, on motion of Assistant Alderman Johnson, adopted the following resolution:

Whereas the immense augmentation which has been experienced in the extent, wealth and prosperity of the city of New York, since the completion of the Canals of this state, signally demonstrates the value and neces. sity of artificial channels of commercial communication, connecting the metropolis with the populous and fertile regions of the interior:

And whereas several rival works leading into the state of Ohio, from ports on the Atlantic sea board south of this city, are now constructing and are rapidly advancing to completion under the direction of various companies incorporated, and powerfully patronized by the States of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, seeking to divert from the city of New York, the extensive and lucrative commerce which it has heretofore enjoyed with the rich and rapidly increasing States and Territories north of the Ohio river, and relying for success upon the greater severity of climate, experienced in the more northerly latitude of the State of New York, whereby the navigation of its Canals is suspended during a large portion of the year; and whereas it has become vitally important to the commerce of this metropolis, to obviate the difficulties and disadvantages to which it is thus subjected, which object can only be attained by constructing additional channels of trade and intercourse by means of Rail Roads leading directly from the city to the western waters, and available for commercial purposes at all seasons of the year.

And whereas the Legislature of this State at their last session, directed the route of a rail pad to be sur veyed under the direction of the Executive, through the southern counties of the State from the Hudson river to Lake Erie, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the public interest would be promoted by a subscription on the part of the state to a portion of the capital stock of the New York and Erie Rail Road Company (which was incorporated in the year 1832, for the purpose of constructing such road,) whereby the Commonwealth at large might participate in the burthens and benefits of that undertaking, or in what other mode the general objects sought to be accomplished by that act of incorVOL. XV.

19

No. 374.

poration, might properly be encouraged by the public authorities:

And whereas it is now satisfactorily ascertained by means of that survey, that in case the state shall cooperate and participate in the enterprise, the whole of the road in question can be completed within four years from the first day of May 1835, and a communication thereby provided, by which passengers and merchandise may be regularly transported at all seasons of the year, in less than forty hours from the city of New York to the southern shore of Lake Erie, communicating also by means of the Allegheny river directly with the valley of the Ohio:

And whereas the inhabitants of this city are deeply Interested in the prosecution and speedy accomplishment of this most important undertaking, tending as it plainly must, to attract and secure for ever to this emporium the vast and expanding trade of the most fertile, valuable and populous portion of the continent, thereby augmenting its commerce, prosperity and wealth to an incalculable extent:

Therefore Resolved, (if the Board of Aldermen concur herewith,) that it be referred to a Joint Committee of three members of each Board to report resolutions signifying the sense, which the Common Council entertain of the necessity, importance and value of the proposed work, and to inquire and report what mea. sures, if any, the city may properly adopt to promote and secure its speedy execution.

On the 3d day of December, 1834, the Board of Aldermen, on motion of Alderman Stilwell, concurred in the resolution, and a committee was appointed of three members from each board.

On the 4th day of February, 1835, the joint commit. tee presented the subjoined report, which was adopted on the 9th of that month by the Board of Assistant Aldermen, and on the by the Board of Aldermen.

The Special Committee from the Board of Aldermen and Assistant Aldermen of the City of New York, to whom was referred the resolution of Assistant Alderman Johnson, touching the necessity, importance and value of the proposed rail road through the southern counties of this state, from the Hudson River to Lake Erie, respectfully beg leave to

REPORT:

That for the purpose of being more fully informed of the details of the subject thus referred to their consideration, they have summoned before them several of the Directors of the New York and Erie Rail Road Company, incorporated in the year 1832, for the purpose of constructing the proposed road, and have also been attended at their request by Benjamin Wright, Esquire, and his assistant engineers, under whose care the route of the road has been recently surveyed. From these individuals the Committee received very full and satisfactory explanations, and nevertheless the Committee being conscious of the momentous importance of the subject under examination, felt it also to be their duty to satisfy themselves, as far as was practicable, from auxiliary sources of information, of the accuracy of the details which were elicited on this interesting

examination. It fortunately happened that one of the committee, by having been engaged for a considerable time in a work of public improvement intersected by the route of the proposed road, had become considerably familiar with the topography and also with the trade and resources of that portion of the country, and was thereby enabled greatly to facilitate the examinations of the Committee.

The Committee moreover deemed it proper that they should make no statements affecting a subject so deeply interesting to the community at large, without a full and sufficient scrutiny, and they have therefore pursued their examination with a minuteness of inquiry which has brought them into acquaintance with many interesting details, which they may deem it expedient hereafter to make the subject of a supplemental report.

