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



public improvements was thus foreshadoAved. We have already seen, 

 however, that the original plan was to build the main line first. If 

 lateral branches were to supplement it, they were, at least, for the 

 time being, minor considerations. But noAv, scarcely more than a 

 year after this scheme had been launched, it was supplemented by 

 another which, when developed, provided the state with an extensive 

 and unconnected system of transportation.* Hence it is clear that 

 the Act of April 9th marks the commencement of a complete change 

 of policy; and later developments showed plainly that the course 

 to which the state was then committed was consistently pursued 

 until 1834, when the main line and most of the lateral works were 

 completed. Let us now see how the work of construction progressed 

 under the new policy-. 



The first report of the canal boardf after the passage of the Act 

 of April 9th, 1827, was made the following December. It shoAved 

 that during the year they had placed under contract 18 miles of 

 canal on the Delaware division from Bristol upwards; 40 miles on 

 the Susquehanna between the Juniata and Northumberland ; 9 miles 

 of the French Creek feeder; 44yo miles along the Juniata between 

 its mouth and Lewistown; and 51 miles between Blairsville and 

 Pittsburg. This made a total of 1621/2 miles of canal contracted 

 for in 1827. Of this, 95% miles were on the main line, leaving a 

 balance of 67 miles for local works. Numerous surveys had been 

 made although the most strenuous eiforts had failed of accomplish- 

 ing all of this work required by the Act of April 9th. 



In March of the following year another act of legislature:!: was 

 passed relative to the extension of the public improvements. It 

 ■authorized the construction of not more than 45 miles of canal along 

 each of the following rivers — the Delaware, Conemaugh, Juniata 

 and the north branch of the Susquehanna. Along the west branch of 

 the last-mentioned waterway, 25 miles of canal were provided 

 for, as also 10 miles along its course between Middletown and 

 Columbia. Recent surveys had convinced the canal board that 



* "I have been tlnis particular in referring to the several works directed 

 to be j)ut under contract hy the Act of 1827, because it was the commence- 

 ment of a scheme of difVusive and unconnected works of improvement." — 

 Exti-act from Gov. Wolfs message, December 7th, 1831, in J. H. Hep., 1831-2, 

 II, p. 17. 



fSee J. IJ. Rep., 1827-28. II, p. 93, and 1831-32. p. 132. 



$Act of March 24th, 1828, in Laws of Pennsylvania, 1827-28, p. 221. 



