out imputing fickleness of sentiment to that public, who are equally the constituents of your memorialists and of the members of the legislature. Your memorialists beg leave to remind you that one great subject of general complaint was, what is generally called the Out-door System of relief,-the practieal operation of which was the establishment of a regular and constantly increasing list of pensioners, who feed upon the public purse without check or control,and demanded as a right and received as a right, the produce of the labour of the industrious classes. There was no end or limit to this evil-it has attained an alarming magnitude. To arrest its course required the strong arm of the Legislature; it was interposed, and the people were thankful. Yet the first section of the bill against which we remonstrate, is intended once more to launch against us this engine of destruction. Your memoralists pray you to recur to the petitions of the last session, and to the course of policy then adopted, and predicated upon these petitions. They beg leave too to suggest that the law as it now stands permits temporary relief to the sufferer and his family-but to be administered in food, clothing, medicine, and all the necessaries and comforts of life, while it forbides the baneful grant of pecuniary pensions. 135 In conclusion, your memorialists respectfully pray By order of the Board, THOS. P. COPE, Pres't. WAYNE COUNTY, We have been favoured by JACOB S. DAVIS, Esq. with the perusal of his manuscript "Sketches of Wayne County," and been permitted to make such extracts from them as we wished, for the Register, and which we now present These Sketches, when printed, will, we presume, be highly interesting to the inhabitants of Wayne county especially-and be also very useful to the holders of lands in that county resident elsewhereas a general map of the county, and a distinct one of each township, will accompany the work, showing the different divisions of lands agreeably to warrants, and referring by notes to an index, which also will be published with it, in which are exhibited the names of the warrantees and present holders, and the quantity of land held by each in every township of the county. There are also abstracts of acts of Assembly relating to the lands, as well as other useful information respecting them and other local regulations. The township maps were commenced by order of the county commissioners in 1825, by whom Mr. Davis was employed for the purpose, and for which he has had the best means of acquiring authentic information, the county documents being in his possession. WAYNE COUNTY Your Memorialists are also averse to that part of the bill, which compels them to erect a Hospital within the bounds of the city-allow them to ask why they should not be entrusted with this question? Are not your memoralists like yourselves elected to discharge the duties belonging to their station? Are they not responsible for the violation of these duties? Do they not act nuder the sanction of a sacred obligation? Are they not members of the very community most interested in the matter under discussion? Do they not themselves contribute by payment of taxes, to the creation of the fund? And why then shall they not be permitted to execute the functions thus cast upon them, & in which they have so deep an interest? Why must you be appealed to, to superintend, check, control, and pass upon each, & all their acts? If the people call for your interference, your memorialists admit the case,for interference would then arise; but while they are not dissatisfied your memorialists submit that such intervention would be equally unjust to them and burdensome to you. Again, it can only require to be mentioned, it need not be insisted upon-that the establishment of a Hospital at a distance from the Alms House, would be for many reasons impolitic and imprudent-cruel to the tenants of the latter place-and by the process of removal and its consequenIs bounded, on the North, by the State line between ces fatal to individuals and offensive-in some cases perhaps dangerous to the public. An establishment for Pennsylvania and New York in latitude 42° North, the reception of those who may suffer from sudden ac- extending along this line 6 miles. North-Eastwardly cidents,or from illness which cannot be properly attend- by the Western shore of the Delaware river, which ed to, in their families may become desirable at a future is also a boundary line of New York to the lower end period within the City, and will then be erected, But of the Big Eddy, a distance of 30 miles in a direct line, your memorialists respectfully submit that the people but 45 by the meanderings of the river. The remaining of this district, and the public bodies of this section of boundaries are within this State viz-S. E. and South by the State are competent to judge of the proper time, Pike Co.and West by Luzerne and Susquehanna counand occasion for such an erection. At this moment it ties. The direct lines of this county were run at different would be burthensome, expensive and inconvenient.