AUCTION SYSTEM. TAXABLES IN GREENE COUNTY. TOWNSHIPS. 1821. 1828. Cumberland, 303 357 247 247 Centre 123 185 134 81 Franklin, 387 398 311 260 Whitely 275 unkard, Grede, Moan, 398 172 Mris In 1821, there were no commissioners in this county, therefore we have no list of that enumeration, but a list was taken and sent to Indiana. We have no Iron Works yet erected in this county, although it abounds with ore and good streams. The principal trade here is in lumber; there are usually from 18 to 20 hundred thousand feet of white pine boards, cut and rafted down the Big Mahoning, Red Bank, Toby and Tionesty creeks to the Allegheny; thence to Pittsburg, and down the Ohio to the different towns or cities. There is also considerable farming for a new settlement-the price of Iron here, is from six to seven cents per lb. We are not yet organized for judicial purposes, and have no public buildings, nor any public schools; but have our children taught at common schools. Letter to the Editor. REPORT UPON AUCTION SYSTEM. The Committee of Ways and Means, to whom were referred sundry memorials from various parts of the United States, praying the imposition of a tax upon Sales of Foreign Merchandise at auction, submit the following Report: mand. 61 upon it ali the attention which this consideration, as well as the intrinsic importance and difficulty of the questions presented for their decision, so obviously de-, Several merchants of great respectability and intelligence, who were in attendance as delegates from New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Alexandria, appeared before the committee, and stated the results of their experience and observation as to the injurious tendency of selling foreign merchandise at auction. They all concurred in the opinion that the existing system of auction sales furnishes great facilities for the perpetration of frauds upon the community, as well as upon the public revenue. Whatever may be the frauds and impositions commited upon the community by means of this mode of selling merchandise, and however obvious the expediency of repressing these evils, the committee are unanimously of the opinion that the application of the remedy belongs exclusively to the State Legislatures. The whole subject of contracts and sales falls clearly within the province of the state legislation. Whatever form of sale a State may think proper to tolerate, and however imperfect the responsibility of sellers may be rendered by its legislation, Congress have no power to interpose, unless for the purpose of preserving from violation the laws of the Union, or for carrying into effect the powers granted to the Federal Government. If, however, sales at auction are the means by which frauds are committed upon the revenue, and if they enable foreigners to enter their goods at the custom house at lower rates than the same quality and description of goods are habitually entered by American merchants, there can scarcely be a question, either as to the power or the duty of Congress to interpose its authority. This remedy, however, should have an appropriate and exclusive reference to the evil it is designed to correct. A tax upon sales at auction would neither prevent the alleged frauds upon the revenue, nor the alleged advantage enjoyed by foreigners, unless it should amount to a prohibition, and even in that case it would be of doubtful efficacy. As the Committee believe Congress has no power to act upon the subject, except with a view to preserve the revenue laws from violation, they have reported a bill prescribing certain regulations of sales of foreign merchandise, at auction, which, at the same time that it avoids the objections to which other remedies would be liable, will, it is hoped, go far to correct the evils of which the memorialists complain. [The bill reported provides, that in all sales by aucand that a schedule of the goods, with all the marks tion of foreign goods, the invoice shall be produced, and particulars of importation, shall be published.] Salmon.-The Susquehanna Emporium says, "For some weeks the good people of our town have been supplied with an unusual quantity of the choicest salmon, justly called 'king of the fresh water fish.' They either have not found the sluice of the Shamokin dam, numbers immediately below it in the Susquehanna. — or cannot stem the current, and are caught in immense Our fishermen have supplied the whole neighbourhood, and several of the finest specimens have been sent in boxes by the stage to Pottsville, Reading, and Philadelphia." The pamphlet report, on Banks, has been received, detailing at length their operations respectively; from which we have, with considerable labour, compiled the following table, which we think presents a more satisAware of the deep solicitude which pervades a factory view of the information contained in the report, large portion of the commercial community on the sub-than it gave in the form in which it was presented to the ject referred to them, the Committee have bestowed Legislature. STATEMENT OF SUNDRY BANKS IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, ON THE FOURTH OF NOVEMBER, 1828, AS REPORTED TO THE LEGISLATURE ON THE FIFTH OF JANUARY, 1829, BY THE AUDITOR-GENERAL. 