if 
 
 ADDRESS 
 
 TO 
 
 THE PUBLIC 
 
 BY THE 
 
 T.flf!!Tfl WflTT!W COAL MUIE 
 
 AND 
 
 NAVIGATION COMPANY, 
 
 RELATIVE TO THE 
 
 PROPOSED CANAIf 
 
 FROM 
 
 THE HUDSON 
 
 TO THE 
 
 HEAD WATERS OF THE LACKAWAXEN RIVER 
 
 AQCOMPANIED BY DOCUMENTS * 
 
 orft: 
 
 Printed by Wm. Grattan, Thames St. 
 1824 *. 
 
* 
 
 COFTTEKT S. 
 
 3. Address by the LacJcaivaxen Company. 
 
 2. Correspondence between Governor Clinton and Messrs , 
 Cantine and Ruggles . 
 
 3. Testimony as to the quantity of Coal . 
 
 4. Supplements to the Charter of the Delaware and Hudson 
 Canal Company , 
 
Notice having been given, that Books will be opened on 
 the 7th of January next, to receive subscriptions to the stock 
 of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, it is deemed 
 expedient, on behalf of the Lackawaxen Coal Mine and Na¬ 
 vigation Company, at whose,instance the chartered privileges 
 of the former company were granted, briefly to lay before 
 the public a few facts and documents, which have not yet 
 been submitted for its consideration. 
 
 The charter of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company 
 having been published, in pamphlet form, in connexion with 
 the Report of Messrs. Benjamin Wright and J. L. Sullivan, 
 it is deemed unnecessary to give it a place among the docu¬ 
 ments hereto annexed. Those who may wish to examine it, 
 are respectfully referred to the pamphlet above mentioned.* 
 Suffice it to say, at this time, that the charter is perpetual in 
 its duration, and as liberal in its provisions as could be de¬ 
 sired. The extent to which the banking privileges may be 
 used in aid of the primary object of the incorporation, will 
 be seen by reference to the Act granting them, which is pub¬ 
 lished herewith. 
 
 The above remarks, as to the liberal and comprehensive 
 nature of the charter of the Delaware and Hudson Canal 
 Company, will also apply to the one under which the Lack- 
 
 * This Pamphlet may be seen at the bar of the Tontine Coffee House ; or if 
 any person should wish to examine it with more mature deliberation than so 
 public a place will admit, he may procure a copy for that purpose, by calling 
 upon a Committee of the Lackawaxen Company, at Sykes’s Hotel. 
 
4 
 
 awaxen Coal Mine and Navigation Company is authorised 
 to make a Canal navigation from the mouth of the river 
 Lackawaxen to its source. This charter will likewise be 
 found in the Appendix to the pamphlet, containing the Re¬ 
 port of Messrs. Wright and Sullivan. Under these several 
 and conjoint Acts of the Legislatures of Pennsylvania and 
 New-York, ample power and authority is given to open a 
 Canal, or slack water navigation, from the Hudson river, 
 through the comities of Ulster, Sullivan, or Orange, to the 
 Lackawaxen Coal Mines in Pennsylvania, upon such terms 
 as give to the Company entire protection in the control and 
 possession of their improvements, and the profits arising from 
 them.* 
 
 It is to effect the opening of this navigation, that subscrip¬ 
 tions will be received on the 7th of January, 1825, to the 
 stock of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company; at 
 which time it is proposed so to consolidate the interests, 
 privileges, and property of the Lackawaxen Coal Mine and 
 Navigation Company with those of the Delaware and Hud¬ 
 son Canal Company, as to form but one concern : in other 
 words, to merge the existence of the former Company in that 
 of the latter. 
 
 Fully impressed with the necessity of demonstrating the 
 physical practicability of the proposed improvement, before 
 presenting it for public consideration, the proprietors of the 
 Mines engaged gentlemen of high professional standing and 
 experience to survey the whole line, and furnish an estimate 
 
 *It may be proper here to remark, that at the time of the passage of the bill, 
 conferring bank privileges, the Lackawaxen Coal Mine and Navigation Com¬ 
 pany voluntarily agreed, that the Legislature of New-York might, at its next 
 session, pass a supplement to the charter, fixing the maximum of toll, between 
 the Delaware and Hudson rivers, upon all articles save Coal, at a rate which 
 will average about 50 per cent, above the tolls charged on the Northern and 
 Western Canals. But the tolls upon Coal are to remain as now fixed in the 
 Charter, so that the Company may retain that trade exclusively in its own 
 hands, if it 6hall see proper. 
 
 
§ 
 
 of the expense of the work. This has been done; and the 
 preliminary Reports, already published, of Messrs. Benjamin 
 Wright and J. L. Sullivan, (the former Chief Engineer of the 
 Erie Canal, and the latter one of the Board of Internal Im¬ 
 provement appointed by the President of the United States, 
 under the late act of Congress,) are confidently referred to, 
 as containing the most conclusive and satisfactory evidence 
 of the practicability of the work. 
 
