1829.J REPORT OF DISEASES. -1827 & 1828. 255 ANNUAL REPORT OF DISEASES AND DEATHS IN ARCH-STREET PRISON, PHILAD’A. Jan'y Feb'y Mar. April May June July Aug. Sept.| Oct. | Nov. Dec. Total. 27 28 27 28 27 28 27 28 27 28 27 28 27 28 27 28 27 28 27 28 27 28 27 28 1827 1828 Diseases. 612 3 7 414 4 5 4 5 3 6 4 13 11 12 312 3 9 3 6 1 2 49 103 418 12 7 217 1 16 2011 9 4 499 Dyspepsia Pleuritis Abortion Monthly nun ber of sick Monthly totals 1 66 46 49.57 54 52 44 47 71 40 45 22 55 607861 52 57 45 42 31 33 2535615552 112 106 106 91 111 67 115 139 109 87 64 60 1167 Total diseases in 1827-28-1167 Females 0 Remarks on the preceding Table. The greatest number of diseases occurred in August. The smallest number in December, The number of cases of Mania-a-potu were 164 in the two years, being rather more than 14 per cent. of the whole number of diseases. There were 36 cases in the Spring months, 58 in Summer, 48 in Autumn, and 29 during the Winter months. Fevers compose nearly one-third of all the diseases, there being 431 cases. The next most prevalent disease was catarrh, of which there were 110 cases. These three make up nearly two-thirds of the whole. At a meeting of Councils on Wednesday evening, Benjamin W. Richards was unanimously elected Mayor of the City, in place of Geo. M. Dallas, appointed Attorney General U. S. We learn that it has been ascertained that "there is a route by which a rail road can be made from the Tioga river and Bloomsburg, wholly within the state of Pennsylvania, to connect with the Susquehanna between Tioga point and Towanda, and that a petition by those interested in the coal and iron on lands in and about Blossburg, will be forwarded to the Pennsylvania Legis lature to extend the provisions of the act authorising the incorporation of the company for making a canal or railway down the river to the state line, so as to authorize the said company to make a rail road within the State to the Susquehanna, for the transportation of coal, &c. Tioga Phanix. On Saturday morning last, we were shown on board the Waverly, by Captain M'Knight with that politeness which characterises him, Damask Table Cloths, manufactured at Pittsburg, for the use of the Waverly, of the most beautiful patterns and large size, which among other ornaments contained a perfect likeness of the Boat, and the name Waverly in large handsome and distinct letters under it, the whole raised in bold relief upon the cloth. Cincinnati Adv. The Delaware, near Easton, was last week 18 ft. above $18,729 60 low water mark. Bituminous Coal.-P. A. Karthaus, Esq. arrived at this place a few days since, with six arks, laden with bituminous coal, from his extensive mines on the west branch of the Susquehanna, in Clearfield county, near the Lycoming line. Specimens of this coal were exhibited on the public ground, in front of the capitol on Wednesday last, for the examination of the public, and we learn that it has been pronounced by those competent to judge, to be of a superior quality. The vein or stratum, which forms the bed, is about five feet thick,and it is said to cover hundreds if not thousands of acres. Harrisburg Rep. PITTSBURG, April 10. Travelling, provisions, &c.—The amount of travelling through our city, and the number of strangers visiting it on business, have been unusually great since the opening of the spring. The Registers of our hotels, although imperfectly kept, clearly prove this. Those of the Mansion House Hotel, and the Pittsburg Hotel, for the last 17 days, exhibit an aggregate of considerably above 600 names-the arrivals only being entered. Shad. We understand the run of Shad the present season, has been more plentiful in the Egg Harbour bay, than in the Delaware; and that they are carted through the country from the shore, and sold cheaper, than in the Philadelphia market. This phenomenon, if it may be termed such, is attributed to the unusual backwardness of the season, and the late freshets in the Delaware.-- Camden Star. On Sunday afternoon, three young men, viz:-Daniel Trisler, son of Mr. George Trisler, of Lancaster, Hess, of Paradise, near Lancaster, and Doctor Smith, of —, were sailing in a boat on the Schuylkill, above the dam. Being unacquainted with the management of a boat, and venturing too near, it was carried by the current over the dam. Mr. Hess jumped out on the dam, and was saved unhurt. The other two were carSmith was taken up by ried over in the boat. some fishermen in a boat, much bruised and almost exhausted. Mr. Trisler was drowned; much pains has been taken to recover the body, but without success. A reward of $20 has been offered for it. Mr. - The Susquehanna rose, last week, to an unusual PITTSBURG, PA. in the application of capital to the production of manufactures of various kinds, bids fair to height, and inundated a portion of the Kingston and rival any city in the union. It was but the other day we Plymouth flats, in this vicinity. We have been informnoticed the fact, that excellent linen diaper was pro-ed that the river also overflowed its banks near Berduced not inferior to the best imported, and we now see it stated, that queensware of good quality, is made there, and though not so white as that of foreign potteries, it is represented as stronger, standing the fire better.