From the Saturday Bulletin.
SKETCHES OF WAYNE COUNTY.

Extract of a letter to the Editor.
NAGLEVILLE-BEECH WOODS-BLUE MOUNTAINS-DEER
HUNTING, TROUT FISHING, AND GROUSE SHOOTING-
CATARACTS ANE SCENERY OF WAYNE COUNTY, PENN.
It was just day break when we reached the forks of

1

pass.

years, and stands, an evidence of what enterprise, in a country unshackled by an arbitrary government, can effect. The proprietor of the place owns about 10,000 acres of land in a body, through which both the turnpikes of which I have already spoken so favourably, The town is built upon the Philadelphia and Great Bend Turnpike, and through the centre of the town is the projected route of the Susquehanna and Delaware Railroad, the line of which will be finished in three or four years, at an expenditure of about $500,000. It must be a cheering prospect for this enterprising individual, for, unlike most landholders, he moved hither with his family and commenced clearing the forest a few years since, with nothing immediately in view to recompense him for the expenditure of his wealth. Now instead of forests and a wilderness, you behold the hand of civilization—the march of improvement-clearings of considerable extent, lakes but a few years since hid den from the road now opening their bread expanse to the view of the traveller, sawmills plying their busy work, and piles of lumber ready for market taking the places of the monarchs of the forest. But what perhaps is most cheering to the proprietor, property around him increasing in value ten fold, and supposing the railroad to be completed, himself becoming one of the wealthiest inhabitants in this section of the state.

The village contains a considerable number of dwellings besides a very commodious hotel, kept by the proprietor of the land, a store, sawmills, &c. all tending to give the place a lively appearance, but more particularly so, the trade and the fact of this being a fashionable resort for fishermen, sportsmen, and love-sick dames, and their lovers, who seek a romantic retirement in the

Beech Woods.

The lake, distant from the village about a quarter of a mile, and covering perhaps 300 acres of land, with the Tobihanna Creek, which winds close by the house, decided us upon remaining a week at Nagleville; we were kindly received by our host and his lady with whom you could not fail to be pleased. You might travel from Maine to Georgia (as the orators say) and not meet with a more obliging, goodnatured couple-as for the host himself, his kind offer of attendance gave us the promise of a week's glorious sport.

The creek which meanders by the side of the house is one of considerable size and rapidity, with waterpower sufficient for three mills from the same dam. Here is a spot where the genuine fisherman might spend his days in contentment; and the sportsman, whose sole delight consists in shooting Grouse, furnish his table with a few minutes' trouble.

of fishing a peculiar interest, and enliven the scenefurther up the stream after our return to the village, the scenery becomes more grand; large rocks start up on each side, the creek becomes more rough and troubled, when leaving the boat and clambering up the rocks, you behold a cataract of 60 or 70 feet in height tumbling over the eminence and foaming on as it rolls over a series of falls, several hundred feet high, taken together. With such scenery this country abounds, and such views the progress of settlements is almost daily opening to the eye of the traveller.

Among the numerous objects of interest of which Nagle's tract boasts, I have only leisure at this time to enumerate one more, and that must be brief. The lake to which I have already referred, lies to the east of the village, and the back end remains as in a state of nature, hidden from the rising sun by a thick forest. This is the resort of deer for water early in the morning and at night-fall, when the hunter lays wait for them and attacks them as they approach.

Our party filled two of the boats which are kept on

the lake for the purpose, and we launched out upon its glassy surface, undisturbed by a single ripple, as soon as the sun was disappearing from the horizon. The sportsmen in one of the boats amused themselves in catching perch, while they were paddled silently tothe signal was given for perfect stillness, and leaving the wards the eastern extremity of the lake. On a sudden middle of the lake, we paddled nearer to the shore and then along it, still keeping off about rifle shot, here we made a halt, when we had arrived nearly opposite one of the deer-licks or spots where they come for water. At a noise in the forest every gun was raised, when seven or eight deer rushed from the bank into the lake-To say that the sportsmen did their duty would be surplusage.