Delhi: in Otsego county, by a very important and valuable branch leading up the valley of the Unadilla to Utica, for which a charter is obtained and the stock already subscribed; a branch will lead through the val ley of the Onondaga River, in the county of Cortland, to the Salt Works at Syracuse: at Owego, the rail road now finished to Ithaca, will immediately connect the main line with the fertile country adjacent to the Cayuga and Seneca Lakes: by the line of Steamboat navigation now in preparation on the Susquehanna at Owego, it will be united to the valley of Wyoming and the coal regions of Pennsylvania: the contemplated rail road from Rochester to Danville, if extended a few miles, will intersect the main line in Steuben county: in Allegheny county it will intersect the contemplated route of the Rochester and Olean canal: and it will be. come connected in Cataraugus county with the Allegeny River, and thereby open a direct communication between the city of New York and the large and popu

In the mean time they beg leave to present to the Common Council the present summary statement of the facts which have been ascertained by their exami-lous communities and cities in the valley of the Ohio. nation.

In the first place, then, they report, that after full inspection of the maps and plans returned by Judge Wright, and copious explanations from himself and his assistants, they are entirely satisfied that it is practicable to construct the proposed road-and that it will afford the means of transporting passengers, merchandise and the public mails at all seasons of the year, in less than 48 hours from the city of New York to Lake Erie.

The road after leaving Rockland and Orange counties, will follow successively the large vallies of the Delaware, and Susquehanna and the Allegheny, and there by obtain the easy grades of declivity naturally pursued by these streams. The surface of much of the country adjacent to the line is undulating, but the apparent difficulties which are thereby presented, are avoided by following the water courses.

In the language of Judge Wright, the road "goes around instead of over the hills." The whole line of the route is 483 miles, capable however, of being shortened to 460 miles; but it is not comparatively more circuitous than the canals of Pennsylvania. The ascents on much the greatest portion of the route, are generally from 5 to 30 feet per mile, and do not exceed 60 feet per mile, except in five or six instances, where the line crosses the natural boundaries of the large vallies. No stationary engine or inclined plane will be necessary on any part of the road, except in one instance, about four miles from Lake Erie, and even that may be dispensed with by altering the grade for eight miles, at a moderate expense. Locomotive engines, drawing passenger cars, may be propelled over every portion of the road (except the inclined plane) with economy and advantage; and at the points where the rate of acclivity exceeds sixty feet to the mile, the passage of burthen cars heavily loaded may be easily and cheaply expedited, either by auxiliary locomotive en gines, or an addition of animal power. It is quite certain that passengers may be carried over the road with great celerity and profit, and from the testimony taken before the Committee, and the personal information of one or more of its members, they are entirely satisfied that the road will also serve to transport to tide water the lumber, provisions, live stock, fuel, and agricultural products of the region of country adjacent to the route and its contemplated branches, and carry back merchandise in return, more cheaply and advantageously than can be effected by any other channel of communication.

The road will be intersected by several lateral branches and canals, which will greatly increase its revenue and its importance. In the western part of Orange county, it intersects the Delaware and Hudson Canal: in Broome county, the Chenango canal: in Tioga county, the Chemung canal: in Delaware county, it will be connected with a branch leading up to

The map of the proposed route annexed to this report fully exhibits these several localities, and is well worthy the attention of the Common Council.

2. The Committee are of opinion that this work will afford immense public benefits to the inhabitants of this metropolis.

The rapid, constant and regular communication it will insure at all seasons of the year with the extensive and fertile grazing districts in the counties of Orange and Delaware and the valley of the Susquehanna, will cheapen the price of subsistence, by affording abundant and uninterrupted supplies of provisions for the public markets: the excellent and valuable timber furnished by the counties of Steuben, Allegheny and Catarangus, by reducing the cost of building, will accelerate the growth of the city, and at the same time facilitate the operations of ship building: the rapid and regular passage it will secure to the public mails, will insure the speedy transmission of commercial intelligence: it will provide for the public defence, by affording the means of military communication with unparallelled speed between the Atlantic and Western frontiers; while the comfort and health of our citizens will be promoted by obtaining cheap and frequent access to the healthful regions of the interior.

3. The speedy completion of the work has now become an object of transcendant importance to the merchants, traders and land owners of this city, in order to preserve and extend its great and lucrative trade with the West.