-periods and excepting the State, line without regarding Allow your memorialists also respectfully to ask whether they are not entitled to judge of the rules, which should govern their mode of transacting their own business? Must they be driven on all occasions to recur for assent and approbation to other authorities, to Judges and Attorneys General-What other Corporation is so restricted-Why are not the members of this body to be entrusted with their own government? Will the city of Philadelphia, the district of Southwark, the townships of the Northren Liberties and Penn? Will they depute men to the performance of this trust, who are not worthy to be permitted to enact their own rules? Do not the principles of our government forbid this supposition, and allow us to ask can the authorities referred to in the third section be competent Judges of the necessity, or of the mode of operation ofthese rules? Can any body of them except those who witness their effects. The the magnetic variation; the bearings are therefore not The further prosecution of this business was deferred until 1786 and 1787, during which years the line was completed by Andrew Ellicot, on the part of Pennsylvania, and James Clinton and Simeon Dewitt, on the part of N. York. The western line of this county was runțin pursuance of an act passed April 17, 1795. The division line between it and Pike county was run by John K. Woodward, conformably to act of Assembly of Sept. 1814. The AREA of the county is as follows, exclusive of an allowance of six acres per cent. for roads, viz. ..436429 acres. Total....... TOPOGRAPHY.-Upland and Mountains. The surface of the county of Wayne is diversified with many inequalities; comprising on a moderate scale, much of that variety attributed to mountainous regions. The principal features of this outline are a continuous upland, occupying the largest portion of the surface-the long narrow vallies by which this upland is indented, and a few incidental eminences to which only the distinction of mountains ought to be applied. The general elevation of the upland is estimated at about thirteen hundred feet above the level of tide water. From the northern part of the county the Susquehanna river receives a portion of its waters, by the Starucca and Lackawanna creeks, which have their sources within the space of a few rods of each other, in Preston township, and thence running in nearly opposite direc tions, discharge their respective waters into the Susquehanna, upwards of a hundred miles apart. The heads of Great Equinunk creek, emptying into the Delaware river on the north-eastern side of the county; and of the west branch of Lackawaxen, running southward, are also in the same vicinity. In wet seasons the most proximate of these heads unite and thus form a complete inosculation or super-union of the Delaware and Susquehanna waters. The Moosic mountain, rising like a wall along a great part of the western line of the county, determines the waters from its eastern foot to the Lackawaxen river, but beyond its southern extremity the waters again diverge from a small space. The Lackawanna creek again receives a branch from this county, which has its head in a laurel swamp; and nearby, in the same swamp, are the sources of the Lehigh river. The Tobihanna and Wallenpaupac creeks, all running in different directions, to the Susquehanna, Lehigh, and the Lackawaxen. Delaware river bounds the northeastern side of the county. It receives from Wayne county, besides the Lackawaxen river, the waters of the northern end of the county, and much of the eastern waters, amongst which the Great Equinunk creek is a stream of some magnitude. There is much alluvial flat along the margin of this river. The upland declivity is lofty, bold, and sometimes precipitous. The greater part of the river shore in Manchester township, from the mouth of the Great Equinunk creek downwards, is bound by lofty perpendicular rocks, from the water's edge, which effectually interrupts a direct land communication along the river for that distance. Lackawaxen river flows through the middle of the county, in a deep valley, which no where exceeds half a mile in breadth. It unites the waters of the greater part of the county, which it discharges into the Delaware river. The bot tom of this valley is for the most part an alluvial flat of fertile quality. Its principal branches are the Dyberry, which it receives from the north, flowing through a valley similar to the Lackawaxen valley. The West Branch, which is considered the principal branch of this river, Moosic mountain rises above the upland in this county about 600 feet, having a total elevation of 1910 feet above tide. Its southern extremity is in Luzerne county, whence it extends in a direction east of north, crossing the west line of Wayne county in Canaan township, and subsides in Mount Pleasant township, forming for some distance a barrier between this and the adjacent counties on the west. Beyond the northern ex-flows through a similar valley and unites its waters with tremity of the Moosic rises Mount Arrarat which reaches a short distance into Preston township, and is about of the same height as the Moosic. The summits of these mountains overlook an extent of country, the former to the east the latter to the west, as far as the eye can reach; still farther north and between the head waters of Lackawanna creek is the Sugar Loaf mountain, which is comparatively a small eminence. Besides these, there are some eminences of minor note, only a few of which are designated by particular names. The upland with its appurtenant vallies affords the greatest and most interesting variety of feature: the upland being broken into much uneaviness by the ramifications of the vallies and the gradual subsidence of their bottoms, from which circumstances much of the mountain character is derived. These inequalities, however, present no serious obstacle to agricultural operations: the slopes are generally gradual, and with a few exceptions, every part is susceptible of cultivation. the Dyberry, forming together the true Lackawaxen The head of rafting navigation in the West Branch is about a mile from its mouth; in the Dyberry, about four miles. The Middle creek is too much obstructed by rapids to admit of any navigation; and the Wallenpaupac creek affords a navigation for about 15 or 20 miles, when it is interrupted by the great falls. The distance from the highest navigable point in the Dyberry to the mouth of the Lackawaxen is 27 miles, thence to Philadelphia is 170 miles. All the lakes and rivers are stockValleys and Waters.