174 A. L. Bishop — The State Works of Pennsylvania. 



Middletown to Pittsburg, built with American locks,* was $3,000,000. 

 Money could be borrowed at 4% per cent., and the canal completed 

 in six years. It was predicted that the tolls would "support the 

 government and educate every child in the commonwealth." ^o 

 immediate action was taken by the government to execute the work 

 proposed. However, the report of the committee was the subject 

 of a good deal of discussion both within the legislature and 

 throughout the country, and it Avas not without effect in hastening 

 the commencement of the Pennsylvania canal. 



Enough has already been said to suggest that Philadelphia had 

 much at stake in the struggle for the trade of the "West. As a 

 rival of 'New York and Baltimore, it was now a serious matter to 

 her whether the flames of the popular movement were fanned or 

 extinguished. It was Avell knowai by many of her citizens that the 

 scheme was by no means popular in some parts of the state. Appre- 

 hensions of the expense involved and fear of failure made many 

 public-spirited citizens hesitate to endorse a movement for com- 

 mencing a canal to the West. Besides, its promoters had no con- 

 certed and well-formulated plans, and little opportunity to exchange 

 opinions. Hence it was only natural to expect that some fruitful 

 minds should devise a means by which the popular agitation might 

 be directed, and by which thousands in the remote parts of the state 

 might be educated in the matter of transportation improvements. 

 This was furnished by the formation of "The Pennsylvania Society 

 for the promotion of Internal Improvements in the Common- 



wealth."t 



The preliminary meeting was held on ISTovember 26th, 1824, and 

 on the 14th of the following month the formal organization took 

 place and the constitution was adopted. $ Its object was clearly 



* The European plan of buildinj? locks of cut stone, and counter arches of 

 brick turned in the bottom, was very expensive. On the New York canals 

 and the Union canal of Pennsylvania wooden foiuidations were used, and the 

 commissioners recommended these for the proposed canal. 



f This organization, when referred to later, will be called the Improve- 

 ment Society. 



I The full list of officers was: President, John Sergeant; Vice Presidents, 

 John Connelly, ]\Iat])ew Carey, and Paul Beck, Jr.; Treasurer, John White; 

 Recording Secretary, John Y. Clarke; Corresponding Secretary, Gerard 

 Ralston; Acting Committee, iiathew Carey, Joseph Memphill, Richard 

 Peters, Jr., Stephen Duncan, and Thomas Biddle. The full text of the Con- 

 stitution ni;iy lie fduiid in r;un]>hl(>l<. Xo. 143, State Library of Pennsylvania. 



