1830.]

REPORT OF SCHUYLKILL NAVIGATION COMPANY.

bout the power of the company after the 8th day of March next, to alter, extend, and to, enlarge, and improve their works, in such manner as might be required to meet the increasing exigencies of trade. The legislature pomptly and liberally complied with the request, and by an act passed on the 14th day of Decem. ber last, conferred upon the Company, in comprehensive terms, all the needful powers to continue for fifteen years from the time just mentioned. Under this act the company will be enabled, without any doubt, to employ that whole period in finally determining the extent and character of the work, and completing it with the benefit of the light which experience may afford. The importance of this improvement to the city and the state can scarcely be now appreciated: but there is every reason to believe that the utmost extension which can be given to the exercise of the privileges and powers of the Company, will not go beyond the demands of trade. The same act fixes the period for making the dividends of the Company on the 1st of February and the 1st of August, periods more equally dividing the business part of the year. A copy of the supplemental act is herewith submitted.

The works heretofore constructed, have been constantly becoming more solid. Their capacity may be greatly enlarged by an additional set of locks where the locks are at present combined. The actual state of the trade being such as to indicate that this has already become necessary at some points, and will soon be required at others, the President and Managers have commenced the addition at Flat Rock, and it is expected that the new locks will be finished by the 1st of September next. They are making arrangements also for similar works at other places, and they will go on with the whole as rapidly as circumstances will allow.

The necessity of having some means of accurately ascertaining the tonnage of boats and the weights of their cargoes, has become so evident and pressing, as to induce the Board to prepare for erecting a weight lock at the Fair Mount canal. Contracts have accordingly been entered into, and it is expected it will be completed by the 1st of March next.

The tow-paths and channels in Fair Mount and Flat Rock pools, have been so nearly completed as to leave very little to be done to finish them early in the season. The tolls and rents having amounted to a sum more than sufficient in the past year to meet the current expenses and the interest on the loans, the President and Managers felt themselves at liberty to distribute among the Stockholders the amount of the reserved dividend fund, equal to three dollars and a half per share, and accordingly on the 30th Noeember notice was given to that effect.

The reserved dividend fund having been held until divided, as a loan from the Stockholders, a sale to repay it was made of 1075 shares of the stock of the com pany, at an advance of 43 per cent. equal to 714 dollars per share. Previous to the distribution, the Board availed themselves of the state of the market to sell the forfeited shares, 274 in number, at an advance of 50 per cent. or 75 dollars per share, with a right to the proportion of three and a half dollars per share of the reserved dividend fund.

The 1075 shares were sold without that right.

Of the loan of two hundred thousand dollars authorized by the ordinance of the 21st of January, 1828, a farther sum was raised in the early part of last year, amounting to nineteen thousand nine hundred dollars, at an interest of 5 per cent. making the whole sum raised on this account one hundred and twenty-three thousand five hundred and thirty dollars.

The increase in the coal trade has been greater than in any previous year, being equal to near 70 per cent. advance on that of the year 1828. The whole quantity brought down in 1829 was 79,973 tons.

The amount of tolls received in 1829 from coal, was $77,032

And from merchandise, &c. other than coal,

Making the total amount of tolls in 1829,
The amount of tolls in 1828 having been
There is shown to be an increase of

Equal to about 38 per cent.
of the tolls of 1829 there arose from the as-
cending navigation,

Leaving for the descending trade

29

43,007

$120,039 87,171

$32,868

$27,853

92,186

$120,039

Of the tonnage conveyed on the canal in 1829, there
was of the ascending trade
And of the descending trade

Making the whole tonnage in 1829
Against that of 1828, which was

Tons 21,820

112,704

134,524

105,463

The amount of rents from real estate and water and

ground rents received in 1829, was
And the arrears of rent amount to

$10,574

5,533

The income of the Company in 1830, from real estate and ground and water rents is estimated at

$13,800

The accompanying accounts are respectfully referred to as part of this report, to wit: No. 1. The accounts of the Company for 1829.

2. A general acount of the affairs of the Company. 3. A statement of the tonnage which ascended the the Schuylkill Navigation in 1829.

4. A statement of the articles and tonnage which descended the navigation in 1829. By order of the Board of Managers,

JOSEPH S. LEWIS, President.

Philadelphia, January 4, 1830.

Statement of Articles and Tonage Ascending and Descending the Schuylkill Navigation 1829.

2644 105,712

3139 125,560

Tons. Iron. Tons. Nails. Tons.

Cordwood. Tons. Cords.

PHILADELPHIA DISPENSARY.

