Irthin Ai iirajfordßeporter, Extris.3
North Branch Canal.'
. LETT'ER It.
41s early pn;jr4iox—immerge dais of Inland
Mitigation united and citended by it:
Before entering upon any considers•
tion of the revenue which the - State
would derive from the completion ofthis
work, it is proper I should look at its
present condition, and the probable cost
of such completion.
The diMenSions of the work ; as far
as constructed above the mouth of the
L e ackawanna, correspond with those on
the line extending down the river to Co
lutrabia. The width is twenty-eight ftiet
on the.bottom ;. forty feet at the surfliCe,
--providiug for four feet depth of water.
The locks are ninety feet long by sek
enteen feet wide Fin the chamber; and
the lockage, from the mouth of LaCka
wanna to the State line, averages but
little over two feet per mile! its capa
city, when completed, would therefore,
:be ample to pass'a million of tons each
sway, every year. ,
_ 1 hive said, that part of the North
Branch line above the Lackawanna, is
designated-in our Canal Reports as the
"North Branch Extension ;" in order,
probably, to distinguish the expenditures
upon it, ; from those on the line below,
which, down as fir as Northumberland,
was called originally the "North El ranch
Division of the Pennsylvania Canal."
:This "North Branch Extension," is
again divided into the "Tunkhunnock
Line"—from Piuston to the mouth of
Wyalusing Creek, fifty-four miles and
.nineteen chains; and the "Tioga Line"
—extendibg from the Wyalusing Creek
•to the State line,lhirty-nine miles. The
-amount already expended on each of
these divisions, is about the same;'—the
gross sum on both, is $2,484,039 . 60.
The amount necessary to complete the
upper section, or "Tioga is,esti
mated by the State engineer, at $215,-
-656 08;—the lower, or "Tunlthannock
-division," would require upwards of a
-million of dollars. To be precise : the
-amount required, according to his esti
mate, to complete both lines, is $31,5.17,-
452 81. It is proper to state. however,
in this place, that the experienced Engi
neer, (Wm. B. Foster,) who made this
-estimate, on the part of, the State, made
-it in accordance with the original plans
-of the work, which were of the MOSE
-beautiful and durable description.. if
-completed under the specifications and
contracts existing at the time of the sus
pension—(and more than two thirds of
it has been already so- completed)—it
would be one of the best canals, in re
gard to the manner of construction, -in
-the, Union; and 1 may add in the same
connection, one of the cheapest
The same able Engineer, at the in ,
stance &Isom° public spirited indiViduals
of Philadelphia and the Northern coun
ties, made a re-survey of the work in
1847, with a view to report upon its
-present condition, and to ascertain the
probable cost of a substantial, but econo•
mical completion; such as consisted
with the more limited means of private
,enter prize. He gives the 'following as
the result of a careful examination:—
I Dam across the Chemung, at
Athens, 514,101' 00
'2 Dam across the Susquehanna, 10;452 00
, Total estimated costof Dams $l2-2,019 00
9 Aqueduct, three of which
are partly built, $109,718 00
27 Locks and 2 Guard-,gates,
three of the former being
completed, some work done
at six others,
- 31 Culverts, ranging from2to
24 feet span,
2 Towing-path bridge
over the Chemung, $11,028 00
1 do over small run
at Towanda,
134 Road and farm brid
ges over !irk canal, of
of which 24 are either
finished or`partly so, 27,600 00
Total estimat'd cost of bri'ges, $39,128 00
7 Lock houses, 13,500 00
19 Waste-weirs, five of which
are partly finished. 10,000 00
.18 Water-ways around Locks,' 5,400 00,
Making roads where destroyed
by canal, , •
Making fence, 15,000 rods,
Removing buildings from the,
line of canal,
-Sections, comprising Excava
'lions of Earth and rock,em
bankments, Vertical and
Slope Walls, Lining, Pud
dling, dec.,
Total cost of compliting line, $1,106,037 00
The t'oregoing estimate contemplates
a permanent and useful .work, dispen
sing with all ornament, and only pro
viding tor what is necessary to make it
substantial,
The Darns are designed to be tnade of
round:and square timbers, well framed.
and pinned. together, and compactly.
filled,with stone; -the slopes to be cov•
ered with oak timber, not los than eight
inches thick, and well secured to the
Dams with iron bolts. The abutments
are to be founded at such depths as to
render them secure, and to be built of
heavy durable stone. At each dam; pro
vision has been made in the estimate,
for the construction of a schute, suitable
for the safe descent of arks and other
river craft.
