Report of the board of managers of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, to the stockholders. January 13, 1834

Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company · 1834 · Historical

At an election held on the 13 th of January 1834, the following named persons were cho sen officers of The Lehigh Coal and Navi gation Company for the

This 1834 document, Report of the board of managers of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, to the stockholders. January 13, 1834, is preserved in the Mountain Man Mining Library for research and reference. Original source: archive.org.

Of The

Board Of Managers

Of The

To

The Stockholders.

January 13, 1834.

jlfitlaftelpfcta :

PRINTED BY JAMES KAY, JUN. & CO. Race above Fourth Street.

At an election held on the 13 th of January 1834, the following named persons were cho sen officers of The Lehigh Coal and Navi gation Company for the ensuing year : viz.

President , Joseph Watson.

Managers ,

Josiah White, Erskine Hazard, Timothy Abbott, Thomas Earp, Ephraim Haines,

John Cook,

George Peterson, Jonathan K. Hassinger, Evans Rogers,

John McAllister.

T? easurer , Otis Ammidon.

Edwin Walter.

j

Secretary .

t

'

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Agers.

Managers of The Lehigh Coal and Na vigation Company present to the Stockholders the following as their Annual Report:

A very great improvement has been expe rienced in the condition of the Delaware di vision of the Pennsylvania Canal, during the past season. Our business upon it commenced on the 25th of March, with boats carrying from 40 to 45 tons, and closed on the 15th of Decem ber, with a boat loaded with 60 tons of coal. It was, howrever, interrupted in the course of the season for seventy-six days, and, in consequence, it became necessary to unload 24,000 tons of coal at South Easton, and 2,645 tons in the

The

neighbourhood of New Hope, which has since been brought down.

The breaches which caused the interruptions were thoroughly repaired, and many parts of the Canal have been much strengthened. The whole line is now in such a situation that but little delay from casualties is anticipated for the future, and the Canal Commissioners are contemplating the construction of a feeder at Black's Eddy, which, besides removing the necessity of so strong a current from the Lehigh to supply the Canal, will enable the lock tenders to keep the lower levels to the proper height with more certainty, and thus admit of heavier lading on the boats. Under these circumstances, the Managers believe it will never again be necessary to resort to the old method of bringing down the coal in box boats or arks, by the channels of the Delaware river.

The whole quantity of coal taken from the mines in 1833, was 124,508 tons, of which 122,928 tons were shipped from Mauch Chunk, being nearly 50,000 tons more than

the shipments of 1832. In the early part of the season, before the Delaware Canal was in complete order, about 7,000 tons were sent down in arks ; and, of the balance, carried to market in canal boats, 91,824 tons were trans ported on the Delaware Canal, on which the Company have paid to the commonwealth toll amounting to 831,941.68.

The freight of the coal has exceeded the estimate, in consequence of the use of arks in the early part of the season, the low average of the cargoes in the boats, and their detention by the interruptions of the Delaware Canal ; but, from the improved state of that Canal, and other increased facilities for transacting business, we anticipate a material reduction in the cost of our coal for the future.

The Lehigh Navigation continues to fulfil our anticipations of its capability and perma nency. The following is a list of the freight which has been transported on it during the past season, viz.

ewt

Coal,

Grain, -

Flour,

Salt,

Salt Fish, Beef and Pork, -

Other Provisions,

Beer, Porter and Cider,

Whiskey,

Hay and Straw,

Lumber,

Cord Wood,

Slate,

Lime and Limestone,

Other Stone, Sand and Plaster,

Iron, -

Iron Ore, -

Pitch, Tar and Rosin,

Merchandise,

Total, 142,808 16

The total amount of tolls received on the Lehigh Navigation, exclusive of coal carried on the Company's account, was $21,653.56.

The Rail Road to the Room Run Mines has been completed, and, it is thought, will bear a comparison with any other work of a similar kind that has been constructed. There have been transported on it from those mines, during th'"' past year, 21,000 tons of coal.

Contracts for mining coal at the old mines, and at the new mines at Room Run, and de livering it on board the boats at Mauch Chunk, have already been entered into for the ensuing season.

Mauch Chunk, Nesquehoningand South Eas ton have been much improved. On most of the lots which have been disposed of in those places by the Company, to individuals, houses, stores or mills have been already built or will be erected during the present year. N umerous ap plications continue to be received for other lots. The increase of population in these thriving towns will eventually add much to the trade on the Lehigh and Delaware Canals, and must

speedily attract business from the Susquehannah, even under the present circumstances of the coun try. But the proposed connexions between the Susquehannah and the Lehigh, by the Nescopec Canal and by the Wilkesbarre Rail Road, are the only means by which the trade of the North and West Branches can be made tributary to the Le high and Delaware Canals.

The Delaware and Raritan Canal, we are informed, is nearly completed, and is expected to be opened for navigation in the ensuing summer. This will extend the market for coal in New Jersey, and, as it is capable of pass ing sloops, will increase our facilities for transportation to the northern and eastern states.

The Morris Canal is improving in strength, and has met with comparatively few casualties during the past season. The quantity of coal from the Lehigh, transported by it in 1833, was about 13,000 tons, and an increased demand upon that route may be confidently anticipated

this vear.

An additional wharf and yard have been

procured by the Company in the Northern Li berries, for the sale and shipment of coal ; and another establishment is in preparation, and will soon be occupied for the same purposes, in Southwark.

For information respecting the profits of the Company, and the cash transactions of the past year, the Stockholders are referred to the Report of the Dividend Committee, and the Treasurer's Account, which will be laid before the meet ing.

By order of the Board of Managers,

Joseph Watson,

President .

Philadelphia , January 13, 1834.

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