 The Lackawaxen Company are also sensible, that every 
 work of this nature and magnitude, when proposed to be ac¬ 
 complished by individual enterprise and capital, must have 
 an adequate basis in private interest; for however gratifying 
 it may be to promote the public prosperity, yet in order that 
 such may be the sure consequence, it is necessary that the 
 foundation be deeply and securely laid, in the certainty of 
 benefit and remuneration to the stockholders themselves. 
 This foundation is laid, in the possession by the Company 
 of an inexhaustible body of coal, of the purest and best qual¬ 
 ity—in the legislative grants by which the Company is au¬ 
 thorised to make a Canal from the Hudson to the Mines, 
 through an important and growing section both of Pennsyl¬ 
 vania and New-York, with full authority to carry on the 
 coal trade, to the exclusion of all other persons, if the Com¬ 
 pany shall see proper—and in the liberal auxiliary banking 
 powers conferred upon the Company, by the legislature of 
 New-York.* 
 
 The existence, in Pennsylvania, of a vast body of the 
 richest coal, is a fact which requires no comment. It is well 
 known to occupy a wide extent of country. Commencing 
 near the Susquehanna river, above Harrisburgh, it ranges 
 
 * It may Rot be uninteresting to remark, that the line of the Canal may be 
 so extended, on this route, as to command the trade of the Susquehanna river. 
 The Lackawanock river, which is a fine stream, interlocks with the Lacka¬ 
 waxen, and discharges its waters into the Susquehanna about nine miles above 
 Wilkesbarre. The statute book of Pennsylvania contains an act, authorising 
 an incorporation of a Company to make a Canal, or lock navigation, on the 
 
in a north easterly direction, and passing the head waters 
 of the Schuylkill, it has, at that point, presented a sufficient 
 inducement for improving the navigation of that river, at an 
 expense of $1,750,000, in order to supply the City of Phila¬ 
 delphia with coal. It is traced from thence to within nine 
 miles of the Lehigh river, which distance, the Lehigh Com¬ 
 pany now haul it to their landing on the stream, after hav¬ 
 ing expended several hundred thousand dollars in forming 
 merely a descending navigation to the mouth of the Lehigh, 
 in order to reach the Philadelphia market. From this point, 
 it extends still in a north easterly direction, to the east 
 branch of the Susquehanna river, and up the valley of the 
 Lackawanock, to its source north of Rix’s Gap. It is at 
 Rix ? s Gap, that part of the mines of the Lackawaxen Com¬ 
 pany are situated, which, from their proximity to the head 
 of the Lackawaxen river, are accessible by a Canal from 
 the Hudson. This range of country abounds with the arti¬ 
 cle : but the mines owned by this Company, were selected 
 and purchased some years ago, with an especial reference 
 to the facilities which their locality presents for transporting 
 the coal to market, by the waters of the Lackaw r axen. In 
 relation to the quality and abundant quantity of the article, 
 which of course is an important and leading consideration, 
 it is apprehended, that a reference to the annexed docu¬ 
 ments on that head, will be found entirely satisfactory. 
 
 These mines being vested in the Canal Company, thg 
 coal trade would of course be carried on by it: and the in¬ 
 ducement which the contemplated undertaking (in this point 
 of view) presents to capitalists, to embark their funds in it, 
 
 Lackawanock; no sufficient motive, however, has yet been presented. But 
 that rhotive would at once be presented, if a Canal were opened from the Hud¬ 
 son to the Lackawaxen Mines. It will be discovered in its full force, by a 
 glance at the map of Pennsylvania, where this great river may be traced, al¬ 
 ready navigable, to its numerous sources, among the populous and productive 
 counties of the we6t. 
 
will of course be a subject of inquiry. On this point, the 
 attention of the reader is invited to the opinion of Governor 
 Clinton, as expressed in the annexed correspondence be¬ 
 tween him and Messrs. Cantine and Ruggles : and he will 
 be good enough to bear in mind, that this correspondence 
 took place, prior to the passage of the act, which conferred 
 extensive banking privileges upon the Company. The effi¬ 
 cient aid, which those privileges will give to the Company, 
 both in the construction of the Canal, and in their subsequent 
 operations, every one can appreciate. 
 
 But in order (hat this point may be examined more mi¬ 
 nutely, the estimate of the expense, per ton, of delivering the 
 article in New-York, as submitted with the Report of the 
 Engineers heretofore mentioned, is referred to, with an entire 
 confidence in its being more than sufficient to cover all charges. 
 That estimate has been made with the most careful and 
 minute reference to every step in the business, and to every 
 possible charge that can accrue, and with a determination 
 to err rather upon the side of liberality, than the contrary. 
 It is there exhibited, in detail, in order that its accuracy 
 may be tested by a rigid examination, which is invited, in 
 the full assurance that those who give to it this critical at¬ 
 tention, will be disposed to diminish, rather than add to the 
 general result: namely, two dollars sixty-four and one half 
 cents per ton, or less than nine and a half cents per bushel. 
 
 This being the cost of the article, delivered on the wharf, 
 at the City of New-York, the dividends of the Company will 
 depend upon the price the article would bring, the quantity 
 that could be annually sold, and the capital that would be 
 required. In Philadelphia, the Lackawaxen Coal brings 
 $10 per ton—28 bushels to the ton. The Lehigh Com¬ 
 pany, during the past season, have sold theirs at $7:33. 
 Suppose we assume the price at which the Lackawaxen 
 should be sold in New-York, at $6 per ton, at which rate 
 it is cheaper than Liverpool at $3 for the same quantity: 
 
It will be seen, from Mr. Clinton’s letter to Mr. Cantine, 
 that lie computes the consumption of the City of New-York 
 at 120,000 tons annually. But let us take the whole mar¬ 
 ket, namely, the City of New-York—the towns upon the 
 Hudson—the borders of the Canals, and the interior of the 
 State, including the Salt Works—New Jersey, and the east¬ 
 ern ports, at the very moderate quantity of 160,000 tons, 
 annually : 
 
 The estimated expense of the Canal, by the Engineers, is 
 $1,208,632:95. To this add the floating capital that would 
 be necessary to prosecute the Coal business, and for the sake 
 of round numbers, assume the whole capital of the Company 
 at $1,500,000, exclusive of the stock to be issued to 'he Penn¬ 
 sylvania Company , for the property and privileges to be by 
 them thrown into the concern : 
 
 We have, then, our data, and let us see what would be the 
 result. The cost of 160,000 tons, at $2:64 1-2 per ton, is 
 $423,200. Sold at $6 per ton, it would produce $960,000. 
 The gain to the Company would be $536,800; equal to 35 
 per cent, and upwards, on $1,500,000. 
 
