again; and in striping, drifting, or s'nking shafts and mining the ore; and let it be observed, also, that horses, wagons, and their attendant great expenses, are, at the English furnaces, forges, &c comparatively almost ent rely dispensed with Now there are, at this moment several beds of iron ore, apparently extensive, known near to the route of this road; and at some of them, coal is located almost in contact with the ore. It is, moreover, notorious, that, in many places throughout the whole range of the Allegheny mountains-through wh ch, ent.re, this road is designated to | ass-iron ore THE SCHUYLKILL NAVIGATION COMPANY, is scattered profusely upon the surface of the ground; but, it is also well known, that little search, by boring, or digging has yet been made for it. Then the carry ng of this road, and of all similar ones through, or into the region of the Allegheny, will not only induce the erection of such iron establishments as require a cheap conveyance for the r manufactured art.cles, and thus yield an adequate return for the sums invested by the stockholders, but, will have the effect of increasing the numerous products of agriculture by the markets thus furnished for them; and moreover, will do more to bring our iron establishments into fair competition with those of England, than any protecting duties can effect; and thus, indeed, be of national advantage. This will not To the Stockholders of the Schuylkill Navigation Com pany. Managers present their Annual Report to the Stock- holders. weeks than has been experienced for many years past, The early arrival of the winter, sooner by several put a stop to the receipt of tolls, which would otherwise have increased those of the year just ended, to an amount, equal at least to those of the preceed ng one, and also lessened the supply of coal by 15,000 or 20,000 tons, for which a ready market would have been found in addition to what has come down; the late period, too, of commencing the coal trade, had a serious effect upon the Company's income. of coal was on hand from the business of the preceding At the commencement of 1831, a very large quantity year; the dealers, not ant c pating the prodigious increase which has taken place in its consumpt on, were period in the season, when a very active demand for discouraged from again trying the market until a late coal satisfied them, that their industry would be fully rewarded. Manufactories of various other kinds, we cannot doubt, will also be establ shed along the Ine of this road. We have hitherto been accustomed to locate those requir ng great power to put them in operation, just where a cat.on, furnishing such power, may be had; submitting to many unpleasant d.sadvantages, otherwise attendant upon such location. be the case where fuel can be procured at a cheap rate; and when the superior advantages, and power of machinery propelled by steam, become generally and properly understood. Location, in Engl.nd, is selected with a view to the advantage yielded by surrounding circumstances; and, there, machinery is put in operation on a hill, or in a valley, as the interests of the proprietor may require. Factories, then, using a heavy Paw material, and sending off packages of considerable bulk, and weight, will be established, doubtless, along this Lue; for, to many such, a distance of 20, 30, or 40 miles, which may be possessed in 2, 3, or 4 hours, and at a small expense, will be no object; particularly where counterbalanced by many, and super.or advantages. In conclusion we find that, in England, where the railroad system has been more extens.vely tested than any of which it is estimated there was on where else, an act of Parliament has recently been passed authorizing the bed of a canal located in one of the most wealthy, populous and manufacturing districts in that country to be converted into a rail road. fore, with this very satisfactory additional proof of the ulty of these roads; and under the very flattering prospect of entire satisfaction to the stockholders, we take pleasure in offering for your approval the following resolutions. the pleasure to say, are of the most encouraging kind. The prospects for the present year, the Board have The consumption of coal in 1831 has nearly doubled that of 1830, and bids fair to go on in an increased ratio; the following statement will show the contrast between the two years, and it will be seen from it that the Schuylk 11 coal has found a full degree of favour in the publ e estimation. There Resolved, That we esteem, and highly approve the wisdom, spirit and energy with wh ch the citizens of Elm ra, in the state of New York, have originated, and are pursuing to completion, the plan of connecting the Grand canal, of the state of New York-through that branch of it called the Chemung canal-with the West Branch Pennsylvania canal-by means of a rail road at Willamsport. Resolved, That a committee be now appointed to correspondent with one at Elmira; to draft petitions, sim.lar to theirs; procure signatures, and present them to the legislature of