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AMERICAN RAILROAD JOURNAL,

AND ADVOCATE OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT No. 35 WALL STREET, NEW-YORK, AT THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE.

D. K. MINOR, EDITOR.]

CONTENTS:

page 561

Tonnewanda Railroad; Richmond and Potomac Creek
Railroad, &c.....
Georgia Railroads; Dansville and Rochester Railroad;
Mad River Railroad; Report of the Engineer in Chief
of the Ithaca and Owego Railroad Company... .562
Railroad between Stonington and Providence; Excav
ation of the Railway at Lowell, Mass.; Allegheny
Portage Railroad; Liverpool and Manchester Railr'd. 564
Sea-Serpent Harpoon (with engravings): The Progress
of Invention Exemplified (with engravings); Cinna-
mon Stone; Alburnum; &c.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1833.

[VOLUME II.-No. 36.

New-York, for the construction of Railroads link in the "grand Atlantic chain." We give the and Canals, would not only increase the value annexed letter of MONCURE ROBINSON, Esq. of property to that amount over its present val-who, as the editor of the Whig well says, is ue, but it would also enhance the value of pro-" high authority," and we certainly agree with perty to at least that amount, beyond what it him that Mr. Robinson ought to be employed would be otherwise increased if the improve-to survey the route. ments were not made. Thus the owners of Broad Mountain, Schuylkill Co. Pa. real estate will be greatly benefitted, the inhabJuly 31st, 1833. itants residing on the route will be highly ac-pleasure of seeing you, when I was last in My Dear Sir-I had intended to have had the commodated, the travelling community will Richmond, but I understood, at the time that find their convenience greatly promoted, and you were occasioned some annoyance by a 570 those who have money to spare, will find a safe subpoena of the United States Court in the case .571 of Randolph, and deemed it as well not to trouand profitable investment for it. We cannot .573 ble you with other matters. ..575 therefore doubt but that this road will be com.576 menced at an early day, and prosecuted with spirit to its completion.

Machine to move a Given Weight with a Given Power
(with engravings)...

Statistics of Connecticut; Lime necessary for Wheat;
Notes on Mildew (with engravings); &c.
Literary Notices...

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.565

566

568

AMERICAN RAILROAD JOURNAL, &c.

NEW-YORK, SEPTEMBER 7, 1833.

I wished to have said a word to you, and to have asked your aid in behalf of the Richmond and Potomac Creek Railroad. Next to the James and Kanawha Improvement, nothing which has been proposed in Virginia, seems to mond, and to the State at large, and as the me to promise such benefits to the city of Richamount required for its execution would be

RICHMOND AND POTOMAC CREEK RAILROAD. -We were somewhat surprised to find the TONNEWANDA RAILROAD.-We refered in a editor of the Richmond Whig opposed to this previous number to the above road, by way of contemplated railroad. His uniform devotion comparatively small, there seems to be only showing the avidity with which the stock of to the cause of internal improvements in Vir-requisite some little concert among those who judiciously located Railroads will be taken by ginia, led us to anticipate a ready support of can appreciate the importance of the Improvement, to induce its being taken up and effected. It those who know and appreciate their impor- the measure from him. He, however, in re-a survey could be had, and a report and estimate tance to the country. The Tonnewanda Rail-ferring to the following communication from be made by the next session of the Legislature, road, commencing at Rochester, will pass Virginia's able engineer, has explained the rea-and a charter and pledge of aid to some limited through one of the most fertile sections of west-son of his objection to the measure, (a desire extent from the State be then obtained, I should entertain no doubt that the necessary remainern New-York, and also through several flour-to see the James and Kanawha improvement ing stock could be made up by subscription. ishing villages terminating for the present at undertaken,) and it is one, we admit, which in You can better judge than myself, how the first Attica, but eventually at Buffalo: it cannot fail many cases would be satisfactory-but not in step in the matter (the survey) may be effected. of becoming a great thorough-fare for travel the present, for we believe that the only way to If the necessary sums for the purpose could between those places, as well as for transpor- do any thingin Virginia, towards improving her would suggest an application by some of the be made up in Richmond and Fredericksburg, tation of produce, raised along its line, to the internal communication, at an early period, is citizens, to the War Department, for an immecanal. The travel alone, we have not a doubt, to project works in the different parts of the diate survey of the Route, by some of the memwill produce an income sufficient to pay the in-state, that the whole population may become bers of the Topographical Corps. terest upon the capital, whilst the transportation interested in them. There must be a general, will pay the expense of the carrying establish- a pervading desire for them, before much can ment. It will not only be a convenience to be done.

