390

GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.

(DECEMBER

9th April, 1827, entitled "an act to provide for the point expedient and practicable for a canal on the Junifurther extension of the Pennsylvania canal"-by which ata; from a point at or near Northumberland to Bald the board of canal commissioners was authorized and Eagle on the West Branch; from Northumberland to required to locate and contract for making a canal up the New York state line on the North Branch; from a the valley of the Juniata from the eastern section of the point at or near Taylor's ferry to Easton; and from Pennsylvania canal to a point at or near Lewistown-Blairsville to the highest point expedient and practicaalso, a canal, locks, and other works necessary thereto, ble for a canal on the Conemaugh; providing, how. up the valley of the Kiskiminetas and the Conemaugh ever, that only ten miles from the river Swatara to Cofrom the western section to a point at or near Blairs- lumbia, not more than twenty-five not less than twenty, ville-and also a canal, locks, and other works necessa- on the West Branch, and not more than forty-five, nor ry thereto, up the valley of the Susquehanna, from the less than fifteen miles of each of the other sections, eastern section of the Pennsylvania canal to a point at should be put under contract during that year. The or near the town of Northumberland-also, to com- rail-road across the Allegheny mountain was directed to mence operations on the feeder from French creek to be located, &c. with a view of connecting the Juniata the summit level at Conneaut lake, and to contract for and Conemaugh sections of the Pennsylvania canal, and so much as might be adapted to either of the routes in the rail-road from Columbia to Philadelphia was directcontemplation for connecting the Pennsylvania canal ed to be put under contract within that year, with a with Lake Erie, for which latter object the sum of one view to its completion within two years or as soon hundred thousand dollars was appropriated. thereafter as practicable: the act authorized further examinations and surveys, and a loan of two millions of dollars.

The act further directed, that if it should appear, after suitable examinations, that a navigable canal could be constructed between a point at or near Philadelphia or at Bristol, or any intermediate point between Bristol and the head of tide water and a point at or near the borough of Easton, then with the consent of the governor the board of canal commissioners were authorized, during the then ensuing season, to locate and contract for making a portion of said navigable communication, the expense of which should not exceed one hundred thousand dollars, Numerous other surveys and examinations were authorized to be made, and the sum of one million of dollars was appropriated to be applied in the manner and for the purposes mentioned in the act. In pursuance of the directions contained in the act just recited, there were put under contract in that year eighteen miles of canal on the Delaware from Bristol upwards; forty miles on the Susquehanna from the eastern division to Northumberland; forty-four and a half miles on the Juniata from its mouth to Lewistown; fifty-one miles between Blairsville and Pittsburg, and nine miles of the French creek feeder; making an aggregate of one hundred and sixty-two and an half miles of canal; the disbursements on account of which for that year amounted to nine hundred and thirty-one thousand nine hundred and seventy-five dollars and ninety-one cents.

In virtue of the provisions of this act, there were put under contract in 1828, ten miles and an half of the French Creek feeder, twenty-six and a half miles of canal from Blairsville up the Conemaugh, forty-five miles on the Juniata, twenty-three miles on the west branch, forty-five miles on the north branch, thirty-five miles and a half on the Delaware, and ten miles between Middletown and Columbia, making in the whole one hundred and ninety-five miles and a half of canal; forty miles and an half of rail road formation were also put under contract between Columbia and Philadelphia, and the disbursements required for that year amounted to the sum of two millions seven hundred and eighty-five thousand six hundred and twelve dollars and twenty-four cents.

