226 the work yet to be done is calculated to cost 619,774. 55 dollars. The strength of the work on the lower line, which has been tested by water, has generally exceeded the expectations of those concerned in its construction; and the work on the upper line is still of a more substantial character. Justice requires me to state, that the style of engineering on the new line is greatly superior to that on the old, although I believe that the work on that line will compare advantageously with other canals of equal difficulty. rail roads throughout the commonwealth, as a tribunal much better qualified to do justice to the state, and render satisfaction to aggrieved citizens, than the acting commissioners and superintendents can be; inasmuch as the latter are placed too strongly in contact with prop. erty holders, in the construction of the public improvements, to inspire a general confidence in their impartiality. paid, as will appear by a list furnished the AuditorGeneral, of this date. Since the funds available for the Juniata line have been exhausted, there have been certificates issued to contractors on estimates for work done, to the amount of Much difficulty and perplexity occurred in construct-241,368.61 dollars; which are now outstanding and uning the canal through Huntingdon, and considerable damages have been paid to the citizens, many of whom have shewn a laudable forbearance and even public spirit, under such irritating circumstances as the removal of their out buildings, wells, gardens, &c. which the uncommon formation of a town without alleys rendered doubly vexatious. An inspection of the tables transmitted herewith,will show the actual cost of the line between Duncan's isl and and Huntingdon will stand thus: Cost of the first 45 miles, Cost of the last 45 mlles, For the old line, 1,091,004 56 --- 2,176,960 52 851,279 00 1,741,508 00 435,452 52 By table E. accompanying this report, it will be seen, that very few jobs have had to be relet during the past Col. Clinton's estimate of the cost was: year. A depreciation in the price of living and the wages of labour has rendered those contracts profitable, which, 13 months since, were obtained through great competition. It is therefore confidently believed, that the remaining work will be accomplished by the present contractors with but few exceptions. Tables F. and G. will show the cost of each job on the lower line, by whom worked, and how much has been paid thereon. By these tables there appears to be 945,989.02 dollars paid, and 37,784.03 dollars retained as back per centage or forfeited by abandonment, which together with 8,126.51 dollars, as per table D. makes altogether 991,899.56 dollars, as stated in the report of the engineer. There is, however, a portion of the sum marked as paid, for which certificates have been issued to contractors, and which have yet to be redeemed. The tables attached to the engineers report of the Huntingdon line, shew the aggregate cost of the sections to be 730,338.86 dollars; and the cost of the incidental work is estimated at 355,617.10 dollars, making the computed cost of the whole line 1,085,955.96 dol lars: Cost, over the estimate, The additional expense has been caused by alterations of roads, fences, and many small jobs consequent upon the completion of the canal, which could not be foreseen or estimated. By changes in the location of the line; by alterations in plans of work; by sickness on the Juniata; by the enhanced price of labour, provisions and horse-feed; by the ice-flood of last spring; and by the unprecedented quantity of public work in progress throughout the United States. While a few contractora, upon the old line, may have realized considerable profit upon their jobs, yet it is a fact that many worthy men on that line have spent their time and money, not only without profit, but at a positive loss. But while I sympathise with them for their losses, it is a source of consolation to know, that the public funds have not been wasted upon canal speculators; for, on the Juniata, that description of contractors have met with neither encour agement or success. Before closing this report, I wish to draw the atten466,181 41 tion of the canal board to the water power that has been and will be created by the dams on the Juniata. Some provision should be made by the legislature for dispos ing of this power. 619,774 55 $1,085,955 96 A list of all the persons employed in the canal office, the engineer corps and the supervisor of the line, is given in table H. together with the date of their appointments, the term of their service and the rate of compensation. By which it appears that the amount of expenses for their several services for the last year has been 21,681.50 dollars. This sum divided by 90, the number of miles over which it was distributed, gives 240.90 dollars per mile, as the expense for engineering and superintendence. The present organization of the engineer corps, supervisors, collector and lock keepers, is given in table I. All of which is respectfully submitted. 