68,933 72 143,346 00 237,580 00 300,250 18 41 62,739 00 44 163,369 00 24,818 50 278,276 00 73,715 63 66,246 62 173,480 00 230,642 00 205,000 00 64,517 97 124,913 40 12,164 76 110,995 41 148,977 24 32,808 50 109,584 38 356,476 18 79,641 19 732,660 33 17,427 80 20,000 00 84,218 64 150,161 50 10,000 00 10 12,946 45 635,404 35 96,223 19 40,928 46 91 14,022 66 282,233 68 36,743 51 42,604 43 3,548 50 91 500 00 229,142 01 47,723 22 47,277 71 3,911 79 4 6,721,610 00 2504575 61 955,520 17 3250811 7613026 29 549,971 22 9,242,824 75 450,304 13 1321898 33 968,541 11 1448494 64 612,346 70 129,500 00 61,067 00 158,525 00 594,315 94 346,155 50 390,790 00 400,000 00 181,138 00 134,235 00 140,545 00 395,000 00 139,971 36 300,350 00 184,715 00 90,000 00 221,621 00 77,510 00 76,632 00 133,250 00 149,170 50 181,140 00 289,311 33 168,720 00 109,570 00 112,500 00 310,897 00 168,230 00 139,810 00 11,024 80 56,953 03 928 73 3,969 68 278,030 00 2,000 00 3,700 00 32,353 99 43,791 42 21,040 78 7 246,651 67 213,515 00 14,862 51 51,519 76 1183 92 6,011 65 263,861 04 128,175 72 48,650 13 17,184 00 18,162 29 38,075 78 6 125,298 00 76,275 00 20,700 35 23,820 66 501 19 1,017 47 114,129 35 56,004 21 1,722 05 29,455 49|| 6,433 58 38,860 50 5 Monong. B.of Brownsville Westmoreland Farmers of Bucks County 102, 123 00 144,935 00 1,418 50 48,061 74 531 03 6,752 33 151,464 90 32,610 45 2,412 00 20,214 23 72,377 31 24,742 71 61 ..... 112,783 00 181,955 00 60,090 00 75,756 00 5,531 89 40,308 82 541 35 3,413 63 38,880 89 103 06 4,493 47 4,970 70 236,957 29 60,000 00 25,423 21 64,733 03 17,850 00 86,398 78 682 89 12,807 65 9,304 35 30,949 46 19 country banks-Totals 3,442,061 17 3681990 13 218,877 40 1884596 38 14737 43 267,403 36 5,024,153 03 865,688 95 1043787 65 766,864 99 1243400 06 617,704 72 do. 6,721,610 00 2504575 61 955,520 17 3250811 76 13026 29 549,971 229,242,824 75 450,304 13 1320898 33 968,541 11 1448494 64 612,346 70 10 city do. 10163671 17 6186565 74 1,174397 57 5135408 14 27763 72 817,374 58||14266977 78 1315993 08/2364685 98 1735406 102691894 70 1230051 42 Of this sum the cost and repairs of the Bridge form $237,533 83 Grand Totals... 1829.] ADAMS COUNTY, PA. Mr. Samuel Hazard, ADAMS COUNTY. Dear Sir,-The plan adopted by you in the publication of your interesting periodical. appears to me so well calculated to prove useful and interesting to the public generally, and more particularly so to the citizens of Pennsylvania, that I do most cheerfully tender all the aid which it may be in my power to bestow, towards the fund of information which you are endeavouring to collect from the different sections of the state; for record in your Register. In offering my services on this occasion, I can promise no more than a simple statement of such facts, historical and miscellaneous, relative to this county, as my limited means of information have enabled me to gather, leaving to you the task of arranging & putting into a suitable dress, such loose remarks and crude matters of information as you may find in the present communication. 63 respects any thing but what, in the common meaning, a village is, or what, for all intents and purposes, it ought to be, to entitle it to the appellation. The writer of this, in the course of travel through the state, has often had his expectations in this particular, most grievously disappointed. Every public thoroughfare has its range of villages scattered along the road, at irregular distances, according as fancy or convenience might diclate their location; and every observant traveller, at least makes it his business to learn, when upon the road, the name and other particulars of the several towns through which he will have to pass in the course of his journey. "Full many a time and oft," however, have I been deceived in my anticipations; for often it has happened, that after picturing to my imagination some neat, handsome, regular and well built town, in some "lonely auburn of the plain," I have at last not been able to identify and know it, even when in the heart of the village. It seems that a village is rather a loose term, for The County of Adams, although not now, strictly it as often represents a spot where