The act of 24th March, 1828, was followed by that of the 22d of April, 1829, entitled "an act relative to the Pennsylvania canal and rail road," directing the canal commissioners to cause so much of the contracts already made upon the different lines of canal and rail ways to be completed within that year as should be practicable, and requiring them to enter into contracts for the execution of those sections on the Delaware division of the Pennsylvania canal between Bristol and Easton, and the sections of the North Branch division between Northumberland and Nanticoke Falls which had not yet been commenced, and to complete the same if practicable within that year, and the sum of two millions two hundred thousand dollars were directed to be borrowed and appropriated to the several objects contemplated by the act. The works put under contract in pursuance of the directions of this act, were six miles and a half of canal on the Delaware, and nine miles on the North Branch division,and the amount of disbursements required for that year (1829) was three millions seven hundred and thirty-three thousand five hundred and forty-five dollars and ninety-two cents, for canal and

I have been thus particular in referring to the several works directed to be put under contract by the act of 1827, because it was the commencement of a scheme of diffusive and unconnected works of improvement, and without expressing any opinion with regard to the wisdom of the measure, (which at this time would be altogether unavailing,) I would simply refer those, who now object to that course of improvement, and insist that the legislation of 1831 in reference to our public works, should have been arrested, to that period, as the one at which a successful intervention to stay the further progress of the public works, might have been attended with consequences of a less injurious charac-rail road purposes. ter than could have been the case at any time since. From the foregoing exposition of the course of legisla Whether the policy adopted by the legislature in pass- tion that obtained from eighteen hundred and twentying the act of 1827 was sound or otherwise, is not now six, until the close of the year 1829, it will be seen, the question. The people sustained, and evinced their that extensive sections of canal and rail road formation satisfaction with the measure by again electing a ma- were authorized to be put under contract during that jority of representatives to the General Assembly, fa- period, and that large appropriations were necesssvourable to a continued perseverance in further extend-rily called for from year to year, to carry those contracts ing and prosecuting works of internal improvement; and on the 24th March, 1828, another act was passed entitled "an act relative to the Pennsylvania canal, and to provide for the commencement of a rail-road, to be constructed at the expense of the state, and to be styled the Pennsylvania rail-road." By this last mentioned act the board of canal commissioners was authorized to contract for making canals, locks, and other works, from the commencement of the Pennsylvania canal, at or near the mouth of the river Swatara, to Columbia, in Lancaster county, from Lewistown to the highest

into execution; that during and until the close of the administration of my predecessor, four bundred and twenty miles of canal, according to the reports of the board of canal commissioners, but actually amounting to four bundred and twenty-two and a half miles, and forty miles and an half of rail road formation, had been put under contract, which have required, as will be shown hereafter, and still require the disbursement of nearly the whole amount of the large sums of money, that have hitherto been borrowed from year to year, for internal improvement purposes, but so partial

1831.]

GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.

391

and an act to increase the county rates and levies, for the use of the commonwealth," passed respectively the twenty-fifth day of March last.

No honest citizen of Pennsylvania can desire a recurrence of the difficulties and embarrassments, which pervaded the financial transactions of the state in 1829, especially those which pertained to its works of internal improvement, and I trust that none will repine at the payment of a sum so small as that which the acts referred to will require of him, when he must feel assured, that what he pays is to aid in promoting the public welfare, to advance the prosperity and happiness of the people, "to maintain the character and standing of the State in which he lives, and to preserve her strength and resources," and when he is assured, that no other exaction will be required of him in reference to the objects which now create the necessity for the demand, nor will those now demanded of him be required for longer period than the five years to which the several acts referred to have limited them. Every other state engaged in the improvement of its internal condition, has, it is believed, resorted to taxation for the payment of the interest upon its loans-the State of New York, to a heavy tax upon the salt manufactured within the State, and even the comparatively young State of Ohio, which but the other day was a howling wilderness, but which is acquiring immortal honor, in consequence of the splendid and magnificent works of internal improvement now constructing within it, whose citizens are laboring under all the disadvantages attending upon an almost entire absence of the circulating medium, and all the other difficulties and privations incident to a new country, from the very commencement of its public works, resorted to taxation to meet the interest upon loans for their construction. I have every confi dence in my fellow citizens, that as soon as they shall be convinced of the necessity of the measure, and knowing as I do, the jealousy with which they watch over and guard their individual credit, and that with which their patriotism would inspire them in regard to the integrity and safety of that of the State, their objec tions to making a small contribution annually, for a short period, towards an object which has progressed too far to be abandoned, which has cost too many millions to be now arrested in its successful career, and suffered to go to ruin, and which promises too much future use. fulness in elevating the character of the State, developding to the wealth and happiness of its people, to be suffered to languish for the want of means so inconsiderable as those required by the revenue bills to which I have referred, must entirely cease. The responsibil

