1835.] ELECTION OF BANK DIRECTORS. 349 the gratification of announcing, that, notwithstanding the lectures delivered before the Library Company last winter were not as numerously attended as it was desired, yet the nett proceeds of them to the Company after defraying all the expenses, including all costs of fitting up the lecture room in its present state, was 21 dollars. The lecture room is now fitted up, and in case it should be deemed expedient by the Company to have delivered before them another course of lectures during the coming winter, the profits cannot fail to be much greater, as the expense will be comparatively small, delphia and the Lakes, pursuing the route, by the Wil- The board of directors having fitted up the lecture liamsport and Elmira rail road, and it is highly proba-room in a style and manner suitable for lectures, have ble, that no mountain west of it intervenes upon the direct route to Lake Erie, by the west branch. The success with which this, the most difficult portion of the Danville and Pottsville rail road has been executed, and the rapidity and security of the passage of coal, as well as to visitors, over its inclined planes, are sub jects of admiration. On its summit, let us pause one moment in our progress. Eight or nine months have elapsed since the conveyance of coal over it commenced; some delay arose from the failure of a badly cast shaft, but ladies, as well as other visitors, have frequently been transported over the planes in from two to four minutes each, and no injury or accident has ever been sustained by any person. No other route to unite the Schuylkill with both branches of the Susquehanna, appears to exist, although gross misrepresentations have been made respecting the facilities of passing the Broad Mountain, from the heads of the little Schuylkill, to the Catawissa creek. It is not true that the distinguished Chief Engineer of the Danville and Pottsville rail road, ever engaged his services to that route, or assumed its responsibility:-it is not true that he ever declared that route to be practicable, without inclined planes; his deliberate report was decidedly to the contrary, and in contradiction of that report, he has authorized nothing to be said or published. Proceeding westward from Girardsville, we find about 12 miles of the line still unformed, from deficiency of funds; and then commences the 20 miles down the Shamokin valley, through that great coal field to Sunbury, which have just been graded, and are ready for the superstructure. Fourteen miles of this division next to Sunbury, are now under completion, by laying down the sills and rails, and will probably be opened and travelled by carriages during the month of November next. From Sunbury to Williamsport, 42 miles, by the valley of the west branch, are not yet the subject of incorporation, but the ascent will be only 2 or 3 feet per mile, and the expense probably from 9 to 10,000 per mile. From Williamsport to Elmira, the course is also favorable, and a considerable part of that stock has been subscribed. Here, then, are already considerable advances towards our continuous rail road communication from Philadelphia to Lake Erie; and if our citizens and capitalists are not insensible of their own welfare, Pennsylvania will not be overcome in the contest of Internal Improvement, ARISTIDES. LIBRARY AND READING ROOM COMPANY OF At an annual meeting of the members of the Library and Reading Room Company of the Northern Liberties, held in their Hall, on Friday evening, 13th inst. the sixth annual report was submitted by the Board of Directos. The following extracts from which, will show the state of the Institution: The receipts of the company for the past year have been seven hundred and seventy-four dollars and seventy-five cents-Of which amount there has been expend The board have also, since the last annual meeting, procured to be printed 500 catalogues, one of which they have thought proper to present, without charge, to each stockholder of the institution. The ordinary pecuniary resources of the institution, it will be perceived by the several annual reports, are but little more than adequate to the payment of the rent and necessary expenses, leaving but about onefourth of the whole amount, and even less than that for the purchase of books. Hence even a small increase of stockholders would at this time have a great effect in filling up our shelves. Every one, during the first year of his membership, will add eight dollars worth of books to the library. This, therefore, shows the vast importance of efficient exertion on the part of the Company to augment their members. If there were but 20 new stockholders procured the present year, (which could be easily done by making a little interest for that purpose,) they would be the means of adding at once in the first year of their membership, to the property of the Library, one hundred and sixty dollars worth of books. It is to be hoped, therefore, that every member of the Institution will feel it his duty to lend his exertion