two or three miseraspeaking, in its infancy, may yet be considered one of ble dwellings are scattered over the plain, as when rethe younger branches of the parent stock-having tak-gular streets and well built houses bespeak the congreen its name and stand amongst its sister counties in the gated multitude. The three indispensables, of a tavern, year 1800. It originally formed a part of York county, a store, and a blacksmith-shop, often compose the sum which borders it upon the east, and which, previously total of a Pennsylvania village. to that period, embraced a large extent of territory. I am, however, wandering from my subject; I do not This, indeed, was the case with nearly all of the old wish it to be understood that all of the villages of Adams counties in the state, for, before they were curtailed in county partake of the character of those just described, their dimensions by the creation of new counties although it must be confessed that there are a few of amongst them, many of them embraced double the ex- them, that would not be misrepresented by the sketch. tent of territory which they how occupy. Such has been For instance, Cash town, Borough town, Mummasburg the rage for dividing and sub-dividing the state domain, and Heidlersburg, neither of which, it will be generally that it may be truly said, that justice has been brought admitted, possessmuch more than the three requisites beto every man's door. Whether the rise of new counties fore stated, with which to support their name and standupon the territory of the old, has generally contributeding amongst the villages that surround them. There are to the wealth and prosperity of the whole, I cannot pre- however, others of better pretensions, which may claim tend to say; but if I were to draw my conclusions from some passing notice,viz. Berlin, Abbotts town, Petersburg, facts deduced from the present attitude of our own (in the immediate vicinity of the York Springs,) Littles county, I might venture the opinion, that the act of se-town, Millers town, Oxford, Hunters town, and a few paration has been, as in the present instance, highly advantageous to the seceding party. I believe that Adams county at least, has gained by the measure; although it is possible that her neighbour York may, yet have reason to mourn for the loss of so considerable a portion of her estate. This is, however, nothing to the purpose, and may be left for a solution, to better politicians than your correspondent professes himself to be. Adams County is bounded on the east by York and part of Cumberland counties, on the north by Cumberland and part of Dauphin, on the west by Franklin co. Pa. and part of Washington co. Md. and on the south by Frederick co. Md, and part of York co. Pa. Its average extent from east to west is miles, and from north to south miles. Its western and southern boundaries are traversed by the first range of mountains west of the Susquehanna, usually called the South Mountain or Blue Ridge. It embraces no navigable waters, although it is crossed, in various directions by a number of small, valuable streams, affording a considerable amount of water power, and furnishing a number of scites for saw and grist mills, of which there are a sufficient number for the accommodation of all our citizens. For want of opportunity of ascertaining their number, I am not able to state how many of them are in operation in the coun ty. There are eight or ten carding and fulling mills scattered through the county, all of which are in full operation. They are however, upon a small scale, although their products and manufactures are considered of an excellent quality. The county is interspersed with a number of small towns and villages, amounting to 14 or 15. There are few of your readers who do not know what a Pennsylvania village is-those who have travelled through, the interior of the state, can easily embody the picture in their minds-they are generally located at some point where two or more public roads cross each other, there are many indeed, which have hardly a "local habitation or a name," being in many others. The York Springs are situated in this county, within thirteen miles of the town of Gettysburg, the seat of justice for the county, and on the turnpike road leading from Baltimore to Carlisle. They are not so much patronized as formerly, although they are still visited during the season, by many from the cities of Bal timore and Philadelphia, and from the interior-they are at present kept by Mr. James M'Cork. I am sorry that I have it not in my power to furnish an analysis of their waters. Their medicinal properties have been highly extolled, particularly for their efficacy in cases of