were the majority of the people to their favorite project of internal improvement of the State, that it was not until the unpropitious and unfavorable course of things which occurred in the summer of eighteen hundred and twenty nine, when the credit of the commonwealth became depressed, and the confidence of capitalists and of monied institutions had been shaken in regard to the sufficiency and ability of the fund pledged for the payment of interest, when permanent loans could not be obtained, and money could with difficulty be borrowed on temporary loan to answer the pressing emergencies of the State, and when the late executive was reduced to the necessity of requiring a special session of the legislature to relieve the commonwealth from the embarrassments which were pressing upon it on every side, that any uneasiness or alarm was discoverable on their part; nor had any opposition to a progressive system of improvement until then, manifested itself by petition, or in any shape other than by the negative votes of members of the legislature constituting the minority in either house. It was this unpropitious state of the commonwealth's affairs that induced the message of the 14th day of January, 1830, to the two Houses, exhibiting the state of the indebtedness of the commonwealth, and pressing upon them the urgent necessity of providing a fund for the payment of interest which should be both ample and permanent. This measure was again earnestly pressed in the last annual message to the legislature, and in that accompanying the return of the bill of the 21st March last, entitled "an act, to continue the improvement of the state by canals and rail roads," to the House of Representatives. Whatever may have been the effect of these several messages, one thing is certain, that in a very short time after the first of them had been read in the two houses, capitalists and monied institutions vied with each other as to which of them should obtain the State loans; high premiums were offered and obtained, under the conviction and in the entire confidence that an adequate fund for the punctul semi-annual payment of the interest would be established, the commonwealth has ever since been enabled to borrow all such sums as her exigencies from time to time required, upon terms highly advantageous to her financial operations, and flattering to the state of her credit, and the sum of three hundred and eighty-six thousand nine hundred and eighty-nine dollars and seventy-one cents, has since been paid into the Treasury, in the shape of premiums upon loans. Toing its resources, and increasing the prosperity, and adthis prosperous condition, in which the credit of the state has been placed, is to be ascribed to the delay for the necessity of calling upon the people for their contributions to supply the interest fund, the premiums paid upon loans having, until the last semi-annual pay-ity incurred in recommending such a measure is felt in ment of interest which became due on the first of Au- aĺl its force; the necessity of the measure to sustain the gust last, so far aided in replenishing that fund, as to credit of the State, will, it is believed, ensure its justifienable it to meet the entire payment of the interest as cation; but should it be otherwise, I have only to say, it became due. On the day last mentioned, however, a that the man who would prefer an ephemeral popularideficiency in that fund amounting to the sum of twenty. ty to the solid interests of his country, is unworthy of six thousand two hundred and seventy-six dollars and public confidence, and his claims to public favor are ten cents,occurred, for which sum it became necessary to certainly not to be envied. resort to the general appropriations for the construction of canals and rail roads, as authorized by the act of the 30h of March last. As however, this mode of supplying the interest fund by premiums to be paid upon loans cannot be expected to continue, and would, under any circumstances, be too capricious and unsafe to be relied upon; and there is reason to believe, that increasing deficiencies will occur, in the interest fund, for a time, until the tolls arising from the public works shall be sufficient to supply them (for information in relation to which the General Assembly is referred to the report of the commissioners of the internal improvement fund,) it will become necessary to supply those deficiencies by a resort to the revenues authorised to be collected by the several acts of assembly, entitled an act assessing a tax on personal property, to be collected with the county rates and levies, for the use of the commonwealth,