19 JAMES CLARKE, Acting Commissioner. N. B. Table L. gives a summary view of the whole cost (including every thing which is already expended or is estimated as yet to be done), on the Juniata division of the Pennsylvania canal. By statement 1, of this table, it appears that the entire cost of the 90 miles of canal between Duncan's island and Huntingdon, will be 2,254,855 dollars, exclusive of damages yet to be settled, which, from their nature, cannot be estimated. Statement 2, shews that of the above sum, 1,145,396.59 dollars, is paid, and 1,109,458.41 dollars is yet to pay. And, by statement 3, it will be seen how the funds that I have drawn from the treasury have been expended. JAMES CLARKE, A. C. SIR, DOCUMENT A. ata Division, Pennsylvania Canal. Table K. contains a list of damages that have been adjusted; of which 6,729.25 dollars has been paid, and agreements have been made to the amount of 2,164.09 To James Clarke, Esq. Acting Commissioner of the Juni dollars, that is yet to pay. I have caused a survey of the canal between Lewistown and Duncan's island to be made and plotted, in connection with the tracts of land through which it passes, with a view to a final adjust ment of all just claims for damages. It is respectfully suggested to the board, whether it should not be recommended to the legislature, to erect a board of appraisers of damages for the whole system of canals and I have the honour to enclose the following report, to the board of canal commissioners. GENTLEMEN-Since the early part of June last, at which time the responsibility of conducting the Juniata line was very unexpectedly thrown upon me, my own personal attention has been mainly devoted to the com 1830.). PENNSYLVANIA CANAL. 227 On two sec piers of Jack's creek aqueduct, (near Lewistown) were pletion of the works from Lewistown to the mouth of The entrance of water into the canal, tested the the river. In the accomplishment of this duty, the chief strength of its banks, and proved them good. The embarrassments have arisen from the large amount of narrows below Lewistown and Mifflin, especially, provnewly finished contracts, requiring immediate settle- ed generally better than the best hopes of those interment, and from the deficiency of information, in many ested. A few failures on the line, which have taken important cases, respecting the nature and amount of place, would not be worth mentioning, but for the inwork done. This latter circumstance need not have terest and claim which the board possess, to be minutebeen mentioned, if it had not been of such real conse-ly informed concerning the success of their works. Two quence as could not, without imprudence, have been passed with entire silence. That part of the remark which applies to the amount of contracts, embraces three-fourths of the whole line; for, though, at the time of my entering upon it, the mass of work was done, yet only a part of the heavy contracts had been completed and taken up, so that the amount of final certificates, both for sections and incidental works, was not quite one-fourth of the whole. To add to this, out of the number of assistants on the whole forty-five miles, under whose superintendence the work had been carried on, there remained but one, and he was soon after removed by death. The difficulties attendant upon making the final settlements upon so great an extent of line, just on the eve of completion, called for much caution as well as diligence on the part of those to whose care it had been committed; and it was thought better, by a deliberate examination of all claims, to encounter delay, than by a more rapid proceeding to incur the risk either of injustice to the contractor or injury to the state. The final settlements are now, with a few exceptions made; and although it might be hazardous to affirm, that every amount and proportion has been exactly ascertained, yet the engineer has the satisfaction of believing that small unavoidable errors have generally been in the contractors favor; and that wherever considerable claims have been either allowed or rejected, it has been upon clear and certain grounds, although some times after laborious investigations. With respect to another part of my duty, that of completing the works, the state of the line is known to the board. All parts of it, down to the aqueduct, essential to actual navigation, were completed before November; and the canal itself was navigable. There remain three sections yet incomplete; together with two or three others, in which the water has laid open defects; and some items of incidental work, that will be noticed again in the estimate which forms a part of this report. That division of the canal