374 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



ter is a substantial stone structure of some four or live arches. It was erected about- 

 tke year 1789, by Abraham Witmer, a patriarch of the numerous and respectable tribe _ 

 of that name. By an act of the Legislature, passed in 1787, this intelligent and enter- 

 prising German obtained authority to construct the bridge, and to charge a reasonable 

 toll. It continued to be his private property until five or six years ago, vi^hen it vras 

 purchased by the county of Lancaster, and made free to all comers and goers. The 

 preamble of the law referred to is curious and interesting, on account of the contrast 

 which it exhibits between the resources and enterprise of the Commonwealtli at that 

 time, and at the present. A. safe crossing of the Conestoga was then essential to the 

 whole communication between Philadelphia and the interior — it was often impassable 

 for many days together — and yet the State of Pennsylvania had not the means to con- 

 struct a bridge which a single county now would readily undertake. 



The public spirited enterprise of a Pennsylvania fanner supplied the deficiency, and 

 entitled him to honorable mention in every history of internal improvement in this State.! 

 His w/is the second bridge constructed under State authority, probably the second of 

 any magnitude in the State. The first was built in 1787, under a similar grant from 

 the Legislature over Keshamony creek on the Bristol road, by CHiai'les Bessonett and 

 Gershom Johnson, "proprietors of the stages from Philadelphia to Trenton on the 

 Kew York road." The Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike Company — the first in 

 the state or country — was not chartered until 1792, five years after the grant to Abraham 

 Witmer. 



What a host of reflections spring from the recollection of these simple facts. Only 

 forty-five years ago, the two great communications from Philadelphia, one leading to 

 jSTew York, and the other to our interior, were rendered precarious by the want of 

 bridges over such streams as the Conestoga and the Xeshamony. In that short period 

 what changes have enterprise and industry, the genuine growth of free institutions, 

 produced? More than forty millions of dollars have been expended in the construction 

 of roads, bridges and canals. 



The Rail Road, after crossing the Conestoga, passes through the beautiful farm of _ 

 the late Mr. Coleman, and enters the corporate limits of the city of Lancaster, on its 

 northern edge. The elevation of the ground on which the city is chiefiy built, induced 

 the Engineer, (Major Wilson) on the first location, to carry his line around half a mile 

 north of the principal street, along a small valley sloping to the Conestoga. He con- 

 sidered that the city would be as well accommodated by a short branch of inconsidera- 

 ble expense, and which would not interfere with his choice of ground for the main line. 

 After the routes chosen by him had been graded, the people of Lancaster induced the 

 Legislature to carry a line nearer the main street, involving a heavy deep cut, and an 

 additional expenditure of one hundred thousand dollars. It is doubtful whether they 

 will derive advantage from the change. In the deep cutting, which occurs nearly all 

 the distance through the city, no useful communication can be had with the road, and 

 it must prove inconvenient in many other respects. If they are satisfied, however, far 

 be it from us to complain. 



Lancaster is one of the three towns in Pennsylvania upon wliich the Legislature have 



IThe above statement requires correction. Binkley's Bridge, which seems really to be the oldest 

 stone arched bridy:e in the county, if not in the State, was built at the eharae of Christian Binkley in 

 17S9. His expenditure having; straightened his circumstances, his nei^-hbors proposed that he should 

 transfer the bridge to the public "in consideration of X1,U00 in gold and silver coin, current lawful 

 money in the State of Pennsylvania ;" acceding to said proposal, the amount was raised by volun- 

 tary subscription in the vicinity. This bridge stood as originally erected until the summer of 1867^ 

 when one of the piers gave way, necessitating the rebuilding of the same, which was completed late 

 in the fall of 1868. The old flour and grist mill, adjoining the Bridge and built by Christian Binkley, 

 was converted in 1SG6 into a first-class paper mill, known as " The Printers' Paper Mill." Christian 

 Uinkley is certainly entitled to great praise for the disinterested zeal and public spirit, which prompt- 

 ed him for the benefit of the public at large, to erect this substantial bridge at his own expense. 



