ME DOLLAR PER ANNUM, INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.
TOWANDA:
Satnrbun fUorninn, /ebrnarn 18, 1838.
REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT
OF THE
NORTH BRANCII CANAL,
TO THE
CANAL COMMISSIONERS.
WII.KKS-B.ARRE, January 12, 1856.
To Oif Board of Canal CommUtiontrt :
(i kn'ti.kmkx : —For a statement of the ex
penditures made to the close of the year end
ing November 80, 1855, and the amount re
quired for the year ending November 30,1850,
vou are referred to the accompanying statement
marked A.
The North Branch extension, Pennsylvania
canal, extends from Pitts ton to the New York
State line, a distance of 94 19-100 miles, fol
lowing the valley of the Susquehanna to
Athens, and thence along the Chemung to the
State line. Here it joins the Junction canal,
mid by it is connected with the New York im
jirovements.
The work was commenced in 1836, suspend
ed in IH4I, resumed in 1849, and rej>orted
complete in cnnnl reports of December, 1853.
The mechanical structures consist of three dams,
three guard-locks, twenty-three lift-locks, two
guard-gates, twenty-one aqueducts, sixteen
waste-weirs, forty-sx culverts, and ninety pub
lie and farm bridges. The accompanying ta
ble-, marked B. f give the locution of the aque
ducts, locks, and of the most importaut places
on the line of canal.
In its course from Pittston to the State line,
tli- North Branch of the Susquehanna river
nit- the A llegheny range of mountains to the
base, ami its valley probably presents more
geological and topographical difficulties than
have been encountered by any other canal in
lYiinsvlvania, and perhaps in the Union. For
one-third of the distance the canal is construc
ted at the base of mountains ; most of the re
maining distance, except where streams are
crossed, the river bottom or flat is very uar
im\v, ami rises iu a series of benches and with
a rapid slope, generally attaining an elevation
of from two to six hundred feet in less than a
mile from the river.
Strata of clean gravel, alternating with sand
and sometimes covered with a layer Of sandy
mam, is the characteristic of the valleys. Be
low the dam. at Horse Race, for about two
miles, the gravel is not encountered, and is
the only case for an equal distance on the en
tire line.
PLAN OK CAX.Ua.
Through the narrows or points, where the
river run.- along the cuds of the iuouutains,tlie
plan of canal was to throw down the loose
rock, lying at the base of the mountain, aud !
excavate from the solid rock any additional !
amount required to form a bench in the river,
of the requisite width, to support the canal,
and in some instances the rock was cut back
-iifficieiitlv to receive the public road on the
'crine. lhc outer bank was protected, against
'he action of floods, by a heavy slope wall. i
The lining, t< retain the water, was iu tended
;o be composed of selected earth from the de
oni|osed rock found at the base and on the
l-'iichcs of the mountain. This material, unless
arcfully selected, is entirely unfit for the ob
t contemplated, as experience, in the at
fuupts to open the caual, has too clearly de- 1
uiuii.-'trated. In {<faccs where no earth or de- j
'iu|rt>sod rock was left, after forming the
I' -iii of canal, lining was hauled from the flats
•"ij'ntiiiig. In this way the solid rock forms
'mm uiic-tourtli to one-half of the bottom un
ivr the lining, with many seams and crevices,
v hile the quarried and loose rock make up the
remaining portion, and, in some cases, the eu- ,
're Amount below the lining iscomposedof this
broken rubbish.