-The 'valleys are the peculiared with fish, amongst which are trout, suckers, cat-fish, drains of the county; each valley having its proper channel, into which the waters are collected from the confluent springs and rivulets. Lakes are found in every township except Sterling. These elegant little sheets of water, clear as chrystal, comprise from 50 to 300 acres each in extent, and contribute much to the natural beautics of the landscape. Their outlets form some of the capital streams of the county. At first the course of the waters is generally rapid, and this circumstance, together with the favorable slopes of the banks, affords innumerable situations for mills. perch and eels. Wallenparpa: Falls.-The great falls of the Wallenpaupac are of sufficient importance to merit a notice.From the head of the Wallenpaupac flats, the creeks, after a previous rapid course, flows in a sinuous channel for a distance of 15 miles with scarcely any sensible motion. Arrived at the head of the falls, the bed of the creek appears suddenly depressed, and forms a chasm, into which the water pours lown a depth of near 70 feet. and then rushing furiously in a deep rocky channel, is precipitated over three recessive cataracts within a ار distance of a mile and an half of the mouth of the creek, producing a total fall in that distance, of one hundred and fifty feet. The width of the creek above the falls is seventy feet. The scite of the upper fall is improved by two saw-mills and a grist-mill, a short distance above which a wooden bridge crosses and connects the route of the Milford and Owego turnpike road. The remains of Willsonville, the ancient seat of justice of Wayne county are situated near this place. But local policy has transferred the scene of public business to other places, and the creek is now the common boundary of Wayne and Pike counties. 137 township, and extends through the borough of Bethany and the townships of Dyberry and Palmyra, to its intersection with the Milford and Owego Turnpike in Pike County. Incorporated April 2, 1811. The Belmont and Easton Turnpike Road commences at Belmont, in Mount Pleasant township, and passes through the townships of Canaan, Salem, and Sterling, to the south line of Wayne county, and thence to the Easton and Wilkesbarre Turnpike, in Northampton county. Incorporated March 15, 1812. The Belmont and Oghquaga Turnpike road, commences at Belmont, and extends in a northwardly direction, crossing the west line of the County in Preston township, and thence continues in a direction to Oghquaga in the state of New York. Incorporated Feb. 26, 1817. Borough of Bethany.-BETHANY is the seat of justice for Wayne county. It is situated on a commanding eminence which declines on every side, except the north, and overlooks the adjacent country for a considerable distance. It contains 38 dwelling-houses, a court-house, The Luzerne and Wayne County Turnpike Road, a fire-proof building for the public offices, a Presbyteri commences in Luzerne county, and enters into Wayne an church, an academy, two taverns, four stores, a post-county near Salem corners, whence, passing through office, a printing office, and several artizan's and me- Salem and Palmyra townships, it continues to its inter chanics' establishments. It is 36 miles from Milford, 111 section with the Milford and Owego Turnpike in l'ike from New-York, and 123 from Philadelphia, Bethany county. Incorporated February 24, 1820. was incorporated as a bo:ough by act of Assembly, SUMMARY. March 31, 1821. HONESDALE is situated in the Lackawaxen valley, at the confluence of the Dyberry and Lackawaxen, three miles and an half south-east from Bethany. Two years ago the scite of this village was occupied by woods; but since the commencement of active operations near the head of the Lackawaxen canal, and on the rail-road, both of which terminate near this place, a town has been laid out on the spot, and now contains 18 dwelling-houses, 4 stores, a tavern, a post-office, and the offices of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. CENTREVILLE is situated in Mountpleasant township, twelve miles north-west from Bethany. It contains 14 dwellings, two taverns, two stores, and a post-office. A Presbyterian church is building in this village. DAMASCUS is situated near the Delaware river, sixteen miles north-east from Bethany. It contains 8 dwellings, a Baptist church, a tavern, a store, and a post-office. CLARKSVILLE is situated eight miles south-west from Bethany, in Canaan township, near Rix's Gap. It contains 7 dwellings, to taverns, two stores, and a postoffice. SALEM Corners is 20 miles south-west from Bethany. It contains 7 dwellings, two taverns, a post-office, and two stores. Bethany Glass Factory is owned and occupied by Messrs. Greele and Taatz-is situated a mile and an half from Bethany. Its production is chiefly window glass. From a statement given by one of the proprietors, it appears that its annual consumption of raw materials amounts to 15,000 dollars; annual contingent expenses 3,000. It employs 40 men and 8 boys, at an annual expense of 7000 dollars. It is kept in operation about three-fourths of the year, and manufactures 450,000 feet or 9,000 boxes of window glass, annually, valued at 3 dollars per box. TURNPIKE ROADS. There are six turnpike roads completed, and in good condition. The Coshecton and Great Bend Turnpike Road, commences at the village of Damascus, on Delaware river, at the termination of the turnpike from Newburgh to Coshecton. At this place there is a substantial bridge across the river, 550 feet in length; thence the turnpike passes through the townships of Damascus, Lebanon, and Mount Pleasant. and extends to the Great Bend of Susquehanna. Incorporated March 29, 1804. The Milford and Owego Turnpike Road, commences at Milford in Pike county, and enters Wayne county at Willsonville, whence it passes through the townships of Palmyra, Dyberry, and Canaan, by Clarksville, to Rix's Gap, and extends