A. L. Bishop — The State Worhs of Pennsylvania. 163 



nients. Partial success attended the attempt to enforce the payment 

 of the remaining instalments from those who were solvent.* 



The project, however, as we have already seen, had to be aban- 

 doned. The suspension of these works exercised a most disastrous 

 effect upon every similar work projected for many years after- 

 wards. 



These two companies were kept alive by Charles Palaski, who 

 called meetings of the members and had officers and managers 

 appointed, until, by Act of April 2d, 1811, the original companies, 

 composed largely of • the same individuals, were reorganized and 

 united under the name of "The Union Canal Company." For 

 several years following the act of amalgamation, it lingered in a 

 state of comparative inactivity. At length, however, after encoun- 

 tering various difficulties and discouragements, the canal was 

 completed and a communication opened in May, 1827, between 

 Reading and Middletown. 



In the act of 1811 forming the Union Canal Company, the 

 president and managers were specially authorized to extend their 

 canal from Philadelphia to Lake Erie, with the privilege of making 

 such further extensions in any other part of the state as they deemed 

 expedien-t.f 



In order to resume operations with the prospect of success large 

 sums of money were needed. The work lingered on for several 

 years after 1811, until helped by the state. By an Act passed March 

 29th, 1819, the latter granted an interest of 6 per cent, to sub- 

 scribers of the stock that might be sold to recommence the work. 

 This was to be taken from the proceeds of a lottery. By an addi- 

 tional Act of March 26th, 1821, the state guaranteed this interest 

 by a pledge to supply any deficiency in it which the lottery could 

 not produce. The new subscriptions which were obtained by this 

 legislative encouragement enabled the managers to resume opera- 

 tions in 1821 and to complete the whole work in 1827. 



"-' See Carey : Brief View of the System of Internal Improvements of the 

 State of Pennsylvania, pp. 4, 5, 6, et seq. 



f Section XXX. "And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, 

 That it shall be lawful for the President and Managers of the 'Union Canal 

 Company of Pennsylvania' as soon as they may think proper, to extend 

 this route to communicate with Lake Erie or other waters of any neighboring 

 state by canal and lock navigation, . . . ." — Laws of Pennsylvania, 

 1810-11, Chapter dxxxvi, p. 238. 