t hi introducing the water into the rock sec
•WS it filtered through the lining, when ob
;'!'fl from the narrows ; and whcu made from
y siiuly loam, borrowed front the flats, it was
'tred by the water through the interstices
•liiong the quarried and loose rock, and breaks
leaks were the consequence. Breaks in
portions of the canal were caused, in ma
• "stances, by the rains, and in some cases
- ended through the entire length of tkcuar-
After passing through the rolid rock in the
i : " w \ and generally at their extremities,
y the material was composed of earth min
*"'* *ith loose roek, and sometimes of a de
'"f gravel, it was supposed the natural
i;al w-'Mihl answer without liuing. Here,
•" 'Ay, it has been found that the natural ca
'" ami water passages have l>een undisturb
-1 u|kii the introduction of water have
• 1 "ted a jierfect system of subterraneous
•• with a constant disposition toformdan
■ ''reaches. At several points there was
' ■ rr,J,v flat where a tow-path was built and
water allowed to spread back to the hill
•'untain, where it finds a subterranean pas
i roogli the loose mass of material to the
..r<.r
the flats, the plan of the work, as
out, was in thorough cuts to depend
."J' '" e material in place without lining, and
■ riJn ' , l,ls a " ( l tills, making use the material
f 't ie adjacent cuts for forming the prism
a ; " ,,>sl instances without refer
-5,,,. 'election for lining ; but depending
"f'ng puddle ditches and the taking off
„, H "i w '!- ,o table matter on the snrface, when
li , I,anks - cut off leakage.
. ,n y instances both mucking and puddle
Hi V ( '' s l ,(,nse d with, as is evident from
V'lh-VT surface, ovcrflow
n'l j'' iU|, l damaging the crops adjacent;
ni,)!,. ' )l " p I'luces. where both mucking and
, r )' itching were probably carried out, the
s, "! k "'rough the jtervious strata at
""1 following it to the river, or until
" runs out to the surface or is
i : <lvt an impervious nature, makes
THE BRADFORD REPORTER.
v ,xa K jn *& 4*. A j Wl K? fmto&d tamu&t mL • * jntr ,-m i ''"ifl " **f -
its appearance at some distance from the canal,
forming ponds in the hollow of the fields.
This shows the uecessity for drains for the
protection of the farmer, whickhave been made
so far as the work of last season would admit.
Justice would seem to award this to the man
who has suffered so long the inconveniences
and damages from the exposure of his crops,
aud his farm cnt up without experiencing as yet
any of the expected advantages arising from
the completion of the canal.
At frequent points iu the excavation through
the flats, veiDs of water were opened sufficient
ly powerful to spread over the canal bottom
for considerable distances, and giving it the ap
pearance of holding ; but when an additional
I quantity was introduced, the pressure forced
the water into tlie original channel, produciug
leakage even when at considerable distances
from the river.
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES.
The water-way of the aqueducts and culverts
is ample and capacious ; the masonry and foun
dations of the most substantial kind.
The aqueduct superstructures show many de
viations from the plan and specifications as to
the size and quality of timber, aud in most in
stances of unfaithfulness or want of knowledge
of the assistant engineers, who inspected the
material; of the carpenter who put iu the sheet
piling, or of the foreman who superintended
the puddling. In a majority of instances, fail
ures in the sheet piling and puddling have oc
curred, caused frequently by the rains, and
consequently have involved serious expense and
delay for repairs. Several failures had occur
red in the puddling before I took charge of
the work.
The bottom and sides were to have l>een
lined with a single coarse of jointed and sea
soned plank. The hurried manner in which
the work was executed, made it necessary to
use unseasoned plank, aud thes shrinking by
exposure to the suu, left the crevices so large
1 that it has been necessary, in most cases,to rc
liue with boards.
A breach has occurred in the south span of
Tunkbannock aqueduct, caused by the break
ing of the floor beams in the middle of the
' span, and for one-third of its length, the water
at the time wanting seven inches to run over
| the trunk. At the time it was being construc
ted this span was carried from the false works
by a flood, aud in the hurry of re-building, de
fective timber lias been used. Some of the
aqueducts will require considerable repairs to
make thcin answer the desired purpose.
WASTE-WEIRS.
The remarks with reference to planking,
sheet piling and puddling, applied to aqueducts,
will also apply to waste-weirs. Three new ones
have been constructed the past season, at points
where accidents hod occurred, because of no
means of discharging the surplus water, and
additional gates inserted in others, so that in
case of accident, the water cuu be suddenly
drawn from the canal, thus reducing the lia
bility to heavy breaks.
