SCHUYLKILL PERMANENT BRIDGE. 7 



Its borders, to an extent of one hundred miles, are 

 skirted by precipitous mountains and hills. Its tribu- 

 tary streams, suddenly filled, in seasons of rains, or 

 melting snows, with the torrents rushing down their 

 sides, without notice or time for precaution, fill the ri- 

 ver with frequent floods, which no common works of 

 art within their reach, have heretofore been capable of 

 withstanding. Although these attributes, are not to- 

 a certain degree uncommon, yet, in this river they are 

 peculiarly dangerous. They occur at irregular peri- 

 ods, and often at seasons of the year, when floods are 

 generally unexpected. These circumstances, at all 

 times created doubts of the practicability of any perma- 

 nent erection. The depth of the water opposite to the 

 city, added to the difliculties and apprehensions. The 

 expence in the early periods of its establishment, pre- 

 cluded any plan, requiring large expenditures by those 

 who then inhabited Philadelphia and its vicinity. In the 

 year 1723, March 30th, a law was enacted " by the Go- 

 vernor "Sir William Keith, "by and with the consent 

 *'of the Freemen of the province, in General Assembly 

 *'met," (which shews the then style of the laws,) entit- 

 led, " An act for establishing a ferry over the river 

 *' Schuylkill, at the end of the High Street of Philadel- 

 '■''phia^'^ granting to the then Mayor and commonalt}-, 

 the right to make and maintain causeways, on both 

 sides of the river, and to erect a ferry at the west end 

 qS. High Street. Certain tolls were then fixed; which 

 the present rates do not, in any case far exceed, and in 

 many instances, i. e. for country produce and manure, 

 are much, and liberally reduced. No person or per- 

 sons (without violating that law) could then, or can now, 



