THANKS For attenTION. The Mayor and Presidents of our Councils having visited Philadelphia for the purpose of obtaining information in regard to the supplying of our city with water, were received with much hospitality and coursey by the Corporate Authorities of Philadelphia. Committees were appointed by the respective Councils then in session, to wait upon our citizens and shew them the usual attentions. We have been obligingly favored with a copy of the following letter in acknowledgment of the attentions of the Philadelphians.—Balt. Gaz. } ens, and accompanied by cows, calves, sheep. and pigs, wending their way up the rail road, to these very buildings; where the "Paterfamilias" (alias Daddy) informed us he was about to open a tavern! From whence his guests where to come, I could not for the life of me conceive, at least until the road should be completed to his place, and the mines on the premises should be worked. The next building erected, I suppose will be a blacksmith's shop, when the place will have all the attributes of a town in a new country, and will be entitled to a Post Office. SUNBURY, July 11. I have but a few moments to add, by way of postscript to this letter, that I left Shamokin yesterday af ternoon, and came down the valley and along the rail the appearance of the country, which, at many points, presents some most varied and beautifnl views for the landscape painter. TREMONT HOUSE, 2 Philadelphia, July 11th, 1835. S Gentlemen-We respectfully request that you will present to the Select and Common Councils, our warm-road to this place, its termination, highly delighted with est acknowledgments for the kind and hospitable reception with which you have been pleased to favor us. Visiting your city for the purpose of obtaining such information as may tend to aid the Corporation of Baltimore in supplying the city with an abundance of force water and the construction of the necessary works, we were prepared from the established character of your city, to be received with kindness; but were not prepared for the very high and unexpected compliment with which your Select and Common Council were pleased to honor us, in the unanimous appointment of a joint committee to aid us in our investigation, and to extend to us the civilities of your city. You will also, Gentlemen, please accept our sincere thanks for your un ceasing efforts to render our stay in your city instructive and pleasing; through your polite and friendly attentions we have been enabled not only to obtain very valuable information in reference to the object of our mission, but we have also received much upon other subjects, which, we doubt not, will be useful to the Corporation we represent. Gentlemen, with sentiments of great respect, J. HUNT, Mayor of the City of Baltimore, From the Commercial Herald. A TRIP TO THE COUNTRY. I have just returned from a short ride of six miles, to the termination of the graded part of the western section of the-allow me to call it, 'GIRARD RAIL ROAD,' being accompanied by the assistant engineer, Mr. Totten, to whose polite attentions I am indebted for much of the pleasure of the trip through the mountains. The road from this point, (which is on the Shamokin creek, 13 miles east of Sunbury,) passes up the creek, principally through an almost uninhabited country, the population is at least very sparse. Some three or four miles up, we came into the Shamokin coal region, to the mines from which the country below, as far as Sunbury, is supplied, and from which, when the road is completed, large quantities will be sent to the Susquehanna river for exportation. On arriving at Mr. Boyd's mines, near the termination of the graded part of the road, and amidst the solitary mountains, we were gratified to see a large two story dwelling house, a large store, barn and other out houses erected and nearly completed in a neat and handsome style. Sunbury was, forty years ago, the principal town and resort of a large tract of country, including parts of Union, Lycoming, and Schuylkill Counties, the inhabitants of which came here to attend court and to trade. There were then many wealthy and respectable families residing here who formed, not in name only, but in fact, the "good society" of the place, and who often entertained as guests their friends from "the city." But it has wofully fallen off in point of business and bustle, and reminds one now very much of Goldsmith's deserted village. The site of the town is very beautiful; being selected and laid out as a town by William Penn, who did not want taste in these matters. The streets cross each other at right angles, and are of a sufficient width for cleanliness, beauty and health. The town is situated on the left bank of the Susquehanna, here nearly a mile wide, about a mile below the junction of the north and west branches; the site is a plain at the mouth of a fine valley, formed by the Shamokin creek, which empties into the river a little below the borough. The surrounding soil is very rich and productive; and