6 THK FLOOD OF 1S43. 



ticular localities. The principal creeks nienlioned. have a 

 rapid descent from their several sources to the head of tide. 

 William H. Wilson, Esq., of Haverford, has politely fur- 

 nished the committee with the following, as a very close 

 approximation to the elevation of the sources of the principal 

 streams above tide water, as ascertained by him while engaged 

 on the survey of the Columbia rail road, viz. : 



Source of Cobb's creek, 392 feet above tide. 

 Ithen " 399 

 Darby " 440 

 Crum " 520 

 Ridley " 520 

 The elevation of the source of Chester creek was not 

 ascertained with the same degree of accuracy, but that of its 

 east branch probably exceeds Crum or Ridley creeks. 



A large proportion of this fall, particularly within the 

 borders of Delaware county, had been turned to account in 

 propelling mills and manufactories of various kinds, so that 

 previously to the inundation there could have been enume- 

 rated within the county 



28 Cotton Manufactories : 

 15 Woolen Manufactories; 

 32 Flour Mills ; 

 45 Saw Mills ; 

 8 Paper Mills, and 



10 .Mills for various purposes, exclusive of those used 

 for cleaning clover seed and grinding plaister. 



These establishments necessarily gave rise to a variety of 

 other improvements on the margin of the several streams, and 

 in many instances, within the scope of the inundation. 



Delaware county had also become celebrated for the num- 

 ber and substantial character of her bridges. Bridges had 

 been erected on all the main leading highways where they 

 cross the several creeks, and many bridges had also been 

 erected on the less fretjuenled roads. Previously to the inun- 

 dation there could have been enumerated 45 bridges which 



