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



four years, had doubled their population and were now thriving 

 towns. 



The advantages that would accrue to all classes from improved 

 transportation methods were carefully detailed. The farmer would 

 find increased demand, brisker sales and higher prices for his 

 produce; the merchant, a wider field for his business; the manu- 

 facturer and mechanic, more certain employment and better pay 

 for their industry; the capitalist, a better interest on his money; 

 and the owner of lands and houses, a rise in rents of 25 or 30 per 

 cent. Since every class participated in general prosperity, and 

 suffered in general depression, the movement for internal improve- 

 ments deserved the support of all. 



While the attention of the public was being directed repeatedly to 

 the subject of transportation, the Improvement Society was occu- 

 pied in promoting another movement. Its purpose was to impress 

 the legislature with the strength of the popular movement. At the 

 suggestion of the society, a public convention* of the citizens of the 

 city and county of Philadelphia was held in the county court house 

 on January 24th, 1825. f The attendance was large and the whole 

 subject of internal improvements was discussed at length.:]: 



A -resolution was passed to the effect that a "water, communica- 

 tion ought to be opened with all practical expedition between the 

 Susquehanna and Allegheny rivers, and between the Allegheny 

 river and Lake Erie, at such points as the wisdom of a suitable 

 board of skilful and experienced engineers may select" ; also that 

 the work ought to be built and paid for by the state. A committee 

 of twenty-four§ was appointed to prepare a memorial to the legis- 

 lature embodying the opinions of the convention. The "Acting 



* A full account of the proceedings of this convention is given in the 

 United States Gazette, January 28th, 1825. 



t The meeting adjourned after some preliminary discussion and reassem- 

 bled three days later. 



$ Chief Justice William Tilghman was president of tlie meeting, and Nicho- 

 las Biddle, President of the United States Bank, was secretary. 



§ The following gentlemen composed the committee: — Chief Justice Tilgh- 

 man, Judge Duncan, John Sergeant, N. Biddle, M. Carey, R. Peters, Jr., C. J. 

 Ingersoll, W. T. Duane, J. Randall, B. Chew, Jr., Manuel Eyre, Samuel Weth- 

 erill, C. Evans, Samuel Arohei-, Daniel W. Coxe, Thomas Biddle, Paul Beck, 

 Jr., George Vaux, Charles Penrose, T. ^^■. Morris, Samuel Mifflin, James 

 Eonaldson, Daniel Groves and -lolm Nagle. This committee contained a 

 number of members of the Improvement Society. 