By an act of assembly, entitled "An act to authorise a loan to defray the expenses of the Pennsylvania canal and rail road, and continue for a further time, 'an act to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of Pennsylvania" passed the 13th of March,1830, that institution was required to lend, and the Governor was authorised to borrow on the credit of the Commonwealth, a sum or sums of money, in the whole not exceeding four mil. lions of dollars, at a premium of five and a half per cent. to be paid into the State Treasury, in instalments as mentioned in the act, and bearing the interest of five per cent. per annum, to be applied to canal and rail road purposes; and by the same act the Bank of Pennsylvania is required to loan to the Commonwealth one million of dollars annually, for the term of three years from and after the first day of January, 1831, bearing interest at the rate of five per cent. per annum, provided that the

same shall be required by law during any one of the three years mentioned in the act. And by another act, passed on the twenty-seventh of March, in the same year, entitled "an act making further appropriations for canals and rail roads," the board of canal commissioners was directed to cause so much of the contracts already made upon the different lines of the canals and rail roads as could be done, to be completed within that year, and they were enjoined in no way to enter into new contracts for the extension of any line of canal or rail road, except for the erection of a dam at or near Johnstown, and the construction of a canal and necessary works from thence to section number fiftyseven on the Ligonier line, for the purpose of introducing the water into the Ligonier line of the western division of the canal. Several surveys were directed by this act, and the sum of three millions four hundred and fifty-nine thousand five hundred and thirty-two dollars, were appropriated to be applied to aid in the payment of the temporary loans theretofore made, and to canal and rail road purposes, and to be paid out of the loans of that year. In pursuance of this act, three and a half miles of canal below Johnstown, on the western divission, were to be put under contract, and the sum of three millions one hundred and thirty-seven thousand eight hundred and forty-four dollars and eight cents, were disbursed in pursuance of the directions of the last

[DECEMBER

and slack water navigation, the west branch division of the Pennsylvania canal, from the Muncy dam in the county of Lycoming, to the mouth of the Bald Eagle creek, in the same county, towards the expenses whereof, during the present year, two hundred thousand dollars were specifically appropriated. Also, a water communication between the town of Lewisburg, in Union county, and the nearest and best point on the west branch division of the Pennsylvania canal, for which the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars was specifically appropriated. Also, the north branch division of the Pennsylvania canal, from the pool of the Nanticoke dam, in the county of Luzerne, by canal or slack water navigation, not to exceed fifteen miles in the same county, towards the expenses whereof, during the present year, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars was specifically appropriated. They were also directed to make a canal or slack water navigation from the Allegheny river, at the mouth of French creek, and up that creek to the French creek feeder; towards the expenses whereof, during the present year, the sum of sixty thousand dollars was specifically appropriated. Also, to make a canal or slack water navigation, from the Ohio river, at the mouth of Big Beaver creek, up that creek to the town of New Castle, towards the expenses whereof, during the present year, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars was specifically appropriated. All of which several specific appropriations were diIt may be proper here to remark, that the amount ac- rected to be paid out of the loans directed by said act tually paid to the board of the canal commissioners, up to be made. And the Governor was authorized to borto the twenty-first of December, 1830, the date of their row, on the credit of the commonwealth, the sum of last report, was ten millions two hundred and forty-six two millions four hundred and eighty-three thousand thousand five hundred and sixty-six dollars and forty-one hundred and sixty-one dollars and eighty-eight six cents. Of this sum, sixty-four thousand two hun-cents, to be applied to the several objects enumerated dred and fifty-five dollars was disbursed in building a in said act. In pursuance of the directions of the act dam across the Conemaugh, and constructing three miles and a half of canal for introducing the water into the Ligonier line in the neighborbood of Johnstown, and ten millions one hundred and eighty-two thousand three hundred and eleven dollars and forty-six cents, were disbursed in satisfaction of contracts entered into in the years 1826, 1827, 1828, and 1829.

mentioned act.