The change from the roar of the cataracts and the troubled waters of the creek, to the silence and smoothness of this beautiful lake just at night-fall, with every thing around us to inspire solemn reflections, was, to say the least, pleasing. Our party did not disturb the silence except with the stroke of the paddles until we reached the middle of the lake, where the rising moon was distinctly visible over the distant mountains. Now the silence was disturbed by music from the boat behind us which was yet in the shade. It was our host, playing on the bugle the hunter's chorus, which, with the noise of the cataract at the distance, and the rising moon and beautiful scenery around, produced the finest effect I ever witnessed. Here, thought I, in unision with our party, should I like to make my home; here is found just sufficient civilization to render the forest a delightful residence. The hours that are here spent for pleasure and recreation in the favourable season, whether by the trout fisherman, deer hunter, or grouse shooter, can never be forgotten. Memory will still wander back to Nagleville and the surrounding country, and dwell upon the beautiful scenery of the spot with constant admiration.

Several fine boats lay immediately below the house, so that selecting one, we commenced our career as trout fisherman; the power of the stream carried us to a place where it becomes narrow, and swift, and with the exception of the brush being cleared away, in a state of nature, and furnishing a cool retirement from the heat of the day. Let the imagination of the fisherman accompany the description, let him bring before his mind the creeks he has frequented, which he supposed, and as far as his experience extended were well supplied with fish-and then let him be assured that such a resort can be nothing compared with a creek, the supplies of which are as plentiful as if never troubled by the sportsman. The surface of the water seemed alive with trout. eight or ten springing above the surface at one time, within a few yards distance, after their accustomed food, the common creek fly. It is with a hook covered with feathers in imitation of a grasshopper, that the sportsman fishes in this stream, and in a few minutes he finds himself amply rewarded for his toil. The trout for size and quality I have seldom seen equalled and never surpassed. Some of our party employed themselves, however, in watching the giddy fly sailing over the surface of the water followed on a sud-phatically the first public work of Lancaster, designed den by the trout, which springs upon its prey and seldom fails of success. These efforts impart to this mode

REPORT OF A COMMITTEE OF THE STOCK-
HOLDERS OF THE CONESTOGO NAVIGA-
TION COMPANY, MADE JULY 1, 1822.
The committee appointed by the stockholders of the
Conestogo Navigation Company, to examine and re-
port the precise state of the navigation, and to ascer-
tain the probable expense of repairing the same;
with their views, as well of the ways and means for
meeting the expenditure, as for the payment of the
debts due by the company,

RESPECTFULLY REPORT:

That the viewing the Conestogo navigation as em

by her enterprize, and executed by the generous spirit of her people, the committee have bestowed upon the

subjects submitted to their consideration all the labour which their importance demands. When the committee was selected, the affairs of the company and the hopes of its existence were certainly not flattering. The navigation opened in the spring of 1829, meeting the expectations of its warmest friends. The river, "the beautiful sheet of water," and the positive benefits that must result to Lancaster, from its use, were the pleasing themes of us all. But, like all artificial works, where water is the element of use, it was not permanent. A flood came, in May, 1829, and the ninth lock, at the Susquehanna was materially injured; all the rest of the locks and dams, however, sustaining but little damagery, 1831, exhibiting a summary of the affairs of the by the freshet. This unforeseen and adverse event stopped the trade of the Conestogo for that season. The lower lock was repaired, and the navigation again opened in the spring of 1830, under more favorable auspices. It continued open in 1830, and '31, winning its way into the favor and confidence of the people by a direct appeal to their interest, the test of the popularity of most of the works of man. The ice-flood of last winter, so destructive to our public works every where, laid prostrate (and it was feared forever) the Conestogo navigation. In this state of alarm and apprehension, and before the extent of the damage done to the works could be estimated, the stockholders were convened and your committee was appointed. The result of their labors they have now the pleasure to lay before the president, managers, and company.