The Aqueducts will be upon gravel
foundations, and are designed to have
heavy stone butments and pier; resting
upon a platform of timber and plank,
sunk to such depths as to render them
Secure from the action of the floods in
the several streams, and prevent their
undermining. The masonry to be rub
ble-work, of large durable stone, wehl
bedded and jointed and laid dry, • The
superstructures to be of wood. In cases
where the spans do not exceed thirty-five
tee!, the trunk will be supported by
string pieces laid longitudinally under
and where the spans are to exceed
'thirty-five feet, the trunk will be suppor
ted by arch and truss work cif sufficient
strength to bear any weight that may
be required. -
The Locks are designed to be built
with good, heavy, durable stone, laid
dry and faced with. planks. - The com
posite Lock is best adapted to The cir
cumstances of this canal; as no stone
Suitable for cut stone locks are to be had.
at reasonable cost; while those of a
good quality for a composite lock, are
easily obtained. •
In regard to the present condition of
the work, he states that he finds it in a
"rematkablestateofpreservation." The
walls and embankments stand firmly,
and the only injury the work has sus
tained by its suspension, consists in the
natural decay of those wooded portions
- of the lochs, waste viers and bridges
which were wholly, or in part comple
ted.; and at three points on the line,
where land slides have broken front the
mountain sides and partially filled the
canal. This latter source of difficulty,
does not exist to near as great an extent,
as he had apprehended; and makes but
a small item in the estimated amount
of work required to complete the line.
The points at which these slides are
likely to occur, are all now well de.
veloied, and by proper care in construc-
Lion,' the line may be .so arranged as to
avoid for the future, all interruption or
difficulty from this cause., The loca
tion 'of this canal is upon p high level;
and unlike most other canals in Penra
sylvania, will not be liable to injury
front the periodical floods in the river.
On this point he examined particular')
with reference to the flood of March last.
which had proved so destructive upon
the Defeware. Susq.tebanna and North
and West Branch Divisions of t h e ;ir a t e
‘canals; 'and found, with the exception
of the feeder levels, that this, the great
est flood which has occurred for more
than half a century. had not reached in
gfrierhl, above the plane of canal bot
tom; and in no single instance had the
water passed over the banks of the ca
, nd I where they raised to their full height.
1 feel!entire:confidence in the opinion.
that if this canal had been finished and
in use, it would not have sustained dam
age, by this extraordinary flood in the
river, to theamount of $5OO. throughout
itsentire length. This is an important
Nevin reference to the value of this im
provement. While the Delaware Di
vision sixty miles long, was damaged to
the amount oftwenty-eight thousand dol
lars, the Susquehanna and Branches one I
hundrial • and eighty-six miles, to near
sixty thousand, and one hunch:et] miles, ,
of the eastern portion of the Main line,
to the iiinotint of thirty thousand dollars,
'here we hive a line of ninety-four miles, ' ,
so located and thus far constructed, ns to
be secure front the highest flood that
has ucCurred within the past sissy years.
AoOther important fact in reference
to the Cost_ of completing the : North
BranCh Canal should not be omitted in
the present view, The lands to be.occu
pied, have nearly all been released to .
the Commonwealth. for the use and oc
cupancy of a canal, to be constructed by,
or •°uaider. the gytkority °Ole State of
Pennsylvania." This item ; Often a vex
atious and costly one in the construction
113,65 GO
35,020 00
500 00
8,60000
11,700 00
2,400 00
599.737 00
of public works, is nearly out of the
qnestiori so far as concerns this work.
The few remaining cases, where relea
ses were not 'obtained, present no serious
obstacle in the way of its progress; as
the desire of the citizens and owners of
lands -along the line of this :improve
ment, is so strong for its completion ; that
1 do nQt apprehend the least embarras
ment or difficulty from this source.