is at this time rendered more beautiful by the waving fields of wheat, rye, corn, oats, &c. which appear to be most luxuriant. Near the town, both above and below, are ranges of high hills, which afford fine look-out points; one of these hills, called Mount Pleasant, I ascended this morning as the sun was just rising from his nap in Phoebus' lap. The scene was enchanting ;—at my feet, as it were, lay the borough in quiet repose, embowered in shade and foliage, and surrounded on three sides with rich fields, pastures and herbs. In front of the town was the river, which being here raised by the Shamokin dam, looked like an immense mirror, or a glassy lake, more than like a river. On the opposite side of the river, the land rose abruptly into a craggy mountain; looking further up the stream, I saw the two branches gradually approaching each other, till they met and mingled their waters. Over each of these were long bridges leading into and from the village of Northumthe country rose gradually from the plain, till it became berland, back of which and between the two branches, almost mountainous, yet covered to the very tops with fields, pastures, flocks, and herds. Turning again to the left, and looking down the Susquehanna, a sort of tic hills, and finally appearing to end in the blue tops vista was presented, bounded on each side with romanof mountains. Never have I beheld a more varied or beautiful landscape than was here presented. I feasted my eyes with the charms of the scenery, till the sun admonished me that I should lose my breakfast unless I descended again to the town. But if our surprize was great at observing such build. I was informed that a painting of this landscape was ings, in such a place, judge what it must have been made a few years ago by an Englishman, who took it when, on our return, we met five or six waggons loaded with him to England. As soon as a few hundred more with furniture, women, children, cats, dogs, and chick-individuals think proper to patronize the Herald, I shall 1835.] IMPROVEMENT OF THE ALLEGHENY. 55 It may appear to be a bold assertion, but it is nevertheless true, and I will venture to predict that such will be the opinion of every intelligent and unprejudiced mind, that a perfect steam boat navigation can be made from Pittsburgh to Olean for a less sum than it cost to make the canal from Pittsburgh to Kiskeminitas. I would not wish a better fortune than such a contract. What then is the plan proposed? In the first place I would suggest that if it has been found practicable to make a canal round the falls of the Ohio commencing with a lift lock in the pool below and passing along from thence with a canal and entering into the pool above; nay, if it is practicable to overcome nature in her vast admeasurements at the falls of Niagara by making a canal around the falls from the pool above to the pool below the falls, which is about being made, what difficulty can there be in making a canal around a ripple in the Allegheny river. But say our engineers we must have dams at these ripples, and Mr. Gay Kiskiminitas, at an estimated expense of $346,036 or an average cost of nearly $20,000 each, and Major Kearny's plan contains a much greater number and at an expense (not exactly recollected the report not be. ing before me) perhaps not greatly different. To the Citizens of Allegheny, Westmoreland, Butler, Armstrong, Venango and Warren Counties. FELLOW CITIZENS,-You are all interested more or less in the improvement of the navigation of the Allegheny river. That such a noble river should have so long remained unimproved, is a matter of surprise to many and of regret to all. The different means heretofore suggested for that purpose, have been so imperfect in their plan, (being all calculated, if not totally to destroy, yet materially to impede the descending naviga-states 18 to be necessary between French creek and tion through the natural channel of the river at a medium stage of the water) and so extravagant in the estimated expense, that the public mind has in a great degree become settled in the conviction that if any beneficial improvement be at all practicable it cannot be accomplished during the present generation. But why the necessity of an artificial dam when there' is already a natural dam at every ripple? There might and in many cases would be good sense in removing this natural dam, but none in increasing its height. The only possible beneficial result would be in producing slack water over several small ripples of perhaps one or two feet fall respectively, and where it would not be worth while to make a separate canal and locks at each. But in all such cases there can be no necessity either for dams or canals, (and it will be only in those cases where there may be a fall of four feet or upwards, that any canals or locks whatever will be necessary) and to prove this fact which if true will reduce the total lockage at least one half, with nearly a corresponding diminution of expense on that account alone, will be in