Beaver creek," or rather river, up that stream and Shenango creek thirty miles and two hundred and forty perches, terminating in Mercer county. It has eight miles and one hundred perches of canal, and twenty-two miles and one hundred and forty perches of slackwater, made by seven dams. There will be eighteen lift and guard locks on this line, which, for size and quality of stone, and for solidity and beauty of masonry, are not surpassed by any locks that the Board have ever seen. This line has progressed steadily since the appropriation of the sixteenth of February last, and it is expected that, from New Castle to Beaver, the canal will be ready for navigation before the setting in of winter. for navigation. This division of the public improve- By the act of the twenty-seventh March, 1833, the Canal Commissioners were required to have a towing path constructed along the pool of the dam in Shenan-guard-locks, on the line. go creek, six miles of which were put under contract, and the grubbing on it has been done: but for want of funds, this towing path, and the dam in the Shenango, and also a guard lock at New Castle and all the lock houses had to be suspended. The additional appropriation required to complete the Beaver division, arises from the Shenango towingpath, the guard lock at New Castle, and other indispensable work on the line not embraced in last year's estimate; also from an increased expense in removing quicksands and hill slips, and in repairing damages done by a flood in September last, which seriously injured two dams, and partially injured some other works, which, at the time, were in an unfinished and unprotected condition. The suspended work can all be completed during the next season. Statement of the Funds appropriated to the Beaver Di vision. Amount available of appropriations of 1831 and 1832 $222,421 26 4,660 39 Appropriation of the 16th February, 1833 197,159 97 Pro rata deduction under act of 11th June, 1832, refunded The last year's appropriation to this division is exhausted; and a dam near the head of the feeder, a towing path along the pool of the dam, and many other jobs of work on the division, have been suspended until another season, for want of funds. The increased expense of the line over the last year's estimate, is owing to an inadvertent omission in providing for contingent expenses; to several new works having been added; to damages done by a flood in September last, and other unforeseen difficulties in construction; to additional strength given to the work; and above all, to re-lettings, by which a large amount of work advanced in price forty per cent. over the contract prices of last year. The main stem of the division will be navigable next Statement of the Funds appropriated to the Franklin line 1831 and 1832 Pro rata deduction under act of ele- $181,145 39 $424,241 62 4,022 92 162,991 98 $348,160 29 302,783 93 Balance on the 31st October, 1833 which was four miles and fifty-six perches long; but as another site for building a feeder dam presented itself, near Dunnstown, two miles and two hundred and sixteen perches below Smith's ripples, the question of a final location was left open for further examination, and only one and a half miles of the feeder, at its lower end, was put under contract. hundred and thirteen perches long, with forty-three feet of lockage, but that expectation has been disappointed in consequence of a scarcity of labourers. There are on this line,several sections requiring either deep excavation through rock, or heavy outside protection walls to be built, and consequently a large force was necessary on those jobs, that could not be obtained in that neighborhood. Much difficulty was experienced in sinking the pit and getting in the foundation of an outlet lock at the mouth of Solomon's creek, and the site of the feeder dam in the Lackawanna creek had to be changed, on account of a quick-ny respects, much more eligible than the one at Smith's sand. These several obstacles are nearly surmounted, and it is believed that the canal will be ready for navigation early next spring. Statement of the Funds appropriated to the Wyoming Line. $167,136 76 Such was the situation of this part of the line, at the date of our last report: Further examinations were made last winter and spring, which resulted in a conviction, that the site for a feeder dam at Dunnstown was, in maripples. At the latter place, the river is very narrow, and the dam would rest on a gravel bottom; both of which circumstances are decidedly objectionable: while at the former place, the river is wide, and a part of its bottom is solid rock. Another important consideration was, that the Dunnstown site would insure a better supply of water on the lower levels, by shortening the length of the feeder. The difficulties that had been experienced by the river trade, at the chutes of the Muncy, Shamokin, and Nanticoke dams, made the Board anxious to have the one at the feeder dam constructed in the best manner, which could be done with entire safety to the descending river trade on the smooth solid $284,892 85 rock at Dunnstown,but could not be done with so much certainty on the gravel bottom at Smith's ripples. These reasons, of themselves sufficient to convince the Board of the superiority of the Dunnstown site for the dam, were still further strengthened by a comparative estimate of the engineer, which proved that twentyseven thousand nine hundred and two dollars and fortythree cents, would be saved by its adoption. 