I

this subject, from a belief that you will, with I have taken the liberty of writing you on pleasure, co-operate in favor of a measure, which I feel assured will, if executed, be fraught those residing in its immediate vicinity, but There can be no doubt, we think, of the far with most important results to our Ancient will be to them in reality the means of greatly greater importance to Virginia, but more espe- admit of my presenting to you the many views Dominion. The limits of a letter would not enhancing the value of their property. They cially to Richmond, of the James and Kanawha in favor of it; and I should feel it unnecessary would indeed be the gainers if their property improvement-yet we are not sure but that to do so, as your own reflections will, I have was taxed to build the road, and they were to this contemplated railroad would rather facili- no doubt, readily suggest them. Allow me to receive nothing back in the shape of dividends. tate than retard that work, as it would serve to ask your attention to it, and the co-operation Every improvement of the kind actu .lly in- familiarise the inhabitants to such improve-examination, entertain as favorable impressions of your press in its behalf, if you should, on creases the wealth of the country through ments; and they would of course see and feel, if of the scheme as I think you will. which it passes more than the cost of the im- they travelled much, the vast importance of I remain, dear sir, yours, very truly, provement of this fact none are better satis- such works to individuals, as well as to the M. ROBINSON. J. H. Pleasants, Esq. fied than those residing in the vicinity of the public. Erie Canal. The expenditure of fifteen mil- We should be much gratified to see this road lions of dollars, within ten years, in the state of" 'n progress, as it is another and an important

CHEMUNG CANAL.-The navigation on this canal has tween Havana and the summit level at Horse Head. Icommenced, and several boats passed on the 26th ult. be

on his surveys, cannot fail to afford satisfaction
to the friends of this road. It is with real plea-
sure that we lay it before our readers, although
we recently devoted a large space to the same
ubject. The importance of the work to the
great west will warrant us in referring often
to it.

46 tons iron, at $50,
1,936 lbs spikes, at 9 cents,
1,400 splicu.g plates, at 3 cents,
320 rods workmanship, at $4 50,
1 road crossing,

2 farm crossings,

Removing earth and grading, 1 sliding,

Multiplied by 153,

Grading and masonry, as above,

Add 10 per cent. for contingen-
cies, salaries of engineers, su-
perintendants, &c.

2300 00 174 24

42 30 1440 00 20 00 16.00

100 00

354 06

$6918 20 $1,058,484 60 440,228 40 $1,498,713 00

GEORGIA RAILROADS.-As we anticipated, our water privileges be occupied, and ManufacGeorgia will continue the Railroad from Augus-turing Establishments spring up all around us; ta to the interior of the State, if not to the Ala.the result of all which will be-heavy dividends upon the Capital Stock of the Dansville and bama line. Meetings have been held at Sparta. Kochester Railroad. Powelton, and Mount Zion, on the 13th and 14th ult., at which over 100,000 dollars were MAD RIVER RAILROAD.-We think the folsubscribed to the stock of the Augusta and lowing Report of the United States Engineer, upEatonton Railroad. Further efforts are also inaking in North Carolina-than which, no State needs them more, or would be more benefitted by Railroads; one or two principal lines from tide water to the mountains, with branches, and one main line from north to south, connecting the Petersburg road with another in South Carolina, at Cheraw, would soon give to 149,873 30 Report of the United States Engineer, in reNorth Carolina a new aspect. Thus it is that lation to the Mad River and Lake Erie Rail$1,648,584 30 the true interests of the country are to be pro-road, submitted to the Commissioners, at their or $10,775 06 per mile, for locomotive power. moted-and he who aids in the extension of meeting at Springfield, Ohio, on the 31st ult. : This estimate is based upon the presumption works designed to fac litate the intercourse of SPRINGFIELD, July 31, 1833. that locomotive engines alone will be used, and the different States, or even of remote parts SIR,- herewith submit an estimate of the that there will be no necess ty for a horse-path. of the same State, is far more entitled to the probable expense of constructing the Mad Ri Should this, however, not be the case, the cost ver and Lake Erie Railroad, as determined from of the horse-path must be added. The followgratitude of his countrymen than he who the experimental survey made under my direc-ing will then be the cost of the road: spends a whole life fattening upon the spoils of t on, during the past and present seasons. Graduation and masonry, the enemy, or "feeding at the public cr.b." A more full and minute report will be made Superstructure, as above, upon the return of the party to Washington, 1280 perches broken stone, accompanied by maps and profiles of the whole at $1, route. The limited time we have been engaged, Making horse-path, 200 00 $1280 00 and the necessity of attending to other duties, have rendered the completion of these drawings at this t me impracticable.

DANSVILLE AND ROCHESTER RAILROAD.-By the following extract from the Dansville (N. Y.) Chronicle, we learn that strong hopes are entertained of the success of their Railroad. Of its importance to those flourishing villages or rather city, one of them-no one can entertain a doubt, and of its construction, at an early period, we have not a doubt.

With the friends of this important project, it has been, until recently, a matter of doubt whether the stock would be taken up, were the Looks for subscription opened, because of the general pressure in the nioney market; but late Occurrences have given a new impulse to the spirit of enterprize, and removed all doubts that existed upon the subject, affording the greatest assurance that no difficulty whatever will now!

be experienced in d spos.ng of the stock. In Rochester, and all the places interested, the greatest anxiety to have the books opened and the necessary measures adopted for the speedy consummation of the matter, is manifested. The Commissioners appointed under the act to incorporate this Conipany are to meet in Geneseo to-morrow, to determine upon the time most expedient to open the books for subscrip

tions, and we are informed that the time con

templated is the early part of next month. We

think the sooner the better.