just recited, the board of canal commissioners have put under contract the Columbia and Philadelphia rail road, in length eighty one miles and a half, the whole cost of which, including steam engines, and necessary works, is estimated at a sum of two millions two hundred and ninety-seven thousand one hundred and twenty dollars and twenty-one cents. The Allegheny portage rail The last act of legislation that took place in relation road, the whole length of which, from the lower end of to this all important subject, was the act of the last ses- the basin at Johnstown, to the lower end of the basin at sion, entitled "an act to continue the improvement of Hollidaysburg, is thirty-six miles two hundred and twenthe State by canals and rail roads, passed the twenty-ty-one perches, and the estimated cost thereof, includfirst day of March last, requiring the canal commission-ding steam engines and all necessary works, is one mil. ers to complete, as soon as practicable, the whole of the lion two hundred and seventy-one thousand seven hunrail road between the rivers Schuylkill and Susque- dred and eighteen dollars and eighteen cents. The hanna, beginning at the intersection of Vine and Broad north branch division of the Pennsylvania canal, from streets, in the city of Philadelphia, and thence extend- the foot of the Nanticoke dam, a distance of sixteen ing to the end of the canal basin at Columbia, in the miles and three hundred and sixteen perches, exclusive county of Lancaster," towards the completion of which, of the feeder, three miles and three hundred and five during the present year, the sum of six hundred thou- perches slack water, and thirteen miles and eleven sand dollars was specifically appropriated. They were perches of canal, the estimated cost whereof is two also directed forthwith to complete the projected canal hundred and twenty thousand five hundred and ninety. between the western termination of the rail road at Co-four dollars and fifty-six cents. The Lycoming line or lumbia, and the best point of junction with the Penn-west branch division of the Pennsylvania canal from sylvania canal at Middletown, in the county of Dauphin, including an aqueduct over the river Swatara, and out let locks to the river at Columbia, for the expenses and costs of which several works,the sum of one hundred and sixteen thousand one hundred and seventy dollars, was specifically appropriated. They were also directed to commence forthwith, and prosecute without delay, a rail road over and across the Allegheny, mountain, from the basin at Hollidaysburg, in the county of Huntingdon, to Johnstown, in the county of Cambria. Also,to commence and prosecute without delay,the extension of the Juniata division of the Pennsylvania canal from the town of Huntingdon, in the county of Huntingdon, to the basin at Hollidaysburg, in the same county, either by canal or slack water navigation, towards the expenditures of which rail road and canal or slack water navigation, during the present year, the sum of seven hundred thousand dollars was specifically appropriated. They were also required to extend, without delay, by canal

Muncy dam to the mouth of the Bald Eagle, consisting of thirty-one miles and twelve perches of Canal, ten miles and fifty-six perches slack water, together forty one miles and sixty-eight perches, the estimated cost of which is five hundred thousand, five hundred and eighty-seven dollars and fifty-four cents. The Lewisburg Cross Cut, two hundred perehes in length, and to cost twenty-two thousand dollars. The Frankstown line, consisting of twenty-two miles and one hundred and fifty-six perches of Canal, and fifteen miles and two hundred and sixty-six perches towing path or slack water, making together thirty-eight miles and one hundred and two perches in length, the whole cost of which is estimated at the sum of six hundred and ninety-eight thousand, one hundred and eighty-one dollars and fiftysix cents. The Beaver division, extending from the Ohio river, at the mouth of the Big Beaver Creek to the town of New Castle, consisting of sixteen miles and 224, perches of slack water, and eight miles and 16

1831.]

GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.