 This result, it will be remarked, does not include the ope¬ 
 rations of the Bank, w hich will, of course, add to the profits 
 of the Company ; nor does it include the tolls which would 
 be received for the transportation of the agricultural products 
 of an extensive and fertile country ; the lumber, tan-bark, 
 staves, brick, and other materials, found in great abundance 
 upon the Kne of the Canal; the return loading of merchan¬ 
 dize, salt, gypsum, lime, &c. altogether furnishing a source of 
 large revenue to the Company, independent of the Coal bu¬ 
 siness. 
 
 This per centage upon the investment, so far exceeds the 
 usual product of capital, that this very circumstance may in¬ 
 duce doubts in the minds of some, as to the accuracy of the 
 several steps by which such a result is shown. The projec¬ 
 tors of this work would indeed have reason to congratulate 
 
9 
 
 themselves on their singular good fortune, if doubts did not 
 arise in the minds of those, whose attention has been but 
 slightly, if at all, directed to the merits of such enterprises. 
 Incredulity is a difficulty with which every project of this 
 kind has had to struggle in its infancy : the citizens of New- 
 York, particularly, need not be reminded, that the splendid 
 works which are now the pride and glory of their own state, 
 and the admiration of the union, w ere once, with many per¬ 
 sons, not merely a subject of doubt, but of ridicule. Experi¬ 
 ence, however, has fully tested the enlightened views and 
 sound judgment of those who projected theift. That, from 
 which many anticipated ruin to the finances of the state, is 
 now regarded as one of her most prolific sources of revenue. 
 In a recent publication, after giving a schedule of the articles 
 transported upon the Erie Canal during the past year, it is 
 remarked, that “ it is ascertained that the toll received du¬ 
 ring the year, on the Western Canal alone, amounts to 
 $256,000, which pays an interest of 5 per cent, on $5,120,000. 
 The tolls on the Northern Canal are not included ; but it is 
 within the bounds of reason to say, that the revenue from 
 both Canals, by the year 1830, will be upwards of half a 
 million of dollars, over and above paying, costs, and charges 
 for repairs,” he. 
 
 In addition to the revenue derived from the transportation 
 of the same kind of articles which furnish the business of the 
 Erie and Champlain Canals, the Delaware and Hudson Ca¬ 
 nal would have the benefit of the Coal trade. We have the 
 assurance of Mr. Clinton, in the annexed letter from him to 
 Mr. Ruggles, that “ whenever coal forms the principal arti¬ 
 cle of transportation on a Canal, the investment of money is 
 always considered lucrative.” 
 
 If we refer to the experience of England, we find twenty- 
 six Canals, in the construction of which, coal was the prima- 
 ry object. The stock in all of them is above one hundred 
 per cent, advance; and some have risen to an astonishing 
 
10 
 
 degree. According to the London Financial and Commer¬ 
 cial Record of the 11th February, 1823, 
 
 THE STOCK IN THE 
 
 Birmingham Canal cost, per share, £25 and sells for £565 
 
 Coventry ,, 
 
 33 
 
 100 
 
 33 
 
 999 
 
 Erewash ,, 
 
 3 > 
 
 100 
 
 33 
 
 1000 
 
 Grand Junction 
 
 33 
 
 100 
 
 33 
 
 218 
 
 Leeds and Liverpool 
 
 S3 
 
 100 
 
 33 
 
 278 
 
 Leicester 
 
 33 
 
 100 
 
 33 
 
 200 
 
 Oxford 
 
 33 
 
 100 
 
 33 
 
 040 
 
 Stafford and Worcester 
 
 3? 
 
 100 
 
 33 
 
 642 
 
 Warwick and Birmingham 
 
 33 
 
 100 
 
 33 
 
 210 
 
 Warwick and Upton 
 
 3> 
 
 100 
 
 JJ 
 
 235 
 
 Mersey and Irewcll 
 
 33 
 
 100 
 
 J3 
 
 650 
 
 A late English publication quotes the Loughborough, 
 which cost £100 per share, as selling for £3,500. The 
 Trent and Mersey, which cost £100, sold for £2,280 per 
 share in May, 1824.* 
 
 Considering the extent and growing character of the mar¬ 
 ket, which the proposed canal would open for the Lacka- 
 waxen coal, no good reason can be given why the stock of 
 the Company should not rise in the same proportion. 
 
 ^STAFFORDSHIRE—GRAND TRUNK, OR TRENT AND MERSEY CANAL. 
 
 The additional tunnel through Harecastle Hill, was commenced last month. 
 It is calculated to occupy the labour of five years, during which several hun¬ 
 dred men must be employed. The expense has been estimated at a guinea an 
 inch, (forward.) The distance being about one mile and three quarters, or 
 2880 yards, which alone will make 103,680 guineas. The total expense has 
 been calculated at a quarter of a million sterling. Shafts will be sunk and 
 steam engines erected for raising the earth, Szc. at different points of elevation, 
 the tunnel averaging about seventy yards in depth from the surface of the hill. 
 The Grand Trunk Canal was begun in 1767, and finished in 1777, and such is 
 the richness of the Company and the business of the Canal, that the cost is 
 no object compared to the advantages to be gained .—London New Monthly 
 Magazine , for June , 1824. 
 