--Wyoming Herald. ter, and as low in price as the imported. A steamboat recently launched at Pittsburg, called "Uncle Sam," is calculated to carry 500 passengers, and 350 tons of cargo; her engine is of 200 horse power, and she is said to be the largest boat afloat on the western waters. The Pittsburg Mercury says, we learn that the President has ordered a set of glass for his table, from Messrs. Bakewell, Page, and Bakewell, of this city. Summit Level.-In the county of Potter on the north line of Pennsylvania, three small streams begin the world within a few miles of each other, whose course term: wick, and filled several sections of the canal, which (being in an unfinished state) had little or no embankment to protect them from this sudden rise of the wa HARRISBURG, April 13. The Susquehanna is now 8 feet above low water mark & is still rising. Great numbers of arks loaded with stone coal, whiskey, flour, wheat, &c. are daily passing. Lumber of every kind is plenty & the prices reasonably low. Printed every SATURDAY MORNING by WILLIAM F. GEDDES, No. 59 Locust Street, Philadelphia; where, and at the PUBLICATION OFFICE, IN FRANKLIN PLACE, second door back of the Post Office, (back room) subscriptions will be thankfully received. Price FIVE DOLLARS per annnın, payable annually by subscribers residing in or near the city, or where Other subscribers pay in advance. there is an agent. THE REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. No. 1. NO. 69. employed in constructing aqueducts, dams and river locks; nevertheless, water has been let into the canal at the salt works, on the Kiskeminetas, fifty-five miles above Pittsburg, and carried over the large aqueduct Report of Abner Lacock, acting commissioner of the Wes- across the Allegheny river; and in a short time it is ex tern Division. To the Board of Canal Commissioners. GENTLEMEN--The superintendance of the line of canal from Pittsburg to Johnstown, a distance of about one hundred and ten miles, and the exploration of the country and location of a rail road, from the latter point to Frankstown, on the Juniata, a distance of about fifty miles, has been committed to my care. It would swell a report beyond the necessary limits, to go into a detail of the operations upon a line of such magnitude and extent: for that information, the board is referred to the reports of Messrs. Roberts, Harris and Livermore, engineers on the respective branches of the work. The whole sum expended by me, in the progress and construction of those works, has amounted to $1,401,391 97. And the amount of money received from the treasurer of the canal fund, has been $1,324,609 40... leaving a balance in my favor of $76,782 57. Since my last report, I have received out of the treasury $314,109 40; and of that sum I have paid, for work done under contracts on the aqueduct, over the Allegheny riv. er at Pittsburg, the tunnel through Grant's Hill, the lock, embankments and other works, connected with that branch of the canal, the sum of $80,868 35. The expenditure upon the line from the Allegheny river, including the river lock and harbor, to the mouth of the Kiskeminetas, a distance of about thirty miles, is equal to $206,818 59. From the Allegheny line, including the aqueduct across that river, and proceeding up the Kiskeminetas, to the head of the salt works, a distance of about twenty miles, there has been expended $228,571 66. From the salt works to the out-let above Blairsville, about twenty-seven miles, the sum of $333,420 17. pected the navigation will be open to the city of Pittsburg. With the opening of this navigation, great and unceasing exertions have been made to extend it this fall to the northern turnpike at Blairsville. The first estimate on this line of near thirty miles, was paid in March last; and since that time the excavation of the entire line has been nearly completed. Three dams across the river have been erected; sixteen stone locks; an aqueduct of five arches of fifty-four feet span, of entire stone built, besides several over lateral streams; about eight hundred feet of a tunnel have been excavated through a mountain. The river aqueduct and tunnel, however, are not completed, but are in such a state of forwardness, that little doubt can be entertained that the navigation will be opened early in the spring. Agreeably to the instructions of the