Four thousand two hundred and thirteen Patients have been under the care of the Dispensary since last report, viz. from December 1828, to December 1829

4188

-4213

1

|

on Schuylkill Permanent Bridge stock 20 00

i

only in this country, but almost throughout the civilized world, among the labouring classes. Many who have heretofore been enabled to remunerate the Physician, are now compelled to apply to the Charitable Institutions, and particularly to the Dispensaries; such individuals we are especially bound to succour.

The Managers, therefore, most respectfully solicit aid from the benevolent, believing that charity cannot be better disposed than in relieving those who suffer from disease. They acknowledge with great pleasure and unfeigned thankfulness the receipt of $74 92 from the New England Society of Philadelphia, as also 25 dollars from a person "unknown."

Published by direction of the Managers.

GEORGE BOYD, President.

JOSEPH S. RILEY, Secretary.

January 1, 1830.

PORT OF PHILADELPHIA.

Inward for December, 1829.

WHERE FROM.

South America,

Tonnage.

Sloops.

Schooners.

Brigs.

Ships.

1

Hayti,

3

British West Indies,

1

Danish West Indies,

2

British American Colonies,

1

11

221

Of these there were belonging to Great Britain 12, Holland 1, Hanseatic Towns 2, Denmark 3, Colombia 1, Hayti 3, Spain 5-total 26. Americans 348.

There were from England 64, British American Possessions 61, Hayti 25, Cuba 61, Portugal 10, Spain 11, France 20, Sweden 2, Russia 1, Hanseatic Towns 8, Holland 7, Sicily 1, Madeira 4, Trieste 1, Canaries 1, Mexico 9, Guatemala 3, Colombia 23, Curracoa 1, Porto Rico 4, Swedish West Indies 3, Africa 3, China 3, Peru 3, Buenos Ayres and Montevideo 4, Danish West Indies 29, British East Indies 1, Brazils 11--Total 374.

The Coal Trade --The water has now been drawn off the canal, and our transportation for the present suspended. It may perhaps be interesting to draw a parallel between the state of trade now, and what it was at this period last year. During the season of 1828, 47,417 tons were sent down, and in 1829, the quantity was increased to 78,708 tons, making nearly double the amount. Although the quantity is still insufficient for

the demand, still we think that the approaching season 760 will remedy the former difficulties, and bring an ade747 quate supply to the market. Many of the rail roads in 435 our vicinity will be completed, if not by the beginning, 668 at least during the summer, and the canal will be nearly 292 occupied to the full extent of its capacity. The state of 400 affairs will assume a new complexion when those pow325 erful assistants to

Inward, coast wise. - Vessels 41-Tonnage 4255 tons.

Outward for December, 1829.

WHERE TO.

Ships.

1

Brigs.

6249

Tonnage.

Sloops.

Schooners.

531

2

Danish West Indies,

British American Colonies,

1

British East Indies,

1

French Ports on Atlantic,

2

Brazils,

Madeira,

Africa,

221

PITTSBURGH, January 1.

Steam Navigation.-Some time ago we noticed the arrival of a quantity of pig metal from Tennessee. Since then another boat has brought to our wharves a considerable quantity of blooms from the same works. A more forcible exemplification of the advantages conferred upon the western country by the introduction of steam power could not be given, than is afforded by this single circumstance. Fifteen years ago, thousands of tons might have lain at the works on the Cumberland, and

the foundries and the steam engine factories might have 509 remained idle for months, for want of materials. Indeed, 1 1441 if the metal had been delivered gratuitously on board 595 keel boats and barges at the mouth of Cumberland, the 1279 prices here would not have paid the freight. Descend1544 ing navigation could then be carried on cheaply and 2 389 advantageously; the natural current of the river was a 279 sufficient moving power. One great advantage which 572 we derive from the use of steam is in equalizing the as301 cending and descending navigation, and removing the 334 obstacles presented by the previously almost irresistible 192 current.

The following are the appointments made on the 4th

Outward, coastwise. - Vessels 79-Tonnage 9570 ts. of January, 1830, by the County Commissioners :

Dr. Joseph Pancost, do. for south eastern do.
Dr. George Spackman, do. for N. western do.
Dr. Amos Pennebaker, do. for N, eastern do.
Benjamin W. Nicholson, Collector of Cases for Vac-
cination, for Southeastern District.

Thonas Porter, Collector of do. for N. E. District.
John M. Fernsler, Collector of do. for N. W. District.
James Kerr, Collector of do. for S.W. District.

U. S. Gazette.

Dr. J. K. Mitchell, of this city, has invented a method of manufacturing caoutchouc, or Indian rubber, into thin and almost transparent sheets. When a sheet is folded and cut with scissors, the cut edges adhere with force, and after some hours maceration, as strongly as the uncut portion. The article is made so light that a bag composed of it, more than six feet in circumference weighs only six ounces. A similar invention has been announced by Mr. Hancock, of London; but he has not divul ged the process. Dr. Mitchell effected it by soaking the caoutchouc in ether, until soft and capable of being rolled out.-Journal.