which belongs to the contracts of 1828, lies above Lewistown, and is more difficult in its nature than the part below, which is completed. It will be seen from the estimates for this part of the work, that a considerable amount, compared with the whole, is already done. Constant efforts have been made that the character of the work shall not fall below that which the specifications call for. The locks upon this line are planned of wood, in compliance with the directions of the board; the frame being supported by walls of dry masonry. This is the fact in many situations where materials for the best cut or hammer-dressed work are at hand. If, in these circumstances, the cost of such a lock be compared with that of one on the common plan, the difference of expense will bear no equal proportion to the difference in value, As the canal has already arrived in a region where fine material is abundant, and every day thrown out in the common excavations, the board might perhaps, if apprised of the fact, think it expedient to seize upon the natural advantages, which are thus offered them, for erecting solid and beautiful structures, in the place of those which are ordinary and perishable. The level of the aqueduct at Jack's narrows, nine miles below Huntingdon, has been raised two feet, and the spans changed from seventy-five feet to one hundred; by which alteration the number of piers will be reduced from three to two, and a more capacious way opened for the passage of ice and driftwood, in that narrow part of the river. The number of piers in the aqueduct below has been reduced in like manner, from four to three, by a similar extension of the spans; but the level has not been changed, lying already above the Concerning the river navigation, it appeared for a long time doubtful, in the eyes of the public, whether the lock at the Millerstown dam, could be thrown open in time for produce to descend in the spring; but since the abandonment (by the commissioner) of the former contract, the lock has proceeded with rapidity, and lit-reach of any possible injury from flocus. tle will remain, after the present week, but the hanging The experience at the Millerstown dam, of the effects of the gates and planking of the sides. At the other of ice in the spring, has made plain the necessity of an river lock where injuries had also been sustained from apron below the feeder dam, at the Raystown branch, the ice of last spring, the repairs had been completed which is in every respect similarly situated, and foundwhich had been begun; the works raised and strength-ed on rocks of the same quality. An apron of thirty feet, ened, and the abutments of the dam rebuilt in a very substantial manner. The north branch of the dam, connected with the lock first mentioned, was discovered towards the latter part of the summer to have received injury itself, from the spring floods-the rock below, being of a soft texture, had been worn down to the depth of six feet, and the dam for 200 feet in length had settled and moved. Both branches were found also leaking badly, from a deficiency of gravel. To avoid the danger from succeeding freshets, a new gravelling has been resorted to; and the north branch made secure by a parallel line of cribs a few feet below, resting in the hollow cut out by the ice, then filled and surrounded with stone. A flat surface is thus prepared for the reception of timbers extending, side by side, thirty feet down the stream, and bolted both to the cribs and the dam. The south branch of this work yet appears firm, but the guard lock is in. sufficient, and the walls must be removed. to lie upon the rock, and he bolted to it, has therefore been added to the plan of that construction. I do not know that any further obscrvations which I could make, would promote the views of the board. The inclosed estimate of the upper line, exhibits in a Juniata aqueduct at Duncan's island, $43,800 Guard lock on Section 64, 7,238 2,700 2,400 2,000 2,567 25,300 00 Am't required to complete the lower line, 99,105 00 B. A letter from General William B. Mitchell, Supervisor, Juniata Division Pennsylvania Canal. Supervisor's Office, Millerstown, Nov. 21, 1829. S To James Clarke, Esquire, Acting Commissioner on the Juniata Division of the Pennsylvania Canal. C. Supervisor, J.D.P.C. To the Pennsylvania Board of Canal Commissioners. Gentlemen-I now beg leave to lay before you a statement of the situation and prospect of the Juniata aqueduct, at Duncan's island. The measurements which have been made by Mr. Petrie, principal assistant, enable me to determine the amount of work done under the present contracts; while those which are taken for the final estimate of the former contractors, after their abandonment, exhibit the amount which had been done by them. The former contractors, Moore and Winslow, had executed three sevenths of the whole work. A