893

several works now under contract and in active progress will be liberally furnished, and that nothing will be omitted that may have a tendency to facilitate their completion and to render them productive, in order that the state may soon realize the abundant harvest from them which their extent and the magnificent scale on which they are constructed give so much reason to anticipate. The whole amount of money which has been paid to the Treasurer of the Board of Canal Commissoners up to the 23d November, was twelve millions, three hundred thirty-four thousand, four hundred eighty-eight dollars and sixty-two cents-of this sum two millions, ninety-two thousand, seven hundred and two dollars and thirty-seven cents, have been received by him since the date of the last report of the Board of Cnal Commissioners, out of which the sum of one million two hundred sixty-one thousand, two hundred and sixty-six dollars seven cents, was paid out for repairs and damages connected with and on account of old contracts entered into prior to the year 1830, in which year but three and afhalf miles of canal were authorized to be

perches of Canal, making together twenty-four miles and 240 perches in length, and estimated to cost three hundred and thirty five thousand, three hundred and seventeen dollars and eighty two cents. The Eastern division, consisting of eight miles and two hundred and twenty perches, between Middletown and Columbia, and out-let lock at Columbia, the estimated cost of which is one hundred and thirty three thousand, eight hundred and four dollars and fifty-two cents; and the French ereek division from the Allegheny river at the mouth of French creek, and up that creek to the French creek feeder, consisting of seventeen miles and thirty-six perches of slack water navigation, and five miles and fifty-two perches of canal; in the aggregate twenty-two miles and eighty-eight perches, the estimat ed cost whereof is two hundred and seventy thousand six hundred and eighty one dollars and thirty-two cents. The whole extent of new works partially put under contract under the last mentioned act is in the aggregate about two hundred and sixty-seven miles, which added to four hundred and twenty-six miles of canal already finished will, when the whole shall be complet-constructed. This sum of twelve millions, three huned, form an extent of improvement by Canals and Rail Roads of six hundred and ninety-three miles.

The whole estimated cost of the works contracted for in virtue of the provisions of the act last mentioned is five millions seven hundred and fifty thousand and five dollars and seventy-one cents. For the details in reference to how far the funds arising from the loan negotiated under the act of 21st March last, will be available, and what im will be required to be borrowed for the further prosecution of the several works to completion, I beg leave to refer the General Assembly to the report of the board of Canal Commissioners.

dred and thirty-four thousand, four hundred and eightyeight dollars and sixty-two cents, with the additiona that will be required to finish the several works may seem large to most of my fellow citizens, and to constitute a debt that neither we nor our posterity will be able to discharge. I am not one of those who believe a public debt to be a public blessing, nor would I wil lingly lend my aid as a public functionary to involve the Commonwealth in a visionary scheme of imaginary improvement, the success or practicability of which would be entirely of doubtful experiment, and the utilior public advantage of which would be altogether problematical or uncertain. Neither of these is in my Of the works recently put under contract and which opinion the case with the plan of improvements now have just been enumerated, the Columbia and Phila prosecuting in this state: but if it were otherwise, delphia Rail Road, the Allegheny Portage Rail Road there has been no period within the last two years and the Frankstown or Juniata line of Canal and slack- when the progress of the system could have been arrestwater navigation are important connecting links of the ed without producing consequences not only involving line of improvements between Philadelphia and Pitts in inextricable ruin and destruction individuals, conburg, without which the several detached lines or di- tractors and others, largely engaged in the construction visions which they are intended to connect, would re- of the works, but the state itself in difficulties of the main comparatively unproductive, but when connect- most disastrous character, from which it could not have ed, will not fail to become highly useful and eminently been extricated without incurring the imputation of productive. The works contracted for on the North pursuing a vacillating course of policy, and of a want and West branch divisions on the Susquehanna are ex- of good fith in its transactions with individuals; besides tensions into the Coal regions of these several districts, being justly chargeable with a want of that bold and which will, it is expected, add largely to the active magnanimous spirit of enterprize which her abundant business of those several lines of Canal, give vigor and resources and the wealth and prosperity she enjoys in energy to the industry of those sections of the state, such profusion would justly entitle her to entertain and and by affording the means of conveying a valuable and to indulge; the loss of from ten to twelve millions of now almost indispensible mineral to market, will great- dollars, and the abandonment to ruin and entire dely increase the comforts of the citizens of this and of struction of works, which, when finished, would be other states, and render the main branches of which considered proud monuments of Pennsylvania's wisdom they are extensions, highly useful and profitable. The and greatness, but if abandoned, must and inevitably improvements from the Allegheny river at the mouth of would be considered the degrading monuments of her French creek feeder; as also that from the Ohio river imbecility and folly, would, I should suppose, satisfy at the mouth of the Big Beaver creek, and up that the most sceptical of the consummate disgrace and ignocreek to the town of New Castle, will afford great ac-miny to which such a course of policy must necessarily commodations to a large and fertile district of country, and by opening safe communications by water to the Allegheny an Ohio rivers, will stimulate the further enterprise of its many enterprising citizens, and facili. tate the conveyance of their numerous, diversified and valuable productions to the several markets to which those magnificent rivers lead. I would beg leave here to suggest the propriety of making an appropriation at this session, sufficient to connect the French creek feeder with the French, creek and the Conneaut lake, according to the original design, as without such connection it must always remain a most useless and unproductive work, but if so connected, it may become useful and conduce greatly to increase the business upon the French creek improvement, and to render that a productive and profitable navigation. It is anxiously hoped that the means for finishing the VOL. VIII. 50