LOCKS.
At Athens and Towanda the guard locks
are of cut stone laid in cement. The remain
ing are of the composite kind, with dry stone
walls lined with a single course of jointed plank.
Shrinkage of the plank had allowed the water
to pass through the spaces and wash out tlie
material from the rear of the walls, rendering
caulking with oakum or lining with boards ne
cessary in most cases.
The hanging of the gates and valves, or
wickets, the rejwnrs to those on the Tioga line,
that were completed before the susj>ension in
1841, the puddling and the feeders or water
ways around the locks, show the same want of
care iu superintending and defect in material,
as was manifested in the construction of the
aqueducts.
With the exception of the out lets at Pitts
ton and Meshoppen, where the foundations
have yielded, the masonry seems to be sustau
tial. The former being a quicksand founda
tion, has required considerable repairs, which
could uot be completed while the water was in
the Wyoming line of the Lower North Branch.
Several of the water-ways will require re-build
ing, having been undermined by the leakage of
the water through thein. Three of the locks
will require a liniug of boards.
DAMS.
The dams have a flat lower slope, which pre
vents their undermining froin the reaction of
the water, thus eusuring their stability, and
when the angle or corners adjoining the abut
ments are once secured with cribbing, the usu
al repairs for gravelling, and the wear of the
timber, will be ail that is required.
MILES.
I>ain No. 1, located at Athens, sup
plies the canal with water from
the Chemung to the pool of Tow
anda dam 13 31-100
Dam No. 2, located at Towanda, is
intended to feed the canal to the
pool of Horse Race dam - - 38
Dam N'o. 3, is located at Horse Race,
is to furnish the supply until it joius
the Lower N. Brauch at I'ittston 32 0-10
CONDITION OF CANAL AND REPAIRS.
When the canal was suspended in 1841,
thirty-two and one-half miles were completed,
most of the remainder under contract and in
different stages of progress. Siucc this time,
these finished sections have been exposed to
the action of frost, expanding the mass, thus
giving a free circulation of air through the
pores, by which the vegetable matter was de
stroyed, while the rains have washed away the
finer particles of earth from the liuing of the
sections through the narrows into the coarse
material below. The gravel sections have al
so been rendered porous by the same means.
The water being admitted in either case,would
make a breach or wash away the residue of
earthy matter, and leave only a stone pile re
maining.
Similar difficulties have been experience in
the works of an adjoining State, as will be
seen by the following extract from the rcjmrt
of J. B. Stillson, engineer and surveyor of
Ccncaacc Vallcv canal, Jan., !802. feet Re*
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY AT TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. O'MEARA GOODRICH.
" REGARDLESS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANY QUARTER."
port of New York State Engineer and Sur
veyor, page 188.
" The great number of failures in the old
banks of the canal that have occurred the past
season, show conclusively that old banks are
less safe than new ones. Banks annually us
ed and made impervious by sedimentary mat
ter drawn into and deposited as a lining on
the face and bottom, will undoubtedly become
more and more safe, but when left to the ac
tion of rains and frosts for several years, be
come porous aud unsafe, and abound with cav
ities where the vegetable matter in the soil has
decayed.
" Nine years have proved sufficient time to
work great changes in the solidity and com
pactness of the old banks. It is, therefore,
recommended in all cases where the old banks
are found, to remove the sod to the outside,
and plough and comminute thoroughly, to the
depth of twelve to eighteen inches, the mate
rial over the bottom and up the slope of the
prism. This will be found indispensable to
safety. The heavy breaks that have occurred
since the opening of navigation last spring,
were exclusively through the old banks, and
uniformly disclosed a loose condition of the
material."
Like results are found in old mill races, and
it is confidently believed that the same would
be exhibited, if water should be excluded for
a few years from any of the old aud establish
ed lines of canal.