By letters received in this village from influential and intelligent gentlemen of Rochester, and from other sources, we learn that capital sts there are anxious for an opportunity to take the stock; that they consider the prospect of a profitable investment of money in the stock of this company far more certain than in that of the Tonnewanda Route, the cap tal stock of which ($500,000) was all taken up in Rochester on the 14th inst. before the books had been open three hours; a fact which proves conclusively that the stock of the Dansville Railroad would be eagerly sought after.

The route of the road to this village is one of the most delightful in the world-the coun

The excavation and embankment have been estimated at 10 cents the cubic yard; the masonry at $2 the perch; and the grubbing at $2 the rod-prices amply sufficient to cover these respective items. No doubt is entertained that the work can in many instances be done at much lower rates. It was thought best, however, that the estimate should, if any thing, exceed the actual cost, rather than fall below it.

The grading upon the road will be easier
than was at first anticipated, and can in many
instances be much improved upon its final loca-
tion, when more time and labor will be neces-]
sarily expended than could reasonably be ex-

pected upon an experimental survey. But even
upon the line as at present traced, they are
such as to do away entirely with the necessity
of any stationary power whatever, rendering it
pecul.arly adapted for the employment of loco
motive engines exclusively, in transportation
upon the road. The advantages of the locomo-
tive system over any other, especially in the
transportation of passengers, is too evident to
need any remark.

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45 and 50

5

2000

$440,228 40 1,058,484 60

For one mile, $1480 00, by 153, 226,440 00 $1,725,153 00 172,515 30

Add for contingencies, &c.

as above, 10 per cent.
Making the whole cost, includ-
ing horse-path,
or $12,403 06 per mile.

vant,

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$1,897,668 30

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient ser. HOWARD STANSBURY, U.S. Assist. Civ. Engineer. To Horatio G. Phillips, Esq. President of the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad Company.

Estimated Cost of Grading and Masonry. FIRST DIVISION. From Sandusky City to Tiffin, on the east bank of Sandusky river, 35 miles, 873,711; or an average of 2,106 03

per m. SECOND DIVISION.-From Tffin to the north

branch of Sciota river, 39 miles, $108,239 40; or an average per mile, $2,775 39.

THIRD DIVISION. From north ridge of Sciota river, to the east branch of Mad River, near West L berty, 32 miles, $119,149 70; or an average of per mile, 3,723 39.

FOURTH DIVISION.-From Mad River to Day. ton, 47 miles, $139,127 30; or an average of per mile, 2,060 17.

Whole cost of grading and masonry from Sandusky City to Dayton, 153 miles, $440,228 31; or an average of per mile. $2,877 31.

Report of the Engineer in Chief to the Stock. holders of the Ithaca and Owego Railroad Company.

The President and Directors of the Ithaca

The whole length of curvation upon the road 12 69 miles, of which 9.81 miles will have a radius of from one to four miles; of the remain. der, the red.us need not, in any case, fall short equal improvement as respects the length and of three thousand feet. The line is capable of and Owego Railroad Company have the plen. sure of submitting to the stockholders the sublocation of the curves, as in case of the grada-joined report of the Engineer in Chief. The estimate has been proposed separately, tail of the location and progress of the work, We deem it unnecessary to enter into a de. with a view to the employment of either steam as that will appear in the full and ample deveor horse power. Should the former be deter

tion.

try level, rich, and fert.le-a port on of it in amined upon, the necessity of a horse path will opement of the Engineer in his report here.

Est mate of the cost of the Mad River and
Lake Erie Railroad, double track:
From Sandusky City to Dayton, 153 miles.
Gradation and masonry, average per mile,
$2,877 31,
$440,228 40

high state of cultivat on and rapidly advancing
in wealth-and the vllage of Dansville, at its be dispensed with, and of course this amount
term nation, is one of the most flourishing and will be saved in the cost of construction.
pleasantly situated villages in Western New
York. Its hydraulic privileges are presumed
to be equal, if not super or, to those of Roches-
ter, as they are more extensive, and afford bet
ter opportunity for erecting the various kinds
of manufacturing establishments. It is already
quite a manufactur ng town, yet not one hun-
dredth part of the MS tes are occupied - and
the moment it is ascerta ned that we are to
have a Railroad, capital will find its way here,

Superstructure of one mile.
480 perches of broken stone, at $1, $480 00
2,640 sleepers at 20 cents,
528 00
36,592 feet scantling, 6 inches by 6, at
$22 per thousand,

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with submitted, in which we have ent re confi. dence; but will confine ourselves to a few ob servations on the present and future prospects of the road, to which the stockholders look for a remuneration of their investments in the stock of the company. On this subject we have full confidence in the assurance, that if the calculations for the future can be regulated by the experience of the past, they are flatter. ng.

The importance of a communication by ceal or railroad by this route, from the waters 1483 50||and country of the north and west, with the

Susquehanna on the south, has been a sub-salt, the bituminous will be preferred, as it||Wilkesbarre, on the Susquehanna, 150 miles; ject of much calculation and speculation for se- makes a more brilliant fire, the flame spread- none of good quality being found in the interveral years past, and efforts for its completioning its heat more readily around. have engaged the attention of the commercial portion of our community.