A few public spirited gentlemen designed the work of making the Conestogo navigable for all the ascending and descending trade, by steamboats, keelboats, rafts and arks, and on the 3d March, 1825, the law was passed forming the "Conestogo Navigation Company." 1200 shares at $50 a share, making $60,000 was fixed by the law as the capital stock of the company; with liberty, however, to increase the stock to the extent necessary for completing the work. Before the 4th of June, 1825, the commissioners named in the law, with an ardour and a devotion deserving of all our gratitude, obtained subscriptions from 167 individuals, (chiefly residing in Lancaster,) for 811 shares; and on that day the charter of the corporation was granted. On the 6th of July following, the first election for officers was held, and the company was organized. Engineers were then employed by the managers to examine the Conestogo; surveys were made and the plan of the work adopted. It was to be an entire slack water navigation; the best possible plan for making our river navigable. A day was fixed for receiving proposals for making the work, and the whole line was let to Caleb Hammill, of New York, a contractor, coming to us recommended by Governor Clinton, C. White, and Judge Wright, all distinguished canal gentlemen of that state. Mr Hammill's bid was the lowest, and from his character the managers had every reason to believe it was the best. On the 7th December, 1825, a written contract was signed by Hammill, by which he was bound to make the navigation for the sum of $53,240, and to deliver up the work to the company fully completed by the 4th of July, 1827, Edward F. Gay, a pupil of Canvas White, was appointed the engineer of the company, to superintend and execute the work. Nine dams and locks were to be erected on the river, commencing with No. 1, at Light's mill, and descending to No. 9, at the mouth of the Conestogo. The plan of crib wall locks, located in the pools, was adopted for the purpose of preserving the timber; a plan, which, when properly executed, time and experience prove to be well suited for the navigation. The contractor commenced the dam and lock No. 1, in the summer of 1826, but from the delays incident to a work of this magnitude, and new in its formation, and from other causes, it was not finished until the close of the year 1828. On the 2d January, 1829, the engineer, Mr. Gay, in his letter to the president and managers reports the entire completion of the work from the landing of Adam

Reigart, Esq. to the junction of the Conestogo with
the Susquehanna; and that it was finished by the con-
tractor in good faith and according to the terms of his
contracts. Early in the progress of the work it was
found necessary to increase the strength of the locks in
order to resist the great pressure of the water in which
they were placed. For this alteration and for all extra
work, the company, by a supplemental agreement,
made with the contractor on the 19th March, 1827, al-
lowed him the further sum of $6573, making the whole
cost for executing the work, $59,813. It appears by
an account made by the managers on the 1st of Janua-
company, that the sum of $57,534 42 had then been
paid to C. Hammill on his contracts, leaving the balance
due to Hammill, $2278 58. But the same paper con-
tains an entry of $1560, charged to the company for
money paid to Hammill for extra work up to May, 1829,
not included in the contracts. It, therefore, appears
that the whole cost of making the work is, $61,373,
and that $2278 58 are withheld, and claimed by the
managers, from the contractor, for the defective execu-
tion of his contracts. It appears from the same exhibit
of the 1st of January, 1831, that the commissioners ex-
pended previous to the organization of the company,
in the discharge of their duty, $644 39. That $4510
were paid to the principal and assistant engineers; and
$633 to Christian Miley, for damages done his property;
and that for contingent expenses, including the cost of
the toll house at lock No. 4, $1379 53 were expended,
making the aggregate amount of $7166 92. Add this
sum to the $61,373, the amount of Hammill's contracts
and his extra allowance, and we have $68,539 92; the
apparent cost of making the Conestogo navigation.
The exact cost can only be known when the mills pur-
chased in the progress of the work, are all sold, or their
profits and value fairly estimated. These mills, Light's,
Haverstick's aud Espenshade's, were located on the
Conestogo, and it was thought best to purchase them,
and save an angry contest with the owners about the
damage their property might sustain. For Light's mill,
No. 1. purchased 4th April, 1826, $5500 were paid,
and the repairs to it cost the company $2280, making
the cost of this mill and 12 acres and 64 perches of land,
$7780. No. 2, Haverstick's mill, purchased 7th June,
1827, with 57 acres of land, cost $6800, and the repairs
to it $2880 forming the sum of $9680; and Espenshade's,
No. 3, with nine acres of land, purchased 1st January,
1828, cost $3200, making an aggregate for the three
mills, of $20,660. Place the cost of the mills to the
preceding sum of $68,539 92 and we have the sum of
89,199 92 disbursed by the company on the 1st of
January, 1829, in the prosecution of the navigation. To
this sum is to be added $8429, the cost of the repairs
and superintending the same since the 1st of January,
1829, it being an item in the exhibit of 1st January,
1831. Then we have the aggregate expenditure of
$97,628 92, for constructing and repairing the Cones-
togo navigation, from the commencement of the work
until the 1st of January, 1831, or until the ice-flood of
January, 1832. The capital stock of the company on
the 4th June, 1825, when the charter was obtained was
$40,550, the amount of 811 shares of stock. On the
3d January, 1827, two hundred and sixty-seven addition-
al shares were taken; and on the 14th May, 1829, when
the ninth lock was broken up, eighteen shares more
were subscribed; and the 30th May, to relieve the dis-
tresses of the company, and restore the navigation by
the immediate repair of the 9th lock, the corporation of
the city of Lancaster kindly stepped in and advanced
$10,000, for 200 shares of the stock. These twelye
hundred and ninety-six shares constitute the capital
stock of the company, and amount to $64,800; but of
this sum, more than $2,000, charging common interest,
remain unpaid: without interest, the balance due the
company for the stock unpaid is $1340; therefore the
stock paid up, was but $63,460, and to meet this de-

the opinion of the committee that the just debts due by the company may be fairly stated at $20,000.