board, Messrs. Roberts, Livermore, and Harris, were directed to make an examination, under my direction, of the highest convenient and practicable point, to which the canal should be extended up the Conemaugh. To that report you are referred in relation to the facts connected with this subject. Before closing this report, it is proper to observe that beside the enhancement in the price of labor and supplies, the contractors have suffered to some extent from my inability in many instances to make payment at the time, and in a currency that would pass without a discount. This state of affairs arose from the following causes: from being limited by law in drawing more than fifty thousand dollars, the amount covered by the responsibility of my securities, until my accounts were settled at the treasury; and thus kept within that limit; beside the engineer corps on a line of about 160 miles, I was obliged to pay four or five estimates every month, some of which amounted to more than $60,000. Thus circumstaneed, and placed at a distance from the seat of government, it was impossible for me at many tines to transmit vouchers, and have my accounts settled at the treasury, in time to meet my engagements with the contractors; and consequently, I was frequently obliged to overdraw my credits in the banks of Pittsburg and Westmoreland, to the amount of seventy or eighty thousand dollars, and make myself personally li able for the same. This measure was cheerfully acquiesced in by the officers of those monied institutions, from what appeared to me a sincere desire to lend their aid to promote the important objects contemplated by the government. At length, however, my drafts were not paid at the treasury, for the best reason in the world, because there was no money legally applicable to the Thus situacanal fund in the hands of the treasurer. The foregoing expenditures do not include the several sums paid for damages, incidental expenses and superintendance. The line of canal from the out-let lock to Johnstown, was put under contract on the 20th of October last, so far as regards the construction of the canal, excepting the locks and culverts. Agreeably to the instructions of the board, proposals were invited for constructing locks of wood and stone, on two plans pointed out by the engineer; and, likewise of stone locks of the usual construction. Upon an examination of the bids, and a comparison of the prices proposed for the erection of the different kinds of locks, it appeared that the difference between the wooden and stone locks was much less than was anticipated: it was therefore thought advisable to defer entering into contracts until the board could be consulted on the propriety of theted, no alternative presented itself to me, but either to course to be adopted, in relation to this subject. As no stop the work, ruin contractors and labourers, and deestimate has been made, or money paid to contractors on stroy public confidence, or issue certificates of debt to this line of canal, the amount of work done cannot be the contractors: this I did without hesitation, to the stated with precision. Several contractors, however, amount of about 150,000 dollars. These certificates have commenced their work, and many hands are ac- were received at par by the contractors, and redeemed tively employed on the line. by the banks at not more than one per centum. It is but fair to state, that those embarrassments have arisen, not from any neglect or omission on the part of the con The continuation of high water until the season had far advanced, retarded the progress of the contractors VOL. III. 33 stituted authorities of the state, nor from their inability to meet their legal engagements, but to the impossibility of ascertaining with any thing like precision, the amount of labor to be done from month to month, and consequently, the suns that would be required to carry on the extensive works now in operation. But from whatever cause those embarrassments may have arisen, it would be but an act of justice for the contractors to receive a complete indemnity from the government; and I respectfully suggest the propriety of recommending their case to the consideration of the legislature. A. LACOCK, Acting Commissioner. To the Board of Canal Commissioners of Pennsylvania. GENTLEMEN, I beg leave to report to you the situation of the work on the Allegheny and Pine Creek lines of the western division of the canal. The accompanying statement shows that but little remains to be done to complete the Allegheny line entirely, and that a considerable part of the expense yet to be incurred on that line, is for the purpose of bringing the water around the locks. This is doing in such a manner, that the water power may be used to the best advantage. This, with the lock houses was not estimated in the last