 The above Canal is about 100 miles in length, and overcomes a fall of 642 
 feet by 77 locks, and 1ms already one tunnel through Ilarecastle Hill 2888 
 
11 
 
 In conclusion, it is believed on the part of those who pre 
 sent the subject for public consideration, that a careful and 
 sober examination of its merits, will induce a conviction, that 
 an union of the Lackawaxen Coal Mine aud Navigation Com¬ 
 pany with the Delaware and Hudson Canal*Company, under 
 the charters* now in existence, so as to combine the coal, ca¬ 
 nal, and banking operations, in one common stock, will lay 
 the foundations of an institution, possessing in itself the means 
 of unrivalled aggrandizement and prosperity; the three seve¬ 
 ral branches of the concern, like the tributary streams of a 
 mighty river, uniting to form a deep, permanent, productive 
 current of business, co-extensive with the progress of the po¬ 
 pulation and improvement of the City and State of New- 
 York. 
 
 Subscriptions to the Stock of the Company will be taken, 
 on the 7th day of January, 1825, at the Tontine Coffee-House . 
 in the City of JYew-YorJc; and on the same day at Goshen , in 
 the County of Orange , and Kingston , in the County of Ulster. 
 
 yards in length, 9 feet wide, and 12 feet high, another at Preston-on-the-hill of 
 1241 jards, at Barton of 572 yards, at Saltersford another of 350 yards, and 
 at Hermitage of 130 yards. It has several reservoirs to feed the summit, cov¬ 
 ering together about 220 acres, and there are a number of rail ways and 
 branch cuts connecting the Canal with mines and quarries. The boats usedcire 
 80 feet long and 6 feet wide, and the locks 7 feet wide. The rates of tonnage 
 are a penny-half-penny per mile, and the articles carried upon it are coals, salt, 
 pottery wares, lime, gypsum, slates and agricultural products. Ihe Shares , 
 Originally 100/. each, sold as high as 2280/. each, in May, 1824. 
 
OOAXtESFOnrDEXIJCti 
 
 BETWEEN 
 
 Gov. Clinton and Messrs. Cantine and Haggles. 
 
 — &QQ — 
 
 Extract of a letter from Abraham Cantine , Esq. of Ulster cc un J 
 ty , to De Witt Clinton , Esq . dated *Vov. 15, 18:23.. 
 
 Silt, 
 
 Since the passage of the act of last winter, to incorporate 
 the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, great interest 
 has been excited on the subject, in this and some of the ad¬ 
 joining counties. I accompanied Mr. Mills on the survey 
 made by him, under the direction of Judge Wright, from the 
 tide water of the Hudson river, near Kingston, to the Coal 
 beds of the Messrs. Worts, in the state of Pennsylvania. Af¬ 
 ter having finished running the level, our party visited the 
 Coal bods: they are inexhaustible ; and the Coal not only ap¬ 
 pears to the eye, but on trial in a grate, proved to be of su¬ 
 perior quality. From such information as has reached me 
 relative to the survey of the New-Jersey route, I am led to 
 believe, that a Canal may be constructed here at less expense 
 than there, and furnish better Coal. 
 
 But information is yet wanted on several points connected 
 with this subject, and many gentlemen of respectability have 
 made inquiries of me, not only with respect to the probable 
 expense of the undertaking, but as to the revenue which 
 might be expected to arise from the work when completed. 
 The inquiries on the first point will be satisfied when Judge 
 Wright shall have made the survey and estimate, which it 
 was expected would have been done this fall. With res¬ 
 pect, however, to the profits, which the stockholders might 
 
18 
 
 
 be expected to derive, I am at a Joss whence to obtain the 
 data , by which to form any estimate. Information is want¬ 
 ed with respect to the amount paid annually, for fuel, in the 
 City of New-York; what quantity 6f Coal could be substi¬ 
 tuted for wood in that City, and what would be the differ¬ 
 ence in the expense; what quantity would probably find a 
 market on the borders of the Hudson, in the eastern Atlan¬ 
 tic cities, towns, and manufacturing establishments; fixing 
 the price, per ton, at tide water near Kingston. 
 
 1 am aware, that there may be difficulty, in obtaining pre¬ 
 cise and definite information on those points : but from your 
 intimate knowledge of the City of New-York ; the great at¬ 
 tention you have bestowed upon the internal economy of the 
 State; the experience derived from the discharge of your 
 public duties, and your desire to promote the interests of do¬ 
 mestic industry, I have been induced, upon the suggestion 
 of several respectable citizens of this county, to address my¬ 
 self to you, for such information on the subject as you may 
 possess. 
 
 Any information you may have the goodness to commu¬ 
 nicate, will lay me, and many others in this quarter, un¬ 
 der the highest obligations. 
 
 Very respectfully, Sir, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 ABRAHAM CANTINE, 
 
 DE WITT CLINTON TO ABRAHAM CANTINE, ES^» 
 
 Albany , 4 December , 1823. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 I did not receive your.letter of the 15th ultimo, until my 
 return from New-York, two or three days ago: and I now, 
 with great pleasure, devote my first leisure moments to a 
 reply. 
 
14 
 
 It would have been very gratifying to me, to haVe ex¬ 
 plored the line of your contemplated Canal, which I should 
 certainly have done, if your intimation had been made at \xn 
 earlier period : and if this measure is considered of impor¬ 
 tance, I shall not fail to attend to it, at any time that may 
 be deemed most eligible next spring. Judge Wright, who 
 is now in Pennsylvania, will, in all probability, be enabled 
 to accompany me at that time. 
 