The short time that elapsed after my ap
pointment in the fall of 1854, before the set
ting in of winter, and the pressing duties that
devolved upon me, made it necessary to rely,
in a great measure, on the information obtain
ed of those who had charge of the line, aud of
the foreman who had the season to make ob
servations, and who had been superintending
the repairs, for the condition in whichtbe work
was at that time.
They supposed the leakage in the narrows
or rock sections confined to a few points, gen
erally well defiued, and sufficient to account
for the disappearance of the water.
In the *' light sections," where the cutting
had exposed strata of coarse gravel, in some
instances of cobble stone and clean river gravel,
it was evident that unless these were removed
and finer material used, that the water would
continue to follow the line of natural drainage
of the country, as it had done for centuries,
and as it obviously did when the experiment
was made by introducing the water, aud as
was realized at every rain storm.
In making the repairs the past season,
every known expedient has been brought into
requisition, us the peculiar features of the case
demanded. But in general, the tediousness,
expense aud unreliability of over hauling with
11 pick and shovel," or cxcacatiug from the bot
tom and side replacing with uew material,
made it necessary to adopt some more expedi
tious aud economical plan.
Accordingly, a force was employed at every
point where water could be introduced from
small streams, and wherever the nature of the
material would require and it could be execut
ed, the ground was ploughed, and the stone
and coarse material exposed iu the furrows, or
brought to the surface by the frequent appli
cation of the harrow, collected by rakes and
removed outside of the prism of caual. In
this way the exceptionable portion of the ma
terial only was removed, and that inore care
fully selected substituted, and room left by the
removal of the coarse material for an addition
al quantity of lining, if found necessary. A
heavy cast iron roller was applied both before
aud after the admission of water, for the pur
pose of compression, instead of the usual mode
with commanders. It was supposed that the
lining was such, that by overhauling the sur
face in this way, leaks would be exposed and
the finer material left would be sufficient to
render that below im;>ervious. Tue rains
showed the porous character of the material
such, that it was afterwards found necessary,
in most cases, to move it to a greater depth,
both in the narrows and light sections, where
gravel occurred, than had been contemplated,
thereby causing unexpected delay and expense.
MECHANICAL ACTION OK WATER ON EARTH.
The idea has been frequently advanced and
reiterated, generally by those who had been
engaged in the construction of the most drfce
ll vc portions of this canal, and who in addition
to their experience on this, claimed knowledge
gained on works for a similar purpose, " that
all that was necessary to form a good and
perfectly tight canal, was to allow the water
to puss into it, particularly whcu in a muddy
or riley condition from freshets ; that the earth
then carried forward in solution would be de
posited in sufficient quantities to prevent leak
age.'' Unfortunately for the theory, it would
only apply to the viciuity of the dams on the
feeder levels, as the current is not sufficient to
carry the sediment but a short distance, leav
ing the remainiug places to be stopped by other
means.
Soil being constituted of decomposed rock
and broken down vegetable tissue, comprising
particles all shapes and sizes, from stone and
gravel to the finest jmwder, these particles, in
a state of nature, resting upon and agaiust
one auother, form a system of irregular cavi
ties or arches. But upon being broken up or
moved, a portion of the vegetable matter pas
ses off in the form of gases ; and when in this
pulverized condition, if water is kept in con
tact it percolates through the mass, displaces
or destroys the adhesiou of the particles, and
gradually brings them into a smaller space,
while, the solvent property of the water redu
ces the portion in immediate contact, or the
external surface into the state of thin paste,
which is drawn into the mass by the j>ercola
tion of the water or capillary attraction, until
the external pores become clogged or imper
vious, according to the character of the mate
rial used.
This process is gradual and slow in its ope
ration, dependiug for its rapidity upon the
character and situation of the materials.