Statement of Rain fallen from 1810 to 1829 inclusive, the first 14 years by the gage of P. Legoux, Esq. Spring Mill, the following 6 by that kept at the Pennsylvania Hospital.

32.656

34.968 Rain fallen in each month
39.3
of 1829.

35.625

1810

1811

1812

1813

1814

43.135 January,

1815

34.666 February,

1816

27.947 March,

1817

36.005 April,

1818

30.177 May,

1819

23.354 June,

1820

39.609 July,

1821

32.182 August,

1822

29.864 September,

1823

41.815 October,

1824

1825

1826

35.14

inches.

And may their lives, as slow they roll away,
Ever in sweet, domestic bliss decay.
Wealth fill their domes, and plenty aid their cheer
With the full harvest of the gen'rous year.
Their sportive offspring ev'ry grief beguile,
And each lov'd consort answer with a smile.
May social ease consume the wint'ry night,
And Arts and Letters shed their mingled light.
Then, while around them ev'ry joy they find
That glads the sense or beams upon the mind,
Fav'rites of Heav'n, unforc'd their sorrows flow
At the long, piteous sound of distant wo.

Beyond yon azure waste, where ceaseless roam
Our hardy seamen through the tumbling foam,
Think of the land where earliest had its rise
Each art that now delights your mental eyes!
Where proud Philosophy her rolls unfurl'd,
And Christian virtue sham'd a guilty world!
Imagine there the rude barbaric knife
Flesh on the weak the long contested strife.
Black Afric pours her swarms. With sullen will
The stubborn slaves are taught the art to kill.
For their own wrongs unjust returns they know,
And wreak their vengeance on the Christian foe.
The warriors slaughter'd, cruelty invades
The helpless children and the shrieking maids;
The dagger ends the old; the younger mourn,
And pass to slav'ry, never to return.

Or look we to the north; where Scythia flings
Her countless tribes to bend the necks of kings,
With modern skill and quenchless thirst for fame:
537 The conquer'd Balkan gives a chieftain name.*
3.75 Deep groan the bending wains; with crushing sound
2.87 The wheel'd artill'ry tears the solid ground;
4.99 The trampling myriads blacken all the shore;
2.68 And old Bulgaria feels one conquest more--
3.44 And where is he, the Proud, whose arms retain
4.35 Those ancient tow'rs, the wonder of the plain?
4.61 Owns he no force to meet this hated crew,
2.01 Since all in vain the Prophet's standard flew?
2.30 Where are his disciplin'd Egyptian boast,
3.97 His million Arabs, and his Tartar host?
1.51 Where are his Janissaries? Ask yon rank

Of blacken'd corpses; or yon stranger Frank,
41.85 Who, in his suburb, on the farther shore
Imprison'd, heard the long repeated roar-
Three days and nights the sounds of slaughter came,
And the huge city almost swam in flame.

Escap'd such scenes, the righteous doom revere,
And ye who burn with true ambition's fire,
And thank that Pow'r that plac'd your dwelling here.

Whose gen'rous hearts to human praise aspire,
Be public service still your proudest aim,

Nor envy warlike chiefs their blood-bought fame.
Bid education humanize the mind;

Aid laws and order to correct mankind;
Protect the weak, the vicious soul reprove,
And strive in arts that earn a people's love-
Teach the light bridge to span the rapid tide,
The gliding slope ascend the mountain's side,
The lab'ring engine overcome the steep,
The long canal seek out the distant deep.
Crown with new structures each o'erhanging hill;
Bid deepen'd rivers ampler channels fill,
And ships secure defy the dang rous main.
Huge mounds of stone the thund'ring waves restrain,

Such tasks to you the laws of Heav'n decree,
Toils that improve mankind, and worthy of the free.

* General Diebitsch Sabalkansky.

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 annum, payable annually by subscribers residing in or near the city, or where here is an agent. Other subscribers pay in advance.

.

THE

REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.

VOL. V.-NO. 3.

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.

PHILADELPHIA, JANUARY 16, 1830. NO. 107

GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES ON LUZERNE CO.
Written by Isaac A. Chapman, Esq. in 1817.

Luzerne County was erected from the county of Northumberland on the 26th day of September, 1786, and received its name in compliment to the Chevalier de la Lauzerne then French Minister to the United States. Its greatest length from North to South is fifty two miles, and its greatest width from E. W. 42. It is of ir

regular form and contains by careful estimation 1430

square miles or 917,200 acres.