A connection of the North Branch
line with the ChM/1111g Canal at Elmi
ra, is essential to make up the xt hole
chain of inland navigation from Tide
Water to the great Lakes; and without
this, some of the advantages which wo'd
otherwise be derived, might fail to be
realized. There need be no hesitation.
on this account, in urging fotvard the
work on the North Branch. The dis
tance Ofthe connection is only seventeen
miles along the valley of the Chemung;•
and will be easily and expeditiously
made. From infortnation:recently de
rived thiough a member of the Canal
Board• of New York, I have no doubt
that State will carry out its original plan
of uniting the Chemung line with tlii:
Pennsylvania improvements. Be this
as it may—a law containing very liberal
provisions, was obtained from the New
York Legislature; in the winter of 1846
incorpoi•aling this "Junction Canal Corn.
pany" for this route. I speak advisedly.
when I say, within one month from the
time PennsylvTatia resumes here work .
onOte North Branch, a company will
be organized and measures taken to
complete this seventeen miles, from the
State line to Elmira. Besides. 'the
New York and Erie rail-road be
finished to Elmira next summer. At
the State line, this road is located within
a few rods of the terminus of the Canal;
and provision has been made by law,
for connecting with -it. if necessary.
True pOlicy would dictate the com
mencement of the work on the North
Branch at both ends of the unfinished
line. Less than . 106.000 would com
plete and open it for navigation, above
Towanda—a distance of seventeen
miles. The whole “Tia,ga line" froth
the mouth of Wya losing creek upward.
thirty nine miles, could be opened fora
little more than $200,000, according to
Mr. Foster's estimate. A company is
now organized. and ocly wnit the com
mencement of the wort: on' this upper
'pOrtion of the Canal. to construct] a rail•
.. , ay or a plank road, to •the
Coal mines. So that this upper division
would soon be in profitable operation.
It would be an illiberal and unwise pol
icy to retard all enterprize on this divis.
inn, until all should beromillete below;
and nothing would be gained by such a
course, to the people of the Wyoming
coal region:
Hari:l ,, thus adverted to matters nat
urally preliminary to a discussionorib,
'probable trade and revenue of the North
Branch Canal—l shall proceed in Inv
next to consider - those subjects. 11
C. L. WAllla
A . GOOD SIGN.-A c * orrrsponilent of
the Boston Evening Traveller says
An incident occurred at one of the
largehotelS at Troy, New York, where
I, made a brief sojourn, that pleasingly
illustrates the progres,! of temperance-
As a numerous comonv sat down to
dine, a drinking bill of fart was dated
at each plate embracing not h ss than thir
ty diflerent kinds of wines and. liquors.
The 'wine list' was a-polite invitaton to
us to whet our appetites for dinner.
But there was no acceptances ! -Not a
solitary guest 2ouched a drop. V.very
goblet was filled with pure cold tVater !
It was quite a triumph, worth b rij oy •
Had N. Y. and Pennsylvania (Which
are in het Democratic States )goile for
Cass, Taylor would have receive 11 but
101 electoral votes, and consegliently
would have lacked 45 votes of ad elec.
Lion. Let the Whigs retnemberi this,
while they are_ crowing.—Bali more
Republican and Argus.
Had your aunt been a man, dm Would
have been your uncle. Let herileph
ews remember this while they are call.
ing her their 'aunt.'
The Tribune's dispatch froth
ington yesterday, says, the nous:
today passed to its third reading,
creating n Deputy of the faterior,
vote of I II to 67:
Ottt.t
liffunro \BIII3
C E LATHROP, EDITOR
litcblicsban, fcbruarn 21, 1849.
•
The %Vino.% stand n. hero the Republirans of 1798
Mond, and where the ‘Vhitnit of the Revolution were.
bvttling for Ltosnry for the PEOPLE, for FREE Ix•
STITETIONm ; riga instyols ER. againAt Connerrtorit,
against Execoravr: ENChOACEISIENTS, apIELSI MON.
!MOM—Henry clay.
it'r There will be a meeting of the Wyo
ming county Bible Society, in the Presby
terian Church, this (Wednesday) etrening.