But if weight is applied, the soil will be
compressed iu quickness and amount, in pro
}>ortion to the quantity of material and to the
weight. This is the operation of puddling ;
and for the purpose of compression, railioudv
and other banks are formed in layers. This
happens also when a head of water is main
tained iu the canal. Tlie roller has been used,
because it produces the same results in a shor
ter time. By applying it before the admission
of water, it crushes the particles near the sur
face, aud afterwards, wheu water has been in
troduced aud has penetrated the mass, ren
dering the crushed surface a paste, the roller
then, from its weight being greater than the
full head of water- must produce a propor
tionably greater compactness. The results,
from the practical operation of this plau, have
reailized all that theory would claim.
So long as pressure is constantly renewed,
the mass will be kept in its compact state ;
but if it is removed for a loug period, and ex
posed to the frosts of whiter, the earth is again
brought back to a porous condition, and the
sooner if in u thin layer like the liniug of a
canal, or in banks where a greater amouut of
surface exists on which to operate.
It is on the theory of the porosity of soils
that the subject of under-ground drainage is
founded. Even in clay soils, tiles buried to
i the depth of three feet afford draiuage ; filters
j composed of layers of sand and gravel to the
| depth of six feet, afford supplies of water for
large cities; the reservoir of Nottingham,
England, is excavated at a distance of oue
hundred and fifty feet from the river Trent,
yet receives its supply by percolation of the
river water. The practice of ballasting rail
roads, and the whole theory of wells and springs,
rest upon it, and the instances are not wanting
wherein old and well established canal leaks
can be found that have existed for years, aud
show no signs of stopping. Can it therefore
be reasonably expected, that in a work of such
long standing, a lining of three feet, resting on
a bed of loose rock or a cut through strata of
cobble stoue or gravel, will now become im
pervious to water, unless carefully selected and
presenting the smallest amount of pores ?
DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED IN MAKING REPAIRS.
Several times during the winter, aud early
iu the spring, attempts were made to organize
a force for the commencement of repairs, but
the unusual character of the winter, and late
opening of spring, prevented the beginniug of
effective work until April. The frost had
penetrated un unusual depth, and owing to
the repeated freezing aud thawing, and the
continued rains during the season, an immense
i amount of bars and slides had to be removed.
The slides and breaches have cost eighteen
thousand and eighteen dollars, exclusive of
Aiamages to the mechanical work.
Besides this, the alternative presented itself
of working to disadvantage in the mud aud
water produced by the rains, and in the feeder
level by the floods, or disbanding the forces.—
The result has been that much of the work
cost more than double what it would have
done under ordinary circumstances.
SCARCITY OF LABOR.
The line having been represented as finish
ed, the laboring force had left for other works,
and the shanties had been demolished. The
late opening of spring, and the rainy season,
had confined the time for work of those engag
ed in agriculture to so short a period, that suf
ficient assistance from that quarter could not
be derived.
The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western,
and the upper jiortiou of the Lackawanna and
Bloonisburg railroads were rapidly approach
ing completion, an advance of prices to the con
tractors in many instances depending on the
completion of their work within a given peri
od, the construction of new colleries aud later
al roads in the coal regions, and the building
of a railroad from Towanda to the coal mines
of the Barclay coal company, all created a de
mand for lalxir, making it exceedingly diffi
cult to obtain hands at the proper time, and
much more so to obtain the proper product of
labor.
To the high prices of provisions caused by
the failure of the crops, was added the necessi
ty of procuring supplies from the State of New
York and I'ittston Shanties were erected at
suitable points, yet much difficulty was expe
rienced in obtaining board for the men—preven
ting the employment of large forces at some
points where it would have been desirable.—
The lock-houses could not always be rendered
available, since there had been no settled ar
rangement with the landholders for the lock
house lots. The promise of payment not be
ing complied with, they, in some cases, unwil
ling to give up jwssession, and the tenants oc
cupying the houses, would not consent to board
hands. -
Another difficulty was to secure experienced
foremen. Those who had been employed in
introducing the water into other canals, were
engaged in other pursuits, aud could not be
obtained for the compensation allowed by law.