to the furtherence of its interests for the coming year. The cause of knowledge, the interests of society, and the honor of the community in which the Library is located, require it. And the Board flatter themselves that the requisition will not be lightly disregarded. The Company then entered into an election for fifteen Directors, to serve for the ensuing year, which resulted in the choice of the following named gentlemen, to wit: Joseph Trotter Samuel Bonnell The Board subsequently organized by the election of Secretary-Samuel Megarge. FARMERS' AND MECHANICS' BANK. ed, seven hundred and fifty-seven dollars and thirty-named Stockholders were elected Directors. At an election held on the 16th inst. the following four cents. The library contains at present 2,509 volumes. The number of volumes added to the library since the last annual report is about one hundred and forty-fivebeing about 28 volumes more than the number purchased the year preceding. The present number of stockholders is 198. The number of annual subscribers, so far as it can be positively ascertained, is twenty-four-making the whole number of stockholders, and annual subscribers, two hundred and twenty-two.. MECHANICS BANK OF THE CITY AND COUNTY day the 16th instant, the following gentlemen were duly elected Directors, to serve the ensuing year: OF PHILADELPHIA. At an election held at the Banking House of this institution, on Monday last, (16th inst.) the following gentlemen were elected Directors for the ensuing year: John Graham James Irwin Hugh Mac Shane James Brown And at a meeting of the Board held this day, Elijah Dallett, Esq. was unanimously re-elected President. Millerstown, Nov. 9, 1835. 351 is put beyond all doubt, by its being measured and weighed in the presence of some of the respectable neighbours; and the pumpkins while yet on the vines, were viewed by hundreds of astonished people, far and near, who were led by curiosity to see them. A CITIZEN OF MANOR TOWNSHIP. HIGH FRESHET.-For the last thirty years the Alleghany river and French creek have not been known to rise as high as they have been during a part of last week. Several families in the lower part of the town were obliged to remove, apprehending danger of being swept away. Fences, houses and hay-stacks were seen floating down the Alleghany. The lock at No. 11 has been materially injured, and it is apprehended that se rious damage has been done to the public work on this line. The losses suffered by the flood have not yet been ascertained, but it is supposed they are considerable.-Venango Democrat. GREAT FRESHET.-The Franklin (Venango co.) Intelligencer of the 27th ult. contains some particulars of a very destructive freshet in the Alleghany river and French Creek. It seems that it commenced rising on Sunday, the 18th ult., and continued to pour down in torrents the greater part of the three days following, until the river and creek and their tributaries were swollen to an almost unparalleled height. Much property was swept away-several families near the lower lock were obliged to leave their habitations, or betake themselves to the second floor. We annex the conclusion of the account: Immediately below the big dam, the reaction of the water, after it pitches over, has washed away about five rod of canal, and undermined the superstructure of the lock to such a degree, that the lowest gate, and about one half of the stone work has keeled over into the creek. About one half of the earth or filling in, between the abutment of the dam and the lock, is already washed out, and the rest is going as fast as the reacting surges can take it; so that there is little else now to bear up against the awful weight of water above, but the strength of the stone work; and should the water continue to undermine, the abutment must give way, and with it will go the dam. We much fear the result, but hope for the best. As it is now, it presents one of the most sickening wrecks imaginable; and if not tem porarily repaired as soon as the water falls, so that its reaction cannot undermine the abutment, it never can survive the spring floods; this any person can plainly see. Four thousand dollars will probably not repair it as it should be. We have not heard of any material injury having been done to any of the other dams, that can be relied on. Lumbermen on French creek are informed that they cannot pass the big dam, as the lower gate and part of the lock are entirely demolished; and the upper gate has to be kept shut, in order to prevent further mischief. When it shall have been rendered passable, we will let them know through the same medium. MAMMOTH PRODUCTION. The agricultural productions of the present season have been remarkably fine, and almost every paper we open contains an account of some extraordinary growth of the vegetable species. George Nagle, Esq. of this It is a fact, that two seeds, planted by Mr. John Borts-place, informed us yesterday, that he had been present field, yielded him fourteen pumpkins, which in all, weighed nine hundred and sixteen pounds. The largest of them was in circumference seven feet ten inches, and weighed one hundred and ninety-nine pounds. This may be truly styled a mammoth, and might appear incredible; but the truth of the matter ed with a Radish raised on the farm of Gen. William Clark, of Perry county, which weighed 25 pounds, and measured in length 2 feet four inches, and in cir cumference 424 inches. This mammoth production of nature may be examined by the curious at the hotel of Mr. Nagle. From the Western Argus. PROSPERITY OE BEAVER: Poulson. 