Pennsylvania, desiring that body to pass an act authorizing the incorporation of a company to carry into effect the object of this meeting. The gentleman appointed in accordance with the requisition of the second resolution, were James Armstrong, James Hepburn, Jacob Grafius, John H. Cowden, Henry Sproul, Robert Allen, Samuel Humes, A. V. Parsons and John K. Hays. On motion, it was further resolved, that the report In the year 1830 the coal sent to market from the Schuylkill mines amounted to hand when the trade recommenc- Showing the consumption to be down and had on hand from 1829, Making the consumption of 1830, Making a total consumption in 1830 of market, And there was on hand, as before mentioned, Making the total consumption (none And there was on hand from 1830, Tons. 89,984 20,000 69,934 42.790 10,572 32,218 43,000 30,000 13,000 115,202 81,854 20,000 101,854 41,085 51,657 Being an increase in 1851, of 111,309 tons, and showing the consumption in that year to be nearly double that of 1830. It is reasonable to suppose that the increase in 1832, will be at least as great as that of the preceding year, and that the demand for the current year will be nearly 350,000 tons, of which it is believed the Schuylkill will be required to supply its full proportion. The public spirit and enterprize of many of our fel- The West Branch or Schuylkill Haven, 15 66 8 11 3 In addition to these roads, the Board have the pleasure to state that the important work alluded to in their last Report as in contemplation, (the Rail-road from Pottsville to Danville and Sunbury) has been commenced, and from the subscription obtained there can be no doubt will be completed at no very distant period of time, thus adding another link to the chain of business gradually extending to our works. formation over which it passes, (rendered more alarming by the decay of the sleepers and planking upon which reliance had been placed) required the Board seriously to consider, whether the time had not arrived for a change of location. The necessity for this consideration was more fully demonstrated by an examination of the four combined locks in Reading, which were found to be effected by the same cause that had produced so much trouble and anxiety about the canal. It would have been obviously unwise to attempt to erect another set of locks alongside of them upon so bad a foundation, and yet it was manifest that some additional facility there, for the trade, would be very soon required. The Board under these circumstances, after much serious deliberation, came to the unanimous conclusion, that it was necessary to resort to the location referred to in their last report, and sanctioned by the opinion of the Stockholders at their last annual meeting. Having determined upon their course, in conformity with the wishes of the Stockholders, it was proper that as little time as possible should be lost, in carrying into effect so vital an improvement. Mr. George Duncan, a gentleman long and advantageously known by his services to the Company, was therefore engaged to superintend the work, part of which has been put under contract, and other parts are in progress under his direct management. It is hoped and believed that the work will be completed by the 1st of November next. An estimate of the sum required to meet this extraordinary expenditure, and defray the expenses of other improvements now in progress, is herewith submitted. It is suggested that the money should be raised by loan, the former loan authorized by the Stockholders on the third of January last having been obtained on very favor able terms, that is to say $150,000, at 4 per cent. payable on the 1st of January, 1850. The holders of that part of the Company's six per cent. loan, who had the right of converting the same into the Company's stock previous to the 15th of November last, have all availed themselves of that privilege, and have accordingly converted $180,000 of the loan of 9th August, 1824; and 53,250 do. 20th October, 1823. The remaining branches of the Company's revenue, arising from sources other than the transportation of coal, will be found quite equal to the expectations derived from former experience. The extension of the works of the state will every day increase the income by throwing into our navigation a portion of their trade. The works which were in progress at the date of the last Report have since been nearly completed and put into operation, excepting the locks at the Duncan Canal outlet, which were delayed by the high state of the water It has never yet happened that the navigation has been all the last season, preventing the excavation of the suspended by the want of water, although in some of lower lockpit and the channel below it to the river, and the very dry seasons, within a few years past, a consiexcepting also the locks at the mountain. Both, how-derable deficiency has been experienced near the head of ever, are now nearly finished, and it is expected they will be in operation by the 1st of May next. The new locks at Althouse's and Mohr's on the