from sinking into the paper. When the varnish is thoroughly dry which is usually the case in two or three days, according to the state of the weather, the maps is cut from the frame, bound on two of its edges, nailed upon rollers, and thus prepared it is ready for use. Last week, we paid a visit to the extensive location of the business of Mr. H. S. Tanner, the eminent geographer. We were so much struck with the variety and value of his arrangement, that we asked for copious memoranda of the particulars, and embodied in the form of an editorial article, which is placed in the second page. We have entered into details with regard to the several branches of this important establishment, under an impression that such an account would prove acceptable to those of our readers, who have never had an opportunity of inspecting processes which are comparatively new in this country. The map business in the United States is of recent origin. Twenty years since there was scacely a Map published here. Even maps relating to our own country were imported from Europe for the supply of our libraries and schools. Now the case is essentially altered. American maps are exported not only to England and Europe generally, but also to every other part of the civilized world Very few comparatively, are now imported from foreign countries, and we feel justified by our late gratifying examinations, in saying, that every process, both scientific and mechanical, employed in the formation of maps, has reached such a state of maturity in the United States, as to render us completely independent on foreign countries for a supply of this indispensable article.— Nat. Gaz. DRY GOODS DEALERS. Agreeably to a call made by the committee of dry good dealers, in favor of the present system of measurement, a public meeting was held at the Exchange, MATTHEW NEWKIRK in the Chair, and R. D. Woon as Secretary. The chairman briefly stated to the meeting the course pursued by the committee appointed at the public meeting held on the 30th ultimo, when, on motion, it was Resolved, That the report be accepted and approved. The resolutions adopted by a meeting of importers, commission merchants, and auctioneers, was received from their Chairman and Secretary, and laid before the meeting; when, on motion, it was DELAWARE BREAKWATER. EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT. The present condition of the work at the Delaware breakwater is shown in the report of the Quartermaster General, and in that of the commission lately instituted by your orders to examine it. It has been known for some time that gradual depositions were making in the vicinity of this work, by which the depth of water was somewhat reduced. But, until this season, the process was so slow and uncertain, that no anxiety was felt with respect to its final effect upon this great national improvement. Recently, however, the accumulation of sand in the artificial harbor has been much more rapid, and indicated the necessity of a thorough examination by scientific persons, in order to ascertain, if possible, the causes of this occurrence, and to check or obviate them. The views of the officers selected for this purpose will be found in their report; and, agreeably to your directions, they have been adopted by the depart ment. An estimate for one hundred thousand dollars, to be applied to this work, is among the annual estimates of the department, and if approved by Congress, that sum will be appropriated in the manner pointed out by the report, to the completion of that part of the work already begun, and yet unfinished. In the mean time, by a series of observations, frequently and carefully taken, the probable operation of the tides and currents may be ascertained, and the best remedy to counteract them pointed out. Secretary of War, Washington: SIR In compliance with the instructions of your letter of October 25th, we have made an examination of the Delaware breakwater, and now present the following report thereon: It appears, by an inspection of the maps representing the state of the works at the close of operations of each year, that, since 1830, every year has presented new additions to a shoal near the west end of the break water, and that within the last year, particularly, this shoal has greatly increased. Before 1833 little had been done on the ice-breaker; since that period this work has been brought nearly to completion, and a shoal on either side of this mass has been observed to be simultaneously forming. These are the principal facts bearing upon the question before us; and, after a deliberate consideration of them, we unanimously concur in the following opinions, viz. That the next year's operations should be confined to mensions, omitting any further extension of the work giving to all the work already begun the ultimate dieastward, and waiting during the year, and, if neces Resolved, That a committee of fifteen be appointed to co-operate with the committee of importers, com mission merchants, and auctioneers, who signed the pledge (to take effect the first inst,) in an application to Congress to establish a uniform standard of weights and measures, and to take such other means for the attain-sary, for a longer period, the further growth of the ment of that end as they may deem expedient. Resolved, That the committee appointed by the public meeting of the 30th be continued with power to fill vacancies. Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the papers of this city. MATTHEW NEWKIRK, Chairman. R. D. WOOD, Sec'ry. The Wheeling Times, says: "Travellers between this place and Philadelphia, will be pleased to learn that the proprietors of the People's Line Stage Compa. ny have made arrangements for conveying passengers from Wheeling to Philadelphia, by way of Bedford and the Columbia rail road, in the short time of 60 hours and at the very low fare of $12. shoal. That, in the mean time, very numerous and careful observations should be made to determine the precise amount of enlargement, both in lateral limits and in elevation, of all the shoals. That a system of observations should be steadily pur. sued, whereby the force and direction of the flood and ebb currents, at different times of tide, and at different distances from the works, may be accurately given, and clearly represented on the map. With the extension of the work above water, herein contemplated, the immediate advantage will be obtained of a considerable augmentation of sheltered space; the same extension will serve to indicate, in a more de cided manner, the form and magnitude which the shoals may be expected ultimately to attain; it will bring nearer to a solution the important question as to the most proper width to be given to the eastern entrance to the harbor. And with the aid of the information obtained by the observations on the shoals and on the tides, an opinion less liable to error may be formed as to the exact cause of the shoals, the extent to which they may reach, and, if remedy or correction be possible, the mode and manner of remedy or correction. Sooner than herein contemplated we believe it would be premature to resolve on any other change than that indicated of the original project, as we believe it would also be premature now to fix upon the matters of detail in the style or manner of the ultimate finish. We have the honor to be, Your most obedient servants, TH. S. JESUP, Major General and Quartermaster General. Lieutenant Colonel of Engineers and Brevet Colonel. Presque Isle Harbor, Pennsylvania.-The depth of water at the entrance is the same as last year, twelve feet, and from thence to the borough piers nine and a half feet at its shoalest place. The borough piers are now made convenient for boats to lay alongside, land their passengers, discharge their loading, and take in wood, and are found more convenient than the United States works. The inlet across the Presque Isle near the west end of the harbor presents no appearance of any change since the survey was taken on the first of August, and communicated to the department on the 12th of the same. No sensible effect has since been produced by this inlet on the eastern entrance of the harbor. The effects of the currents and counter-cur. rents on the sand on which the piers are placed render any estimates that can be made for completing them uncertain. The currents, which are constantly setting in or out of the harbor at the rate of from two to three miles an hour, and frequently changing every hour, have a powerful effect in removing the sand. In my annual report, I submitted the estimates for closing the breach at the junction of the south breakwater and pier. The quantity of stone then estimated for the object being five hundred cords, double the quantity of stone than then estimated will be required. Eight hundred cords have already been placed in the breach, and two hundred cords more, according to calculation, will be required, making, in the whole, one thousand cords. The stone have been thrown in on a line with the piles, and suffered to roll down and graduate themselves. At the extremity of the bar there is now thirty feet of water. In many other places deep basins have been worn, and will swallow up more stone than was calculated. Other places alongside of the breakwater have filled up with sand, where there was a depth of from six to eight feet, and a breach formed for several rods. The breach in other places has disappeared, and a basin formed six to eight feet deep; these changes have ta ken place in several instances within the last two years. What will be the effects of placing stone on each side of the piers and break water, time alone can determine. I am of opinion that this is the only method that can be adopted to give strength and permanency to the work: furthermore, as fast as the stone within the piers or breakwater, or on the outside, settle, to bring them up to their proper height by adding more, and continuing the supply until a firm base is secured. When this important end is gained, and a superstructure of solid mason work executed the whole length of the piers and breakwaters, the work may be considered complete when the constant watchfulness and repairs which they now require, may, in a great measure, be dispensed with. From calculation, 1,000 cords of stone, in addition to the estimates of 1833, will be required for 1855, amounting, with the contingencies, to $5,000; this sum, with ; the balance now remaining, will be sufficient for all expenditures previous to commencing the mason work. Two valuable quarries of stone, which promises a large supply for constructing these works, have been opened this season on the margin of the lake, within one mile of the piers. The stone can be taken by scows direct to the works without the expense of carting. The stratum has a smooth surface of equal thickness; is from 18 to 20 inches thick, and can be easily wrought to any length or breadth required. Stone of this description, and so conveniently situated, will grealy facilitate the operation of the mason work. An estimate of the stone, lime, and mason work required for the top of the piers and breakwaters, commencing at low water mark, at the harbor of Presque Isle. South breakwater 3,450 feet in length, 8 feet by 3 in length, 58,800 cub. ft. North breakwater, 3,000 feet in length, 8 feet by 3 in length, South