debility of constitution. They are generally known by the name of "Sulphur Springs," probably in consequence of sulphur being the predominating ingredient. The buildings attached to them are spacious and the accommodations unexceptionable. The soil of the county, generally speaking, is of a medium quality, although it embraces a large quantity of land which may be considered as equal to any in the state. The system of farming here has not yet reached so near a state of perfection as in some of the adjacent counties, and this, in some measure, may be considered as a reason why the agricultural interest stands lower here than it otherwise would do if such improvements · as have taken place in other counties were introduced into our own. One of the peculiar characteristics of the citizens of this county is an attachment to old habits and forms, and unfortunately for their own interest, they have permitted this love and partiality for old customs, and consequently prejudice against innovations of any kind, to influence them so much as to dispose them to reject many improvements calculated to prove advantageous and salutary in their operation. The city of Baltimore is the nearest market for the products of our soil, the average distance being about sixty miles. The main productions are wheat, rye, corn, barley, oats, &c., in addition to which a large quantity of pork is annually hauled to said city for sale. The county is connected with Baltimore at different points by two turnpike roads passing through it. Gettysburg, the Seat of Justice for the county, is a brisk and pleasant town, containing about 1500 inhabitants, who are principally engaged in mechanical pursuits. It stands in an elevated situation, upon a point of ground where the Philadelphia and Baltimore turnpike roads meet in their course to Pittsburg, at the distance of 114 miles from Philadelphia, and 52 from Baltimore. By means of its location, it enjoys a considerable share of the travelling between those cities and the west. At the last session of the Pennsylvania Legislature, a subscription of $20,000 towards the stock of a company for making a turnpike road from Gettysburg to Hagerstown in Maryland was granted, but in consequence of not succeeding in obtaining subscriptions for the balance of the stock necessary to the construction of the road,nothing has been done towards the accomplishment of this desirable work. This road would connect Philadelphia and Wheeling by a continuous turnpike, and in the opinion of all acquainted with the subject, would greatly promote the interests of Philadelphia. The distance to turnpike would be about 32 miles. although yet in its infancy, is likely to prove a valuable concern to this section of the county. It is situated near the foot of the mountain near the south-west end of the county. I have thus given some details respecting this county; they may be in some instances imperfect, being the fruit of limited means of information; yet I may tender them to you as tolerably correct in the general outline. The foregoing sketch has been drawn up in haste, and may not stand the test of criticism on the score of propriety of style, or of grammatical precision, but such as it is, is offered by the writer, out of a sincere desire to promote the objects aimed at in your periodical-the dis| semination of useful information from every section of the state. CIVIS. Gettysburg, Jany. 1829. The Pitttsburgh Gazette says, "Capt. Baker, the present commandant of the U. S. Arsenal, an enterprising and prudent public agent, has been the first to introduce steam power at the ordnance shops. Here was the government, until this late day, using the clumsy, troublesome, irregular, and expensive horse power, surrounded with steam engines, and overlooked by coal pits. The steam engine is one of fifteen horse power; it was made and set up by Pratt, and is a sample of the work done uniformly so well and so cheap in this city. It is employed in polishing arms hauled there from the Armory on the Potomac; and with more spare power, it could manufacture as well as polish them, 20 per cent. cheaper than they cost when made at Harper's Ferry and carried to this depot." Gettysburg was laid out some few years before the organization of the county by Mr. James Gettys, now deceased, and is at this time considered, in point of external appearance and otherwise, inferior to few towns in Pennsylvania of the same size. There are few places within the state embracing more intelligence amongst its citizens, and in which the moral and social feelings are more sedulously cultivated. It may be remarked by the way, that at least in one of the foregoing characteristics, a salutary reform