Higher rates are paid by contractors, and ex
perienced men will not work for the State at
the same compensation as for individuals, be
cause of the uncertainty attaching to their po
sition, and the aunoyauccs to which they arc
compelled to submit.
To this should he added the fact that in ma
ny eases it was found necessary to do a large
amount of work where but little was anticipa
ted. One case may be cited :—Below Horse
Race dam repairs were found necessary, which
consumed most of the season, and an exjiendi
ture of over teu thousand dollars, which, if the
supposition of those who had had it in charge
were correct as to its condition, not one-fourth
of this sum would have bceu required.
Although the difficulties that have delayed
the opening of the canal belong more particu
larly to the formation aud material through
which it passes, it is useless to deny the fact,
that there arc numerous defects in construc
tion, most of which may be attributed to mis
taken, but perha|>s laudable, notions of econo
my that prevail in regard to the accessary
corps of engineers aud superintendents re
quired to ensure the proper construction of the
canal.
There lias been a constant change of assis
tants on the line, many of whom, on account
of increased salaries, have cugaged in the ser
vice of companies. At no time *vas there more
than suft'cicut corp. • than -a as
necessary, to have cdrefuliy measured and esti
mated the work, while to have ensured a pro
per quautity and quality of material, there
should have been, particularly in the rock sec
tions, while the lining was being put on, an
experienced and faithful superintendent on each
section. In this way alone could have been
prevented improper construction by contractors,
whose object ami policy was profit, without re
ference to the quality of the work. This wonld
have prevented lining, variously intermixed
with stone ; drains left remaining which had
been constructed to carry off the water, brought
in by rains and rivulets; the burying of the
remains of sliauty foundations, stables, ovens,
and even horses in the lining and embank
ments.
Where such superintendents conld have been
obtained, would perhaps have been a difficult
question. The sworn assistants of the chief
engineer were in all extses to require the pud
dle ditches and mucking to be kept iu advance
of the work, and the level and tape applied
throughout the sections before making the fi
nal estimate of the work ; yet numerous cases
exist where tlie prism of canal was not cut
down to bottom, or the required width, where
the solid and quarried rock eame nearly to ca
nal bottom, aud where the mucking and pud
dle ditches, under banks, conld not have been
performed, as the overflowing ditches at the
base of the banks, or the destroyed crops of
the farmer will testify.
PASSING THE WATER THROUGH THE CANAL.
In passing over the canal in the latter part
of October, 1854, I found the gates of Athens
lock wide open, aud the whole Chemung river,
so far as it could be controlled by the dam,
passing through the upper level; and at the
first lock below the dam, all the wickets aud
the water-way were open to supply the re
maining six and four-tenths miles of canal be
low.
At Towanda there was about six ami one
half feet of water on the mitre sill, and thence
the water gradually diminished from leakage
and filtration until it disappeared in the vicini
ty of Wyalusing creek, niueteeu and one-fourth
miles from the dam. It had previously been
to the public bridge across the canal," three
fourths of a mile lower down. The water had
been repeatedly withdrawu for repairs of small
breaks, which acre constantly occurring, and
each succeeding attempt resulted in the falling
back of the water. The cause is now evident ;
the longer the water was applied the greater
the quantity of material washed out from the
lining into the coarse material beneath, for the
reasons before given ; and it is evident that
with the same plau pursued for years, the canal
could not be filled until most of the i>orous ma
terial should be removed.
At Horse Race dam the depth of water on
the mitre sill of the lock was six and one-half
feet, and terminated at the Osterhout narrows,
sixteen and one-half miles below. It was again
introduced from the Buttermilk Fulls creek,
and passed through that level until it termina
ted by a subterranean passage in Townsend's
creek, covering a distance of about four miles.
THE PRESENT SEASON*.
The continued rains and slides during the
past season, prevented the necessary* repairs to
that portion of the canal above Towanda !>cing
made for the admission of water until early in
August. It was maintained in uavigable order
to the close of the season without any breaches.