part the object of the present address. In the report made by Edward F. Gay, Esq. to the board of canal commissioners of Pennsylvania, (see Hazard's Register of January, 1829, vol. 3, page 160) we are presented with the appalling sum of 2,100,534 16 as the expense of a canal for that portion of the river situated between the mouth of French creek and the Kiskiminetas river, a distance of only ninety-three and a quarter miles. And for a slack water navigation for steam boats carrying sixty tons burthen and capable of towing two keel boats of forty tons each, with a sum of $873,343 and with the express declaration that the water will never rise sufficiently high to permit lumber to pass over the dam with safety.' In this estimate the dams themselves eighteen in number are estimated to cost $346,036-and if the locks and navigation is to be made for the purpose of being navigated by canal boats and not by steam boats, we are presented with the moderate sum of $839,250 for the expense of towing paths alone, including the expense of the necessary protection walls. Our surveys and estimates have been made by Judge Geddes and Major Kearny, none of which are now before me. In speaking from recollection, however, neither of them appear to remove the insurmountable obstacle presented by the estimated expense of the work. It is true Major Kearny proposes low dams with long aprons which he supposes will not injure the descending navigation, and which is admitted It is well known by all acquainted with the Allegheto be true in stages of high water, but which neverthe-ny river that at low water mark it contains a suceession less, in a medium stage of water would totally obstruct the descending navigation. Under these circumstances I have been induced to turn my attention from my own professional pursuits, and trespass a little in the free warren of engineers, canal commissioners and contractors, to inquire if, in point of fact, there are such difficulties to overcome in improving the navigation of this river as have been presented-on examination of the subject with all the information I possessed or could acquire, I cannot hesitate to say that no such insuperable difficulties exist. To discover the means by which such an object may be obtained at a small comparative expense with any heretofore suggested and point out the mode by which it may be accomplished, would at the present time be considered a desideratum, and when the plan is submitted I have not the least doubt but that it will he scouted and ridiculed by many pretended scientific and practical men, as visionary and altogether inefficient, and which the very same individuals before six months will say, it is so plain that any person might have seen it,' that it was but putting the egg on end,' in fact that it is as plain as A. B. C. It is now some six years since meeting Major Kearny at Franklin, (at the mouth of French creek) who was then about commencing the survey of the Allegheny river, I inquired of him whether he would prefer an inclined plane from Olean to Pittsburgh for steam boat navigation provided he had always six feet water, or a stagnant pool? He replied, undoubtedly an inclined plane, for what you lost in ascending you would gain in descending, with this advantage, that the heavier burthens would be taken by the descending navigation which would be a positive gain. of pools and ripples. The pools from 2 to 8 miles in length and in one instance about 15 miles. The current of the water in these pools will not at low water average more than from one to two miles per hour. The total average at high water when fit for rafting lumber from Franklin to Pittsburgh will not exceed four miles an hour about the average of the Ohio and Mississippi. The pools in low water mark are from six to ten feet deep, what then would be the result if one of their natural dams at a ripple where there was a fall of one, two, or even three feet, should be removed. It would perhaps reduce the water in the pool above from ten to eight feet deep, or from six to four feet deep and increase the current in the upper pool from one to two miles an hour to say three or suppose even four miles the hour, which would in no degree affect the steam boat navigation injuriously. Let us next examine if this can be done and at a moderate expense. At the time alluded to of having met Major Kearny at Franklin, he enquired of a very intelligent and expe. rienced man (who had for some twenty years of his younger life, owned boats, and been in the habit of 56 IMPROVEMENT OF THE ALLEGHENY, steering them himself on the Allegheny river,) if there Thus far for the facility of removing of obstructions in the channel of the river, where there are small natural dams making ripples of from one to two or three feet fall. the canal round the falls of the Ohio, the guard lock is near the locks at the lower part of the canal, and therefore drift wood it is said, sometimes enters into the head of the canal. It is evident the only considerable expense in the