have subjected her. Besides, without in that case possessing a single work of valuable improvement within the state, her debt, with all the interest accumulating thereon, would, without any aid to be derived from any other source, be drawn from the pockets of the people by a heavy and burdensome taxation. If we may judge from the operations of the New York Canals, which in that great State have,in the course of a few years, caused cities to spring up in the midst of a howling wilderness, and the wilderness itself to be converted into fruitful fields and to become the resort of the industrious and enterprising from all sections of the country, and which from their almost incredible productiveness leave no room for doubt that in the course of a very few years they will not only pour into the Treasury of the state the millions which their construction cost, but will pro duce a revenue thereafter permanent and ample for all

the purposes to which the State may desire to apply it; we can scarcely permit ourselves to entertain a doubt that a similar state of prosperity and success awaits us and will in a short time manifest itself in the operations upon our own public work; our means of giving full employment to our Canals and Rail Roads, when they shall have been finished, being at least equal to, if not greater than those of the state of New York. The abundance of our Coal and Iron, of the former of which they possess none, and of the latter comparatively but small quantities, will give our works advantages in reference to their active business which theirs do not possess; in all other respects too the quantity of our agricultural and other productions which will require transportation to market, and will seek that by the Canals and Rail Roads, will be at least equal to theirs. May we not then indulge the very reasonable hope, that, if their public works will in a few years pay for themselves by the revenues they produce, ours will do so likewise if we will only exercise sufficient patience to see them finished and placed in a condition to accomplish so desirable, but at the same time so certain a result.

[DECEMBER

being in length one hundred and four miles and thirtythree hundredths of a mile, to which may be added the Delaware division from Bristol to Easton, being in length fifty-nine miles and three-quarters, and into which throughout its whole length, it is understood, the water has been very recently admitted.

The amount of tolls received upon the several divisions of the canal, (owing to the causes I have mentioned,) up to the 31st October last, was thirty-eight thousand two hundred and forty-one dollars and twenty cents. It is estimated that the receipts into the treasury from that source, will in the whole of the next season amount to the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