From Towanda dam the water was ]>assed
to Laccyrille, thirty miles, and from thence to
Meshoppen, by means of the Tnscarora feeder.
The levels could have been filled up to four
feet to the lock below Browntown. From
Horse Race dam the water extended to the
narrows above Gardiner's ferry, leaving a space
of over one mile before reaching Gardiner's
Creek feeder, from which point it was carried
to its junction with the Wyoming line.
Various circumstances prevented the filling
of the levels. Symptoms of a break at the cul
vert below the lock at the head of Osterhout's
level, prevented putting in more than two feet
and sax inches of water. The falls level, in
consequence of the breaches recently repaired
in the Roberts narrows, was not allowed to
carry more than the same depth of water. It
was imjKJSsible to fill Falling Sftring level, be- !
cause of the subterranean passages existing in 1
the first mile above the Lackawanna aequeduct. j
In the repairs ou this canal, 1 have only had
in view the ojiening far successful navigation
with full loaded boats as speedily and eertaiuly
as the character of the work and the difficul
ties encountered would permit ; and if the same
system of repairs are pursued for a series of
years, its capacity will be materially increased.
Where bars have been removed, the waste
material has l>ceii placed so as to widen and
give stability to the banks. If earth was want
ing to strengthen the banks, or fill in the bot
tom, it has usually been obtained from contrac
ted portions of tha canal, the extra expense
being oulv for the distance moved with boats.
When holes were cut through the tow-path
bank for drainage, to prevent its annual repe
tition, for removing bars, a wooden trunk, se
cured with sheet piling aud a gate, has been
inserted.
OPEXIXG OK NAVIGATION-.
Many of the friends of the canal have been
exceedingly anxious that a boat might be got
through the past season, with or without a
partial load ; and to accomplish this that eve
ry temporary expedient should be resorted to,
regardless of any future exjense or delay, in
order that the Legislature might lie induced to
grant more readily the funds requisite for its
service the ensuing year, by congratulating
them, in the usual manner, on the future pros
pects of the work. Although it might have
facilitated the appropriation.-, the result would
have becu a delay in the passage of full loaded
boats, an increased expenditure for years, dis
appointments and loss to those who "have made
investments, with the view oi doing business
on or connected with the canal, and only serve
to encourage the building of a railroad as a
competitor along the same valley, before the
canal could be made available.
The frequeut rains aud repeated opportuni
ties for ob. • vut'O'v as "*cl! 2: tb*' trial of the
"later have, it s. believed, developed the moA
VOL. XVI. —NO. 3.
defective portions of the canal, which have been
repaired so far n* the lateness of the season
and the character of the repairs repaired would
permit, while the remaining ones, though in
volving a considerable amount of labor and ex
pense, are confined to comparatively few jioints.
Soma of the repairs can be made during the
winter. On the opening of spring the water
cam be admitted into many portions of the ca
nal, and gradually filled as suitable material is
placed in the bottom and upon the sides, bv
means of boats. In other cases material must
be hauled with teams, and it is difficult to say
what force of teams and labor can be comman
ded. I can see no difficulty, after tfie contem
plated repairs have been perfected, tha ensuing
season, in passing loaded boats. Although the
friends of the canal anticipate a large trade,
but few boats have been built with the view of
transportation upon it, and strong indnceinents
must lie held out to withdraw them from the
other Pennsylvania canals. It is not probable
that the owners of line boats on the Erie ea-
Dal, who have visited the North Branch with
the view of transferring them, will do so until
it has been ascertained, bv actual boating, that
the piles of stone and rock, and stone bcrme
banks that adorned the canal, havo boeu re
moved.
DELAWARE AND NORTH BRAVCH DIVISIONS.
The early history of our State canals seems
to be forgotten. The Delaware division, now
yielding about twenty per cent.- on cost, had
difficulties to encouuter. The Caual Commis
sioners, in their report dated Dec. 15, 1831,
under the head of old lines of canal, suv ; "At
the last annual report of the Canal Commis
sioners, December, 1830, iu speaking of this
division, they say, that the filling of the canal
for navigation, iu its whole course, began Oct.
