A. L. Bishop — The State Worls of Pennsylvania. 175 



indicated in its name. Forty-eight of tlie leading citizens of 

 Philadelphia were the charter members, while the honorary list 

 contained the names of some of the most active friends of internal 

 improvements in the United States. Within a year a fund of $5,540 

 was accumulated by the members paying $100 each and by sub- 

 scriptions from interested citizens and corporations.* The edu- 

 cational work was placed in the hands of an "Acting Committee." 

 Broadly speaking, it was twofold, — first, to disseminate knowledge 

 throughout the state regarding the present transportation situation 

 and the urgent need of improvements; second, to collect informa- 

 tion possessed by other states and foreign countries concerning trans- 

 portation. The former was designed to strengthen the ranks of the 

 progressive party until a united effort .would force the legislature 

 to action. The latter would put them in possession of the technical 

 knowledge required for the work of construction as soon as it 

 should be authorized. 



Several movements w^ere soon started to effect the first of these 

 objects. To these attention will be given later. As a preliminary 

 measure, however, a circular letter was sent to leading men in all 

 parts of the state, outlining the plans and purposes of the society 

 and inviting their co-operation. A variety of pamphlets on turn- 

 pike roads, canals and railroads was published and widely circu- 

 lated. In these and similar efforts to mould public opinion, many 

 of the city and country newspapers gave their support. 



To attain the second object, the recent experience of !N^ew York 

 in building the Erie canal was studied. In addition to this, Wil- 

 liam Strickland, an architect and engineer of Philadelphia, was 

 employed at a liberal salary to make an investigation of European 

 railroads and canals. He left Philadelphia in March, 1825, and 

 returned the following December. Most of his time was spent in 

 England and Scotland. He procured for the society a working 



* These were principally coal companies. See Carey, Brief View of the 

 System of Internal Improvements of the State of Pennsylvania, p. 7. 



"At a meeting of the 'Pennsylvania Societj'' for the promotion of Internal 

 Improvements in the Commonwealth' held at Heiskell's Hotel, February 25, 

 1825, . . . two letters were read, one from the Lehigh Coal Navigation 

 Company, highly ajiprobatory of the objects and efTorts of the society, and 

 tendering a donation of $200 as their contribution towards the effectuation 

 of those objects — the other of similar import, with a donation of $100 from 

 the Schuylkill NaA-igation Company." — United States Gazette, March 

 1st, 1825. 