report. The hill-slips have been removed entirely on both lines, where not too extensive. Where it was found too expensive to remove the whole mass, the canal has been made much wider than usual, that there may be alwaya sufficient room for the boats to pass. But as an additional security, and to prevent trouble from the earth slipping in future, which would be a serious inconvenience after the opening of the navigation, it will be advisable to continue a force through the winter at the points where there are any indications of a disposition to slip. The doing this however, need not interfere with the passage of boats, should the season be sufficiently open. An estimate is made for puddling and repairs, under the expectation that in the progress of letting in the water, some work of this description will be required. The necessity of moving the line of the canal into the hill, renders it difficult to make the road which runs parallel and close to the canal for a considerable distance. A great part of the excavation on the Pine creek line, was occasioned by this necessity. The great breadth of base required for both canal and turnpike road, and the hill being steep, the depth of cutting was increased in a great ratio. This, together with the slipping character of the ground, makes it troublesome and expensive to construct both canal and road between the hill and the river, and has tended much to swell the cost of the Pine creek line. In laying the formation of the out-let lock and pier head in Allegheny-town, great difficulty was experienced from the influx of the water through a loose bed of gravel, of which the bottom consisted. The length of masonry was 220 feet, which was sunk 7 feet below low water of the river, and the harbor fifty feet in breadth, and in length 120 feet, was excavated to the depth of 4 feet below low water. Much of the labour of men and horses had to be expended in pumping, which forms a large item of the cost of this work. That part of the canal extending across the Allegheny through Grant's hill to the Monongahela, is in a state of forwardness proportioned to the magnitude of the work. The abutments and three of the piers of the aqueduct over the river are raised nearly to the full height; the remaining three piers are raised so high, as to be out of danger of injury. A great part of the superstructure is prepared, ready to set up, and the securing the foundations of the abutments and piers is going forward,The work done at the tunnel and lock contract during the summer, has been chiefly confined to the locks. The out-let lock at the mouth of Suke's run is built to the height of the lift; the stone work of the three remaining is nearly finished, and the gates framed. The tunnel for the length of 85 feet at each end has been cut down to bottom. The arching of this distance and filling above the arch is going on, and the tunnelling about to be recommenced. The tunnelling proves to be difficult. The material of which the hill consists being so hard as to require blasting, but not sufficiently firm to stand without arching. The main exertion of the contractors will now be directed to the completing the tunnel, and it may be expected that a correspondent progress will be made. Respectfully submitted, JAS. D. HARRIS, Engineer. Pittsburg, 24th Nov. 1828. No. 3. Report on the Kiskeminetas and Conemaugh lines, by Alonzo Livermore, engineer, including estimates, &c. To the Board of Canal Commissioners of Pennsylvania. GENTLEMEN, In obedience to the directions of Gen. Lacock, the acting commissioner, I herewith give a statement of the present state and progress of the work, upon the Kiskeminetas and Conemaugh line of canal under my superintendance, together with an estimate of the work to be done before completion. The amount of work yet remaining is calculated by the several assistant engineers, upon their respective lines, and comprehends all items contracted for, with a liberal allowance for hill-slips, and other contingencies. It will be observed, that the amount which this canal 1829.] CANAL DOCUMENTS. will have cost when completed, will exceed the estimate of last season the sum of $117,000. Many causes have combined to produce this increase of expenditure. In the first place enormous slips have come into the canal and lock pits; in one instance at guard lock No 3, lift No. 4, and canal adjoining, the increase of the excavation by this cause, will not cost less than $20,000. It is worthy of remark, that should a canal have been adopted instead of slack-water navigation for the first three miles of this line, the slips which would have occurred, added to the natural expense, would increase the cost to not less than $40,000 per mile, thereby saving in this instance by slackwater to the amount of 75,000 dollars. Indeed it would be