Report To the Stockholders of the Schuylkill Navigation Company. The President and Managers of the Schuylkill Navigation Company, have the pleasure of submitting to the stockholders, the following report of their proceedings, during the past year, together with a concise account of the affairs of the company generally. A few days after the last annual meeting, an ice freshet occurred in the river Schuylkill, exceeding in magnitude and severity, any that had taken place within the recollection of the oldest inhabitant, being four feet higher than the memorable one of February 1822. The water rose in a few hours (in many places) twenty feet above its usual height, carrying with it, in its course over the company's dams, and other portions of their works, all the heavy ice, formed in the numerous large pools, and causing much injury to the works, at several of the most exposed situations. To make a thorough repair, and that there should not be any delay in opening the navigation for the trade, at its usual time in the spring, it became necessary, (notwithstanding the inclement season of the year) to take inmediate measures for their accomplishment, accordingly every exertion was made commensurate with the importance of the object; and by the first of April, the repairs were so far completed as to open the navigation for usc. The whole expense amounted to $30,664 77 of which one half has been charged to the contingent fund, and the balance to current expense account of the year. Considering the unusual height of the freshet the thickness and weight of the ice, carried over the company's dams, &c. it was gratifying to the Board of Managers, that the injury sustained, was much less than at first apprehended, and is an evidence of the strength and solidity of the works. The following improvements have been made since the last annual report to the stockholders. 1st. At the head of the Girard canal, a new twin lock built of cut stone and cement, which had been commenced the preceding season, has been finished, and the dam of about eighteen feet in height, across the river at that point which forms the pool, from which the canal of twenty-two miles in length, receives its supply of water, has been in part re-built and strengthened, by a new crib work of logs, placed in front, forming a slope, all firmly bolted together, filled with stone and covered with timber its whole extent, by which the dam has been made sub-tan ial, and as free from leaks as possible, 2d. At the head of the Oaks canal, opposite Phoenixville, a new set of twin locks, seventeen feet by ninety, built of cut stone and cement, in the most substantial manner; also a comfortable stone house for the Locktender, has been erect. ed; these have been put up, a short distance below the lock originally constructed, the situation of which was such, as not to admit of an additional one, which was necessary for the accommodation of the increasing trade. 3d.—At Custard's Island, a few miles above Norristown, a new set of twin locks, of the same dimensions as the last described, and built in the same substantial manner, of cut, stone and cement, have been erected. A dam intended to be constructed at this point (for which the materia's are prepa ed) will be put up the next season; when this shall have been accomplished, there will be a continuous towing path on the right bank of the river connecting with the other improvements of the company above and below, and the great inconvenience and detention, produced by boats being obliged to cross the river twice, near the above mentioned section as heretofore, will be obviated; further explanatory reasons for making the two last mentioned improvements, are more particularly detailed in the last annual report. 4th.-The dam at the head of the Manayunk canal, one of the most important on the line, as it furnishes water for numerous manufactories, from which the company receives a large annual revenue; this was believed to be unsafe, and so much water passed through it, during the severe drought of 183, as to render the navigation in the pool above extremely difficult, as well as endangering the constant supply of water for the navigation and the mills of Manayunk; to obviate these defects, it was deemed indispensably necessary, to build an entire new dam, with a sluice capable of drawing off the pool above at any time, should it be deemed necessary to clear out the channels: the whole has been completed (with new cut stone abutments) in the most substantial manner, located immediately in front of the old superstructure, that remains as a backing to the new dam, which is raised eighteen inches higher, giving five feet six inches depth of water, throughout the pool above, and capable of passing boats with one hundred tons cargo. The new dam is based upon solid rock its whole extent, and has been made as substantial and free from leaks as possible. the 5th. At the Schyulkill Falls Bridge, (a few miles above the city,) the space between the pier and the towing path is narrow, and the current so strong as to render the passage of boats at all times difficult, and in moderate freshets very dangerous. With a desire to render the navigation as perfect as possible, measures have been taken to increase the width of i passage, so as to remove the difficulties, in the accomplishment of which considerable progress has been made during the past season, but if yet remains to be completed. Several towing path bridges across the river, and new toll