A. L. BisJiop — The State Works of Pennsylvania. 165 



March 23d, 1822. This report, was prepared in response to the 

 following resolutions passed by that body on January 4th, 1822 : — 



"Resolved, That the committee on roads, bridges and inland 

 navigation be insti-ucted to ascertain, as far as is practicable, and 

 report to the senate, a list of the turnpike road companies, incor- 

 porated by the legislature of Pennsylvania, the amount of the 

 state's subscription to each, the number of miles of each already 

 completed, the counties in which located, the expenses of construct- 

 ing the same, the nature, width, and depth of the materials of 

 which they are composed, together with such information, relative 

 to the improvements Avhich have been made in the mode and 

 economy of constructing turnpike roads as will, in their opinion, 

 be useful to the legislature." 



"Resolved, That the same committee also be instructed to ascer- 

 tain, as far as is practicable, and report to the senate, a list of the 

 bridge, canal, and lock navigation companies, incorporated by the 

 legislature, the amount of the state's subscription to each, the cost 

 of and progress made in constructing the same, together with such 

 other information relative to the subject of roads, bridges and 

 inland navigation, as may present a complete view of the actual 

 extent of inteimal improvement." 



As no official document giving an entire view of the extent of 

 the state's internal improvements existed anywhere at this time 

 (1822), it was impossible to collect the information called for by 

 the preceding resolutions without the aid of the officers of the 

 respective companies concerned. Accordingly, after having com- 

 pleted their lists, the committee addressed a circular letter to the 

 president and managers of each corporation with a request that 

 they should furnish the desired information by answering a series 

 of questions enclosed. Satisfactory answers were returned in nearly 

 all cases. A large amount of information respecting the companies 

 was consolidated into tables accompanying the report. 



From an inspection of these tables, it is found that the number 

 of turnpike roads contemplated by the various charters of the 

 companies which had received letters patent was 2,521%, of which 

 1,807 were completed. About 1,250 miles of these roads were of 

 solid stone. The amount of capital subscribed towards these 

 improvements by individuals '(including the subscriptions of a few 

 banks) which had been paid or was expected to be paid was 

 $4,158,347. The amount subscribed by the commonwealth was 

 $1,861,542. The report of the committee stated that if there were 

 added to these sUms one-half the amount of the existing debt of 



Traxs. Conn. Acad.. Vol. XIII. i;3 Nov., 1907. 