411 Appointments by the Governor. John Creigh, Esq. to be Notary Public for the county 15 of Cumberland. 1 William Jack, to be one of the Associate Judges of 2 Jefferson County, in the room of Elijah Heath, Esq. 3 resigned. 66 181 Nov. 18.-Within ten days past, extensive sales of real estate have been made in this vicinity, to a company of Philadelphia capitalists, two of whom (Messrs. S. C. Atkinson and Mark Richards,) have been among us for some time. Their most extensive purchase is the principal part of Mr. Stone's property at Beaver Point, for which they pay the sum of $20,000. We understand that it is their intention at this place to establish the culture and manufacture of Silk, with a capital of $50,000; preparatory to which they will immediately attend to the selection and setting out plants of the Mulberry, as well upon their East Brighton purchases, as at the Point. We are highly pleased that this important branch of manufactures is about to be established in our neighborhood; and we indulge the hope that it may lead others to devote some attention to it. It is no doubt destined to be of very great importance to the country. We regret that we have not a list of the purchases made by these gentlemen, to present to our readersfor the present we must content ourselves with stating that they are in Beaver, Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Brighton, East Brighton, and, perhaps, Sharon. To monied men abroad we would say, there are yet fine chances for profitable investment, as well for speculation, as for improvement; and no place holds out equal inducements to this section of country. THE WEATHER. The weather having been so mild up to Saturday even. ing last, many persons had made up their minds that we were to have no cold weather this season. But Sun Jacob Vanderslice, to be a Justice of the Peace, for District No. 3, in the County of Dauphin, composed of the borough of Harrisburg, and the townships of Lower Paxton and Susquehanna. J. Peter Bohim, Esq. to be a Justice of the Peace in Northampton County, for District No. 3, composed of the townships of Lower Saucon and Williams. Benjamin F. Thomas, Esq., to a Justice of the Peace in Northampton County, for District No. 2, composed of the townships of Bethlehem, Hanover, and Lower Nazareth. David Ginther, Inspector of Salted Provisions, in and for the City and County of Philadelphia. Thomas Craighead, Esq. to be a Justice of the Peace for the District of South Middleton and Carlisle, in the place of Peter Labach, deceased. George Smith, Esq. to be a Justice of the Peace in and for the same District. Lewis Heyer, Esq. to be a Justice of the Peace in and for the District of Allen. and for the District of Monroe. William Dean, Esq. to be a Justice of the Peace in James Elliot, Esq. to be a Justice of the Peace in and for the District of West Pennsborough. Jacob Snyder, Esq. to be a Justice of the Peace in and for the District of Shippensburg. Appointment by the Surveyor General. John Martin, Esq. of South Beaver township to be Deputy Surveyor for Beaver county, in the room of John Bryan, Esq. deceased. Printed every Saturday morning by WILLIAM F. GEDDES, No. 9 Library street. The publication office of the Register has s been removed from Franklin Place, to No. 61, in the Arcade, West Avenue, up stairs. HAZARD'S REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. VOL. XVI.--NO. 23. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD. PHILADELPHIA, DECEMBER 5, 1835. UNION CANAL COMPANY. Annual Report of the Managers of the Union Canal vember 17, 1835. No. 413. hydraulic cement, and is perfectly water-tight; the remaining part, ten thousand three hundred and ten feet, 's composed of cylinders fitted into each other, made of white pine staves three inches thick, hooped with iron bands, and supported by strong timbers, resting on stone foundations; as no part of the wood work is in contact with the ground, it will not be liable to prema. ture decay. As the principal supply of the summit is derived from Water Works, and is to pass through this conduit, every effort has been exerted to make it answer the important purpose for which it is designed, two miles having been in use since April last, its great utility has been demonstrated by the increased quantity of water it has discharged into the summit. In presenting their Annual Report, in obedience to the requisitions of the Charter, the President and Managers of the Union Canal Company of Pennsylvania, have peculiar