houses, have been put up; the towing paths have been raised and strengthened in many places, and the reservoirs on Tumbling Run, have each been raised two feet, for the purpose of increasing their capacity, the dimensions of which are as follows: No. 1. Fifty-three fect eight inches depth of water over the iron pipes at the mound, and contains per estimate, 25,550,000 cubic feet of water. No. 2. Fifty-four feet depth of water, as above, and containing 36,000,000 cubic feet of water. The Board of Managers have much pleasure in stating, that all the lift locks in the lower section of the works, between Philadelphia and Reading, (except two of trifling lift,) have been doubled? also all the combined locks, in the upper section above Reading, except one set (where only two are connected) near the head of the works. They have not suggested any further new improvements for the present. Of the loans heretofore authorized by the stockholders for new works, the following remains to be disposed of: Of loan January, 1839, Also, sundry certificates of the company's loans, at 54 per cent., that fell due on the 1st January, 1837, and were paid, the sale or renewal of which has been authorized by ordinance, (but not disposed of.) Also sundry certificates of loan, at 5 per cent. $51,264 00 75,743 97 18,125 81 $145,133 78 The above amount, it is believed, will be sufficient to finish those portions of new improvements already commenced, and to refund the amount temporarily borrowed, if made available by an increase of the rate of interest authorized. Therefore, we respectfully suggest that an ordinance be passed, authorizing the Board of Managers, to cancel the certificates of loans before referred to, amounting to $93,869 78, bearing an interest of five and five and a half per cent., and that a new loan be authorized for $120,000, at an interest of six per cent. per annum, in lieu thereof, and to re-pay $25,000, loan, due on the first instant, for which the draft of an ordinance has been prepared for the consideration of the stockholders. The whole quantity of anthracite coal sent to market in the year 1839, by the Schuylkill Navigation, per the reports of toll collectors, Tons, 442,608 To which add the number of tons remaining on the landings, as per report of January last 45,000 487,608 cleared out and passed;) the article being then in good demand, a much larger number could have been despatched, 27,000 had they been at hand, but for the purpose of making a calculation, the average number will be taken. 286,990 In making an estimate, it must be premised that all the boats are of suitable capacity, and that they perform their 100,694 voyages regular'y the whole season, from the first opening of 30,000 the works, on the 1st of April, to the usual time of closing them, about the 1st of December,-thirty-five weeks,-and • 14,000 we have the following result: 487,608 There was likewise brought to market in 1839, 9,561 tons of bituminous coal, from the Susquehanna mines, via the Pennsylvania, Union and Schuylkill canals. The coal shipped on the Schuylkill Navigation is brought to the different landings in the coal district by the following railroads, &c. The improvements recently made, will warrant even a much larger estimate. It may be interesting to the stockholders to learn, that a new plan of operation upon the Schuylkill Navigation, has been commenced during the past season, that promises to become of much importance to the interests of the Company. 80,182 We allude to the shipping of coal, &c, from the head of 70,278 the Schuylkill Navigation, direct to the city of New York, 47,759 and other intermediate markets, via the Delaware River, and 161,000 the Delaware and Raritan Canal, 10,694 Cargoes are taken on board of covered boats at Pottsville, 72,447 and other depots in the immediate neighbourhood of the coal mines, and delivered at New York or other markets; thus saving the time, waste and expense of discharging and reshipping as heretofore, equal to about seventy cents a ton; the same boats returning with cargoes of merchandise and other commodities, for which a market has been found so extensive, as to afford great encouragement to those engaged in it. 442,360 The whole quantity of Anthracite coal sent to market by the several canals in the year 1839, is as follows: By the Schuylkill Navigation, Tons, 442,360 140,651 41,565 By the Union Canal, via the Schuylkill Tons, One concern put into operation by two or three enterprising individuals, had, within the past season, fifty-five boats, averaging between fifty and sixty tons, each, employed in this trade; and although they did not get under way until late in the season, the quantity of coal carried by them, was 25,000 220,645 tons; and eight or ten other boats, owned by two individuals, 122,300 (also commenced at an advanced period of the season,) carried over 2,000 tons of coal, returning with a very consider248 able amount of back freight, required for consumption in the coal districts. And singular as it may appear, the article of 785,553 pressed hay, shipped from New York to Pottsville, is said to have yielded a liberal profit to the carrier. Being 61,717 tons more than the whole supply of 1838, From the ascending trade, Tonnage of the ascending trade, 123,706 11 $504,904 12 $70,217 83 $504,904 12 It is asserted on good authority, that arrangements are in progress, for an extensive enlargement of this trade for the next season. A trip from Pottsville direct to New York, is