has taken place with in a period of ten or twelve years past. Perhaps one of the best influences in insuring at least a continuation of The plan for introducing water into Pittsburg has been this state of things, will be the location of the Theo- completely successful; a large body having been thrown logical Seminary of the Lutheran Church in the Uni-into the reservoir, and thence conducted through the city in pipes. ted States, in this town. This institution commenced its operations here between two and three years since, and is at this time in the full tide of successful experiment. It is at present under the immediate superintendance of Professor Schmucker, well known as a gentleman of high literary attainments, and as possess ed of superior qualifications as a professor and divine. It is contemplated to establish a second professorship. The public buildings are a court house, situated in the centre of the town square, an academy, a gaol, a bank, a building for the use of the county offices, and four churches; two belonging to Presbyterian, one to the Methodist, and one to the German Lutheran societies. Their pulpits are respectably filled. of stores there are nine, taverns seven, drug stores, two, &c. &c. The town is supplied with good water by means of pipes leading from a spring within its limits, We are not at a loss for gentlemen of the liberal professions. In addition to five or six divines, we have a bar embracing 8 or 10 members in regular gradation as to practice and standing, and 5 physicians, all respectable in their profession. We have also three newspaper establishments, one of them German, and the other two English-the two latter, by the bye, always contriving to be at dagger's points in every political engagement. The town is famed for the manufacture of carriages of every description, from the large ponderous mail stage, down to the light and easy sulkey. It is supposed, that including all the workmen engaged both remotely and immediately in this business, there are not many less than sixty or eighty hands employed in this branch of manufacture alone. The population of the county at this time is supposed to be about 22,000. The number of taxable inhabitants embraced within its limits, from an enumeration recently made, is ascertained to be 4192. "Maria Furnace, lately established by Messrs. Stevens and Paxson, at the distance of eight or ten miles from Gettysburg, We have received the able, and to us very satisfactory, report of the Committee on Roads, &c. presented by Mr. Duncan, its chairman, on granting the request of the Baltimore and Susquehanna Rail Road Company, and regret that it came to hand after our paper was made up, so that we are obliged to defer its publication to the next number. If the open avowal of the committee themselves, that the great object of the road is to withdraw from Philadelphia a great portion of its internal commerce, and if the facts that Baltimore offers no advantages as a market over Philadelphia—that all the tolls, which will be derived from that road, will consequently be diverted from the state-that Philadelphia furnishes a large revenue to the state, which will be augmented as its internal trade increases-and that she has always furnished, and is still able and willing to furnish, a large capital for the prosecution and completion of the great public works already commenced-If all these be not arguments sufficient to prove the impolicy of granting the request, we are at a loss to know what others will produce that effect. Printed every Saturday morning by William F. Geddes, No. 59 Locust street, Philadelphia; where, and at the Editor's residence, in North 12th st. 3d door south of Cherry st. subscriptions will be thankfully received: Price five dollars per annum payable in six months after the commencement of publication--and annually, thereafter, by subscribers resident in or near the city, or where there is an agent. Other subscribers pay in advance THE REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. VOL. III.