consider able part of this cannot be discovered by an inspection on the ground, as it consists of excavations for the pier foundations beneath the bed of the stream, and of masonry which the water conceals. When the aqueduct passed into new hands the care of its superintendence was assigned, as a special office, to one of the principal re-assistants in the engineer department, with a view to secure every important effect of the resolution passed by the board in July, authorising the acting commissioner to engage a special superintendent. SIR, I have the honor of transmitting you the following statement, exhibiting the present situation of the Juniata canal between Lewistown and Duncan's island, together with a statement of alterations and pairs which will be required during the winter. The canal is now in navigable order from Lewistown to Delaware run aqueduct, a distance of twenty-four and a half miles. The puddling on the lower end of this aqueduct has failed, and the apron has been removed for the purpose of extending the trunk thirty feet from its present termination, this alteration would have been completed, had it not been for the difficulty of procuring planks at this season of the year; it will however be in a situation to permit the water to pass in a few days. The puddling of a culvert on section, No. 57, which had given way upon the first letting in of the water, has been repaired. The ends of the aqueduct at Cockalamus creek are now repairing, & will be complete in a few days. The aqueduct at Little Buffaloe creek has been repaired, and is now believed to be in a safe condition. The culverts on sections No. 90 and 91 have proved so defective as to require them to be rebuilt, the work is progressing vigorously, but the difficulty of procuring good stone will prevent their completion for a short time, being situate within half a mile of the present termination of the canal, the transportation on the river will only be increased that distance. In six days from this time the canal from Lewistown to within half a mile of Duncan's island will be navigable. Sections No. 10 and 58, appear to have been unfaithfully made, particularly section 10, will require extensive repairs during the winter. A part of section 82 requires to be filled up to bottom, to prevent the water from escaping through crevices of the rock. There ex ists the strongest evidence of a defect in the manner in which the wings and aprons of the wooden trunk aqueducts have been constructed, and but little doubt can be entertained, but that they will have to be altered during the winter. I am of opinion that all the necessary repairs can be accomplished in three months by four assistant supervisors, with twelve men each, which will exhibit the following expenditure: 3,744 days labour, including boarding and dressing tools, at $1.25 4 assistant supervisors 312 days at 2 00 $4,780 00 624 00 504 00 500 00 300 00 6,708 00 On locks A. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, plank have been placed on the lower side of the upper gates to prevent boats from fastening under the arms of the gates, stops have To inspect the work done under the last contracts, entered into on the 8th of September, it would be necessary to resort to the quarries and forests; for there the greater part of the necessary labour lay, in getting out and shaping the materials. When this has been once accomplished, and the materials in proper order, transported to the island, the work of putting them together will not be formidable. The state of the aqueduct is precisely this: almost all the materials necessary for completing the superstructure have been delivered by Mr. Le Baron, who has that contract on the island; and the spans can be framed and put up in succession, as fast as the piers shall be raised and made ready. The raising of the piers and completing the stone work belong, by contract, to the Messrs. Byrne's. Of their contracts, in the three months since they entered into it, they have finished one half; not taking into account the labour and expense of the first preparations: the face stone are nine tenths quarried half cut, and one fifth delivered, the rough stone are partly provided from quarries near the work, which will supply the rest as they are wanted; and the second half of this contract is advancing rapidly under the hands of one hundred and forty men. It need not be added, that the aqueduct, as it stands,' is two thirds done, and the contractors have till the 15th of April to complete it. All of which is respectfully submitted, ALEX. C. TWINING, Engineer. Harrisburg, Dec. 8, 1829. I. A List of the Engineer Corps, Supervisor, Collector, and Lock keepers on the Juniata Division of the Pennsylvania Canal. Engineers-Alexander C. Twining. Paid on sections, as Paid on incidental Ditto engineering & superinten Ditto contingencies By sundry payments on account, to contractors at the aqueduct at Duncan's island, the North's island dam, and river lock, assistant & supervisors, and other contractors not included in any of the above items. Because they are not adjusted for settlement by the accounting of ficers Cash on hand 9,175 50 JAMES CLARKE, Acting Commissioner. 