plan suggested, would be the excavation of the earth; every body knows, who knows any thing of the Alleghany river, that uniformly at the one side of the ri ver, if not on both sides, the soil is alluvial. The easiest possible kind of earth to be removed. The height of the banks average from 25 to 30 feet inheight above low water mark. I propose, however, to obviate even this expense, trifling as it is, compared with that of erecting dams across the river, or tow paths, &c, &c. It is well known to all who have been on the Alle ghany river, and descended it at low water mark, who have not descended it "like a flour barrel," that all of the ripples and for a small distance above and along side of them there is a considerable shoal, which al It is also known that even though covered at high water and even at a medium state is bare at low water. the at high water, the current continues on the same side where it runs in times of low water, and that on the shoal side, it is either eddy water or a very gentle current indeed; my proposition then is to make the canals through these shoals, leaving a distance of 15 or 20 feet next the alluvial bank, for a berm bank, to commence the excavation at a period of low water, erect a coffer dam in four feet water in the upper pool immediately above the shoal, below which coffer dam commence chamber of the upper lock which dig four feet below the surface of the water in the upper pool, continue your canal at the same level until you come to the lower lock, the chamber of which to be dug in the same manner as the upper one to a depth of four feet below the surface of the pool below at low water mark, into this lift lock your boat enters, which when filled, passes nal would evidently require more digging at the upper along the canal and enters into the pool above; the capool to get through the bar, than as you approach the lower lock, as the shoal itself is an inclined plane, the digging would diminish. A wall some three feet high at the top and say six feet at the lower part from lock to lock would be sufficient. This wall to be ten I now approach another subject. The overcoming of the obstructions where there may be a ripple, mak. ing a fall of four feet or upwards; in Mr. Gay's report, although his dams are to be as high in some instances as fourteen feet, and in one instance eighteen feet high, and each dam frequently overcoming several small rip ples, yet in no instance do his lift locks exceed eight feet in height. There are no falls in the Allegheny river The ripples which will require locks may be consider-feet ed from four to six feet high; the length may be from forty to eighty perches, and there may be one or two In two instances Mr. Gay longer and many shorter. proposes canals, one at Paterson's Falls thirty chains long, and the other at Earl's Ripple, forty chains long, each of these canals, he states, are calculated to save a dam. The lift lock in each case is estimated at six and a half feet. from the outer edge of the canal against and over could be placed. which wall the excavation from the bed of the canal But it may be said the high water of the Alleghany would run over this-so it would, not only during exwas fit for rafting and for steam boat navigation over traordinary freshets, but perhaps, even when the river the ripples-but this would not injure the locks or gates (which would be left open during high water) nor the walls. Let it be recollected, that the canal would always be placed at the side of the river, where there would be no current or a very trifling one-the ice would never run against the walls, the water would be The question now presents itself, why we can not be contented with these natural dams we have already, instead of erecting others on the top of them, when it would be desirable, that neither the natural nor artifi-six or ten feet above it before the ice would run off, the cial were in existence, but that we had one regular inclined plane the whole distance, and what is the diffi. culty of sinking the chamber of a lift lock four feet below the surface of the low water mark in the upper pool, as well as if we added all the dams in christendom one on top of the other at the same ripple. The only objection I can perceive to adopting this plan is that it will at each ripple save some twenty thousand dollars in expense, not give employment to so many hands, nor room for such scientific displays in the construction of brush dams, and stone dams, and crib dams,posed but one lock would be necessary. With a refer &c. &c. as might be agreeable to learned engineers. In the plan suggested, in some instances, only one lock would be necessary, where the fall is not more than from 4 to 6 feet and the ripple short. The position of the lock would depend on circumstances; a protection wall and guard lock at the head of the canal each case might be deemed necessary, although in gates they may be shut or open without much or any difference, possibly by the upper gate being shut in some rare instance, some