This communication will be effected in the completion of your railroad, and defies all competition by any other route, it being the most direct, least expensive, and shortest portage between the navig ible waters of New-York and Pennsylvania.

The head of the inclined planes is 517 feet above the Cayuga Lake; thence running to Owego with an undulation of 21-12 feet per mile, cons.dered equivalent to a level, through the Beaver Meadow, where the waters divide and flow north to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and south to the Chesapeake Bay. On the streams thus formed along the line are 33 mills, and the immediate vicinity furnishes an abundant supply of timber.

The Towanda iron ore and coal beds are 36 miles south of Owego, thence to Ithaca 294 milos, from Ithaca to Cayuga Bridge 36 miles, (lake navigation tree of toll,) thence to Syracuse, canal navigation by Montezuma, 42 miles; in the whole 143 miles.

mediate region. There are also at Springport, on the east bank of the Cayuga Lake, inex haustible beds of water limestone of the best quality, the line from which we are now using in the construction of our culverts.

Linie, therefore, will be an important source of revenue, as well as coal, salt, and plaster. The transportation from Towanda to Owe- The sum of $71,125, which is a fraction over go will be on the navigable waters of the Sus 23 per cent. n tt on the capital, would there. quehanna. Steamboats of a light draught of fore be the immediate amount of revenue on water, such as are at present navigating the the completion of the road: and it is an imporConnecticut river, can be successfully used, tant considerat.on, that the amount of revenue and some gentlemen at Owego have made the which the company may receive is not limited necessary investigations, and contemplate put- by the charter. But in extending our views to ting on one or more boats in the coal trade. the future business of the road, we must calcuThis would immediately give us a direct, easy, late upon its increase from Lake Ontario, 70 and cheap communication between those coal miles north of Ithaca, by a channel or route beds and the Erie Canal. The coal beds are crossing the canal at Montezuma, which is 18 inexhaust.ble, extending for miles westerly. miles from Sodus Bay, through a country From accurate calculations by the best in-" The bituminous coal beds lie south-west of abounding with iron ore. Besides, our road formed merchants and carriers in the villages Newtown, at Peter's Camp, at the head of the must be considered as an important link in the of Ithaca and Owego, we have derived the fol-Tioga river, probably part of the same vein ex-great connexion between Buffalo, the mart of lowing statement: isting at Towanda, and are 40 miles from the the western states, and Philadelphia, Baltihead of the feeder of the Chemung canal, and more, and New-York. This presents its vaabout the same distance westwardly from To- lue in a most interesting light. wanda, accessible through a broken and mounWe found the above calculation also on the tainous country. The route from the head of fact that simultaneously, and without concert,. the feeder of the Chemung Canal to the head a line of communication with New-York is in Should we take the ratio of those years for of the Seneca Lake is 36 miles long, thence in- preparation. A charter has been granted for the year 1834, when your road will be comple- cluding the length of the lake 40 miles, thence a railroad from the termination of our road on ted and in full operation, we could safely calcu-"on the Seneca and Erie Canals to Syracuse, the north to Geneva, and one from Geneva to late the amount at 76,800 tons, equal to 320 57 miles, making in the whole 173 miles, and Canandaigua, leaving but 90 m.les to connect tons a day. We have, however, after a mode-passing 61 locks. This lockage being convert- us with Buffalo, and thus unite the navigable rate and careful review, concluded to presented into distance, as on the Chenango Canal, waters of the Susquehanna with Lake Erie. the following as a fair estimate of the amount will give an extension equal to 30 miles. The of tonnage that will pass the railroad in the year 1834: Merchandise, 2,000 tons; wheat and flour, 5,000; pork, butter, and whiskey, 2,000; ashes, 1,000; plaster, 10,000; salt, 5,000; lime and stone, 1,000; lumber, 7,500; miscellaneous; 1.000; total, 34,500 tons.

The transportation from Ithaca for the year 1828 was, in exports, 10,678 tons; imports, 7,929 do.; total, 18,607 tons. For the year 1831, exports, 31,631 tons; imports, 11,525 do.; total, 43,156 tons.

time required on our railroad to ascend the
whole elevation will take but twenty minutes,
equal to an extension of one mile.

The distance from the Erie Canal at Montezuma to Sodus Bay is 18 miles, which bay on Lake Ontario is 90 miles nearer the city of New-York by this route than any other. It Thus it will be perceived that, as far east as has long been contemplated, and actual moveSyracuse, we can transport anthracite coal ments and reconna sances are making, to con cheaper than they can by the way of the Che- nect Lake Ontario with the Erie Canal at Mo1In this estimate of tonnage, the article of coal nango Canal; and bituminous, than can be tezuma by a canal, which it is believed also has not been included. The rapid extirpation done by the way of the Chemung, as much will drain the Cayuga marshes (the fall from of wood in the improvement of the country, cheaper as we gain in time and distance. those marshes to that lake being 138 feet) more particularly along the line of the canal, has al-About 80 tons of Carbondale aud Towanda effectually than any other mode, which ought to ready enhanced its price, and could coal be obtained at a fair and reasonable rate, it would supercede the use of wood altogether, and ena. ble the farmer to turn his reserved wood-land into arable, and thus increase his crops for market. The salt works alone would consume an immense amount; wood is now sold there for $2 per cord; and coal could be afforded there for $5 per ton, one ton of coal being equal to four cords of wood; thus making a saving of $3 in every four cords of wood. We might, therefore, rate the tonnage of coal high. er, but shall estimate it at 8,000 tons..

