A. L. Bishop — The State Worhs of Pennsylvania. 173 



The appointments* were made within four days of the passage 

 of the act. Since a report, containing all the necessary informa- 

 tion concerning the ahove routes, was required to be made to the 

 governor of the state before the next session of the legislature, the 

 task laid out for the commissioners was no mean one. Examination 

 and surveys were immediately commenced, and on February 2d, 

 1825, the reportf was ready. It bears evidence of extensive work. 

 Much difficulty was experienced in securing the services of a com- 

 petent engineer, and the work had to be commenced without one. 

 Their labors convinced the commissioners of the "perfect practica- 

 bility of making a canal" throughout the whole distance from 

 Philadelphia to Pittsburg. The route recommended comprised four 

 sections, as follows: — 



1. From Philadelphia to the Susquehanna, a few miles above 

 Harrisburg. 



2.' From the east bank of the Susquehanna to the upper forks 

 of the Frankstown branch of the Juniata near Hollidaysburg. 



3. From this point over the Allegheny mountain, by a tunnel 

 four miles long, to the forks of the little Conemaugh river. 



■1. From this point to Pittsburg. 



The arguments brought forward in favor of the improvement 

 were very much the same as those already mentioned.^ In spite 

 of the efforts of Philadelphia's enterprising neighbors, it was 

 confidentlv asserted that with a canal to the "West, she would become 

 the metropolis of the Union. Moreover, both the impetus it would 

 give to the economic development of the state, and its financial 

 success, were urged. The computed cost of the three sections from 



* The commissioners appointed were Jacob Holgate, of the city of Philadel- 

 phia; James Clarke, of ^Vestmorehind county; and Charles Trcziyulney, of 

 Centre county, all supporters of tlie political party in power. See J. H. Rep., 

 1824-25, II, pp. 285-87, and Harrisburg Chronicle of April 12th, 1824. 



t Full text of report in J. H. Rep., 1824-25, II, 239-285. 



% Tlie report was signed by only two of the commissioners. The reasons 

 for ]\Ir. Trcziyulney not signing it were set forth by him in a letter to Gov- 

 ernor Shultze, on February 9th, 1825, and published in the Journal of the 

 House of R.epresentatives, 1824-25, II, page 287. Mr. Trcziyulney made 

 a report, however, to the legislature in the same manner as the other com- 

 missioners. His report differed from those associated with Mm mainly with 

 regard to passing judgment upon the most suitable route for connecting the 

 eastern and western waters without an examination of all the routes. 