The important and alarming truth can no longer escape the attention of our municipal authorities, that the intercourse between this city and the great West, to which it owes so large a share of its present prosperity and power, is totally suspended during five months of the year. Availing themselves of that circumstance, the public spirited citizens of Pennsylvania have constructed and have now recently completed a line of canals and rail road from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, which are available for the purposes of trade and intercourse during at least two months of the year in which the navigation of the New York canals is suspended, by the greater severity of their more northern latitude. The Erie Canal is not usually navigable until the 20th of April, and rarely remains open after the 20th of November. The canals of Pennsylvania, favored by a more southern climate, are generally navigable about the 10th of March, and remain so until the 25th of December. The merchants of Philadelphia are thereby enabled to monopolize the western trade during por tions of the spring and autumn, peculiarly valuable for commercial purposes. Even after the navigation is opened on the Erie Canal, the intercourse between New York and the west is obstructed for a considerable time, by the ice accumulated during the months of March and April in the harbor of Buffalo, while the navigation of the Ohio river being open at Pittsburg during that

communities by the facilities afforded to them for cheap and expeditious communication with their trading emporium, will augment to a corresponding extent their capabilities of pursuing a profitable commerce with the sea board.

important season of the year, the produce of the west finds its way to Philadelphia, and its proceeds are invested in merchandise, and transported into the remotest portions of the interior, before vessels are able to navigate the eastern end of Lake Ere. The intelligent and enterprising merchants of Phil delphia, supported It has been frequently and by no means extravagantly by the united efforts of their Board of Trade, are striv-stated, that the construction of the Erie Canal, by ing to follow up this advantage, by promoting with great zeal, the construction of I teral canals and rail roads by the state of Ohio, and by private companies, extending northwesterly from the Pennsylvania line to the Ohio canal, for the purpose of effecting a communi. cation between Pittsburg and t e harbor of Cleveland, on Lake Erie; and that too for the avowed object of diverting from the city of New York the lucrative commerce it has heretofore enjoyed with the northern parts of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan.

There is no mode of successful competition with these efforts of our public spirited rivals, except by opening a winter communication between this city and the harbors on the wider part of Lake Erie.

The proposed road will accomplish that object by affording the means of transmitting merchandise at all seasons of the year within forty eight hours from the warehouses of New York to the harbors of Dunkirk, Portland or Erie, while its connection, with the cheap descending navigation of the Allegheny river, (which is generally availble in the latter part of February, and early in March, and is capable with small expense, of being rendered navigable for steamboats at all seasons of the year,) will enable the merchants of our city to furnish the cities of Pittsburg, Cincinnati, and the other trading towns in the valley of the Ohio with their spring supplies before the opening of navigation on the Pennsylvania Canals. The speedy completion of this road will moreover encourage and hasten its speedy continuation by great western and southern branches lead ing from Lake Erie to various points on the western and south-western waters, whereby passengers, merchandise, and the mail, may be transmitted in six days from New York to St. Louis, and thus this great central channel of intercourse, 1, ing wholly within the limits of our own state, and subject to its sole jurisdiction, will become the main trunk of a connected system, or series of internal communication extending from the port of New York, throughout the populous region in the vast and fertile valley of the Mississippi.

diminishing the time and labor expended in transportaton, has saved annually to the citizens of this state not less than $5,000,000, and added at least $150,000,000, to their aggregate wealth. This immense and rapid augmentation of value will afford a criterion, though imperfect, by which to estimate some portion of the pecuniary benefits to be derived by the public from the opening of a communication not less cheap, more regular, and far more expeditious than the canal, between this metropolis and a district of fertile territory, embracing an area more than eight times as large as the state of New York, west of Utica. To calculate with any accuracy the value of the vast and illimi1able trade which within twenty years will be concentrated upon the waters of Lake Erie, destined before the present generation shall pass away, to number more than a thousand vessels, and to bear on its surface the wealth of at least twenty millions of the American people, or to compute the prodigious rise in value, which the landed property on the Island of New York will experience, when the vast and expanding commerce of these great inland communities shall be concentrated within its limits will not be attempted: but it will be confidently claimed that the increase in the value of the real estate in this city within the first ten years after completing the proposed road, will repay more than tenfold the whole cost of its construction, and that the augmentation in the population and wealth of the immense and fertile regions which will be brought by its completion within four days travel of the sea board, will defy all attempts at sober calculation.