For the state of the public works now under contract, and the time of their probable completion, you are respectfully referred to the report of the canal commissioners which will contain, in detail, all the necessary information in reference to the various subjects connected with the internal improvement of the State. It is a fact, that redounds greatly to the honor of this State, and the recollection of it must always be gratifying to its citizens, that Pennsylvania was the first State Owing to the unusually protracted rainy season and in the Union to commence and prosecute with success the continual state of humidity and moisture produced the improvement of her internal condition. The first in consequence of it, the public works, which had been turnpike road ever constructed in the United States is finished in the fall of the last and early in the indebted for its commencement and completion to the spring of the present year, were not so productive as State of Pennsylvania, and although avarice and prejuhad been anticipated. The works being new, the fre- dice had well nigh demolished that proud monument, quent heavy rains affected the banks of the canals the Philadelphia and Lancaster turnpike road, reared which had not become sufficiently settled and firm, and by the spirit of improvement that manifested itself at so produced repeated breaches, in consequence of which early a period, by a fierce and violent opposition to it the navigation was often interrupted and rendered in all its stages: still perseverance overcame opposition; precarious and unsafe in regard to the delays which the highly useful and valuable enterprise was eventualwere necessarily by that means occasioned, which be- ly completed, and the distance between Philadelphia gat a want of confidence in the security against the and Lancaster, which before its construction required hindrance and want of expedition, to which the trans- nearly as much time to travel it as now occupies the portation of produce to market, or for return lading up- mail stage to perform the journey between Philadel on the canals, would thus necessarily be exposed. phia and Pittsburg, is now travelled in less than a sinThe heavy freshets too, which swelled the Cone-gle day. The success of this substantial and highly maugh and Kiskeminetas rivers to an extraordinary height, caused great injury and destruction to the public works along the western division of the canal; and the dam at Leechburg, or a large proportion of it having been carried off, it became necessary to con- † struct a new one; this work being an extensive one, required considerable time for its accomplishment, and caused the operations upon that division of the canal to be protracted from early in the month of July, until the present time, but it is rapidly approaching a state when the water will again be introduced, and the navigation restored to its former prosperous and useful condition. The several divisions of the Pennsylvania canal which have recently been in a condition for safe and active navigation, and which give great promise of realizing all the solid advantages, and fulfilling the high expectations in future, which the friends of the system have not ceased to anticipate from them, are the Eastern division from Middletown to Duncan's Island, twentyfour miles in length, part of the Susquehanna division from the out-let lock at Duncan's Island to the commencement of the Juniata division, one mile and fifty-forts and the happiness of her people have been most aseight-hundredths long: the Juniata division extending from Duncan's Island to section No. 184, a quarter of a mile above the town of Huntingdon, in Huntingdon county, being eighty-nine five-one-hundredths miles in length. The Susquehanna division extending also from Duncan's Island to the south end of the towing path bridge at Northumberland, being thirty-nine miles in length, including one-fifty-eight hundreth mile above mentioned; the North Branch division extending from its intersection with the West Branch, in the basin at the town of Northumberland, to the feeder dam at Nanticoke falls, being fifty-five and a half miles in length, and the Western division above mentioned, extending from Johnstown, in the county of Cambria to the out-let lock into the Monongahela at Pittsburg,

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useful memorial of the determined perseverance of its projectors, caused the spirit of improvement to spread throughout every portion of the State, and although the spirit of opposition continued, those of improvement and of patriotism triumphed, and we have now within this happy commonwealth, more than twenty-five hundred miles of turnpike roads, and notwithstanding the uniform opposition that has always manifested itself against every attempt to enter upon a new project of improvement, Pennsylvania has now within her limits internal improvements, consisting of turnpike roads, canals, railways, and bridges, all of them constructed since the year seventeen hundred and ninety-one, for which there has been disbursed from the public treasury of the State, and by corporations, a sum exceeding thirty-seven millions of dollars, and yet, after all these large disbursements, Pennsylvania has not been impoverished, nor is she less prosperous now than she was before these improvements were constructed, and the disbursements made: on the contrary, her prosperity has been greatly enlarged, and the wealth, the com

tonishingly encreased. What would have been the condition of Pennsylvania, if her turnpike roads had never been constructed, and her bridges had not been built? In that case, instead of possessing an extensive territo ry of fertile and luxuriant soil, eminently improved, studded with numerous and splendid, and highly cultivated farms, embellished with beautiful and substantial dwelling houses and barns, and exhibiting one continued scene of abundance, wealth and continually increasing prosperity and comfort, the consequences of the encouragemeut given, by the opening of those numerous avenues to market, to industry and enterprise, and the strong inducement to increase production thus excited; we should present an immense unimproved surface, with here and there a hut, a sloyenly, careless,