2,553 63 115,202 46 227,041 18 Balance on hand October thirty-one, 1833 $57,851 67 There is due, for retained per centage 12,488 16 Estimated cost of work to be Lycoming Line of the West Branch Division. The West Branch division of the Pennsylvania canal, extends from the junction of the Susquehanna and North Branch divisions at Northumberland, seventytwo miles, to the base of the Allegheny mountain, and with the Lewisburg and Bald Eagle side cuts, will give seventy-six and one-fourth miles of navigation. The first twenty-four miles of the division are called the Muncy Line, and the upper forty-seven and a half miles, the Lycoming Line. Twenty-six and a half miles are navigable; forty-five and three-fourths miles (including the two side cuts) are under contract, and four miles of towing-path along the pool of the feeder dam, are not under contract. The feeder dam is eight hundred and fifty-two feet long and eleven and a half feet high above low water mark. It is built of crib work, filled with stone, and has a base of seventy-eight feet, and fifty feet of gravelling, thus making the entire base of the dam one hundred and twenty-eight feet. The chute is twelve hundred and eight feet long and thirty feet wide, constructed in the most substantial manner. The dam and chute will both be completed by the first day of next January, The feeder dam affords slackwater to the vicinity of the bituminous coal region, where large preparations are now making for the transportation of that mineral upon the canal. It is estimated that thirty-three thousand nine hundred and eighty-one dollars, would be sufficient to construct a towing-path along the slackwater of this dam. This would add four miles to the navigation, and be greatly to the advantage of the coal trade. This sum of thirty-three thousand nine hundred and eighty-one dollars is not included in the estimate for completing the Lycoming line. The engineer of the line was directed to make a survey and an estimate of the cost of connecting the Lycoming line with the Bald Eagle creek, at its mouth, and also to connect the creek and the canal above the Great Island. The latter connection was found to be the cheapest, and it possessed many advantages over the former, which induced the Board to adopt the present location and put the work under contract. It is nearly completed. This side cut commences in Centre county, by a dam four and a half feet high in the Bald Eagle creek, where there is also a guard lock, and it ter The Lewisburg side cut, which is two hundred perches long, branches from the Muncy line six miles above Northumberland. It has a dam in the West Branch,minates in the pool of the feeder dam, by a lock of two and a half feet high, and three lift locks, overcoming twenty-one feet of lockage. This short but useful inlet to the canal, is completed, except a small towingpath bridge and a lock-house. The Lycoming Line, as originally planned in 1831, for the purpose of creating slackwater, was to have six dams in the river, embracing a large one at the head of the line located opposite the Great Island. Early in 1832, before any work was done at the dams, they were suspended, and an independent canal was substituted instead of slackwater; and subsequently, a feeder was located, to be taken from the river at Smith's ripples, eight feet lift. It is three miles and two hundred and eight perches long, and will be an invaluable improvement. There are fourteen guard and lift locks, overcoming ninety feet of lockage, between the pool of Muncy dam and the head of the Bald Eagle side cut, and seven aqueducts, the aggregate length of their trunks is one thousand and forty-two feet. Although the country through which the Lycoming line passes, is generally favorable for the construction of the canal, yet there are many heavy and expensive jobs on the line, such as rams, chutes, aqueducts, deep 37,491 98 1832 77,871 24 35,226 28 Balance on hand October thirty-one, 1833 excavations,rocky bluffs and high protection walls; and Disbursed in 1831 From Loyalsock feeder downwards, about fourteen miles may be finished by the first of July, and