An address may be expected by Rev. Mr.
Ar.rent of the State Bible Society.
All are invited to attend.
HENRY STARK, Sen.. Pres%
Feb,' el., 1849.
~ 'i ~ 1
In common with the people of Northern
Penn Sylvania, we owe a debt of gratitude to
those persons in other portions of the State,
who, having no especial interest in the matter
have labored zealously this winter, to se
cure the completion of the North Branch
Extension. Should it be completed, they
can in after years, recur to the fact of their
having so directed their influence, with
proud and hearty satisfaction.
He is a benefactor, who exerts himself
for the well being of his kind: certainly not
he who only cares fur self. The spirit
which actuates the latter, moving in a
community, would effectually destroy its
vitality. That community in which liber
ality is the prominent feature, will always
thrive, despite the most untoward circum
stances.
We are led to these remarks from the f4ct
of having noticed in some of our legislators,
a manifestation of the same illiberal spirit
towards their fellow citizens of other sec-
OM
It would seem that members of the Legis
lature have only in view the passage oflaws
designer:llo effect their own immediate con
stituency. The legislative body represents .
the intecists of the whole State, and should
therefor considerevery Act in tt.e light or
its onerations upon the gre,it mass of the
people. '
There are men in_our Legislature who
oppose the completion of the North Branch.
Aid whyl Because they have their own
private purposes to accun - rplish, and fear
that it might defeat their schemes. We do
not believe there are many such ; but jus:
enough to render it difficult to pass a law
calculated to effect the public good.
—The completion.. of the North Branch
7sanal is urged upon high grounds. Every
thing is urged in its favor—nothing can be
urged against it. - It is asked for, not' be
cause it will benefit the people of Wyoming
county; Bradford county or any other coun
ty; nor even of Northern Pennsylvania;
but because it will benefit the people of the
whole Commonwealth, both directly and in
directly. The supporters of the measure
are public benefactors in every sense of the
word, and deserve the thanks and esteem of
every'one . interested in the prosperity of :he
State. .
The:c are some who oppose the measure
—at the same time not doubting that its
completion would be ureafly beneficial—on
acenti..t df its increasinc the already error•
mous State debt. But is this a valid objee.
uon 1' Is there a man who, after 'having
partly completed a work, would refuse to
fmisit it, when by a loan he could do so,
with the assurance that the productiveness
of the work when completed, would enable
him to repay the loan,and to realize a fair per
centage on his investment l We think not.
But this is the precise condition of the North
Branch Canal. Less than half the amount
already expended on it, will complete it;
and when completed, it would be the most
productive line of canal in the State.
The Daily News, in an able article on the
importance of the completion of the North
Branch, holds the following truthful lan
guage in regard to the idea of its embar
rassing the State;
The condition of the commonwealth
demands great caution in undertaking
. anything that may add to her burthen
and we commend the judicious and de
liberate spirit which is manifested by
our representatives. But it is possible
to permit prudence to degenerate into
cowardice. and to "lose the good we oft
might win by fearing the
by
Though somewhat crippled by past ex:
travagance, it is not necessary that all
i . 11(.;i of pros mss should be abandoned.
The hest moths of lig htenitig 'our present
load, is to add to our resources by a cau.
tious enterprise and a guarded energy,
If we stand still to wait for better times,
we will petrify into marble—a monu
ment of spiritless dullness and nerveless
imbecility.
SARTAIN'S UNION MAGAZINE, for Febru
ary; we have received. Of the different
Magazines published in the country, we
think Sartain's takes the lead. The present
number is beautifully embellished, and
cho;cely filled. Terms $3 a year—address
J. Sartain. 4. Co., Third St., opposite Mer
chant's Exchange, Philadelphia.
ash
has
bill
by a
n , THE CINCINNATI ATLAS publishes
Washingtod's Farewell Address as a reply
to the manifesto of Southern agitators.
Death of the Polk Dy4asty.
But a little while now, and the present
general Administration will have died a na
tural death.
Not so its - blighting effects npon - rhe pros
perity and industry of the country. 'They
will live—be •felt years hence, and perhaps
never recovered from. Future geneiations
haveiyet to witness the results of the policy
of Poik's Administration.