1830, and that twenty-live miles are navigable
but they add that a part of the work first con
structed has proved defective and requires ex
tensive repairs. This last observation has been
verified by the b*it. that siuce that time, the
two supervisors on tne Dchwure division have
expended $97,330 51 on repairs and introduc
ing feeders, and the whole line is not yet open
for navigation. The original plan aud con
struction of large portions of this division have
proved exceedingly defective, and although ev
ery exertion has been made throughout thu
year by the officers of the line to fill the whole
canal with water, yet tiieir efforts have hereto
fore proved unsuccessful." The Durham creek
ten uiiles below Kaston, was introduced, bv
r feeder 1,890 feet long by 12 feet wide ; uud
Milton creek, near Liimberviile, by a feeder
1,509 feet long, besides temporary feeders on
sections 54 and 61. Boats were passed iu I lie
fall of 1832, but could not carry full loads.—
The tolls received amounted to sß,o43 t and the
expenditures to the close of 1832,8191,514 00,
to which should lie added during the year 1833
$83,000. The original estimate for the cost of
this work was $687,000, uud the actual cost
wus $1,203,165.
Similar difficulties were encountered on the
Lower North Branch Canal, us well as the ca
nals belonging to the Commonwealth general
ly, as will be seen by reference to the commu
nications of the Canal Commissioners from
1830 to 1835. "
The North Branch extension has many ad
vantages not enjoyed by the other Pennsyl
vania canals, viz :
It is located above high water mark, with a
heavy slope u|>on the size uext to the river,
thereby rendering it secure ugaiust the action
of ice and floods.
The aqueducts and culverts arc built of sub
stantial masonry, and have capacious and am
ple water-ways for the passage of the streams.
The plan of dams will insure stability.
It is true that years of well applied labor
will be required to perfect the canal; that
sinks in the bottom, small breaches and slides
from the hiils will frequently occur, but much
of the danger of slides can be prevented bv
building cribs aud filling with stone, or driving
piles at the base of the hills, aud by surface
ditches to collect and carry oft the water, for
which purposes the frequent examinations made
during theraiusofthe past season, have afford
ed ample opportunities for observation, to as
certain their proper location. Sinks in the
bottom and breaches will gradually diminish
by vigilance on the part of those having tlm
canal in charge.
It has been urged against the success of the
North Branch canal, that the strong current
against the boats ascending it, will increase
the rates of transportation to such an extent
as to prevent a successful competition witn tho
Lackawanna and \\ estern and Eric roads,
carrying coal from Scrantou. or the isunburv
and Eric and Williamsport'and Eluiiru roads
from Shainokin.
'Lhc resistance to ascending boats can bo
much reduced by gradually wkleuhig the con
tracted portiotta of the canal, the introduction
<rt \\ ya I using creek asa feeder, the construction
of a reservoir on Tuscarora creek, the mainten
ance in the spring and fall of all the tempora
ry feeders now in use, and the continued tiglit
c iug of the canal bv attention on the part of
those having the work in charge.
The extra charge for freight, will be for
horse power alone. The expense bf boats ami
hands will be the same as on other canalo
The competing railroads, unlike the Head
ing, with its descending grades, have moun
tains to cross. The coal carried by the North
Branch, is of a different quality, and will,
therefore, have its market, The canal, if kept
in suitable condition, with jwoper management,
will command its share of coal tonnage, bo
sides a large miscellaneous trade : will have u
revenue in exesss of the exjcnditures after the
present year, H result not attained on the most
productive State canals for several years, ami
increasing with the facilities afforded, until the
revenue exceeds that of any other canal in
Pennsylvania.
The unexpected difficulties encountered after
the close of the fiscal year, and subsequent
sickness, have prevented my submitting to the
Hoard until the present time, an account of
the line under my charge during the past year
Ivespectfullv submitted.
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