be a great inducement with the state tɔ coutribute liberally towards its completion.

coal have been sold in this village during a
few days' sleighing, at the price of from $8 to
$12 per ton, and ground plaster carried back The distance from the city of New-York to
as the return load. By railroad and steamboats Ithaca fis 210 miles, 17 of which, through a
it could be afforded at $4 per ton.
part of New-Jersey, is already traversed by the
The three furnaces at this place, although Paterson Railroad, which would, without doubt,
not on a large scale, would consume 244 tons" be carried up to the state line, leaving from the
annually. We have confidence, therefore, in
making the following statement of revenue for
the year 1834: Merchandise, 34,500 tons; coal,
8,000 do.; total, 42,500 tons.

Amount of revenue as per preceding

statement

The annual expenses of the road, at a
liberal calculation

Leaving a revenue of

southern termination of our road abcu 150 miles to be completed by the great New-York and Erie Railroad Company, (our road now embracing one-seventh of the whole distance) to connect New-York with the Erie Canal na vigation by the Cayuga Lake.

The distance from Owego, the southern termination of our railroad, to the northern ter mination of the contemplated Lackawanna and Susquehanna Railroad, is 35 miles; and if the Hudson and Delaware Company would con

tance above stated would soon be passed by a connected road, the stock for which would rea. $91,125 dily be subscribed, and the company would then have a greater market to the north by our rail. 20,000 road and the Chenango Canal, than they now possess by the Hudson.

871,125

Admitting we transport half of this amount, at the rate of $2 per ton, which is from one to When the Chenango Canal shall have been two dollars less than the usual price, $42,500; finished, we must expect a competition in the the other half by carriers paying toll only, article of anthracite coal; but in the bitumi. $21,250; passengers that will concentrate and nous, from Towanda, a few miles below Tio- pass our road from north and south, 50 a day, ga Point, ther can be none. The distance at $1, 365 days, $18.250; country travel along from Carbondale, in the region of the anthra- the line of the road, 50 per day, at 50 cents, 365||struct the road through Pennsylvania, the dis. cite coal beds, by the way of the Chenango days, $9,125. canal, through Utica, to the salt works at Syracuse, will be 214 miles, with the canal duty from Chenango Point, heavy lockage and slow progress: the summit near Oriskany or Utica being 730 feet above the canal, and 320 above the Susquehannah at Chenango Point, giving 950 of lockage, and will require 119 locks of 8 feet lift, which at ten minutes' time (inclu-tal. $300,000. ding delay) in passage, will be 1190 minutes. Although the above result is great, yet we Th's being converted into distance at the rate must have ronfilence in its reasonableness, of three miles per hour, or 20 minutes per from our knowledge of facts and facilities upon mile, will, so far as time and wages are con-which it is founded. cerned, be equivalent to an extension of the The salt manufactured at the Montezuma The navigation of the Susquehanna is at canal a distance of 59 miles. works can be reduced in price for the southern least four weeks earlier in the spring than the market, to the difference in the cost of distance eastern sections, and two weeks earlier than the of transportation between Syracuse and Mon-western section of the Erie Canal. Advantage tezuma, being 35 miles. has been taken of this knowledge by some of The plaster beds on the east bank of the Cay-our merchants, in getting to an early market, uga Lake, but thirty miles from Ithaca, ate and produce has been sent from this village to Bituminous coal will always be in great de-abundant. Baltimore, there sold, goods have been pur. mand: for cupola furnaces, however, anthra. Limestone, making the first quality of white chased in New-York with the avails, shipped to cite is chosen; but for reverberatory furnaces, lime, is inexhaustible on both sides of the lake, Albany, and have been forwarded by the fir orges, smithies, family use, and the boiling of land there is a market for it south as far as boats on the opening of the canal.

From the same point, (Carbondale,) by the way of the Ithaca and Owego Railroad, Čayuga Lake and Canal, to Syracuse, it is 193 miles; the passage made from Owego to the Cayuga Bridge in eight hours.

In the present state of things, without refe The cost of the road will not exceed its capi-rence to future improvements, the Ithaca and Owego Railroad must of necessity take a large portion of the trade along our lake and the Erie Canal, when repeated experiments shall show its advantages by the diminished expense of transportation.

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Do. by way of Erie Canal from Ithaca to New-York

81

11

dollars.

Salt,

per bbl.

might reduce the time of travelling between work is already executed, and it is expected
Boston and New-York to about twelve hours, that in the course of the next season this stu-
thereby obviating the hazard of passing Long- pendous undertaking will be completed.—[Low-
Island Sound, and of the lines of steamboats. ell Journal.]