Hamburg Canal, it is believed will be in operation by the same time. The Weigh lock at Schuylkill Haven has been found to be of very great advantage, and the new Rail-road on the Little Schuylkill, the outlet of which is at Port Clinton, will render necessary, also, a weighlock at the Kernsville Canal. Measures have been taken to erect one during the present winter, contracts have been already made for that purpose. the works during two or three months in the fall. Apprehensions have been felt by many persons, largely concerned in the trade, that with the increase of business, increased embarrassment would be likely to arise from this cause, injuriously alike to the Company, and to those having occasion to use this channel of conveyance. Repeated communications have therefore been made to the Board, urging very strongly the necessity of an early provision by reservoirs for supplying such occasional deficiencies. The Board have been fully aware of the importance of anticipating, and as far as possible preventing, an evil of so much consequence. After de In carrying into effect the provisions of the agree-liberate reflection and examination, Tumbling Run Valment mentioned in the last year's report respecting the Norristown dam, it was found that the terms of a perpetual lease of water for a mill upon the canal, interfered with the conditions of that agreement, and the mill being offered for sale by the sheriff, it was deemed best to purchase it in order thus to avoid the difficulties that were threatened. The property, after securing fully the privileges necessary for the Company, is now leased at a fair rent and will shortly be offered for sale. A constant recurrence of the derangements to the trade upon the Reading Canal and consequent losses to the Company alluded to in the last report, as caused by the treacherous nature of the limestone ley was considered the proper and indeed the only suitable place for a Reservoir near the head of the Company's works, and an opportunity being offered of purchasing the ground necessary for the purpose, which might be for ever lost by delay, the Board determined to secure by purchase such a quantity of the land as with what was already owned by the Company extends about two miles up the Valley. They have thus obtained the command of positions for several Reservoirs of sufficient capacity, to contain a supply of water, more than adequate to meet any deficiency by droughts in the summer and fall. The quantity of land secured is upwards of 600 acres, which cost $11,300. It has been determined to erect one dam immediately, near to the outlet of the Run into the Schuylkill. It will be made chiefly of earth, at a comparatively small expense; others will be erected as occasion may require. The construction of the one already determined upon, has been placed under the care of Mr. Duncan. It will be finished so as to be made available if necessary during the ensuing summer. The following statements will further exhibit the business of the Company for the past year, and the President and Managers beg to refer to them as part of their re port, viz: The quantity of coal shipped from Mount Carbon, Schuylkill Haven, and other places on the Schuylkill, in 1831, including 2460 tons from the Union Canal, was On which the amount of tolls, was, And the tolls received on articles of merchandize other than coal, amounted to Tons 81,854 55,224 32 Lumber, The Board have only to remark in conclusion, that the receipts for the year just ended, have not been equal to their expectations. This has been owing to two principal causes already alluded to, namely, the dis couragement of the coal business in the early part of the season, which prevented the dealers for several months, from availing themselves to any considerable extent of Coal, the means of transportation, and the unusually early and Flour, severe frosts in the latter part of it, closing the Naviga- | Whiskey, tion by ice, some weeks before the ordinary period, and thus making it impossible to fill up the market, when it was ascertained, that there was a deficient supply and consequently an eager demand. The latter cause alone has been more than sufficient to account for the reduction, which has been found in the income from tolls compared with that of the preceding year. It is satisfactory to know that the falling off has not been owing to any defect in the works: and it is encouraging to perceive, that while the diminution of the trade in coal has been owing to occurrences in their nature rare or temporary, and not likely to be encountered in the same force again, it has at the same time served to afford the most decisive evidence of an increased and increasing consumption, and to establish that for the future, a much larger quantity will be wanted of that valuable mineral than has hitherto been furnished. With this plain ground of confidence, there is no reason to doubt that the trade will be No. 3. 