 I regret that you did not communicate the distance and 
 elevations of the Canal. I could then have formed an opi¬ 
 nion of its expense. 
 
 The Anthracite Coal, on the lands of the Messrs. Wurts, 
 is the same as the Lehigh and Schuylkill Coal. It contains 
 twice as much of the principle, or matter of ignition, as the 
 Coal imported from Europe or Virginia. It throws out an 
 intense heat, and is preferred to any other fuel, for all ma¬ 
 nufacturing operations: and its deficiency of igniting power* 
 can be supplied by a skilful construction of fire-places. 
 
 The City of New-York will, it is calculated, require 120,000 
 tons of this Coal: and the consumption on the borders 
 of the Hudson, and in the Eastern States, may be set down at 
 60,000 tons more: to which may be added, at a period more 
 distant, a demand for 20,000 tons for manufacturing and do¬ 
 mestic purposes, in the region adjoining the Canal, and other 
 places, not included in the above estimate; and the whole 
 quantity of Coal transported on this Canal, may in a few 
 years amount to 200,000 tons. 
 
 Establishing the toll on a ton a mile at one cent and a 
 quarter, the revenue from this article alone, would be im¬ 
 mense. 
 
 In order to calculate the price of a ton of Coal at New- 
 York, when conveyed by this route, you must add to the 
 price at the mine, the expense of the transportation to, and 
 on the Canal, the amount of toll, and the cost of convey¬ 
 ance from the place where the Canal unites with the Hud¬ 
 son River to that City. 
 
15 
 
 it ought, however, to be considered, that Coal is now 
 transported to New-York, from Philadelphia, by sea; but 
 this will probably be discontinued on the construction of a 
 good Canal. It ought also to be understood, that two other 
 Canals are contemplated, one from the Delaware to the 
 Rariton, which will furnish Schuylkill Coal, and another 
 from the Delaware to the Passaic, which will afford a supply 
 of Lehigh Coal: and the force of habit will induce many 
 families to continue the use of bituminous Coal, or of wood, 
 when the Glance Coal of Pennsylvania ought to be pre-* 
 fered on account of heat and cheapness. 
 
 I have no data, by which I can calculate the revenue that 
 may arise, from the conveyance of gypsum and other ma¬ 
 nures, lumber, metallic substances, and the products of 
 husbandry; but in course of time it must be considerable, 
 and the return boats will, it is to be presumed, transport 
 great quantities of merchandize for the accommodation of 
 an extensive inland couiftry. 
 
 Upon a fair view of the whole subject, as it is presented 
 ao me, it appears evident that a project of this kind af¬ 
 fords a good prospect for a lucrative investment of capital, 
 provided the expense of the work is not unreasonably or 
 unexpectedly high. 
 
 I am, with great respect, 
 
 Your most ob’t servant, 
 
 DE WitT CLINTON. 
 
 OH ARLES 41. IiUCGLES, ESQ. TO DE WTTT CLINTON. 
 
 Kingston , April 9th , 1824, 
 
 Sir, 
 
 The project of opening a communication, by a Canal 
 from the waters of the Hudson River, near this place, to 
 the Coal Mines in Pennsylvania, near the head of the Lack- 
 
1G 
 
 awaxen river, is becoming every day a matter of greater 
 interest to the people of this state, and particularly to the 
 inhabitants of that part of it, in which I reside. But the 
 magnitude of the work, and the difficulty of forming a satis¬ 
 factory estimate of the expense of its construction, may pre¬ 
 vent them, and others, from applying such means as are in 
 their power to the promotion of the object. 
 
 A report, on this subject, has been made by Judge Wright 
 and Col. Sullivan, founded on surveys made during the last 
 season, which has not only removed doubts, as to its prac¬ 
 ticability, but has created a confidence in its being an un¬ 
 dertaking, in which capital may be profitably and advan¬ 
 tageously invested. 
 
 It is, nevertheless, desirable to ijiany persons of my ac¬ 
 quaintance, and, I am confident, it will be satisfactory to 
 many others, to be informed whether the estimates and opi¬ 
 nions contained in the report, have the sanction and con¬ 
 currence of other gentlemen, whose information and experi¬ 
 ence are known to have rendered them competent judges of 
 matters of this kind ; and if not, in what particulars there 
 may be a difference of opinion. 
 
 I should, therefore, esteem it a favour, to be made ac¬ 
 quainted w ith the result of your examination, on the points 
 within the scope of its inquiries, founded on the facts sta¬ 
 ted by the Engineers, or on other data within your know¬ 
 ledge. 
 
 I have the honour to be, 
 
 With great respect, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 CHARLES H. RUGGLES, 
 
17 
 
 DE WITT CLINTON TO CHARLES H. RUGGLES, ESQ,* 
 
 Albany , 21 April, 1824* 
 
 Sir, 
 
 I avail myself of my first leisure moment to answer your 
 letter of the 9th instant. 
 
 Before I had the pleasure of perusing the very able report 
 of the Engineers, on the proposed Canal from the Hudson to 
 the head waters of the Lackawaxen river, I made a commu¬ 
 nication to Mr* Abraham Cantine, containing some views of 
 the importance and productiveness of that improvement, to 
 which I refer you. Permit me to add, that whenever coal 
 forms the principal article of transportation on a Canal, the 
 investment of money is always considered lucrative. The 
 tolls arising from the coal, will alone produce a great reve¬ 
 nue, and the manufacturing establishments which depend on 
 fuel, must flourish in proportion to the facility and cheapness 
 of die supply; a great trade will spring into existence, and 
 every year will add to its expansion and its prosperity. 
 