No. 2. The walls of this lock but little injured. The planking is there; the gates are shattered, but not lost; the gallows frames are all removed. The dam is slightly affected. We put the cost of repairing this lock and dam, at $250.

No. 3, A beautiful lock and dam, is safe, awaiting the commerce of the river.

No. 4, Where our toll house stands, is not marked by the ice flood.

No. 5, is solid and sound.

No. 6, reposes in safety.

ficit of capital, the president and managers obtained on loan from the bank of Pennsylvania, on the 31st of January, 1827, $6,000, and to secure its payment the The committee next, in order, will report their views company gave a mortgage on mill No. 1, with the 12 of the present state of the navigation. And in disacres and 64 perches of land. And, also, on the 7th of charge of this part of their duty, they have the pleasure July, 1827, from the Farmers' Bank of Lancaster, to state to the president, managers, and stockholders, $7000, giving to the bank for security, a mortgage on that the injury sustained by our works during the last mill No. 2, and the 57 acres of land. And, again, on winter, can be repaired for $3000. The line of the the 16th of January, 1828, another loan was obtnined navigation has been often visited by your committee, from the Farmers' Bank, of $5,000, and the works and the works inspected in states of the water that afwere mortgaged to the bank to secure it: forming, to- forded a full view of the ravages of the ice flood, and gether, the sum of $18,000. Exclusive of these sums, our report is, that the Conestogo navigation may the president and managers, on their individual respon- now be pronounced a permanent work. Remember it sibility, borrowed, for the use of the company, from stands alone in the Union, for there is none like it, a the Farmers' Bank of Lancaster, $13,500, and from monument of our genius and enterprize-and rememthe Bank of Pennsylvania, $2,500, and from the trus-ber too, it stands more exposed and less injured by the tees of the Franklin College, $1000, making the sum ice and flood, than most of the lines of canal in Pennof 17,000, and the aggregate of $35,000 raised by sylvania. loans. The income of the works, more interesting to a The lock No. 1, is injured. The outside crib, or stockholder than all the rest, must be shown. The tolls wall, is razed to its foundation. The land crib is injur received in 1829, for the few weeks the navigation was ed, but not near so much as the other. The gallows open, amounted to $310 45; in 1830 they were $1485 frames are removed, and some of them gone. All the 45; and in 1831, $2243, making $4039 10. For per- gates are there, but they are removed from their posisonal property sold, consisting of mill stones, corn and tion, and therefore injured. This dam is permanent. iron, there was received $59 97. There was received The committee, after consulting with mechanics, pracfrom Lancaster county, for damages for stopping one tical men, and men of experience on the line, put of the mills, $150; and the rents of the mills have yield-down the cost of repairing this lock, at $1000. ed $3,713 03 the whole amounting to the sum of $7962 10. Therefore it appears that the capital stock of the company, paid in, of $63,460, and the loans of $35,000, and the income of the works and stock of $7,962 10, constitute an aggregate fund of $106,422 10, which has been disbursed by the president and managers in administering the affairs of the company. Here it remains for the committee to present the amount of the debts due by the company at this time. The mill No. 2, with the 57 acres of land, was sold in December, 1831, to Henry Crise, for $90.50, and the title transferred on the 17th April last. The purchase money of this mill paid off the mortgage of the Farmers' Bank, leaving a surplus of about $850, which has been applied to the payment of the interest, on the remaining loans. Mills Nos. 1 and 3 remain unsold. No. 1 stands charg-standing, but the gates and nearly all the gallows frames ed with the payment of the 6000 dollar mortgage, to the Bank of Pennsylvania, which, with the interest now due, amounts to $6,941. This mill cost the company, with the repairs, $7780. From its locality within a mile and a half from the city, and its excellent water power, it is believed by the committee it will sell for more than $8000. It is true the mill is injured by the ice-flood, but it appears from the lease made to Benjamin Hess, the present tenant, on the 3d day of March, 1832, he is to repair the wall of the mill for this year's rent. The mill No. 3, on the little Conestogo, purchased from Espenshade, at $3200, and its present state is perhaps not worth more than $1000. Therefore the The towpath for the whole line will cost, to repair it, committee estimate mill No. 1, at $8000 and No. 3, at about $150, and the bridge over Mill creek, the greater $1000. This will produce a surplus arising from mill part of that sum. This estimate, we have reason to beNo. 1, (after paying off the morgage to the Bank of lieve, will be sanctioned by contractors-men of skill Pennsylvania,) of $1059, and with the $1000 for mill and ability, who will take the repair of the works at No. 3, will leave $2059 to go in discharge of the debts these prices, and at once proceed to execute their conof the company. It appears from the account of the tracts within a reasonable time. Now after this candid, debts, with their interest now due, exhibited by the and we trust, intelligent statement of the affairs of the treasurer to the committee, the whole amount with company, and the state of our works, the question meets which the company stands charged, is $21,384 08. us, what will we do? will we abandon the Conostogo But in this exhibit, mill No. 1 does not appear. The navigation, and let it go into the hands of strangers? $6941, the amount of the mortgage money and interest, Or will we repair the work of our own hands, and leave is considered the value of it. It then appears that if the it as a rich legacy to our city, and our posterity? Your mill No. 1, be only worth the $6941, the debt will be committee advise the repair of the work, and that it be $20,384 08, mill No. 3, at $1000, being deducted prosecuted at once, and with all care and diligence. from the $21,384 08. But if the mill No. 1, shall sell And they submit to the stockholders, with great deferfor the $8000, the committee's estimate, then the liqui-ence, their views of the ways and means of meeting the dated debt due by the company at the present time will demands upon the company, and then will close this rebe $19,334 08; it may be this, and it cannot exceed port, with some remarks upon the value of our naviga$20,384 08 of fixed debt. The treasurer says there tion. are some unsettled acounts and claims against the company, but that they do not exceed $500. In fine, it is