818.54 10248 1839% 9470 6251 1649 2569 1666 29319 1384 14 276 222 566 798 4977 2033 187 Tons, 155,622 Blooms, Pig Iron, and Castings, Stone passing Fair Mount Locks only, MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR AND COMMUNICATION OF THE CANAL COMMIS- In relation to the contractors upon the line of the Co- GENTLEMEN, By the foregoing statement, the board were apprised that 1,876, 170, wh ch had been spec.fically appropriated "towards the expenditures" or new lines "during the present year," was reduced, by "payments of contracts necessary to finish work heretofore authorized," to $1,557,445 87; hence it became evident that the appropriation to some of the Lines must soon be expended. The anxiety of the canal commiss.oners to avo.d an Com-infraction of the 7th section of the act of March 1st, 1831, which prohibits them from "incurring debt on the fa.th of the state, in any way or manner, beyond the appropriation," induced them to pass resolutions, Therewith transmit to the two Houses, copies of a commun cation received from the Board of Canal Comm.s soners in relat on to the contractors upon the Ine of the CANAL COMMISSIONERS ROOM, } His Excellency GEORGE WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania. The act of the 21st March, 1831, appropriates $',483,161 88 for certain purposes therein ment.oned, and the 6th section of that act vests the sum appropriated in the Comm'ss oners of the Internal Improvement Fund, to be appl ed by them to the repayment of a tem porary loan of $259, 00, and to the payment of contracts necessary to finish work heretofore authorized; and the residue in the manner and for the purposes d.rected by that act. On the 15th December, 1831, a statement was received by the canal commissioners from the treasurer of the board, of which the following is a copy. TREASURY OFFICE OF PENNSYLVANIA, Turnpike compa $2,483,161 88 Paid temporary loan, $250,000 125,000 26.276 10 nies, Interest on 1st Au gust, 1851, 411 51 Paid on account of old work: Board of canal commissioners, 4,000 00 Abner Lacock, John Mitchell, 423 00 93,337 52 135,000 00 114,259 57 40 000 00 Appropriated. 401,276 10 2,081,885 78 1st. D.vid.ng the $573,621 52 appl cable to the Juniata division and the Portage ra.l-road, between those lines in proport on to the amount of work under contract on each of them-being $364 397 52, to the Juniata divis.on, and $269,-34 to the Allegheny portage railroad. 2d. Directing the superintendent on the Columbia and Philadelphia rail-road, to set apart and retain, from the special appropriation to that line, such a sum as would be necessary to pay contracts then ex sting, for the iron for said road, and for the twenty miles of the road, west from Ph.ladelphia, under contract; and, 3d That notice should be given to the several superintendents of the unexpended balance of the appropriation, appl cable to their lines; and that they should in due t.me notify the contractors thereof, so as to avoid incurring a debt on the faith of the state A few days since, letters were received by the board, from the superintendent upon the Columbia and Ph.ladelph a rail-road, stating that in conformity with the resolutions of the board, he had "found it necessary immed ately to give notice to the contractors upon the middle and western divisions of the rail-road;" and he adds that the contractors upon the line "will be thrown into great distress, and under present circumstances all the contractors except those on the twenty m.les, will stop work-their horses, carts, and men will be scattered, and when the work shall be ordered to go on again it will be hard to collect them. It is sincerely to be regretted that the grad ng cannot be prosecuted. "The whole amount expended under new contracts of every descr pt.on, is about $285,000 00 Contracts for iron, say $125,000-$10,000 of which is paid, 110,000 00 $395,0-0 00 Leaves balance to be expended on 20 miles, 96,675 00 $491,675 00 "It will however be proper further to observe, that the per centage due on the middle and western divisions, is $33,523; and that an est.mate on work done since the first of December, will be about $30,000. "The inclined plane section at Columbia, will be in a deplorable situation; the embankment of the road way along the shore has been put in, and the contractors were vigorously prosecuting the work with 40 carts and 60 or 70 men, in order to secure the embankment by a slope made down to the wharves, which have recently been constructed; and which would have been entirely secured before the breaking up of the river in the spring: but if 1. f in the situation it is now in, will be damaged to 544,439 91 the amount of several thousand dollars, to the loss of the commonwealth. $500 would secure the embank$1,537,445 87 ment, and it is more than probable that if left, $5000 Pro rua. will not repair the damage. Many of the contractors $491,675 64 have a large force on hand, and have la'd in their win95,196 58 ter provisions, and to stop operations will be very ruin573,621 52 ous. Under present circumstances we cannot lay out 163,891 86 any part of the $110,000 for the iron until the Delaware 81,945 98 opens, and at any rate but a small portion of it would 81,945 98 be paid until towards spring. 