42,592 75 2,726 89 905 72 1,386,846 42 8,126 51 Canal Office, Lewistown, Dec. 5, 1829. 673,919 12 work, as per table G 272,069 89 -945,989 02 954,115 53 REMARKS OF MR. READ, ON THE TERMINATION OF THE COLUMBIA AND PHILADELPHIA RAIL ROAD. (Continued from page 218.j Mr. READ, in continuation, said, that the original location had been approved by the Councils of the City of Philadelphia, by the Districts of the Northern Liberties, Spring Garden, and Southwark. Major Wilson, in the latter part of 1828, having approached the City with his line of location requested an interview with the authorities of the City and adjoining Districts, relative to the point of termination which In consewould be most acceptable to all parties. quence of this application, a resolution was offered on the 3d November 1828, in the Common Council, which was unanimously agreed to by both Councils, authorizing and requesting the Watering Committee "to confer with the Pennsylvania Canal Commissioners, or their agents, having in charge the Pennsylvania Railway, relative to the entrance of the said Railway into the city of Philadelphia, and report to Councils." On the 7th January 1829, the Watering Committee made their report, stating that they had had a conference with Major Wilson, in which he detailed his views, and also stating that he had concluded to stop the line at the intersection of Vine and Broad streets. On the 22d of the same month, the following resolu tions, accompanied by a short preamble, were unanimously adopted by Councils. Resolved, by the Select and Common Councils, that the termination of the Columbia and Philadelphia Rail way at the intersection of Broad and Vine streets in the City of Philadelphia, as recommended by the Board of Canal Commissioners of the State of Pennsylvania, meets with the decided approbation of Councils. Resolved, That a certified copy of the foregoing preamble and resolution, and of the Report of the Watering Committee on the same subject, made the 7th January 1829, be transmitted to the Representatives of the City of Philadelphia in both branches of the Legisla ture. After the joint report of Messrs. Wilson, Robinson, and Hopkins, approving the original location by Peters' island, with a slight change in its graduation, and a branch line down the eastern bank of the Schuylkill, James Page, Esq. then an active and influential member of the Common Council, offered the following preamble and resolutions, which were unanimously adop ted. terests of the city, and particularly on our establishment at Fair Mount, and to report the result thereof, with such measures as they may deem expedient to be adopted, at the next meeting of Councils;" were unanimously adopted on the 24th Dec. last. On the 31st of the same month, the Watering Committee made a full report on the matters referred to them. This report has been published, and is in the hands of the Committee. They concluded it with the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted by the Select and Common Councils "Resolved, by the Select and Common Councils, That in their opinion, the location of the Philadelphia and Columbia Rail Road, recommended by the present board of canal commissioners, would be greatly injurious to the interests of the city and the State, and destructive to the valuable property owned by the city at Fair Mount, and the Water works thereon erected. "Whereas, it is of essential importance that the views Resolved, by the authority aforesaid, That Councils do of the citizens of Philadelphia, in relation to the confir- most cordially approve of the proposed route for the mation by the Legislature of the route for the Rail-road Railway crossing at Peters' island, and terminating at as originally reported by the Engineers on the part of the intersection of Vine and Broad streets, with a branch the Commonwealth, and subsequently altered and im- Railway to accommodate the eastern front of the Schuyl proved, should be made known to their Representatives kill, as best calculated to promote the interests of the in that body, Therefore, be it resolved, by the Select | city and adjoining districts, and of the commonwealth. and Common Councils, That the members from the "Resolved, by the authority aforesaid, That the Presi city, in either House, be requested to use their exer- dents of Councils be, and they are hereby requested, to tions to procure, at the hands of the Legislature, such cause to be prepared memorials to the Senate and House confirmation; as it is believed that the route proposed of