drift wood might be prevented entering. I am well assured that although the waters of the north and west branch of the Susquehanna frequently overflow the canal, locks and all, yet it never sustains any injury from the rapid current of those rivers, it is obvious that a great saving of expense would be the consequence of adopting this plan; and it is also perfectly clear that in many if not all canals pro ence to this subject in general, I went up the Allegheny a few days since accompanied by two intelligent and scientific friends; our examination and observations were confined to the first ripple on the Allegheny at Herr's Island. This however, may be considered a fair specimen of all the rest Along the western main shore passes a small branch 1835. IMPROVEMENT OF THE ALLGEHENY. of the Allegheny about fifty or more yards wide, and separated from the main branch by Herr's Island, the main branch of course passes on the east side of the Island where the current of the river runs as well in high water as in the p esent medium state of the water. So well understood is this fact that a person residing on the main shore of the small branch has a building erected on the bank of the main land to the waters edge, one end of which is supported on two upright legs, about ten feet in length, and placed as he informed me ahout three feet in the earth, and the frame of his building made to rest upon the top of the logs without any mortise whatever. The high freshet three years ago, raised two feet above the lower story of a light frame house belonging to the same person, nearly at the same place, without in any manner affecting its position. 57 placed from the pitman of the steam boat, &c; or mɩny At the Convention alluded to I proposed a resolution that the committee of correspondence should apply to the President and Managers of the New York and Erie rail road company, and also to the canal commissioners of Pennsylvania, for engineers to survey and examine the Allegheny river, to ascertain the best practicable mode of making it navigable for steam boats without injuring the descending navigation, and also to make an estimate of the probable expenses. This branch is, perhaps, one fourth of a mile in length. The upper part of the channel is bare at low water, as also a part at and immediately below the lower end of the Island, although a considerable depth of water remains in the greater part of the channel even at low water-about one third of the distance from the upper part of the Island is a fall of say one foot or 18 inches here a mill formerly stood and it appears to be the remains of the dam that makes the fall-on the east side of the Island the pool is said to continue to near the upper point of the Island, and the ripple extends up the river from 1-8 to 1-4 of a mile above the Island the total fall is estimated at 4 feet. Suppose that a lock was placed immediately at the dam where the old mill I thought in every instance it would be a subject for stood, with wing walls to the Island, and also to the main shore, the necessary excavation made at the low-examination and of skill, to decide what dams or riper part of the Island, and out of the chamber of the lock ples might be removed without making the pools above to permit, 4 or even 3 feet depth of back water from the too shallow for navigating at the lowest stage of the Allegheny at all times into it, and commence a canal water, and where locks would be nece sary, and the from the pool above say 3 or 4 feet deeper than the expense of the same, and also of the excavation. surface of the low water in the pool above, extend this such a report as they could make, would be relied upon excavation horizontally as far as excavation would be as containing absolute verity, both by the New York necessary towards the lock already mentioned-and company and the Legislature of Pennsylvania, as well as by stockholders, if a charter should be obtained. It make a wall as already mentioned from the upper pool to the upper part of the island, as already mentioned, the reaaons given in the negative are now satisfactory to was opposed and negatived by a majority. I doubt if and what difficulty with the single lock in passing a those who gave them-some were certainly of a singular steam boat through from pool to pool. The whole of character; one was that it would impede Legislative the expense, lock, excavation, and wall, would not cost ten thousand dollars; and, if completed, would action, as the Legislature would not act unless on a regive ten miles of as good permanent steam boat navi-port made by Surveyors appointed by themselveswhich if correct did not go to impede Legislative action. gation as any in the world." The most it would prove was, that it would not expe That Some were afraid of alarming Philadelphia—as if she would know nothing of the meeting and of the objects of it, unless such a resolution should be passed-and why be afraid of alarming Philadelphia, when the only tendency of such an alarm would be to prompt her to pursue active measures for the further improvement of the state. It will be a matter for the scientific and practical en-dite it. 