5. In what mode, then, can this great enterprise, yielding public advantage thus enormous, be most effectually and speedily accomplished?

In the year 1832, the standing committee on the internal improvements in the Legislature of this state, after full examination of this and other projects of inland communication, reported that it would not be politic for the state, as such, to construct rail roads; and for the obvious reason, that the owners of the road must

The statistical particulars of these great lines of west-manage the transportation, and the state could not beern communication, and the important influence they come common carriers. But the committee recommendwill exert in directing their trade into Lake Erie, and ed the incorporation of companies, whenever individuthence to the City of New York, will be found in an als should see fit to risk their property in constructing interesting letter furnished to the committee, by one of rail roads, reserving, however, the right, which is rethe directors of the company, which is annexed to this served in all other acts of incorparation, to repeal or report, and is recommended to the attention of modify the charters. The committee also recommendthe Common Council as a document of much impor-ed that the state should subscribe to portions of stock in this and all the other great leading routes, whereby 4. The preservation of the trade of these great inland | the public at large might participate, to a certain extent, districts, by connecting them closely with this city by means of cheap and rapid channels of communication, has become an object of the deepest solicitude to the landholders of New York, and every person interested in its permanent prosperity.

tance.

in their pecuniary profits, (if any,) and at the same. time secure the economical management resulting from the vigilant attention of individual proprietors.

The annual message of the Governor to the Legislature at the opening of the session in that year, after stating that the construction of rail roads in various parts of the state would "become eminently promotive of the public good," but that many generations must pass away before the numerous improvements worthy of the enterprise of the state, could be undertaken by the public means alone," recommended that companies of individual proprietors be incorporated with power to construct them, reserving, however, to the Legislature, the right secured in all the recent acts of incorporation, to take possession of the roads or public property, on equitable terms.

The past growth, and in truth the very existence of this metropolis, are wholly owing to the facilities of communication it possesses with the agricultural population of the interior. The Erie Canal opened a channel of intercourse during seven months of the year, between the port of New York and inland districts containing little more than a million of inhabitants, and yet within ten years from its completion, the assessed value of the landed property of the city, was augmented from 52 to 114 millions. The completion of the proposed road, will bring into constant connection with the city of New York an increased amount of territory, already contain- The Legislature accordingly, in the year 1832, charing three and destined within six years to number more tered a company for the purpose of making the propos than six millions of inhabitants; while the impulse imed road, (subject to the reservations recommended by parted to the agricultural prosperity of those inland the Governor,) with leave to issue capital stock to the

amount of $10,000,000, requiring them to expend $200,000 before April, 1837; to finish one quarter of the work before April, 1842; one half before April, 1847; and the whole before April, 1852; and authoris ing them to receive donations of lands to aid in the construction of the work. By an amendment, obtained in 1833,the company were empowered to organize themselves, on receiving subscriptions of stock for one million of dollars. That amount was duly subscribed, and is now holden principally by merchants, land holders, and other inhabitants of this city, deeply interested in its permanent prosperity, and anxious to complete the proposed work with all practicable despatch.

incorporated, possess sufficient means and resources to complete the road with the energy and despatch which the public interest requires. The Committee, in prosecuting this inquiry, have personally examined the officers, directors, and books of the Company, and from that personal inspection, they have ascertained that $1,000,000, has been regularly subscribed to the stock and it now is held by individuals greatly interested in the permanent prosperity of the city, and fully determined to spare no effort to insure the speedy completion of the road. The concerns of the Company are managed by 17 directors, fourteen of whom, to wit:James G. King, the President, Eleazer Lord, the Vice President, Peter G. Stuyvesant, John G. Coster, John In order to ascertain how far the public interest Rathbone, junior, Goold Hoyt, Samuel B. Ruggles, J. would be promoted by a subscription to the stock, on Green Pearson, Elihu Townsend, Peter Harmony, the part of the State, the Legislature in May 1824, au- Stephen Whitney, James Boorman, John Duer, and thorized the route to be surveyed at the public expense. Michael Burnham, reside in this city, and are well In the mean time, the Directors of the Company have known to their fellow citizens,and the remaining three, been actively employed in making the inquiries and in- to wit: Jeremiah H. Pearson, George D. Wickham, vestigations necessary to the prosecution of their ob and Joshua Whitney, reside in the counties along the ject, adopting measures calculated to secure the con-route, and equally command the confidence of the infidence of capitalists, and obtaining donations towards habitants of that part of the State. their work from large proprietors on the route; and they have met with such success, and such encouraging assurances that they are confident of being enabled to commence the road during the ensuing season, and they believe that in case the Legislature should authorise a subscription by the State, for a portion of the stock, or a loan of its credit to the company, they can complete a single track of their road over the whole route within five years.