—ln reviewing its history, we behold a
succession of acts, fraught with imminent
danger to the country, and which may re
sult in its dissolution. Fastened upon the
country by a system of fraud and decep
tion, its every act has been with a view to
secure the continued ascendency of a cor
rupt and designing faction. The interests
of the people have been overlooked, and op
position to their known wishes has matked
every step of its progress. In the face of a
great majority of the American people, it
has extended the curse of human slavery;
and in spite of their earnest remonstrances,
held in check the developing energies of
the country. It has declared war against a
sister Republic in violation of the Constitu-
ion, and terminated it with an Immense
oss of blood and treasure.
—But its time is :host. The third of
March next will witness its expiring throes,
and if the friends of the Constitution and
the country but prcve true to themselves,
its vitality can never be restored.
Sir. ruller's Speech.
We find to the Harrisburg Telegraph, the
speech of Henry M. Fuller, Esq. of Luzerne,
delivered in the. House of Representatives
of this State, on the North Branch Exten
sion, ti week or two since. We regard it as
a splendid ellort—deep in research and in
controvertible in argument. A greater a
mount of important information we never
saw condensed in the same space. Mr.
Fuller taken the lead in the movement
at Harrisburg, and if an appropriation is
made, to him more than any other man, will
the t. tate be indebted for it.
—lt is our intention to lay the speech
before our readers next week,.believing it
wiil be read with interest and satisfaction.
California Etmigranta.
We understand that Jas. B. Harding, E.
Q. Harding, Jas. Lee, and E. Jenkins Har
ding, residents of Eaton township in this
County, left for the 'gold diggins' on Thurs
day lass. One or two of the citizens of our
Borough, are preparing to leave fdr the new
El Dorado in a few days. Those on their
way, and those expecting to go, have our
lon/ wishes for their success; and we sin
cerely hope their golden dreams may be
realized.
;Jar.- On Saturday last, on motion of Cooper,
the House took up the bill providing for the comple.
tion of the North Branch Canal, the question being
upon Mr. %Veirick's amendment. Messrs, Weirich,
Bull, and Eshelman opposed the bill, and Mcaora.
Cooper, liteele. and Little, advocated it.
R . !x The Harrisburg Telegraph copies ou.
article in relation to the nomination of Elmi
ay M. Ful.t.Eß, Esq., of Luzerne for Cana
Commissioner, and regards it with favor
The Lancaster Trtbune also looks upon 1 ,
favorably.
vir Tug ScsiaucnaNN•, opposite this place
is fiozen over again for the second time this
winter. The weather has been very severe
for the last few days.
n. We are indebted to Hon. Craurce
BUTLER, for a valuable public document.
TOROTOCOL AUAIN.
Th sident has, in answer to the
resolution of Congress, sent in a mes
sage, admitting . the execution of the pa•
per referred to in another c , alumn, un
der the above title, in which he endeav
ors, first, to throw the blame upon the
commissioners, second, he asserts that
the commissioners . did no more than ex
plain the Senate amendments, and third
ly, if they even did go so far in effect to
annul those amendments, the treaty
with the protocol is as good as it would
be without it. Mr. Polk has, indeed,
got himself into a bad scrape, but he will
manage to lie himself Out of it'to the
sitisfiction of the party. "rylerism,' is
not in the code of modern Democracy,
and we have no doubt Mr. Polk will re•
tire with honors thick upon his brow.
It is a fortunate circumstance that his
seat is not the throne of Great Britain,
or Mr. King Polk's head would be
found tolling around in search of a bo
dy. A less offence than his, has oft
bathed the headsman's axe with blood.
—Mauch Chunk Gaze Us.
01110 LEOFSLATURE.NOMINATION
FOR U. S. SENATOR.--.The Whig mem
bers of the Legislature met in caucus on
the 12th and nominated Judge IWLean
for U. S. Senator. The day of election
has . not yet been fixed •upon.
The Senate has pissed a resolution
requesting the Senators and instructing
the Representatives in Congress to vote
for the . Wilmot Proviso. The vote on
this resolution stood 26 yeas to 9 nays.