No. 7, The gates of this lock are injured; but they can easily be repaired. Some of the gallows frames are removed. This lock and dam will cost $300.

No. 8. More injured than No. 7. The lock walls

are removed and injured, and the dam in part torn away. We place the cost of repair here, at $500.

No. 9. The unfortunate!! The crib walls of this wall are standing, after bearing all the fury of the ice of the Susquehanna last winter. The gallows frames are all gone. The planking of the cribs is in part removed, and some of the stones displaced. The gates are removed, and though all found, they are much injured. The dam is razed to the foundation, but that stands unmoved. The stones for repairing this dam, from its position, can cost but little. This lock and dam may be repaired for $800.

Our debt must be paid. The president and managers are individually bound for $15,911 94, which has gone

to the use of the company, and which remains invested in our common estate, and this day $2,413 72, a part of that sum, is due, for interest on the loan. Honor and justice alike call on us to pay off this interest at once, and in the opinion of the committee, the principal should be discharged by instalments, the company always keeping down the interest, until the principal be paid. Two thousand four hundred and thirteen dollars and seventy-two cents, for the payment of interest, and three thousand dollars for the repairs, are therefore wanted immediately. For the payment of the debt by instalments, the gentlemen who are bound, must be consulted, before the committee or the stockhoiders can speak of any arrangement as to it. But the president | and managers will pardon us for saying, that the company have a pledge of their kindness and devotion to the interests of the navigation, by the very act incurring the debt.

lands of Lancaster county, have not cost the company one dollar, nor one lawsuit for overflowing land. The bottom of the stream is a solid rock. On this rock, our dams and locks are laid, and there, we trust, they will rest forever. The plan of our work was well designed, but the execution has been in many places defective. The locks being placed in the basins, exposed to the immense pressure of eight or ten feet of water, called for all the skill of the engineer, and all the honesty of the contractor, in making them solid and strong. If science were required in the execution of the work at all, it could only be needful in the construction of the locks. Farmers and millwrights make dams and mills, and no one doubts the permanence of their works. Experience proves that the locks of the navigation are the weakest part of the work.