 The profits of the stockholders will, however, depend 
 on the expense, as wel l as on the income of the Canal. 
 
 I have paid great attention to the statements of the Engi¬ 
 neers, and I think them not only ingenious, but solid. The 
 length of the Canal is estimated at 117 miles, and the aggre¬ 
 gate expense at 1,208,632 dollars; and I agree with Mr. 
 Wright, that if the character of the route is truly delineated, 
 this sum is not too low : but every thing will depend on the 
 modus operandi . You must proceed entirely by contracts, 
 and tie up the contractors to a rigid performance of their 
 engagements, without extra-compensation. Let this plan be 
 inflexibly adhered to, and you will proceed by a certain 
 standard. Your contractors will not offer too low a price 
 with a view of getting jobs, and with an expectation of ulti¬ 
 mate remuneration, and you will steer clear of the operations 
 of fraud, which will, on a loose system, approach you in every 
 shape, and bid defiance to detection. 
 
 c 
 
18 
 
 / 
 
 On this occasion permit me to say, that Mr. Wright is un¬ 
 questionably the best Engineer that has officiated on the Erie 
 Canal, and perhaps the best in the United States. In his 
 judgment you may place the utmost confidence. 
 
 In this project, then, there is an union of every leading 
 consideration which can influence the views of a capitalist, 
 or govern the conduct of *a public spirited man c practicabi¬ 
 lity—moderate expense—large revenue—excitement of agri¬ 
 cultural and manufacturing industry—augmentation of trade 
 and commerce—and general accommodation. 
 
 With my best wishes for the success of this patriotic under¬ 
 taking, 
 
 I am your’s very respectfully, 
 
 DE WITT CLINTON. 
 
 QVAHTICT OP COAL. 
 
 Extract from the Report of Col . J> L. Sullivan , to Benja¬ 
 min Wright , Esq . 
 
 “ In conclusion—it will no doubt be a satisfaction to you, 
 as a citizen of the State of New-York, to learn that there 
 exists a body of Coal, near the head waters of the Lac ka- 
 waxen, worthy of so great a w ork as this now contemplated.” 
 
 [See page 21, of the Report. 
 
 Extract from Judge Wright's Report . 
 iC I have inquired of Col. Sullivan and Mr. Mills, the rea¬ 
 sons or ground of their opinion, of there being an inexhaus¬ 
 tible body of Coal, at Carbondale, (being the place sta^ 
 ted to be the object of this improvement, and to be four or 
 five miles from Keen’s Pond, as before stated,) and their in¬ 
 formation has satisfied me, and dispelled all doubts in mj r 
 own mind, as to the correctness of their opinion.” 
 
 [See page 26, of the Report. 
 
 Extract of a Letter from Abraham Cantine , Esq. of Ulster 
 County , J\. Y. to De Witt Clinton , Esq. 
 
 {S After having finished running the levels, our party view- 
 
ed the coal beds: they are inexhaustible. On trial, in a 
 grate, the coal proved to be of superior quality.” 
 
 Extract from the “ Report of the Commissioners , appointed 
 by the Legislature of New-Jersey, to explore the route of a 
 proposed Canal to unite the river Delaware , near Easton f 
 with the Passaic , near Newark 
 
 “The Canal will create a steady, equable and vast de¬ 
 mand : it will therefore bring into market a competition of 
 sellers, from the Lehigh, Susquehanna and Lackawaxen , on 
 each of which rivers, Mines exist, which would, singly, meet 
 our full demand.” 
 
 Letter from Col J. L . Sullivan, to John Wurts , Esq. origi¬ 
 nally published in the “ Albany Daily Advertiser ,” of No¬ 
 vember 16, 1824. 
 
 Albany, Nov. 13, 1824. 
 
 To John Wurts , Esq. at Albany: 
 
 Sir, — l cheerfully avail of the opportunity which a short 
 visit to one of my family, residing in this city, affords me, of 
 bearing testimony (at your request) to the value and situa¬ 
 tion of the Lackawaxen coal, and to the importance of the 
 canal you have in contemplation, under the authority of the 
 state, to open a communication between the Hudson and the 
 Delaware. 1 regret that my present engagement in the ser¬ 
 vice of the United States, does not allow me to prolong my 
 stay to explain personally to members of the Assembly, 
 desirous of the information, the relative location of the masses 
 of coal, as it appears in various places, twenty feet high along 
 the sides of the valley, as well as under the bottom land, and 
 at distances so as to admit no doubt in my mind, of the 
 continuity, and great extent of its strata. 
 
 Having the last year been substituted by Judge Wright, • 
 (whose avocations did not allow him immediately to fulfil 
 your expectation of his services,) to make the preliminary 
 examination of the route, I considered it incumbent on me 
 in point of duty, as well as to satisfy my own mind, that the 
 object of the canal was worthy of its expense, to view the 
 coal as it naturally appears. And in my report, which you 
 printed for general information, I felt myself authorised by 
 the examination, to say of the quantity , that it appeared in vast 
 abundance. 
 
2 ® 
 
 This belief 1 unhesitatingly reiterate, and am supported 
 in this confidence by the opinion of Abraham Cantine, Esq. 
 expressed in his letter bearing date the 15th Nov. 1823, to a 
 gentleman of high respectability in this city, after viewing 
 the coal beds. His language is, “ after having finished run¬ 
 ning the levels, our party viewed the coal beds : they are 
 inexhaustible . On trial in a grate the coal proved to be of 
 superior quality.” 
 