'gineer on a careful examination of the river at low wa ter mark, to take the soundings of the different pools, in order to ascertain how much of the natural dam may in every case be removed and yet leave sufficient water for all the necessary purposes of navigation at times of the lowest water, as also to locate the places for the canals, locks and walls, &c. It would also be advisable to view the course of the current at high stages of the water, from a knowledge of which proper precautions could be used to guard against any possible injury. As to the mode of passing through the canal by steam boats, it is not necessary to say any thing; the means are obvious and various. I had also proposed a resolution to memorialize Congress for aid to this truly national improvement.-.But an honorable and learned member of Congress stated, that the Heads of Departments' had determined to grant no appropriation unless for improveTo the suggestions already made respecting a canal ments of a national character, below a port of entry.' navigation round the ripples of the Allegheny, I would Of course this resolution was negatived. A member of only add that by means of a guard lock at the upper the Convention in order to conciliate these high digend of the ripple as already proposed, no lock in the nitaries, proposed applying to Congress to make Olean lower pool would be necessary, and the intermediate a port of entry-an amendment was proposed to add space graded to a regular inclined plane of one fourth offor entry of staves and hoop poles'-so between the a degree, about which six feet perpendicular in a half a mile would give-upon which plane let a single rail way In the afternoon of the same day, however, with sinbe placed and a steam boat of one hundred tons burthen gular inconsistency, it was moved and supported by might be taken up such a rail way on such a plane, those who were so much afraid in the forenoon of alarmwith a power of about 17 hundred perpendicular ing Philadelphia, that a Convention should be held in weight, or being little more than 10 horses power. Franklin in November next, and that the Board of Trade This being sufficient to overcome the only opposing powers of gravity and friction, as usually estimated; which power could be readily brought to bear on the wheels of the cradle in which the steam boat would be VOL. XVI. 8 sublime and the ridiculous, all was lost. of Philadelphia and the Chamber of Commerce of New York should be invited to send delegates to the Convention. With a view of exposing this inconsistency, a proposition was suggested to apply also to the New your readers as may be inclined to devote a few minutes of their time in perusing them. On the third of June, at half past eight in the morn York rail road company to send delegates, which had the effect of procuring a negative to the resolution for holding a second Logomachic Convention. That this noble river should remain much longer un-ing, I stepped in the Rail road car, attached to a train improved is out of the question. It would be rejecting the bounty of Heaven bestowed upon us. It is not to be supposed that Philadelphia would adopt the illiberal policy of opposing it-she has great natural advantages for securing the largest portion of the western trade; this relative advantage she can still preserve by corres ponding exertions to improve by art the advantages of nature-it is still less to be expected that the legislature of Pennsylvania, who in pursuing a system of wise and liberal legislation, extended her canals of the Susquehanna to the tide waters of the Chesapeake would oppose it-and if all this was done the Riparious owners would by the aid of a company have it done without the sanction of a law, and legislation to oppose it would be as vain and tyrannical as the attempt to stop the navigation of the Scheldt by the treaty of Aix La Chapelle. A. W. FOSTER. NOTE. Since writing my communication, I had access to the Report of James Geddes, Esq. of the 6th of December, 1826-.- vide Report of the Pennsylvania Canal Commissioners, accompanied with documents, page 50. He says"in the 18th and 19th miles the river [Allegheny] falls eight and a half feet in nine hundred and thirty yards, and a wall of timber and stone, running parallel with the shore and made water tight for said distance, would afford water power sufficient to throw up water twenty-three feet high; the elevation of the canal above the river surface of that place ;---“ making such a wall half a mile long, and of an average height of six feet would cost when gravelled, about one thousand dollars" Strange indeed, that when a mill race could be thus made, without sustaining injury from high water, and from ice, that it should never have occurred to him, that a canal could be made on the same principles with perfect security; or is it in the change of the name that all the danger lies. at