Representatives, expressive of the sentiments of meets with the approbation of nine tenths of their con- Councils on this important subject. stituents, is calculated more than any other that could be selected to save expense to the commonwealth, and to add to the advantages of the city and districts, and will give to each, a fair proportion of the immense trade of which it is to be the outlet. "And be it further Resolved, That any change or alteration in the route laid down by careful, diligent, and skilful men, selected on the part of the State for that purpose, and whose report in relation thereto is entitled to the fullest confidence, being the result of public duty, and not of individual procurement, would, in the opinion of Councils, be of serious detriment to the interests of the city and surrounding districts, and greatly interfere with the noble object which the commonwealth has in view, that of a just distribution, (whenever it can be effected) of the advantages likely to arise from the great scheme of Internal Improvement, so happily conceived, and so ably executing. "And be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to each of the city members, signed by the President of Councils." During the period of these transactions, John M. Scott, Esq. was President of the Select Council, and James M. Linnard, Esq. was President of the Common Council, and copies of all the foregoing resolutions were forwarded to our representatives at Harrisburg, attested by their official signatures. When the report of the Canal Commissioners in favor of the Fair Mount route, became known in the city, a preamble and resolution, which, after stating the acts of the preceding Councils, and the report of the Canal Commissioners, contrary to the opinion of all the Engineers of the State, went on to say: "And whereas it appears that the location so recommended by the Board of Canal Commissioners, will be highly detrimental to the interests of the city at large and may prove greatly injurious, if not destructive to our dam and works at Fair Mount, and it is right and proper that so important a subject should be duly weighed and considered, and the opinion of Councils deliberately expressed after full information. There "Resolved, by the authority aforesaid, that the Watering Committee be, and they are hereby authorized, to take such measures as they may deem expedient to carry into effect the view of Councils." In pursuance of the third resolution, the Presidents of Councils memorialized the Senate and House of Re presentatives. of their constituted authorities, and a general Town The people of Philadelphia seconded the movements Meeting was called on Saturday the 16th January last, of the citizens of Philadelphia, "in order to express their sentiments relative to the Termination of the Columbia and Philadelphia Rail Road." The meeting was accor dingly held, and a more numerous or respectable one never was collected in the City of Philadelphia. A free discussion took place, and Mr. Harper and Mr. Randall (two of the deputation who have been heard before this committee,) and Dr. Hare, addressed the meeting ahimself decidedly in favor of the Fair Mount route, and gainst the Peters' Island route. Mr. Harper expressed thought it would not injure the Water Works in the he might say, (for there were only five nays to the first least. The meeting unanimously, Mr. Read remarked resolution, and none against the residue) adopted resolutions approving the original location at Peters' Island, with a branch down the east side of the Schuylkill, condemning the Fair Mount route, and the erection of bridge piers in the stream below the dam, and remon strating against any branch being carried on the west side of the Schuylkill at the expense of the State. On the 28th January, the following notice, signed by a number of respectable citizens, appeared in the pub lic papers. "TOWN MEETING.-The citizens of the city of Philadelphia, who would prefer that the Pennsylvania Rail Road should cross upon the piers of the Bridge at Market street, (by an equitable arrangement with the proprietors,) and thus preserve to the city its accustomed traffic, and place the Northern and Southern Districts upon an equal footing; instead of making the Northern Liberties, by means of the Peters' Island route, the Be it resolved by the Select and Common Councils, That great avenue and depot of our Western trade, are rethe Watering Committee be, and they are hereby direc-quested to meet at the Court House, at the corner of ted, to make a full inquiry into the probable effects of the route for the Philadelphia and Columbia Rail Road proposed by the canal commissioners, on the general in fore, Sixth and Chesnut streets, on Monday the 1st of Febru ary next, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. A meeting in pursuance of this notice was held, and |