 This coal is, in fact, the northern part of the coal forma¬ 
 tion which extends from the head of Schuylkill river north¬ 
 ward, (touching on the Lehigh to the east, and on the Sus- 
 quehannah to the west,) till it passes beyond the head waters 
 of the Lackawaxen, a branch of the Delaware, and within five 
 miles of the proposed head of the Canal navigation, between 
 which and the coal there is no mountain ; the chain being 
 broken by Rix’s Gap, which appeared to me to be about half 
 a mile in width, consisting of waving land, favourable to agri¬ 
 culture. A turnpike road passes the chain of mountains here, 
 and it appeared to me that if the Laekawanock (which, after 
 passing through the coal valley, joins the Susquehannah) 
 should not be found capable of feeding a Canal through the 
 Gap, that the ground would be very favourable to an iron 
 rail road, as they are formed in England. And having under¬ 
 stood that the accidental circumstance of your giving the 
 coal the name of the river, which will supply the water to 
 bear it to market, instead of the name of the stream which 
 runs over its strata, has given room for the assertion, that 
 there is no coal on the Lackawaxen, I trust this explanation 
 of the locality will essentially correct the impression such as¬ 
 sertions are calculated to make. 
 
 From my know ledge of the place, I am able to say, there 
 is no mountainous land intervening between the head of the 
 Lackawaxen, proposed to be reached by the Canal, and the 
 coal formation, which is the principal object of the w ork; 
 but that the intervening distance, of between four and five 
 miles, is partly occupied by a good turnpike road, and is very 
 capable of a rail way the whole distance, and probably of a 
 continuation of the Canal, by feeding from some little distance 
 up the Lackawanock. 
 
 And it may be proper to state, also, the evident fact, that 
 this bod}^ of coal is about the same distance from the Hudson, 
 as the southern extremity of the coal formation is from Phila- 
 
21 
 
 delphia, making the difference in favour of this opportunity 
 of supply to the state of New-York, equal to the distance of 
 Philadelphia from the city of New-York. 
 
 As to the quality of the coal, there is no occasion to bear 
 testimony; but it may be proper to add, that while I was at 
 the mine, I saw it used in the blacksmith’s forge, with perfect 
 success; and in Philadelphia it brings the same price as the 
 Schuylkill coal. 
 
 It is well known, that this species of coal contains full twice 
 as much carbon as the Liverpool coal does, viz.—97-100 to 
 44-100. 
 
 Under the persuasion that this article, both for economy 
 and commerce, would be a great acquisition to this state, you 
 have, sir, my free consent to make any use of these facts that 
 you may deem proper. 
 
 I have the honour to be, very respectfully, 
 
 Your friend and humble servant, 
 
 JOHN L. SULLIVAN. 
 
 Extract of a letter from Professor Griscom to the Commission¬ 
 ers of the Delaware and Hudson Canal , dated fVilkesbarre , 
 
 12 mo. 1 8th, (December ,) 1824. 
 
 “ On the whole, the conclusion which I think every person 
 would draw from such an examination, is, that the quantity 
 of coal, even within the limits of Carbondale,* is inexhausti¬ 
 ble by any demand which the city and state of New-York, 
 and places adjacent, are likely to require for centuries to 
 come. This inference is, indeed, liable to the uncertainty 
 which ever attends conclusions relative to mining operations; 
 but in no part of the world, I apprehend, are appearances 
 more favourable and promising.” 
 
 * Rix’s Gap. 
 
 The whole of the above letter, with a more detailed report 
 by Professor Griscom, <+f the result of his visit to the Mines, 
 will appear in the public prints. 
 
SUPPLEMENTS 
 
 TO AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE 
 
 ®2&A'WA5ft!i8 AST® ®IW®S®W 
 
 (Canal Cemyauo. 
 
 An Act to amend the Act, entitled, “ An Act to incorporate the Pre¬ 
 sident,, Managers, and Company, of the Delaware and Hudson 
 
 Canal Company. Passed April 23d, 1823.” 
 
 PASSED APRIL 7th, 1824. 
 
 Whereas, By the Act to which this is emendatory, the Corpo¬ 
 ration hereby created is authorised to use any capital that may be 
 necessary to effect the objects contemplated by the Act, but the 
 amount of original subscriptions is limited to five hundred thousand 
 dollars : And whereas it appears from an actual survey and exa¬ 
 mination of the route, that it will require a larger sum to make a 
 Canal, or slack-water navigation, from the Hudson to the head 
 waters of the Lackawaxen, and the proprietors of the Coal Mines 
 near this river have represented to the legislature, that they deem 
 it expedient that the whole line of improvement should be made by 
 one company, to be organized under the Act to which this is emen¬ 
 datory ; Therefore, 
 
 Be it enacted by the People of the State of New- York, represented 
 in Senate and Assembly, That for the purpose of effecting the ob¬ 
 jects contemplated by the Act to which this is emendatory, the 
 subscription of five hundred thousand dollars, authorised by the 
 first section thereof, shall be, and the same is hereby enlarged to 
 the sum of fifteen hundred thousand dollars, any thing in the said 
 Act to the contrary notwithstanding. 
 
 And be it further enacted. That for the purpose of making a 
 Canal, or slack-water navigation, from or near Carpenter’s Point, 
 on the river Delaware, to the mouth of the river Lackawaxen, the 
 said Corporation sh ill have and possess, within the jurisdiction of 
 this state, the same powers, privileges, and authority, subject how¬ 
 ever to the same restrictions and limitations, as have been granted 
 and imposed upon it for the purpose of enabling it to make a Ca¬ 
 nal or slack-water navigation, between the Delaware and Hudson 
 rivers. 
 