The ice flood of the Conestogo, has not injured a single dam. The breaking of the ice of the SusqueTo meet the demand of $5,413 72, wanted for repairs hanna into the Conestogo, removed the walls of the and the payment of interest, there are but two re- two lower dams. The company have much reason to sources. 1st. To demand and receive from the debtor complain, and do complain of the defective execution stockholders their instalments in arrear, with the in- of the locks. All our misfortunes and losses, have terest due thereon; and the committee recommend that sprung from the unskillful and careless construction of the debts due to the company be at once collected, in the locks, and from the dishonest and fraudulent execu. every case where the debtor stockholders have ability tion of the work by the contractor. The 9th lock and to pay. They have made out an account of the debt dam have cost the company more than $20,000, and and interest due and in arrear for stock; and it will ap- about one third the cost of the whole work. This dam pear from the paper marked A, that the amount due was misplaced. The rock in the middle of the creek to the company at common interest, is $2063 74, and at just above it, was the natural spot for the dam. The the penal interest fixed by the law creating the Cones- reason and common sense of us all, point to this as the togo Navigation Company, of 5 per cent, per month, site of the lower dm. This dam was left unfinished. for the delay of payment of each instalment called for, No slope or apron dam was made on the side next the the debt and interest will amount to far more. It is not Susquehanna, to guard against the ice floods of that rithe law that a delinquent stockholder has his election to ver. Our work was delivered up on the 2d January, pay, or not to pay the instalments called for by the 1829, by the engineer; and in his letter, he reports it company. Most unjust would it be, if it were so. The finished in the best manner, and that the contractor collection of the stock of every joint stock company had done his duty. In May following, a May flood in would then just depend upon the good or bad prospects the Conestogo, laid prostrate the 9th lock, and our na of the company. Each subscriber enters into an ex-vigation was broken up for a year. It appears to the press contract to pay for all the stock set opposite to committee, that the great error in the construction of his name, whensoever the company shall call for the the locks, is this: No thought was taken of the pres. money; and if he fail to pay the calls, our law, in com- sure of the ten feet of water surrounding the lock. mon with hundreds more in Pennsylvania, is peremp- Now the weight of this body of water could have been tory in charging the delinquent five per cent. per demonstrated to a pound; and the solidity of the walls month, for the delay in paying his instalments. The of the locks should have been such as to resist the imcompany have the election to forfeit his stock, or sue pending pressure. before a Justice or Alderman for the amount of the call. with the penal interest. Every man who subscribed for stock in our company took it under the very letter of the law imposing the penal interest. The law itself defines the contract and is a part of it.

The second resource of the company in its present distress, is to make a call upon all the stockholders for a small advance upon their stock. The committee believe that five dollars advanced on each share, together with the debt due by the able stockholders, would meet the present exigencies of the company. As an auxiliary means of raising money at the present moment, the committee beg to suggest this measure: Let our friends, the lumber and coal merchants, the farmers, and millers, and distillers, and all those who use and trade upon the Conestogo. be called upon and asked to subscribe as much as they may deem proper to aid in the repair of the navigation; the money advanced to be taken by the company as a loan, and repaid by the tolls accruing on the business of these gentlemen. This suggestion is made from the fact of many persons residing along the Susquehanna, and the Conestogo, offering donations to the company, for the purpose of assisting us in the repairing of the works.

Your committee advise the repair of the work. Let us appeal to your interest, by showing the value of our common estate. Nature ordered your river for the navigation you have made. The stream no where exceeds two hundred feet in width. Its banks are bluff to the waters edge. There is no alluvial land. The nine dams extending sixteen miles through the rich VOL. X.

8

In the winter of 1829-30, Joshua Scott, Esq. our Lancaster engineer, was placed on the line, and from his labors, and his report, the committee perceive that the locks are the infirm part of our works.

In the opinion of the committee, Mr. Scott has finished the Conestogo navigation. He improved the locks from No. 3, to No. 9, inclusive; and to his skill, and to his labors we are indebted for the present safety of the navigation. He has given us a system for im proving, and it is simply to strengthen our locks: to guard against the collateral pressure of the water.

The ice flood has done us harm-but like every other dispensation, it is mingled with consolation. Our works have been proved. They have resisted the rage of the destroying elements of the last winter. When repaired on the same foundation, with all the lights of dear bought experience, we may reasonably rely upon the permanence of the Conestoga navigation. When the work shall be again repaired, the committee recommend that a millwright, and blacksmith, be employed for the service of the company. The millwright to reside with his shop at our toll house, at the fourth lock, and the smith there, or at some other central spot on the line. That the company provide its own timber and iron, and that our mechanics have every material for repairing the locks, always ready for use. That the millwright shall have charge of the whole line, and superintend its good order. Seasoned timber on the spot, is an indispensable material. For the successful prosecution and permanence of our works, we must in times of prosperity and repose, lay up stores of material.