thus performed in seven days. The board of Managers offer to the Stockholders, as part of the Report, the following: A. A tabular statement of the business of the Company from its commencement, showing the quantity of coal, &c., transported, and the amount of tolls and rents received each successive year. B. A general account current, exhibiting the cost of the Tons, 65,192 works, amount of capital stock, money borrowed, current ex621,524 penses, &c. $16,957 83 $5,221 56 The estimated income from rents, &c., for 1840, $19,750 00 The capacity of the Schuylkill Navigation for the accommodation of the trade, has not yet been fully ascertained by actual regular business, to the extent of its capability; but some idea may be formed, from the number of boats that have been passed upon it, particularly those laden with anthracite coal, as follows: In 1837, 523,152 tons were conveyed to market, and in the month of October of that year, an average of 390 boats per week, of the four successive weeks in that month, were conveyed from the coal region, (and in one week 399 were i C & D. Accounts of the several articles conveyed up and down the Schuylkill Navigation, during the year 1839. The current expenses of the past year have been swelled to an amount much larger than usual, in consequence of the injuries sustained by the great ice freshet of January last, and other extraordinary repairs to the works. A committee of the Board of Managers visited the whole of the works, a few weeks past, and it is with much pleasure "that they we now state, in the language of their report, found the whole line of improvements, in much better order than on any preceding visit of examination." In closing this report, the Board of Managers congratulate the Stockholders on the prosperity of the Company, and with much pleasure, express their full confidence in its prospective continuance. All which is respectfully submitted. By order of the board, JOSHUA LIPPINCOTT, President. Office of the Schuylkill Navigation Company, Philadelphia, Jan, 6th, 1840. A.—General Statement of the business of the Company from its Commencement. D. Tonnage of Articles ascending the river in 1839. Religious Denominations in Connec tient. The Congregationalists have 232 Churches, 277 ministers, including 49 who have no pastoral charge, and about 40,000 communicants. The Calvinistic Baptists have 98 Churches, 77 ordained ministers, 20 licentiates, and upwards Tons 17,533 of 10,000 communicants. The Episcopalians have 63 do. 2,407 ministers, and about 7,000 members. The methodists had 4,452 in 1838, 40 ministers, and 7,000 members. There is a con. 13,147 siderable number of Universalist societies, two Unitarian, 1,801 two or three Roman Catholic, several Freewill Baptists, a 2,165 few Friends, a few Sandemanians, and one society of 544 Shakers, do. do. do. do. do. Pirates on the Banks of the Mississippi.-The annexed statement appears in the Vicksburg Sentinel of the 13th ult., signed by two citizens of Indiana: PIRATES! PIRATES! PIRATES! We caution the flat-boatmen, and all persons engaged in trade on the Mississippi river, to be on the look-out for a gang of pirates near the mouth of White river, who, on the night of the 28th of October last, fired from the shore at our boats as we were passing down the river; they hailed us and commenced abusing the boatmen on the river; we passed on quietly and made them no answer; we saw a short distance ahead of us a very large light, and persons moving around in front of it, and when we came opposite the fire, one of the gang picked up a torch to enable another of the party to fire at us with a gun heavily charged with large shot, several of which struck the sides of the boat, without doing any damage to any one on board. Immediately after, another torch was held up, and the sharp crack of a rifle was the immediate result. The ball passed us without injury, by which time we had nearly passed the light. We heard whistling and the sound of a horn, and two more lights sprung up ahead about half a mile. We immediately put out our lights on the boat, and dropped over on the opposite side of the river, near the bar, where we cast anchor, until about two in the morning. We raised our anchor without the least noise, and as the light went down on the shore, we were on our way again down the river. We believe there is a party of robbers in the neighborhood of White river, and again caution all persons to keep a good look-out for them or they may not escape as well as we did. Many boats have been robbed near this place and we have not the least doubt but that this is the same party. Pirates on the Mississippi.-The New Orleans Picayune gives an account of another attempt on the part of some of the river pirates, to murder the crew and take possession of a flat boat. Two men went on board a boat at Natchez, with the ostensible intention of purchasing it and the cargo, They however came to the conclusion to go to New Orleans in her and buy it there in New Orleans funds, at a price agreed upon. The only persons on the boat were an old man and his son. When they arrived near Red River, the two passengers commenced an attack upon the owners.They first struck the old man with an axe, and inflicted two very severe wounds. They then made a dash at the son, but he jumped overboard and swam to the shore. His escape frightened the ruffians, and they took the skiff attached to the flat boat and made their escape. They have not yet been arrested. National