This improved navigation extends from " the Lan caster Schuylkill bridge" at Philadelphia, to themouth of Mill Creek in Schuylkill county, a distance of 108 miles, 4 chains, and 88 links, of which 62 miles 68 chains and 62 links is canal, and 45 miles 16 chains and 26 links is river navigation. The total fall over come is 610 feet, by 31 darns and 123 locks. There are 70 houses for lock tenders, and 3 collectors' offi ces. The whole expenditure of the company is about 2,200,000 dollars, of which 1,070,000 dollars is capital stock, the residue principally money procured on loan.
The course of the river is about north west from Philadelphia. On its banks are Norristown, Potts grove, Reading. and Hamburg, and several villages; it passes through parts of the counties of Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, Berks and Schuylkill.
It receives the waters of Mill Creek, Norwegian, the West Branch, the Tamaqua, Maiden Creek, Tul pchocken, Angelica, Allegany, Hay Creek, Manataw ny, French Creek, Pickering, Perkiomen, and the Wissahickon, and empties into the Delaware seven miles below the city of Philadelphia. The tide flows to the Fair Mount clam, and affords depth of water for vessels of 300 tons, but the navigation is inter rupted by the Permanent bridge at Market street. Spacious store houses and commodious wharfs are erected along the eastern shore, nearly all of them have been built within a few years, since the first opening of these works; lots on the margin are much sought after and have greatly risen in value.
The trade on the Schuylkill is yet in its infancy. The city front is gaining consequence. A few years ago it was rare to sec any vessels arrive or depart ex cept now and then river craft with wood and lumber. Since the 1st of April 1828 to the close of the year, two hundred and thirty-live sea vessels, have been loaded for various ports in the Eastern and Southern States.
The improvements of this Company have made many extensive and valuable water powers along the line of their works. At Fair Mount are erected the works for supplying the city of Philadelphia with pure and wholesome water, by the most simple and effec tual adaptation of nature to art any where to be found.
From the Flat Rock dam seven miles above the city, water power is supplied for the manufacturing esta blishments at Manayunk, a village on the canal of considerable size, which has entirely arisen within a few years from this improvement. The company de rive an annual income of Si0,000 for the use of these water rights.
There are several extensive establishments for ma nufacturing at Norristown, deriving their supply of water from the dam erected there. Others are being erected at the mouth of French Creek in Chester county to be supplied from the water of the Schuyl kill. At many other places, water can be spared and used to advantage, which will be brought into opera tion as the wants of the community may require it.
In the progress of this work, some legal questions of moment, have been brought forward and settled, besides the usual claims for compensation for land taken or mills damaged: soon after the erection of the dam at Fair Mount, an ice freshet of considerable magnitude occurred, which carried away the wooden superstructure of the Falls bridge. The proprietors of it conceiving their loss was occasioned by the darn swelling the waters and preventing a free passage for the ice, sought to recover the amount of their loss; the matter was submitted to a court and jury where the subject was fully examined; the result was against the claim. Owners of land along the river had from the earliest times, enjoyed the privilege of catching fish in the river, the erection of the dams prevented fish from passing up and rendered the employment worthless. They contended that the Company was obliged to compensate them for the loss of these fisheries, some of which had been of great value and commanded high rents. This question was submitted to the su preme court of Pennsylvania, who decided after an able argument and full investigation, that it was a case in which the Navigation Company were not bound to make compensation.
The history of the Schuylkill Navigation Company shews what important results may be produced by a course of steady perseverance amidst surrounding difficulties. At the time they commenced, almost every private company incorporated for the purpose of inland navigation, in Pennsylvania if not in the United States had proved abortive, and terminated either in absolute abandonment, sale to the public au thorities, or else had greatly to depend on legislative assistance. The Schuylkill Company is an instance where more than two millions of dollars have been supplied by individuals and corporations-50,000 dol lars only of the whole amount expended having been furnished by the State. Since the commencement of this work, the spirit for improvement has rapidly ex tended itself, the Union Canal Company has been re organized, and completed their navigation connecting the Schuylkill at Reading with the Susquehannah at Middletown. The State of Pennsylvania has embark ed in the system on an extensive scale, she has ex pended millions in the enterprize, for an extension of the chain west and north, and such progress has been made, that in a short time, a communication will be made with the Ohio river, the Lakes and the waters of the State of New York.
The chief occupation of the inhabitants is the pas turage of their cattle. The inhabitants who are Ca tholics amount to 30,000.
Schweitz, the capital of the canton,is situated in a val ley about 2 miles from the lake of Lowerz. The houses are good, and the church is large. Population 5000.