 State of New - York, Secretary’s Office. 
 
 I certify the preceding to he a true copy of an original act of 
 the legislature of this state, on file in this office. 
 
 ARCHD. CAMPBELL, Dep. Sec. 
 
 Albany , April 1th, 1824. 
 
An kcTyfurtfier to amend the Act, entitled , Ci An Act to incorporate 
 
 the President , Managers , and Company , o/* f/ie Delaware and 
 
 Hudson Canal Company . Passed April 23d, 182ck” 
 
 PASSED NOVEMBER 19th, 1824. 
 
 Be it enacted by the People of the State of New-York , represented 
 in Senate and Assembly , That it shall be lawful for the President, 
 Managers, and Company, of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Com¬ 
 pany, to employ five hundred thousand dollars of their capital actu¬ 
 ally paid in, in the business of banking, and for that purpose the 
 bills obligatory and of credit, under the seal of the said corporation, 
 which shall be made to any person or persons, shall be assignable 
 by indorsement thereon, under the hand of such person or persons, 
 and of his, her, or their assignee or assignees, and so as abso¬ 
 lutely to transfer and vest the property thereof in each and every 
 assignee or assignees successively, and to enable such assignee or 
 assignees to bring and maintain an action therefor in his, her, or 
 their own name or names, and bills or notes which may be issued 
 by order of the said corporation, signed by the President, and 
 countersigned by the Treasure! thereof, promising the payment of 
 money to any person or persons, his, her, or their order, or to the 
 bearer, though not under the seal of the said corporation, shall be 
 binding and obligatory upon the same, in the like manner, and with 
 the like force and effect, as upon any private person or persons, 
 if issued by him, her, or them, in his, her, or their natural capa¬ 
 city or capacities, and shall he assignable and negotiable in like 
 manner as if they were issued by such private person or persons. 
 Provided , however, that the said corporation shall not demand any 
 greater interest on a loan or discount, than at the rate of six per 
 centum per annum. 
 
 And be it further enacted , That the total amount of notes or bills 
 which the said corporation may at any time issue and have in cir¬ 
 culation, shall not exceed the sum of fifteen hundred thousand dol¬ 
 lars ; and in case of such excess, the managers, under whose ad¬ 
 ministration it shall happen, shall be liable for the same in their 
 private capacities ; but this shall not be construed to exempt the 
 said corporation, or any estate, real or personal, which it may hold 
 as a body corporate, from also being liable for such excess ; but 
 such managers as shall have been absent when the said excess was 
 issued, or who may have dissented from the resolution or act by 
 which the same was done, and entered their dissent upon the 
 minutes of the Board, shall not be so liable. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That if at any time the President, 
 Managers and Company should refuse, on demand being made 
 their banking house, during the regular hours of doing business, 
 to redeem in specie, or other lawful money ©f the United States, 
 (heir said bills, notes, or other evidences of debt, issued by the said 
 
24 
 
 corporation, the said President, Managers and Company shall, oil 
 pain of forfeiture of ihe banking privileges hereby granted, wholly 
 discontinue and close their said banking operations, until such lime 
 as the said corporation shall resume the redemption of the said 
 bills, notes, or other evidences of debt, in specie, or other lawful 
 money of the United States ; and the said corporation shall be lia¬ 
 ble to pay to the holders of all such notes and bills, the paymenl 
 whereof has been refused or delayed, upon demand, as aforesaid, 
 damages for the non-payment thereof, at the rate of twelve pel 
 ceruum per annum, until the same shall be paid as aforesaid, oi 
 otherwise satisfied. 
 
 And be i. fvriiH*r enacted , That the banking-house of the said 
 corporation shall be located in the city of New-York, and it shall 
 be lawful for it to hold such lands, tenements, and hereditaments, 
 as shaii he necessary and requisite for its immediate accommoda¬ 
 tion, in relation to the convenient transaction of its business, and 
 such also as shall have been bona fide mortgaged to it by way o; 
 security, or conveyed to it in satisfaction of debts previously con¬ 
 tracted''-in ilie course of its dealings, or purchased at s ties upon 
 judgments which shall have been obtained for such debts. 
 
 And be il further enacted , That/if the said corporation shall not, 
 wLhm six months after the election of the.first Board of Managers, 
 have commenced the making of n Canal, or slack water navigation, 
 fro n the tide-waters of the Hudson to the head waters of the Lack- 
 awaxen river, and shall not expend, in each and every succeeding 
 year thereafter, at least one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, 
 between the Hudson and Delaware rivers, until the Can il or navi¬ 
 gation shall be completed between the said rivers, or shall not have 
 completed the whole, line of navigation from the Hudson to the 
 head of the Lackawaxen, within seven years after the passage 
 of this act, so as to open a complete channel for the transpor¬ 
 tation of coal to this state, then, in either of these events, the bank¬ 
 ing privileges hereby granted shall cease and determine. 
 
 And be it further enacted , That the banking privileges hereby 
 granted, shall continue in force for the period of twenty years from 
 and after the passage of this act, and no longer; and that the Legis¬ 
 lature may at any time alter, modify, or repeal this act. 
 
 State of New-York, Secretary''s Office. 
 
 I certify the preceding to be a true copy of an original act of the 
 legislature of this state, on file in this office. 
 
 ARCHD. CAMPBELL, Dep. Sec f 
 Albany , Nov. 19, 1824.