It is less than one hundred miles from Brook-
$1,94 yn ferry to Greenport, formerly called Sterling,
in the town of Southold. Greenport has a fine
harbor, situated between Shelter Island and the
main Island, and has good depth of water- the Allegheny:

31

ALLEGHENY PORTAGE RAILROAD.-A late Ebensburg Spy contains the following encour aging notice of a portion of the railroad over

2,25 easy of access-never troubled with ice. There "We have lately viewed that part of the Al-
is already a considerable village, where two legheny Portage Railroad which lies between
whaling ships are annually fitted out, and ina-Croyle's Mills and the borough of Conemaugh,
ny smaller vessels are owned and employed. and were much pleased with its appearance.
It is probable the railroad between Brooklyn It would be worth a three days' ride to see the
and Jamaica will be made the next season, em- manner in which skill, industry and science,
bracing 12 miles of the proposed route. The aided by money, have overcome the difficulties
remaining distance to Greenport is over a level which presented themselves, and broke through
country, having many facilities for construct- the obstructions which nature had thrown in the
ing a cheap railroad. A steamboat could pass way, in that rough and rugged section of the
between Greenport and Stonington in 2 hours, country.
1,50 during the whole year.
"A few miles below Croyle's Mills the Cone-

Whiskey, or

Pork.prbil.

1,23

27

Stone rails, which it was supposed we could only procure from the limestone ledges along the shore of the Cayuga Lake, at $3 per perch, (16) cubic feet,) we can now procure along the line of road at 75 cents, in some of the quarries opened for the building of culverts and viaducts.

"The viaduct is connected with a hill at the

west end by an immense embankment, some parts of which are seventy feet in height.

"The vicinity of this viaduct will be ere long the site of extensive water-works. The whole stream, which is considerable, can be conveyed through the Hog-back hill, by a deep cut or a short tunnel, and thus gain a fall of more than forty feet.

We have no doubt that many persons maugh river bends to the South, and after traDifference in favor of Railroad who have occasion to travel between New-versing a sinuous course of more than three York and Boston, would at this time take the miles, is again seen across a narrow hill at the So far as we have progressed in the construction of the road, we have been influenced route through Long-Island, were they aware distance of about three hundred feet from its by the limitation of our capital, and economi- of the fact that lines of stages pass three times place of departure. At this point the road is cal considerations, and have left the question that three fine packets are passing every day on a viaduct supported on a strong and neatly a week between Brooklyn and Sag-Harbor, and cut through the hill and carried over the river as to the use of stone or wood to depend upon between Sag-Harbor and New-London. [L. built semicircle stone arch of eighty feet span, the convenience and cost of obtaining those Island Star.] materials, considering a durable and imperishrising from abutments at the height of 20 feet above the river. The whole distance from the able road at ten per cent. increase of cost the cheapest. In all works of this kind great pri- EXCAVATION FOR THE RAILWAY.-The exca-water to the arch being sixty feet. The arch is ces are demanded and paid at the commence-vation which is now about being made in a now complete and the centres removed. It ment, produced by the conviction that the work hill in Lowell, for the bed of the contempla- presents a grand and bold appearance, and must progress, and that the article wanted is ted railway, may be considered, next to the va- seems capable of resisting any thing short of the only one that at the moment can be pro-rious manufacturing establishments, the most the concussions of an earthquake. This work cured. Some purchases of timber were made wonderful "Lion" of the place. This hill is does credit to the Engineer who planned it, and from 12 to 14 dollars a thousand feet, board near the terminus of the railway, in the neigh-to the worthy contractors, Snodgrass and Dunmeasure, which we can now obtain at 10 or 11 borhood of the Brewery, but not in a populous ro, who constructed it. part of the town. It consists of a ledge of rock, which is about three hundred yards in length, and the average depth of the excavation is about forty feet. It is thirty feet wide at the bottom, and sixty at the top, and the masses of stone which have already been riven from the ledge by blasting, seem to be immense. A contract was originally made with a perSome embarrassments occurred last sum-son to effect a sufficient passage through this mer in the financial concerns of the company, hill for the sum of seventy-two thousand dol- "A few miles below the viaduct the road arising from misrepresentations and miscon- lars. He commenced the undertaking, employ-passes through a tunnel, nine hundred feet in ceptions, upon which a few stockholders in ed sixty workmen for about four months, and length, the greater part of which has been exNew-York were induced to refuse payment failed. Another person then undertook to fin-cavated out of a solid rock. Abut one hundred upon the calls of the company. The President, ish the work for the same amount-but after a feet at each end of the tunnel is handsomely Treasurer, Secretary, and Engineer, repaired few months, he also abandoned the undertak- arched with cut stone, and the entrances will to New-York with the books, maps, and vouch- ing. Those individuals are said to have both be ornamented with columns of the same. ers, and made a full and ample exposition of been acquainted with the nature of the busi the concerns and affairs of the company, withness which they undertook-but they were dewhich those stockholders were satisfied. The ceived by the quality of the rock, which conreport of a committee expressing that satisfac-sists principally of gneiss and mica, through tion, and calculating large profits upon a basis which, although much lighter and softer than of expense much greater than is now ascer-limestone or granite, it was found much more tained to be necessary to make the road, is here- difficult and expensive to effect a passage, than with annexed. The work has not, however, if it was composed of those more solid materistopped, and for the advance of that portion of als. The drilling may not be so difficult, but stock due, we have been sustained by our Trea- the rocks lying in numerous horizontal strata LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY.surer and friends in Albany. almost defy the power of gunpowder, and hea- The half yearly meeting of the proprietors of At the last election of Directors held in Feb-vy, blasts which would shiver an immense mass this company was held on Wednesday, the 24th ruary, those gentlemen in New-York, who held of granite, are frequently found here to produce of July; Richard Harrison in the chair. A 542 shares of stock, were represented by their but little effect. In addition to this, the ledge report of the proceedings of the company, from proxy, who also represented 411 shares held is found to be full of springs of water, which the 1st of January to the 30th of June, was read in Owego; and those gentlemen holding 1807 sometimes render it necessary for the work- by the treasurer, Mr. Booth, which appeared to shares, residing in Albany, Utica, and Ithaca, men to expend much time, and exercise no in- give satisfaction to those assembled.

