ISP) A. L. Bishop — The State Worl:s of Pennsylvania. 



Tliis work extended a iiiile and a quarter, overcoming a fall of 

 21 feet, and was executed at an expense of $100,000. In the year 

 1813 an act "was passed authorizing James Hopkins of Lancaster 

 county to make a canal for the same purpose on the east side of the 

 river; accoi-dingly, in 1814, two dams, one of 800, the other of 

 500 feet, were built. The canal was one mile in length and was 

 excavated out of rock. The ascent of 21 feet was overcome by one 

 guard and three lift locks, each 110 feet long and 18 feet wide. 

 The cost of the work was $120,000. The water power obtained 

 from these two canals was the chief inducement which prompted 

 their construction. 



The river Lehigh also received considerable attention from the 

 advocates of internal improvements. Its importance as a highway 

 for internal navigation was not overlooked either by the state or by 

 private individuals. It was declared a public thoroughfare in 1771. 

 Private subscriptions were made at an early date to improve its 

 navigation, and commissioners were appointed to appropriate and 

 expend the money. What amount was raised is unknown but it 

 was j)robably inconsiderable. By Act of April 13th, 1791,* the 

 legislature appropriated 1,000 pounds to be expended on the Lehigh 

 "from its junction with the Delaware ■ as far up the same as the 

 sum would admit." On February 27th, 1798, a company was incor- 

 porated to better its navigation and a lottery authorized to help 

 obtain the desired funds. ]^o improvements appear to have been 

 made at this time. A few years later Messrs. Josiah White, George 

 F. A. Hauto and Erskine Hazard became interested in transporta- 

 tion schemes and secured the passage of a law on March 20th, 1818, 

 granting them certain rights and privileges concerning the improve- 

 ment of the Lehigh. These were later confirmed to them and their 

 successors by the incorporation of the "Lehigh Coal and ISTavigation 

 Company"t on February 13th, 1822. 



, In the early history of the company, the river was used only for 

 a descending navigation. The coal and lumber of the country 

 drained by the Lehigh w^ere brought to market in arks which were 

 broken up and sold upon their arrival in Philadelphia. Later it 

 was decided to increase the navigability of the river by building 



*Laws (Ms.), No. 4, p. 188. 



f The privilege of both mining and transporting coal was granted to this 

 company, whereas the Schuylkill Navigation Company had no mining 

 privileges. 