found, whenever this kind of navigation is adopted, either on this or the Kiskeminetas line, that prodigious expenses have been saved by avoiding the foregoing difficulties. It was my opinion last season, as well as of others better acquainted with the country, that the incidents attendant upon the above will be trifling, both upon this and the Kiskeminetas line. My calculations have come far short of the amount of actual cost in these cases. When ever the base of the hill has been disturbed by the formation of the canal, without exception the whole body of loose rock and earth has come in from the front of the hill, and in many cases swelled the amount of the excavation to more than double what was calculated.The principal sections where these difficulties have occurred are Nos. 87, 92, 93, 94, 97, 98, 111 and 112. some instances the towing path has slid from its base, and a further excavation into the solid rock to secure a permanent foundation for the banks. In The expense upon sections Nos. 111, 112, 118 and 119, will be increased by a removal farther into the solid rock, owing to the confined situation in which the river flows, which would endanger the banks, if made higher and of clay embankment. There is an additional expense upon the aqueducts of A much greater price was requisite to carry on the work, owing to the lateness of the season, than would have done in the first instance. The cost of this work will nearly equal the sum of $50,000. Additional expenses have been put upon the dams, by substituting iron instead of wooden pins, increasing the thickness of the plank, adding more stone and wood work to the abutments, and facing the breast with two inch plank. The expense of waste wiers is included in this estimate and was before not calculated. The foregoing items make up the most of the increased cost of the canal in comparison with the last year's estimate The following work, or extension has been added since last season, sections No. 124 and 125 a piece of canal adjoining of six chains an out let lock No. 17 of 10 feet lift, a towing path, bridge and culvert, amounting in all to $19,000. A few general remarks remain to be made. This line of 25 miles in extent, may be said to be in a forward state. Many difficulties have been encountered which The weather has materially retarded the work; scarcity of hands existed in the best part of the last season. This has been particubeen unusually wet, not a month has passed without a considerable rise in the river. larly unfortunate for the contractors of dams. They are now, however, nearly secured; a small rise of about 3 feet in the river took place a few days since, the dams were filled, and the water passed over without doing any injury. If three weeks of good weather continue, they can be secured from danger. The arches of the stone aqueduct, will be closed in about fifteen days; the upper works can be done by the time wanted. The tunnel is excavated upwards of 700 feet, and can be casily finished during the winter. I feel confident, if no material accident happens to any of the works, that the canal will be ready for the water by the opening of the spring. A great proportion of the section and locks, will be finished by the next estimate. All of which is respectfully submitted, ALONZO LIVERMOORE, Engineer. Canal line, Nov. 27th, 1828. No. 4. ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF LIGONIER LINE. Report and Estimate on the Ligonier line from Blairsville Aqueducts, $171,150 96 142,067 25 52,800 00 6,815 00 do. do. do. Dams, 39,288 00 1,500 00 do. Waste wiers, 11,000 00 do. Tow-path bridges, 6,700 00 do. Bridge over canal, 7,650 00 do. Lock houses, 8,700 00 6,000 00 1,260 00 The foregoing is an estimate of the probable cost of 28 miles and 52 chains of canal, ending at Johnstown, and including a basin and harbour at that place. From inspecting the proposals for locks given at the letting, it appears that no material saving in the first cost, will eventuate in the construction of wooden locks instead of stone; and in consequence no lock contracts have been entered into, the estimates are made for stone locks. The plans and specifications exhibited were: First, for the immersed or crib lock. This lock was to be built of square timber, in the manner of crib-work, and planked next the chamber; the crib-work to extend from the head of the lock to the lower gates, and to be filled in with stone, but left open enough to allow the water to pass around the head of the lock, through and among the stone and timber, as far as the crib-work exThese to be secured by sheetpiling, and pudtends. dled to the end of the wings, to prevent the water passing outside of the lock farther than the end of the cribwork. From the lower gates to the end of the wings, the walls to be built of stone, as in stone locks. |