All of which is respectfully submitted. By order of the Board of Directors.

FRANCIS A. BLOODGOOD, President. Ithaca, March 14, 1833.

"Many of the rails are laid upon this section of the road which we visited, and preparations for laying the residue are in rapid progress. This is the case, we are informed, on the whole line of the Portage, and the prospect of traversing the whole course from Hollidaysburg Conemaugh, during the present season, is now very certain."

were there in person or by proxy. All united considerable ingenuity, in counteracting its The quantity of merchandize conveyed bein the election of the present Directors, there-effects. There are also found in the lower part tween Liverpool and Manchester, during that by evincing a unity of action favorable to the of the ledge, huge masses of quartz, and a spe- period, was 68,285 tons-to different parts of advancement and prosperity of the work. cies of rock composed almost entirely of horn-the road, 8,712 tons-quantity between Liverblende, which is of course almost impenetra-pool, Bolton, and Manchester, 19,461 tons. Toble to the drill. tal quantity moved along the line, 94,458 tons. The "Locks and Canal Company" have now Total quantity of coal from various parts of undertaken to complete this work, at the ex- the line, 42,721 tons-total number of passenpense of the Railroad Company. About seven-gers booked in the company's office, 171,421. RAILROADS.-The railroad, the working of ty men are constantly employed, and the work The number of trips of 30 miles performed by which has just commenced between Stoning- advances as rapidly as the attending circum- the locomotive engines, with passengers, 3,262 ton, Conn. and Providence, R. I. formis an im-stances will allow. Seven hundred kegs of with goods, 2,244. Total, 5,506. portant part of the route between Boston and powder have been used in blasting since the Half Year's Receipts.-Coaching departNew-York. The distance of the entire line of latter part of April, when the work was recom-ment, £44,130 17 2-General merchandize, reilroad, when connected at Providence with menced. About fifty kegs are used every week. £39,301 17 3--Coal department, £2,638 15 ̊F. the present line, will be about 80 miles. The This powder is manufactured at Mr. Oliver M. Total receipts, £86,071 10 2-Total expenses, public generally are not aware that a Long-Isl- Whipple's mills, situated about a mile from the £52,900 9 1. Profit, £33,171 1 1. Which d railroad of less than one hundred miles centre of the town. About one-third of the allows a dividend of four guineas per shar

Now, sir, as I am the inventor, all I can say in praise of the invention is, that I should Sea-Serpent Harpoon. By MECHANICUS. not like to be harpooned with such a maTo the Editor of the Mechanics' Maga-chine. MECHANICUS. zine.

In our civi

leaving a few hundred pounds in bank. In the plunging such an instrument into a soft or districts may be named where it is still the expenses of the half year the sum paid for the fleshy substance must be obvious to any extractor in most general use. purchase of two new engines is included. A one, for as the flesh closes over the barb it lized land, it must be yet in the recollection considerable saving is expected to take place by strikes the end of the trigger at b, and throws of many, that this was, in numerous cases, a the recent application of brass tubes in the en- the point of it down behind the head of the very inefficient machine; and the pleasure gines, in lieu of copper tubes previously used, that were almost continually bursting. Mr. screw h, and by the consequent explosion of of beholding the generous beverage beaming Dixon (a gentleman in service of the company) the powder the poison is forced into the body through a crust of many years, was cruelly has the merit of this important suggestion. The from the orifice i, and produces death at the damped by the experience, that in proportion new tunnel is in rapid progress, about one-fifth same time that it fastens the object. to the pains taken in fixing the cork, was the of it being already completed.--[Balt. paper.] mental agony which must be endured during all attempts to remove it. Jovial fellows, who forget those days, in their moments of inspiration, may talk indeed of their Phillises, their lanthes, their Delias, their Saccharissas, SIR,-In these days of inventions and THE PROGRESS OF INVENTION EXEMPLI- their Chloes, and their what-nots,-let them of sea-serpents, I deem it meritorious to con-FIED.-Many volumes have been written on henceforth mingle a little gratitude with their trive something for the destruction of such the gradual refinements of language, and admization, and glorify a nymph greater than ugly looking monsters as have lately fur- learned men have pointed out the immense them all. Miss O'Rourke, like her own exnished such wonderment to the good people strice in improvement which has arisen from quisite potteen punch, was a delightful comdown east. Now, sir, if any of your readers an unimportant innovation, yet millions had pound from ingredients, both mental and corshould ever take a notion to go either whal-spoken the imperfect language without dream- poreal, of the most opposite nature. ing or sea-serpenting, I would advise them to ing of the simple means by which the finish- friend of Kosciusko, and the authoress of the be provided with some half dozen of the ma-ing touches could be given to it. The effects Rhapsody, which afterwards rung so often chines of which I send you the drawings. also which have flowed from apparently the throughout the country to the favorite tune most simple contrivances are almost incred-(Gramachree) of the patriot Pole,--such anible; and should those who are familiar with other hostess was not in England wide, and their most perfect forms be but casual obser- no other of her order ever conferred so great vers, they may be startled at the exaggerated a benefit on bottle-suckers as she did, by her terms in which their value may be estimated --or disgusted with the claims of some mechanic, who, by merely adding a wheel or pulley, or giving a trifling difference to their proportions, may, by these means, have been the first to make the machine efficient. The simple process of drawing a cork will furnish the necessary illustrations.