satisfaction in communicating to the Stock-the holders, that, during the last year, the Canal has afforded a navigation entirely uninterrupted by either breaches, or a deficiency of water, a gratifying evidence of the increasing permanency and retentiveness of the embankments; that the trade has considerably augmented, and the receipts from tolls have exceeded those collected in any previous year, notwithstanding a great reduction in the rates of toll took place in February last. Although the Canal is but in its infancy, it has, in connection with the Schuylkill navigation, and the magnificent improvements of the State, conduced to an enlarged intercourse with the interior, encouraging, by cheapness of transportation, the remote agriculturist and manufacturer, to transfer to our metropolis, the various productions of their industry, opening new markets for the inexhaustible deposites of coal and iron, the valuable timber, and other immense resources with which Pennsylvania abounds, and promoting, by its invigorating influence, the prosperity and opulence of our enterprising community. Convinced that the Union Canal is destined to participate extensively in the expanding commerce between the Atlantic and the fertile regions of the West, the Managers have persevered to make it an attractive, safe, and cheap avenue, adequate at all times to accommo. date whatever amount of business may seek its channel; in attaining this, many obstacles and embarrassments have been encountered; having conquered all discouragements, and achieved a work of great public utility, they anticipate that the period is not remote, when this important improvement will return a liberal remuneration to all who have embarked in the enterprise. During the last two years, large expenditures have been incurred in the prosecution of permanent improvements and repairs, indispensable to preserve an unimpaired navigation, and to remedy deficiencies; most of these are completed; that of the greatest magnitude, the new feeder, from the Water Works to the summit level, to supersede one fallen into decay, will be entirely finished in the present month; materials are provided to prosecute other works in the approaching winter; when these shall be completed, the expenditures will be much retrenched, and be limited to the incidental charges of keeping the Canal in order. To impart a knowledge of these improvements, they are concisely enumerated: The new feeder from the Water Works, on Swatara, to the summit, is three and one-third miles in length; it is circular, three feet six inches in diameter, internally in the clear. A part, (seven thousand four hundred and fifty feet,) is constructed with hard bricks laid in VOL. XVI. 45 The bottom of the summit has been lined with two inch plank for the distance of nearly four miles; it is intended to extend the lining, during the approaching winter, about three fourths of a mile further, for which purpose the necessary materials are provided. Several levels east of the summit, and two levels to the west, below Hummelstown, all of which pass through lime stone, have been planked for the distance of seven hundred and eleven rods. ring the winter, seven hundred and seventy-five feet on the navigable feeder, where large sinks in cavernous there are no other parts of the Canal which will require limestone have frequently occurred. It is believed that a resort to this method of preventing the loss of water. Plank, and other materials are provided, to line, du A Collector's house at Middletown, and thirty-five Lock-keepers' houses, have been built, embracing all the points where they can be required. the other at the Water Works, have proved useful in Two weighing locks, one of them erected at Reading, ascertaining the accurate weight of boats, and preventing impositions on the revenue. Most of the aqueducts have been thoroughly repaired, and materials provided to rebuild, during the winter, the large aqueduct on the navigable feeder across the Swatara, and one below Reading. A new feeder dam has been erected in Swatara Creek, and all the dams and feeders in the line repair. ed and strengthened. The additional feeder introduced in the summit, by transferring to M'Laughlin's Pond one of the steam. engines from the Water Works, has proved so beneficial, that all apprehensions of a scarcity of water on the summit, even in the driest seasons, are dispelled." Five hundred and sixty feet of iron pipes for a new main have been laid down at the Water Works, many bridges rebuilt, and materials provided for rebuilding others. Many other extensive improvements and repairs have been made, and the Canal, throughout its entire length, is now placed in a condition calculated to confirm the confidence entertained of its stability, its abundant sup. ply of water, and to insure a regular unimpeded naviga tion to the most active trade that may be presented. Subsequently to the Report made in November last, the Canal continued open until 16th December, when it was obstructed by ice, on the 20th of March, the na |