49,168 31 The Canal Commissioners have, since they received the above letters, passed resolutions directing the su$1,876,170 $1,537,445 87 perintendent of the Columbia and Philadelphia rail road to have the work which has been done in the month of December, estimated and paid in the usual manner; and to retain as much of the appropriation as will cover the retained per centage; and the contracts for the iron; leaving the residue of the appropriation applicable to the twenty miles west of Philadelphia. The Board sincerely hope that immediate provision will be made by the legislature, for continuing the operations on this important branch of the public improvements: either by a further appropriation, or by an authority to use the unexpended balance of the present appropriation along the whole line of the rail-road. This latter method would keep the work in as active progress as the winter will permit, until some time next spring. The Board avail themselves of the present occasion, to state that unless a fund be soon provided for repairs, the finished portions of the canal cannot all be put in such a condition as to secure an active use thereof early next season. JAMES CLARKE, President of the Board of Canal Commissioners. REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE INTERNAL IM- Read December 14, 1831. The temporary loan of $230,000 was considered essential to the vigorous prosecution of the public works, especially as the negotiation of the permanent loan was necessarily attended with some delay, during which time the contractors must have laboured under great pecuniary embarrassment, and the proper execution of their contracts been neglected. The Governor therefore believed it to be his duty, under the power vested in him by the act of 21st March, 1831, to anticipate a To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Com- portion of the loan, and apply it without delay to the monwealth of Pennsylvania. In compliance with the provisions of the 1st section of the act of 1st April, 1826, and the 2d section of the act of 4th April, 1831, the commissioners of the internal improvement fund respectfully submit the following report: On the 7th February, 1831, the commissioners reported the condition of the internal improvement fund up to 1st February, 1831. The present report therefore commences at that time, and exhibits the receipts and payments up to the 1st instant, embracing a period of ten months. On the 1st February, 1831, the commissioners had no funds applicable to the construction and incidental expenses of the Pennsylvania canal and rail-road. The act of the 21st March, 1831, authorized a loan of $2,483,161 83, to be applied to those purposes; and the act of 30th March, 1831, authorized a further loan of $500,000 applicable exclusively to repairs on the canal and rail-road, to damages, and to the payment of the salaries of sundry officers attached to the canal. This last appropriation has been received in full, and applied as follows: Paid to the treasurer of the board of canal commissioners, judicious advancement of the public improvements. per act of 21st March, 1831, This aggregate of $1,581,988 62 corresponds with the appropriations of the last session, as appears by the following calculation: Amount appropriated per act of 21st Amount appropriated per act of 30th $2,483,161 83 Deduct amount not received of loan per Amount of appropriations received into Deduct temporary loan per act $290,000 00 Paid salaries of toll collectors and lock keepers, 9,031 77 paid, Balance on hand to be applied to lock keepers, It has been ascertained that this appropriation was inadequate to cover the objects intended. The great extent of new lines of canal which had to be tested by letting in of water for the first time, together with the extraordinary freshets during the early part of the season, increased the expenditure for repairs much beyond any reasonable calculation. Many claims for damages, and disbursements for repairs remain yet unliquidated. The loan per act of 21st March, 1831, was received by instalments, the first amounting to $700,000, and each of the others to ten per cent. on the aggregate Joan. In this manner the sum of $1,693,264 72 has been borrowed, leaving a balance of $789,897 11 yet to be received, one instalment of which will probably be required about the 1st of February, and the balance 4 VOL. IX. amount paid to turnpike 300,000 00 2,783,161 83 789,897 11 1,993,264 72 $250,000 00 125,000 00 26,276 10 amount taken for the Balance for canal purposes, 10,000 00 411,276 10 $1,581,988 62 The following summary exhibits the whole amount paid to the commissioners of the internal improvement fund, applicable to canal purposes, from 1st February, to 1st December, 1831, and the manner of its disbursement, from which it appears that a balance of $968 23 remains in their hands, to be applied to the payment of the salaries of toll collectors and lock keepers, under the provisions of the aet of 30th March, 1831. |