Medical Convention. The third decennial National Medical Convention for the revision of the Pharmacopoeia of the United States, assembled in the City Hall, Washington, on the 1st January, 1840. emendation of the Pharmacopoeia of 1830, this subject engaged its attention primarily, and, after mature deliberation and a free interchange of opinion among the delegates from different parts of the Union, the Convention referred to a committee of seven members all the documents in its possession, with instructions carefully to revise, prepare, and publish the Pharmacopoeia of the United States for 1840, under the authority of this Convention. Arrangements were also made for the assembling of the fourth decennial Convention in Washington, on the first Monday in May, 1850. Other business of great interest to the medical profession of the country was transacted; and a zeal for the extension of medical science, together with a spirit of generous cordiality, was manifested by the delegates, which must contribute greatly to secure the objects of the Convention. Having passed votes of thanks to the officers of the Convention, and to the Board of Aldermen for the use of their room, the Convention, after a session of three days, adjourned. National Intelligencer. MR. HALE.-During the three recent gales, the fall of the barometer was so great and sudden, that perhaps the following account thereof may be acceptable to you. In each of these storms the mercury began to sink from 12 to 20 hours before the wind became violent, and almost simultaneously with the change of the wind from West to East, and thus as usual gave notice of the approaching gale. In the storm of Dec. 15th, the Barometer began to fall on the 14th, at 7 P. M., and fell 1,15 inch, or from 30,11 inches to 29,96 inches. In the storm of the 23d, it began to fall on the 22d at 11, A. M. and fell 0,51 inch, or from 30,18 inch to 29,67 inches. In the storm of the 28th, it began to fall on the 27th, at 10 A. M., and fell 1,59 inch, or from 30,36 inches to 28,77.(These altitudes are corrected for the change of level in the cistern of the barometer, are reduced to the mean height of the sea, and for the internal thermometer at 50 degrees.) On the 15th and 23d, the Barometer began to rise, whilst the storm was still violent, but on the 28th, although the wind had nearly died away by 9, A. M. the Barometer continued to sink, but very slowly, until 9, P. M. from which it seems highly probable, that the storm continued through the day, at no very great distance from us. Indeed the depression of 1,59 inch in the altitude of the Barometer, from the 27th to the 28th, is most extraordinary, being about one nineteenth of the whole altitude, and as the mean pressure of the atmosphere is about fifteen pounds on every square inch of surface, it follows that, on Saturday, on every square foot the pressure was less by one hundred and fifteen pounds than on the day preceding. It may be proper to add, that no regard should be paid, by those who may consult the Barometer, to the words, "Fair, Change, Rain," &c., sometimes found thereon; they are worse than useless, and are now generally omitted on good The following Medical Societies and Colleges were repre- instruments; the rising or sinking of the column of mercury, sented in the Convention, viz. The Rhode Island Medical and the direction of the wind are only to be regarded. As a Society; the New Jersey Medical Society; the College of general rule whenever the Barometer falls in this city, with a Physicians of Philadelphia; the University of Pennsylvania; Northeast wind, bad weather may be expected; exceptions to the Jefferson Medical College; the Delaware Medical Society, this rule sometimes occur, but even in these cases there is the Washington University of Baltimore; the Medical and reason for believing that a storm exists, too distant to be perChirurgical Faculty of Maryland; the Medical Society of the ceived here, though not too remote to affect our atmosphere District of Columbia; the Columbian Medical College; the and although this instrument may thus sometimes indicate Vincennes Medical Society of Indiana, and the Georgia Med- a storm, which does not reach us, it seldom, perhaps, it may ical Society. The credentials of the delegations from the be said never, fails to give notice of the approach of an EastWhite Mountains Medical Society of Vermont, from the Med-erly gale to our coast. ical Society of New Hampshire, from the Albany Medical The recent storms produced extraordinarily high tides, for Society, and from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of this season of the year. The tide of the 28th was about six Lexington, Kentucky, were presented by the President, but inches higher than that of the 23d, and with the exception the Delegates were prevented from attending. of that of March 26th, 1830 was the highest I have ever observed. The Convention elected Lewis Condict, M. D., of New Jersey, President; George B. Wood, M. D. of Philadelphia, Vice President; N. W. Worthington, M. D., of Georgetown, D. C., Secretary; Harvey Lindsly, M. D., of Washington city, Assistant Secretary. The quantity of snow that has fallen this winter in this city, is about five inches, viz. Dec. 15th and 16th four inches, and on Dec. 23d one inch; but of this there is very little now The chief object of the Convention being the revision and remaining. The greatest cold in this city, occurred on the 19th, viz: 93 degrees above zero. In November