the depot in Broad street, in company with a friend and fellow traveller, besides a variety of others, to most of whom I was an entire stranger. We took our seats in the Pioneer Line to Pittsburg, and as soon as we reached the first inclined plane, on the western side of the Schuylkill, the horse power being dispensed with, we were drawn up the plane by a stationary engine, and then being attached to a locomotive, wended our way at a more rapid rate, through a delightful country, passing through Downingtown, Paradise, Soudersburg, and Lancaster, at which latter place we stopped to dine, and at five o'clock in the afternoon reached Columbia. Here our rail road excursion terminated, and a party, consisting of about forty, embarked on board the canal boat Susquehanna, Captain Morton, for Hollidaysburg. Nothing could exceed the politeness and attention of the commander of this boat, and the neatness and comfort of the accommodations. The table was excellent, and well supplied; the berths were neat and clean; the servants and superintendents active, dutiful, and obliging. The horses were good, and the riders young and active. The only objection that could be entertained for a moment, was the crowded state of the boat, and this was in a great degree removed by the excellent arrangement and economy of the gentleman who commanded, and the sub-officers and servants, who obeyed his commands. The canal throughout is well constructed, and reflects much credit on the engineers and workmen employed, though I must confess it would have been wise had the width of the canal been increased in some places, and the locks enlarged, so as to give greater facility in passing and repassing, which at a day not very remote must be remedied, as the business on this canal is rapidly increasing; and, in a year or two, by a corresponding increase, it will be rendered indispensably necessary. There is another objection, which to the passengers is a serious one. Many of the bridges are too low, so much so, that passengers on deck are obliged not only to sit down, but frequently to lie down flat on their backs, sides or fronts, and even then they are in danger of accident,and injury from the bridges, which I hope the legislature will not fail, at its next session, to remedy. Our pas sage to Hollidaysburg was delightful. The passengers, among whom were a number of ladies, were all polite and attentive to each other, not one exceptionable character among the whole group; and I may add with sa. tisfaction and pleasure, there was not an individual inclined to the use of ardent spirits, or to the excitement of unbecoming mirth. We arrived at Hollidaysburg in the evening of the 5th, having slept two nights in the boat, and early the ensuing morning, took our seat in the Rail road car, and reached Johnstown, the western side of the Allegheny mountain, distance 36 miles, at` one o'clock, A. M. Here we stopped a few days; but, before I enter into a description of this interesting and thriving place, I must give some account of the villages and towns we passed on our journey from Columbia, including Hollidaysburg and the rail road across the mountain. The town of Columbia is so well known as to need but little notice at this time. It is well located on the Susquehanna river, and affords an excellent site for a depot of great importance, being about 80 miles From Poulson's American Daily Advertiser. from Philadelphia, and a few miles less from Baltimore. Its trade in lumber is of very great magnitude, having TOUR IN PENNSYLVANIA. the two great sea-ports to supply; and the largest share NEWPORT, R. I. July 18, 1835. of the western trade by the Columbia rail road, and the Mr. Poulson,-It is but a few weeks since I took my Chesapeake and Delaware canal to Philadelphia; and departure from Philadelphia, on a tour to the west, as the natural channel of the Susquehanna, and the canal far as Pittsburg, and as some of the interesting scenes now making to Port Deposit, leading to Baltimore, give I was an eye witness to, are still fresh in my recollec-it many other advantages. A few miles from Columbia, tion, I am induced to devote an hour's leisure, in offer- the thriving village of Marietta is situated. This is also ing a sketch of my journey and observation, to such of a considerable place for the lumber trade, and presents A. W. FOSTER. MILITARY ELECTION.-The elections for Major Generals of Divisions, was held in pursuance of law, throughout the State on the 6th of July. We gather from our exchange papers notice of the election of the following gentlemen: Divisions: 1. Robert Patterson, Philadelphia. 2. John Davis, Bucks. 3. George Hartman, Chester. 4. David Miller, Lancaster. Andrew Duncan, York. 5. 6. George M. Keim, Reading. 7. Mathias O. Selfridge, Northampton. 8. Abbot Green, Union. 9. William Patton, Bradford. 10. David R. Porter, Huntingdon. 11. Samuel Alexander, Cumberland. 12. 13. Gideon John, Fayette. 14. 15. John M. Davis, Allegheny. 16. William W. Perkins, Crawford. Harrisburg Chronicle. |