272 A. L. Bishop — The State WorJt;s of Pennsylvania. 



hanna and the Alleghen3^ river. And such further examinations, 

 surveys and levels as may be necessary to ascertain the location 

 and costs of canals, locks and other works necessary thereto, on the 

 respective routes following, to-wit : From jSTorthumberland up 

 the JSTorth Branch of the Susquehanna, to the state line; from 

 the western section of the Pennsylvania canal, near the mouth of 

 the Kiskcminetas to a point on Lake Erie, by the Allegheny river 

 and French Creek, at or near the borough of Erie; and from the 

 city of Pittsburg to the said point on Lake Erie, by the route of 

 Beaver and Shenango, and shall make to the legislature, as soon as 

 practicable, detailed reports accompanied with maps, plans and 

 estimates of cost of the several routes to be examined and surveyed 

 as aforesaid. 



Section 2. That before the commissioners shall determine on 

 the location of the canal from the mouth of the Juniata river to 

 Mifflin or Lewistowu, they shall cause further examinations to be 

 made on each .side of the Juniata, by at least two of the most experi- 

 enced engineers in the service of the board, in order to ascertain 

 which side of the river is most favorable and most proper to be. 

 adopted for the construction of the canal; and a majority of the 

 whole number of canal commissioners are hereby required to concur 

 in the manner and place at which the said canal shall cross the 

 Susquehanna, and if a majority of the said commissioners should 

 decide in favor of crossing the Susquehanna by an aqueduct or a 

 towing path bridge, they are hereby authorized to connect a 

 bridge wnth it, should they believe the same practicable, and advan- 

 tageous to the state. 



Section 3. That it shall be the duty of the board of canal com- 

 missioners, to cause examination, survey, and estimate of the route 

 for canal, and also for a railway, with locomotive or stationary 

 engines, from Philadelphia, through Chester and Lancaster coun- 

 ties, so as to connect by the nearest and most eligible route with the 

 eastern section of the Pennsylvania canal; and in addition thereto, 

 to cause the necessary surveys, examinations and estimates to be 

 made down the Brandyr^nne river, to a point north of the Delaware 

 state line; thence across the dividing ridge between said river and 

 Chester creek, thence down the same to the river Delaware. And 

 if it should be ascertained that the waters of the Brandyw'ine cannot 

 be diverted from their natural channel, then to make all the neces- 

 sary examinations for a portage or railway across said ridge. And 

 they shall also cause an examination or survey to be made, to ascer- 

 tain the practicability and cost of forming a connection of the North 

 Branch of the Susquehanna and the Lehigh rivers, by means of 

 canal or railway. And the canal commissioners shall also cause 

 surveys and estimates to be made as soon as convenient, from the 

 termination of the Pennsylvania canal at the mouth of the Swatara, 

 down the east and west sides of the Susquelianna river to the Mary- 

 land line, and make report to the next legislature, of the expense 

 and practicability of extending the Pennsylvania canal to the inter- 

 section of the Maryland line and the said river. 