The committee have also satisfied themselves, by personal inspection, that the first instalment required on the million of dollars, heretofore subscribed to the stock, has been regularly paid in cash, and that it is now duly deposited upon interest, with the New York Life Insurance and Trust Company, subject to the joint order of the President and Vice President of the New York and Erie Rail Road Company.

It was not necessary, nor would it have been at all The expense of the whole work, as estimated by Judge prudent or expedient, for the directors to have proceed. Wright, including the graduation for a double tracked in the actual construction of the road, until the throughout on solid earth embankments, and laying route should have been surveyed, and it was also dedown a single track ready for use from the Hudson Ri- sirable, that the survey should be finished, which had ver to Lake Erie, will not exceed $4,762,000. The been ordered by the state, in order more perfectly to graduation of more than one half of the line does not secure and confirm the confidence of the large capitalexceed $4,000 per mile. The whole route is embracists, whose co-operation was absolutely necessary in the ed in six large divisions, to wit:

The First or Hudson River Division extending 73 miles from a point on the Hudson River, near the south. ern extremity of Rockland county, (distant 24 miles north of the City Hall of New York,) to a point in the Deer-park Gap of the Shawangunk mountain near the west line of Orange county, dividing the waters of the Hudson from those of the Delaware.

The Second, or Delaware Division, extending 115 miles from the point last mentioned, through the valley of the Delaware and its tributaries, to a point near Bettsburgh in Chenango county, dividing the waters of the Delaware from those of the Susquehanna.

The Third, or Susquehanna Division, extending from the point last mentioned, 163 miles along the valley of the Susquehanna and its branches, to a point near the west line of Steuben county, dividing the waters of the Susquehanna from those of the Genessee.

The Fourth, or Genessee Division, extending from the point last mentioned, 37 miles across the valley of the Genessee; to a point near the east line of Cattaraugus county, dividing the waters of the Genessee from those of the Allegheny.

The Fifth,or Allegheny Division, extending from the point last mentioned, 83 miles along the valley of the Allegheny and its tributaries, (situated at the northern extremity of the great valley of the Ohio,) to the head of the inclined plane, near Lake Erie.

The Sixth, or Lake Erie Division, comprehending the short and rapid descent to the shore of the lake, including the inclined plane, and two branches of the road, one to the harbor of Dunkirk, 81⁄2 miles, and one to Portland, 9 miles.

6. The execution of this most valuable and necessary work, being thus shown to be free from physical difficulties, and capable of being completed at a moderate expense, the question then arises, of much importance to the public, and one which the Committee deemed it their duty fully to examine, whether the company now

prosecution of so great an enterprise.

The very favorable results ascertained by Judge Wright, and by his report to the Secretary of State, presented about the 1st of this month, a copy of which is hereunto subjoined, have entirely confirmed the belief previously entertained, that the work is perfectly feasible, and that it will be profitable not only to the community, but to the stockholders, who may embark their funds in its construction. The committee are assured, that the directors intend forthwith to open books for private subscriptions, for the additional amount of two millions, and that they entertain the most perfect confidence, that by means of the subscriptions already obtained,and the assurances of valuable donations of lands along the route, tendered to them by the inhabitants (all but unanimously) along the whole route, and of their zealous and hearty co-operation, recently and repeatedly, and at all times expressed in their town and county conventions, the company will be enabled to commence the actual execution of the work during the ensuing season, and nearly two years before the time allowed for that purpose, in the charter; and that in case the state shall loan its credit, or subscribe for the stock to an amount not exceeding one third of the cost of the road, the company can complete the whole from the Hudson River to Lake Erie, within five years.— And the committee are further satisfied, that even if the state shall decline in any mode to assist the company, and they shall be left to their own unaided resources, they can within two years complete the second or Delaware division of the road, and thereby divert to this city, through the Delaware and Hudson Canal, a large portion of the exports now passing out of this state, down the Susquehanna River:-and it is moreover confidently believed, that the productiveness of that division, by demonstrating the value of the whole work, will sustain the credit of the stock, and enable the directors to extend the road without delay to Lake Erie.

The inquiry then arises as to the mode in which it

« PoprzedniaDalej »