pier, 800 feet in length, 14 feet by 4 in length, North pier, 1,250 ft. in length, 14 ft. by 5 in length, 72,000 44,800 87,500 FIRST SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT. PHILADELPHIA SAVINGS INSTITUTION, Jan. 5, 1835. In compliance with the charter, the undersigned, appointed a committee by the Directors thereof, to make and publish a statement of the affairs of the said institution, met for that purpose at the office, on the third instant. We proceeded to examine the several statements of the office, and to compare them minutely and carefully with the entries on the books, the vouchers of payment, and disbursements and the amount of cash on hand. It gives us pleasure to state, that we find the whole to correspond with the statements submitted to us with 1835.] We find in the Harrisburg Chronicle the following letter, which sets forth a good degree of enterprize. Extract of a letter, dated HOLIDAYSBURG, Dec. 22, 1834. Would you believe it? A canal packet boat arrived at this port a few days since, from Utica, on the Erie canal, in the state of New York. She did not come round by the Hudson, or the Raritan, or by the Jersey canal, or the Delaware, nor by the Schuylkill and Union canals. No! but by a route not thought of She every day by the best of our improvement men. departed from Utica for Montezuma on the Erie canal, thence by the Seneca canal to Geneva on Seneca lake, thence from the lake to Elmira at the head of the Chemung canal, thence by the Chemung canal to the Chemung river, thence down that river to the North Branch of the Susquehanna, thence down the North Branch to the pool of Nanticoke-thence by the Pennsylvania canal to the mouth of the Juniata canal to Hollidaysburg, having thus traversed by water a dis. tance of about four hundred and eighty miles. The packet is constructed on a new model for canal boats, being composed of two bulls formed in the shape of long narrow batteaux, upon which the cabin is built. She is to run during the next season between Harrisburg and Columbia. Her owner is Mr. Doolittle, an enterprising Yorker, who is engaged at this, and at Johnstown, in building the packet boats which are to form the new passenger line that is to commence running next spring, between Pittsburg and Columbia From Nanticoke to the Chemung river it is about one hundred and five miles, and thence to the mouth of the Chemung canal it is twenty miles; of this distance about one hundred and five miles are in the state of Pennsylvania. If the North Branch canal should be continued to the Chemung at Tioga Point, and thence by that river to the Chemung canal, by slackwater, which is said to be very practicable, we would have free communication with the interior of the great Empire State; thereby opening an extensive market to the black diamonds of the Lackawana, and iron of the mountain regions of the Juniata. I am not, however, in favour of any extension of our canal system at present, with the exception of the cross cut to the Ohio canal, which ought to be made by all means. These hints are only thrown out for the consideration of those who may be disposed to take up the subject at some future and more auspicious period, Respectfully, &c. in the cars. THE WEATHER. Severe Night.-We learn from the New York Times that the passengers who left this city on Monday morning for New York by the Camden and Amboy Rail Road, reached Burlington at about 11 A. M., and there took the cars. At 6 P. M. they were about four miles from Amboy, and in one of those deep cuttings, were the ground ascends, they were at last brought up by a monstrous snow drift, which arrested all further No effort availed to force the cars over the progress. obstacle, though they backed repeatedly to such a distance as to acquire their fullest momentum. The pas sengers, many of them ladies, had been without food since leaving Philadelphia, and now with this tremendous storm of snow drifting with the howling wind, had the prospect of passing the piercingly cold night It was proposed that some of the party should proceed on foot to Amboy, and procure means for bringing on the rest, but the four miles, through unbroken snow drifts, with the falling snow driving so furiously in their faces, seemed too hard a walk, and it was given up. Fifteen or twenty of the passengers then started, about 10 o'clock, to walk back about a mile, to a little house which they had passed, where they sat up all night, but with the comforts of fire and shelter. When they had departed, six or seven of those who remained, seeing the sad condition of their fellow passengers, and especially the ladies, set out on foot for Amboy, and after unparalleled fatigue and suffering, reached three in about three hours and a half. They were able to procure two sleighs, which were sent to bring on the ladies of the party. They arrived at the beleaguered cars about five o'clock in the morning, and took off the unfortunate females, who were nearly exhausted. By day-break the people of the neighbourhood were aroused, and gathering in with their sleighs, the whole party were transported to Amboy, and got aboard the boat between eight and nine in the morning. The boat took the outward passage to avoid the ice on the channel between Staten Island and New Jersey, and reached New York about 2 P. M. on Tuesday. SNOW. It commenced snowing about 9 o'clock on Sunday evening, and continued without much intermission until 9 o'clock on Monday evening, though the quantity of snow fallen is not large, say 8 or ten inches. The weather cleared up after twelve o'clock, but on yesterday morning about six, the sky again became obscured, and gave every indication of a fall of rain.