the greatest depression was on the 23d, 18 above. In Michigan and Illinois, that morning, the thermometer was 10 to 15 below, or 28 to 33 degrees lower than here. In Cincinnati it was at zero. -Bost. Pat. SUGAR vs. COTTON. We are aware that it has been a question for some time past with our planters, and one which truly deserves attention, whether the culture of sugar can be carried on in Louisiana with as much profit and success as that of cotton. The opinion has obtained pretty generally throughout the State judging from the remarks of planters and other sources, that the crops of sugar are attended with much less certainty, and the profits fall considerably short of those of cotton; and consequently it is no unusual thing to see a large sugar plantation converted into cotton fields, and valuable sugar houses used for mere storage, or allowed to stand idle. The effect of cases of this nature is of the most prejudicial kind to the cane growing interest. Young planters are by this means deterred from entering into this species of business from the fact of seeing others leaving it, without stopping for a moment to reason, or inquire upon the subject. Such we think, ere long will regret the step. The prospect of the cotton market at present is any thing but favourable and it is ever, by far, more fluctuating and uncertain than that of sugar, and we should not be surprised if the crops of many plantations this year should sell at a less rate than the actual cost of making them, and especially where these plantations are purchased upon a credit, at ten per cent. interest. This sinking condition then of the market, should have the effect of encouraging those already engaged in the cultivation of the cane, and lead others to examine into the subject. We have been at some little pains to obtain information, on the comparative profits arising from the cultivation of these two great staples; and the results so far, appear to be decidedly in favour of the sugar planter. An acre of ground which will produce four hundred and fifty pounds clean cotton, will produce twelve or thirteen hundred pounds of sugar, besides the usual portion of syrup and molasses. Thus we have been informed by planters whose fields lie side by side. And the amount of labour required for the latter is no greater than the former, four and five acres being the average quantity for each hand to tend. What are the conclusions, then, to be drawn from these facts? They are, that the ratio in pounds between the sugar and cotton, is nearly that of three to one, or that the same land will yield three pounds of sugar to one of cotton. Valueing the sugar at five cents and the cotton at ten, we have a balance in favour of sugar one-third, not considering the molasses, which is generally sufficient to defray all the expenses of the cultivation. Such we believe would be nearly the state of the case if facts were obtained and examined. simple law of supply and demand would be more equal in its influences, in both branches of trade of these great staples. Baton Rouge Gazette. Allegheny River Business. On the Allegheny Do. Do. do. Grand total 1433 1608 1716 650 3974 Petersburg Va. Jan. 1 Washington Buffalo Mendon 7 deg. DEPTH OF SNOW. Level. Drifted. Jan. 1 zero Jan. 3 6 deg. Dec. 31 5 deg. Jan. 3 4 deg. Dec. 31 Jan. 2 Frostb'g Md. Dec. 31 2 to 6 feet 10 feet The Herald appends to these statements the following remark: Another circumstance in relation to this subject, deserves the attention of the planter: that, while the call for home consumption is continually increasing the ability on the part of the foreign planter to afford supplies, will probably continue to diminish. It has been remarked by a writer in the Boston Courier, that the sugar business in the British West Indies cannot thrive under the new system of managing. It is not a little singular, that while snow fell in almost And the rigorous measures about to be enforced against the every county in Pennsylvania, not a particle fell in St. MaAfrican slave trade, will probably enhance the price of slavesy's county. This, to a great degree, proves the centripetal in the Spanish Islands, and diminish the amount of sugar an- and so snow fell all around. theory of storms. St. Mary's was in the centre of the storm, nually made. The natural increase of slaves in Cuba, falls far short of the demand on account of the excessive hard labour to which they are subjected. The men being worked during eight months in the year, twenty hours out of the twenty-four, and consequently are short lived. Every thing, then seems to be in favour of the sugar planter and bids him take courage. The subject, when viewed in the light of political economy, or in that of individual interest, carries with it a strong plea for the attention and study of the planter. Were a part of the capital and industry at present embarked in the cotton trade transferred to the sugar line, the storms," the St. Mary's county here referred to is not in PennUnfortunately for the Herald's "centripetal theory of sylvania at all. It lies in Maryland, and is the most southern county of this State, on the western shore of the Chesapeake. The Ohio Statesman says that the Legislature of that State, under a resolution of the House, has elicited the fact that the Bank of Zanesville has sold in Philadelphia, since the first of September, $20,780 26 in specie, and that the Bank of Muskingum sold $10,000, or in other words, have been purchasing their own notes at a discount. |