. •
;1r The true mystery of the letters 0. K.
has at length been disosvered 4 -they Mean
Off to Kaliforois.
NORTH BRANCH CANAL
Ne give the Legislative proceedin
upon this important subject up to t
time of our going to press. The biT
read by Mr. Little attracts much linea l
tion ; and meets, so far as we can learn,.
with much favor. The probabilities'
of the passage of this cao not of
course be'calculated. But one thing
seems very certain- 7 111e friends of - the
measure and the true friends to the inter.
est of the commonwealth have comb*
ed their energies to effect the completion
of a work, the ab‘andonment and neg
lect of which has been too fon a re.
proach upon the 'policy of the State.--
There are still some narrow views to-be
enlarged or removed, some maimi or
personal feelings to be moderated—but
the general tone of legislative opinion
harmonizes with the proposed comple
tion of the work. Other parts of the
State, remote from the line of tbe canal,
nre calling for that which will bee bro.
efit for the whole. The mercantile kr.
terests of Philadelphia are lending their
important aid. We have therefore con
tinued hopes of the ultiMate teenage of
a bill for the completion of the North
Branch Canal in some decided sod op.
erative shape. Much praise is due to
our Representatives fur their constant
and judicious- efforts. The speech of
Mr. Fuller wasstrongly argumentative
and convincing, and from the reports .of
it in out : exchanges, appears to have
gained great credit far its euthor: Let
the people along the line still continue
their efforts, and we shall yet sea just.
ce done to the North, nod credit reftec
ted upon the whole State by the comple.
tion of this important work. —Wilkss.
Barre Advocate.
Extract front a hiter to a Member of
Congress, dated PAiznizville, Pena..
sytrania, Jun. 28:
"The furnace is working well mak.
ing iron fast ; but the market is fall of
iron, no sales scarcely, and price very
low. If you do not do something ibis
winter for the iron interest, one-half or
more' will be broken up before another
session. Nearly all the tolling.mills in
the.country ate stopped ; and, if they be
stopped. what will foundry men do; or
who will furnaco men sell their iron to?
We have• now made a quantity of pig
iron, which wo do not know where to
sell."
The Boston Post claimed "all the
girls" far Cast But Louisa Ann was
not "at home" when he called. Miss
Sippi and Virginia came near refusing
to invite him to "call," and S. Carolina
only did so because her "pa "required
it. Her sister N. Carolina positively
declined, and sn \ did Mary Land. Delis►
Ware, Georgia and Flora Day said
they knew a stout old soldier worth forty
Of him. So Miss Ssuri was left alone ft,
do him honor.
JAOEZ 1. %V ARNER, n soldier of thy
Revolution, of Jericho, Vt.. died a fear
days since. He hid voted at every Pres
idential election since the adoption of tba
Constitution. ' He was strongly impor
tuned at the late election to vote the Free
Ticket:Soil "No !" said the old soldier,
"I voted for Washington, and I shall
vote for Taylor. I never change ay
THE UNION FOREVER!-.-SIKHOE
Foot of Mississippi put on interrogatory
to C. S. Morehead of Kentucity:"lfthe
Wilmot Proviso' should be enacted,
would not the gentleman then be for dis
union ?" To this Mr Morehead replied: .
"No so help me God, never.. I will
never raise the parricidal arm agairpir
this glorious Union for any such eause."
CONGRESSIONAL Noun;Amts.—
The Whigs of the IVth District of Con•
necticut have nominated Thonitifilltut
ler as their candidate for Congress..:He
will succeed the Hon. Truman Smith,
who has been chosen U. .S. Camitor
from the same State.
r „,„
A NBA DEPARTIIENT.- - -A zap nail
been introduced into the Hoop of Rep
resentatives; by Mr. Vinton, to establish
a Department of the Interior. It , au
thorizes a Secretary, with a salary Of
$6OOO per annum, and a Chief Clerk,
with a salary of $2OOO ,per annum:- ‘The
necessity of a Home or Interior Depart
ment is very generally conceded, and
we trust that this Bill. or , something sim
ilar, will be speedily enacted into law.
It could not but operate • in. a italntatty
CI
ME