-NO. 5. REPORT EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD. NO. 57. has been necessarily directed to an inquiry into the views Of the Committee on Roads, Bridges & Inland Naviga-and objects of this Maryland company. In this inquiry, tion, on granting the Baltimore and Susquehanna Rail your committee are fortunately not left to conjecture; Road Company the privilege of extending their Rail These views and objects are distinctly set forth in a reRoad into the State of Pennsylvania-Read in the Se-port made at a meeting consisting of delegates from the nate, January 17, 1829. Mr. Duncan, from the committee on roads, bridges and inland navigation, to whom was referred the petition of the inhabitants of York, and of other citizens of the commonwealth, praying that the assent of this state may be given to the provisions of the act of the general assembly of Maryland, incorporating the Baltimore and Susquehanna rail road company, and the remonstrances of citizens of this state, against the incorporation of said company, made REPORT: That the peculiar claims set forth in the petitions, and the important considerations suggested in the remonstrances, have engaged the serious attention of your committee; and they deem it most respectful to the Senate to lay before it the reasons which have led them to adopt the resolution submitted. In the petition of the citizens of York, they refer to the memorials presented by them at the last session of the legislature, as exhibiting their views in asking the passage of the act. By a reference to that memorial, it would appear that the main reason on which they urge their claim on the favorable consideration of the legislature, is founded on that principle of public policy, which considers the improvement and prosperity of any one part of the commonwealth as diffusing itself and contributing to the welfare of every other part; and they respectfully hope, that the same policy may be extended to them, in encouraging and enabling them to use any advantages which their local situation may invite." While your committee are not disposed to deny, that the local situation of York would derive very great advantages from any system of improvement which would direct the immense trade destined to be transported on the Pennsylvania canal through its territory, they are yet to be convinced how this great advantage to be enjoyed by the citizens of York would diffuse itself and contribute to the welfare of every other part of the state. The inhabitants of York would, no doubt, reap a partial profit from the transit of produce and merchandize through it; but in what way this transit would benefit every other part of the state, the petitioners have not thought proper to explain, and your committee are at a loss to divine. At the last session, the citizens of York petitioned the legislature to incorporate a company to make a rail road from the head of Conewago canal to the Maryland line-a company which was to be under the protection and cognizance of the laws of this state. The petitioners now allege that they have abandoned this project; and now ask of the legislature to give the assent of the commonwealth to the provisions of an act of the general assembly of Maryland, and to confer on the Baltimore and Susquehanna rail road company the privileges and immunities of a corporation in this state, with authority to enter the territory of Pennsylvania to construct a rail road from the head of Conewago canal to the city of Baltimore. Baltimore and York turnpike, the Conewago canal turn- Extracts from the report and proceedings in relation to a "To facilitate the natural means, or to create an artifi. cial means of easy communication with this immense region, seems now to occupy the undivided public opinion. The liberal and enlightened, the bold and manly enterprise which belongs to our city, is all directed to the completion of this magnificent undertaking, and we may look forward with a well founded confidence to the period, when we shall realize all its promised reward." "That the period for systematic and powerful exertion on the part of Baltimore has at length arrived, is no longer doubted. The great plans which are going on and in a great measure matured in New York, and those which are projected and will be completed in Pennsyl vania, show a determination on the part of our rival cities, to push as far as unlimited capital, seconded by liberal views and great enterprise, a competition which can only become dangerous, if we permit their schemes to be matured, and the current of trade to take a settled direction in the channels provided for it by our rivals. For commerce, like water, will seek its level, depending on natural or artificial causes, and if we once permit it to be diverted from its natural channel, it will be found most difficult to bring it back. If, on the other, we enter early into the field of competition, and improve our natural advantages, we make the efforts of our rivals tributary to our views, and they cannot make a foot of canal or railway, erect a bridge, or pave a turnpike road, which does not necessarily lead the trade or commerce Such being the character of the application of the embarked upon it directly to our door. We have nothinhabitants of York, the attention of your committeeing in fact to do but to take up the work where they VOL. III. 9 |