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a button at the end of the screwworm. Henceforth the decantering process was a mere matter of routine. When, in her green old age, Death laid his hand on the inventress, a piratical screwmaker took to himself the credit and profit The inventor of bottles is unknown; but of the button addendum. Yet these were in use for centuries before corks Miss O'Rourke shall never were thought of, and these again were em- be forgotten, even although ployed for generations before a conveni-her master-piece, some few ent method was hit upon for their extrac- years later, was eclipsed, and tion. The exhilarating contents could then may be yet superceded by the only be tasted by what is now technically called "beheading the bottle." More expert practitioners had many opportunities of shewing their skill in removing the impediment by a dexterous twist of the fingers; or, if that were impracticable, CINNAMON STONE.-M. Laugier has found teeth were called in as their the massive cinnamon stone of Ceylon to be natural auxiliaries; here, how-composed of silex 38, lime 33, alumine 19, ever, in many cases, it was ox. iron 7. He regards it as a silicate of doubtful whether the cork lime and alumine, with an accidental portion would follow the teeth, or the of iron.-[Bull. Univ.] teeth remain in the cork; and Fig. 1 is a harpoon with two barbs, and if an obstinate remnant would remain, a nail may be of any convenient size and length; was a ready means of dis a is a cavity drilled in from i, (which may be lodging the stubborn plug, done with the point bent,) a little beyond the particle by particle,-when root of the barbs at f; a groove is cut in the at any time, through an im. shank under one of the barbs as shown at m, patience of the nibbling laFigs. 1 and 2; in this groove is fitted the bor, or a despair of accomcock e, the main spring g, fastened by its plishing a clean extraction at screw h, and under the barb, at f, a percus-all, it was resolved at once to send the obsta. sion pin, or head, which communicates with cle the wrong way: this was then, indeed, an the cavity a. A trigger with two prongs, between which the cock works, is set into two sockets at o, one on each side of the groove m, and fastened by a screw-pin, as shown in the figure; the trigger has a small hole in it, just above the space for the cock, for the point c to slip into to hold the cock back.

ALBURNUM.-Mr. Knight has asserted, in the Philosophical Transactions that having partially detached strips of bark of the walnut tree, of several inches' length, from the alburnum, in the spring, he introduced beneath such bark two folds of paper, each of which was coated on both sides with bees' wax; so that such strips of bark were placed wholly out of contact with the alburnum, or other bark of the tree, except at their upper ends. Air and light were excluded by a covering of clay till autumn, when as much alburnum was deposited upon invaluable instrument. A pair of the paper, along the whole extent of the bark, skewers, or forks, inserted "witch-as was deposited by a similar extent of bark, wise," would sometimes accom- which retained its natural place and state.plish those difficult cases which [Loudon's Magazine.] had baffled the exertions of all the! naturals. Twisting the lower extremity of the "bare bodkin" into Now for the operation. A small charge a spiral form, and adding a handle of powder is put into the cavity, and over to it, was the thought of a master this a proper quantity of some poisonous genius; and, in this shape, mansubstance, the effects of which shall be pow-kind, for ages, were contented to erful and rapid; a percussion cap is put on avail themselves of its servicesthe head, and the instrument is then cocked, and even at the present hour, some as shown at Fig. 1. The consequence of barbarous, uncouth countries and

Office of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Compar!. Honesdale, Wednesday, August 28, 1833. Received at Honesdale, from Carbondale, by Rail Road, during one week, ending this day, 1712 R. R. wagons, containing 4,280 tons coal.

Total amount of coal received since 13th April, 68,0774 tons. Also received during the week, 117 Rail Road wagons, containing 171,87 feet lumber.

Total amount of lumber received since 13 April, 3,091,261 ft. Arrived at Honesdale from Rondout during the week, 176 boats, containing general freight.

Gleared at Honesdale for Rondout, during the week, 168 boats, containing 4,040 tons coal. Total amount of coal cleared at Honesdale for Rondout since 25th April, 60,270 tons: J. B. WALTON, Cellector.

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