— Germantown Tel. within our recollection, although there may have been a single colder day Saturday the 3d Inst. was a severe day, but there was not ice enough in the Delaware to stop the navigation, and the steamboats departed in the morning as usual. Towards evening it became colder, and at 11 at night, the thermometer, under a piazza exposed to the south, in a central part of the city, had fallen to 13. The Delaware, opposite the city, was frozen over during the night. On Sunday morning, at 20 minutes before 8, which was about a quarter of an hour after sunrise, the same thermometer was at 44. At 10 A. M. it rose to 13, and at half past 1 P. M. it stood at 32, the freezing point. At 5 o'clock it had fallen to 12 12 11 10 And this morning at 20 minutes before 8 o'clock, it was down to 3 degrees above zero. The navigation will now probably be closed until the month of Feb ruary. last winter. The Schuylkill is frozen over, but there is no ice in the Delaware opposite the city.--Ib. JAN. 7. THE WEATHER.-Within the last twenty-four hours there has been a great change in the weather. The thermometer, which stood yesterday at 1.4 before 7 o'clock, at 3° above zero, was this morning at the same hour at 20° above. The wind since an early hour this morning, has been blowing hard from a north easterly direction, but is now clear. The thermometer on which our personal observations are made, was at 6 P. M. yesterday, (Monday) and at 20, and at 1C, P. M. at 17, which we mention to keep up the chain of the last three days.-Com. Herald. The state of the thermometer in West Chester, on Sunday last, at sun rise, was 2 degrees below zero, Monday at sun rise 3. THE ICE BOAT.-On Saturday we noticed the arrival of this boat from New York, built by the Camden and Amboy Rail Road Company, and intended to ply be At the Exchange, with a Northern exposure, the ther-tween this city and Camden, during the obstruction of mometer was At 7 A. M. on Sunday, at At 7 A. M. this day, (Monday) 3 2 The ice on the Delaware is strong enough to bear horses and sledges. Since writing the foregoing, a friend who resides in Chesnut, below Thirteenth street, has stepped into our office, and given us the following statement of the thermometer at his house with a Northern exposure. Sunday 6 A. M. 2 degrees below zero. 9 66 1 P. M. Monday-6 A. M. 9 66 zero. 10 above zero. 4 below zero. zero. From another source in Walnut street above 12th, we learn that the mercury this morning was at 2 below zero, at 6 o'clock, with a Northern exposure. We should be glad to receive from some inhabitant of Southwark, a statement of the weather in that quarter during the last two days. A remarkable change took place in the weather on Sunday. Saturday was comparatively mild for the season, as were also several preceding days. Not a par ticle of ice was to be seen, when on Sunday morning the wind got to the N. West, and blew with great violence, accompanied by a degree of coldness, which made it freeze in the shade during the whole day. Our ther mometer at 1 P. M in a warm piazza, exposed to the South, was at 42, at 6 at 22. at 9 o'clock at 14, and yes terday morning at half past 6 o'clock it was but 9 de grees above zero, As we saw it with our own eyes, we can vouch for the fact. If our recollection serves, there was not so cold a night during the whole of the the river Delaware. Yesterday we witnessed the trial of her powers and if we are to judge from this first attempt, we should say she was fully competent for the performance of the objects of her construction. The ice was about three inches thick, yet she forced her way through it without much difficulty, to the entire satisfaction of hundreds who had assembled on the wharves to witness her first performance. -Commercial Herald. We are informed that the new steam ferry boat of the Camden and Amboy Rail Road Company, left Market street wharf, this morning, at 2 minutes past 8 o'clock, for Camden, with the passengers for New York, and the train of cars left Camden, at 25 minutes past 8, making the time in crossing, the boat having to cut her way through the ice, and starting the cars 33 minutes. DELAWARE AND RARITAN CANAL. Lime and Limestone.-Since the opening of this work in July last, 97 vessels entered the locks at Bordentown, laden with the following amount of lime and limestone, nearly all of which came from the quarries and limekilns on the Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, 3,569,722 lbs., lime, equal to 491,21 bushels, of which 181,100 lbs. went to New York; the balance went to landings on the canal, mostly for agricultural purposes; and 4,357,288 lbs. of limestone, all of which was landed at different places upon the canal for different purposes. The last named article would, when made into lime, make the total quantity brought from Pennsylvania, for the supply of that market alone, equal 75,000 bushels.-Ing. THE REGISTER. By the numerous extracts inserted this week it will be seen that for the last week or ten days, there has been an unusually severe spell of cold weather. The Delaware is now crossed upon the ice with horses and sleighs-and the ice is said to be one foot thick. We expected to furnish the Index this week, but owing to some disappointments it will not be published till next week-although it is now nearly all in type. Printed every Saturday morning by WILLIAM F. GEDDES, No. 9 Library street. HAZARD'S REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. VOL. XV.--NO. 3. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD. PHILADELPHIA, JANUARY 17, 1835. No. 367. the advancement of the art elsewhere, in adopting im provements that may occur. ries of minor works has forced itself on my attention, A fourth reason for recommending the plan of a sewhile passing through some of the great works of Eng land, viz, the difficulty of preserving a uniform system of working, and of placing individual responsibility on the workmen engaged in managing long ranges of MERRICK'S REPORT ON GAS MANUFACTORIES vantage may be derived from our own experience, and Report, upon an examination of some of the Gas Manufactories in Great Britain, France, and Belgium, under a resolution passed by the Select and Common Council of the City of Philadelphia, January 2d, 1834, authorizing the Gas Committee to engage a competent person to proceed to Europe for the purpose of examining Gas Works, with a view of obtaining the best information as to the construction of works, the manner of manufacturing Gas, and in general make such observations as may be useful, in the event of Councils determining to adopt a plan for lighting the city with Gas-Br S. V. MERRICK. To determine the ultimate demand for gas, to supply with light an improving city like Philadelphia, is a task for which we can command to certain data, and which, if attempted, must be purely hypothetical. Before planning new works, the usual and most natural course is to make an approximate estimate of the wants of the place, and probable demand; but in most old works that have come under notice, laid out upon such estimates, the demand has increased of late years so unexpectedly, that the sites and arrangements are found far too limited for present purposes, and the respective parts of these establishments are in many cases disproportionate to the work required of them. To plan works on any hypothetical calculation as to eventual demand, would without doubt be a fruitful source of error, requiring some parts more extensive than would at present be required, with the risk of their being too small for future exigencies. Such estimates, therefore, are only requisite for the purpose of determining the size of the leading mains, or great arteries, for the transmission of the gas from the works to the city, which without doubt ought to be laid of sufficient capacity to meet any contingency; but for the works themselves, the estimate of capacity should be confined to the probable present demand, and the establishment constructed complete as a whole to meet that demand, leaving the future wants to be supplied by a similar range of works constructed by the side of the original establishment. The advantages which may be expected from such an arrangement, I apprehend will be, First. That the works may be built upon a uniform and symmetrical plan, with the capacity of each part calculated to meet the wants of every other part. Second. That no unnecessary capital may be expended in preparing, on a scale commensurate with future wants, parts of the work now required of a small dimension-such as purifiers, condensers, &c. Third. That in any future increase, the fullest adVOL. XV. 5 retorts. of heating, or found the superintendent who could form I have scarce ever seen in a large work a uniformity an accurate judgment of the result of any particular mode of operation. In such establishments, a general knowledge of average operations can be readily attained, but nothing definite. It is all important in a work where so much depends upon the care of stokers, that means should be in the hands of the manager to judge accurately of the operations of each, which can only be effectually done by sub-dividing the work, having a station meter attached to each division, to record the product of every bench of retorts. I have generally found small works doing much better than those upon a large scale. It is probable that the cost of labour will be a little enhanced during the summer, when full work is not required; but this disadvantage will be more than coun terbalanced by the important benefit that will result by being able to keep the operation of the works under the most perfect control. In selecting a site upon which to construct the works, the choice must be governed by very simple princi. ples. The specific gravity of the gas being less than that of atmospheric air, the natural tendency of that fluid is to ascend; the level therefore, of the distributing station, should be at the lowest point of the plane to be lighted. Such a location is always desirable, and if it can be obtained, should be preferred; but as it is not always practicable, experience has shown that considerable depression may be overcome without affect. ing in an undue degree the equality of the issue at the burners. When great descents are to be overcome, distinct stations are deemed necessary, effectually to attain this object. I apprehend that without resorting to this expensive mode of regulation, depressions of forty feet may be overcome in a district so small as this city. The evil resulting from inequality of pressure is most felt when, the gas is sold by the time of burning, and not by the quantity consumed. In the former case the consumers are very careless about regulating the issue of their gas, as the expense to them is unchanged, and the cost of the additional quantity consumed by those burners, placed on an elevated position is borne by the gas maker. If, however, the meter system is adopted and carried into universal effect, the consumers take care to regulate their flame to their own wants, and no loss accrues to any one. Other important considerations in fixing the location, are convenience to navigation, to a coal market, and to a market for vending coke. All the materials used in the manufacture of gas are bulky, and consequently of expensive transportation. To avoid this additional cost, |