the remainder of the line can be completed by the first of September, 1834. Statement of the Funds of the Lycoming Line, and Lewisburg and Bald Eagle side cuts. Amount available of appropriations of 1831 and 1832 The whole amount paid, is, Per centage retained and work to be Whole cost of eight miles and two hun- 150,589 50 $15,160 80 15,000 00 60 80 150,589 50 15,100 00 $165,689 50 A Statement of the Funds appropriated to the Franks- Amount available 724,129 59 Pro rata deduction, under act of eleventh $380,784 40 Pro rata deduction under the act of ele. 24,259 56 32,712 14 Appropriation of the sixteenth of February, 1833 6,639 46 556,980 31 1833 125,453 09 $857,431 76 761,758 78 Balance on hand, October thirty-one, 1833 $151,423 29 Excess of appropriations $342 59 The whole amount paid, is Estimated cost of completing Whole cost on the Frankstown line the work 391,271 40 452,572 37 Deduct the above balance 151,423 29 Length of the Frankstown line 761,758 78 18,999 92 $780,758 70 Miles. Perhes. 38 154 Amount required to complete the division $301,149 08 Whole amount paid, is Whole length miles, 706,008 47 Per centage retained and work to be done Damages. 452,572 37 Cost when completed The following sums have been paid within the last year, upon the several divisions, for damages: $1,158,580 84 Columbia railway Miles. Perches. Western division $8,152 00 9,919 50 Beaver division Bald Eagle side cut 3 Lewisburg side cut 208 The Columbia line of the Eastern division, and the Frankstown line of the Juniata division were both filled with water last fall, subsequently to the date of our last report. A number of jobs on those lines, which at that time were in progress have been completed. Several contracts on the Columbia line are yet unfinished. The following is a statement of the funds appropriated to those lines and of their cost. Statement of the Funds appropriated to 8 miles and 227 Pro rata deduction under act of eleventh 127,445 69 2,469 36 35,835 25 $165,750 30 The counsel of the Commonwealth were directed by the Board, previous to the argument of the cause pending in the Supreme court for damages upon the Eastern division, to offer to the respective claimants, as a compromise, the same sums which had been offered to them by the resolution of the Board of the twenty-fifth of September, 1830. Offers of compromise were also directed to be made, with one exception, to the other claimants, in causes pending in the Supreme court at Lancaster and at Sunbury. The offers of the compromise made, in the cause pending at Sunbury, were accepted; they have since been paid, and satisfaction is entered. Neither of the offers of compromise, to claimants upon the Eastern division, were accepted. The 133 68 122 25 16,726 80 1,870 91 5,595 00 17,517 96 1,050 00 the Portage railway, is for the next causes were argued before the Supreme court at Lan- A Statement of the sums appropriated and applicable to same Columbia railway Sums appropri'd. Sums required. $2,402,100 36 nango towing-path Franklin line and north 424,241 62 and west ends feeder Wyoming line and Lackawanna feeder 348,160 29 284,892 85 857,431 76 used as the motive power on the le- Six locomotive engines for the Colum bia railway, watering places, depots, $41,666 50 18,732 50 10,000 00 51,000 00 No estimate has been made of the expense of working the locomotive engines. Before closing this report, the Board wish to call the attention of the Legislature to the propriety of authorizing the construction of locks, to connect the Susque-. hanna river with the canal at Bitner's, on the Susquehanna division, so as to afford an inlet to the coal that is carried on the Lykens Valley railway; and on the 301,149 08 Columbia line, opposite to the works of the Codo rus Navigation Company, that a large portion of the citizens of York county may participate more fully in the benefits of the State improvement; and also at Harrisburg, for the convenience of the citizens of Cumberland county: $1,640,672 00 The legislative provisions in relation to the Columbia, Chicques and Marietta road, the road on sections eighty-eight and eighty-nine of the North Branch division, and the abutments of the French creek feeder dam at Bemus' mill, have been severally acted on by the 100,000 00 Board. Statement of the property conveyed on the Pennsylvania Canal and Railway during the year ending of 31st Oc COLLECTORS' Philadelphia, Statement of property conveyed in Pennsylvania canal and railway, continued. Lard& Tallow Salt. Provisions. Wool Cotton. Hemp. Tobacco. Leather, &c Furs, &c Pounds. Bushels. Pounds. Pounds. Pounds. Pou'ds Pounds. Pounds. Pouuds. 이 409034 4795 16340 500 Blairsville, COLLECTORS' 18,907 44,039 1,437,145'309,998 47,414 38,436 384,590 352,796 560 Whiskey. Domestic For.Liquor. Merchan- Oil Gyp- Furni-Win'w Rags. |