The soil of Luzerne is so various in its fertility as not properly to possess any general character. The vallies being generally rich arable land but differing very much in their fertility; and the mountains generally barren and not susceptible of cultivation. The country is very mountainous, and the mountains consist principally of ridges running parallel to each other; and like the other mountains of Pennsylvania extending nearly parallel

to the sea coast from E. N.E.to W.S.W. These mountains are situated at different distances from each other, leaving fertile vallies between in which are fine settlements, forming the population of the county. The principal mountains of Luzerne are the following-The Wyoming Mountains situate on each side of the Susquehanna river forming the valley of Wyoming. That on the east side is called Bullocks mountain. That on West Shawney Range. The average height of the first is one thousand feet, that of the other 850 feet.from the summit of one mountain to that of the other opposite Wilkesbarre measuring by the road is six miles and a quarter. In an air line about 5 miles.

At the foot of each mountain are small hills so that the broken ground occupies more space than the bases of mountains. At Wilkesbarre the level plain extends on the west side about a mile and a quarter from the river, on the east side about half a mile. On this last the town of Wilkesbarre is built. This plain is alluvial formed by the river and is the first quality of land, being extremely productive.

The Nescopeck mountain on the north side of Nescopeck creek is a range of nearly the same height with those of Wyoming and parallel to them. It forms a regular and almost unbroken ridge nearly destitute of timber on its summit. It extends from the Susquehanna nearly to the Lehigh.

The Buck mountain is a range parallel to the Nescopeck situate about five miles to the S.E. of the latter. It is a broken range loosing its name at both ends of Nescopeck Valley.

ren range whose average height may be feet. This extends from the east to the west branch of the Susquehanna river between which it appears to have no other name than those mentioned, except that in a small territory on the head of Fishing creek the inhabitants call it the Forth Mountain. Westward of the waters of the west branch of Susquehanna it forms the main ridge of

Allegheny mountains. It crosses the east branch of the

Susquehanna at the mouths of Tunkhannock and Bowman's creeks, and extending north eastwardly, it is called Tunkhannock mountain and terminates in Susquehanna county where it is called the Elk Mountain.

Mahoopeny Mountain is a spear only of Bowman's mountain and terminates at the mouth of Mahoopeny creek.

Sugar Loaf mountain is a high conical Pyramid rising from the centre of Nescopeck valley. It is not connected with any other mountain and forms a very singular appearance. Its name is derived from its form and the mountain has given name to a township.

The character of these mountains is much the same, they are thinly covered with timber, generally steep, and in many places very rocky.

The Wyoming, the Lackawannock and the Buck mountains produce a mineral coal of an excellent quality called in the vicinity Stone coal from its excessive hardness. It is not bituminous and burns without smoke and very little flame. It forms an important article of export from Luzerne county; and is taken down the Susquehanna in arks. This coal was first burnt in grates in the year 1808, and is now in very common use. The Vallies of Luzerne are the following:

The valley of Wyoming lying on both sides of the Susquehanna river is about twenty miles long and five miles broad. The Susquehanna enters it at its northeasternmost extremity through a precipitious gap in the Shawnese range of mountains which appear to have been made by the river itself. It flows in a serpentine course through the plains of Wyoming and leaves the valley through a gap similar to that at which it enters; forming as it leaves the valley what is called Nauticoke falls. In this valley stand the towns of Wilkesbarre and Kingston, opposite each other on both sides of the river. This is the most populous valley in the county. The soil is of the first quality and extremely productive.

Lackawannock Valley extends from the mouth of the Lackawannock creek up the same about 30 miles.-The soil is of second quality, the land uneven, forming no level plains of any considerable extent. This next

Hell Kitchen mountain commences at the head of Nes- to Wyoming valley is the most populous.

copeck valley and extending north eastwardly terminates near the Lehigh. This is a very high rocky and barren ridge, having no timber on its top, where fern and small bushes only find support. Down the north side of this mountain falls Hell Kitchen Creek a small branch of Nescopeck.

Lackawannock mountain is a continuation of the Shawnese range of Wyoming mountains. This near the Susquehanna is very high and steep but becomes smaller as it extends north easterly. It terminates in Susquehanna county where it is called the Moosie Mountain, and a part of it Mount Ararat.

Bowmans mountain called the Ball mountain near the western limits of the county is a high regular bar VOL. V.

5

Nescopeck Valley lies on both sides of Nescopeck creek and between Nescopeck and Bucks Mountains. It is about 20 miles long and 5 miles wide and does not extend to the river. In population it will rank next to the Lackawannock valley and the soil is somewhat bet

ter.

Bowman's Valley lying on Bowman's creek between Bowman's and Mahoopeny mountains is not very populous and the land generally poor. It is about two miles wide and 15 miles long. The principal population is near the river.

Tunkhannock Valley is very crooked and irregular, about a mile wide lessening in some places to half a mile; and about 35 miles long. It is, most of it, cultivated, is populous considering its small width.