by Montrose, in Susquehanna county, to Owego, In the state of New York-incorporated Jan. 26, 1807. The Bethany and Dingeman's choice turnpike road, commences at Centreville in Mount Pleasant VOL. III 18 The Lackawaxen Canal, constructed by the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, extends from Honesdale down by the eastern and northern side of Lackawaxen river to its mouth, descending 371 feet by 37 locks.The Delaware and Hudson Canal is connected with its lower extremity, and extends down the eastern side of Delaware river to Carpenter's Point, and thence to Kingston on the Hudson river. The Lackawaxen Canal is 20 feet wide at bottom, 32 feet at top, and 6 fect deep. The boats that navigate the canal are 70 feet long, 8 feet 7 to 8 inches wide, and carry 25 tons. From Honesdale a rail road extends up the valley of the west branch of Lackawaxen, and crossing the river near the mouth of Vanorba brook, it continues in a western direction through Canaan township, and across the Moosic mountain at Rix's Gap to Carbondale, being 16 miles in length; overcoming an elevation and descent of 1812 feet, by 8 inclined planes, one of which is near the mouth of Vanorba-two on the eastern and five on the western side of the mountain. At the head of each inclined plane is erected a building, containing a stationary steam engine, for the purpose of assisting the wagons in the ascent and descent. Forest, and its productions. The greater part of Wayne county is yet overshadowed by its native forest. The country may indeed for the most part, be regarded as a heavy forest, with interspersed patches of clearing. Looking from an open eminence over the tops of the trees, the prospect affords a variety of streaks of lighter and darker shades; which distinguish the deciduous and evergreens, while the undulating appearance of the country, under the eye, adds much to the effect of the scene. As an appendage to the picture, the occasional patches of clearing appear in the distance like chasms in a dense surface of vege table green. Entering the woods for a close examination, we find it composed of tall and straight trees of various species, not generally intermingled, but rather arranged in parcels or bodies of various extent, in which particular species predominate. We also observe the brush or underwood subject to a corresponding variety, while in many instances the woods are totally clear of underwood to an extent of several hundred acres. cold does not make that impression which it makes in the vallies; vegetation there is both earlier, and much more secure from frost. Winter may be said to com. mence about the middle of December, and to terminate about the last of March; but its greatest rigours are experienced during the month of February. About the beginning or towards the middle of April there is usually a week or ten days of warm pleasant weather, at which time the snow remaining in the woods dissolves fore, the busy season with rafts men. There is usually much rainy weather with occasional sleet, from the end of this period until the middle of May, about which time the trees begin to put forth their leaves, and the woods soon assume a green livery. The weather continues variable but warm, until towards the end of June. The forest affords a variety of wild fruits, among which Grass is cut about the middle of July, and winter grain are cherries, plums, grapes, gooseberries, whor- towards the last of August. In July there is much southtleberries, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries-erly wind with occasional thunder showers. The month shell bark, walnuts, chesnuts, butternuts, and beech of August is the most sultry of the whole year; and it is nuts. The Sugar Maple abounds in the Beech Woods not unusual to have a drought of two or three weeks and affords a delicacy which habit has translated into a during this month, which is succeeded by occasional necessary of life. The quantity of sugar annually ma- showers, accompanied sometimes with thunder. In nufactured from the sap of this tree is sufficient to ren- September the weather is variable with much rain toder this county independent of foreign supplies, and a wards the latter part of the month. Buck-wheat and surplus might be afforded for exportation. Many fami-Indian corn are ripe about the middle of October. The fies manufacture from 300 to 700 pounds of sugar dur-leaves of the trees suffer from the frosts and the forest ing the season, which lasts about six weeks, in the is stripped of its foliage about the last of October. The early part of the spring. weather continues variable, with occasional cold snaps, and winter fires are lighted about the beginning of December. The southern border of the county presents a different grade of variety. The principal characters already described cease, or are reversed, and the forest here assumes both a distinct vegetation and peculiar arrange-rapidly and creates the spring freshets. This is, therement. The ground is covered with several species of shrubs and underwood; the trees appear in detached clumps, or in groves of small extent, consisting chiefly of pines, hemlocks, oaks, and chesnut. This portion of the woods is termed "open woods," as the former is distinguished by the name of "Beech woods." The county, indeed, derives its greatest source of wealth from the forest. The open woods afford white pine, yellow pine, oak, chesnut and hemlock. The beech woods furnish cherry, whitewood, white pine, bass wood, black and white ash, curled and spotted maple, beech and hemlock. The following account of the lumber rafted on the Lackawaxen and Delaware rivers, within the county of Wayne, was collected at the several rafting places; and shews the description and quantity of the lumber rafted on each river with the average value at market and the amount in the year. Description Lackawax- Delaware. Average Amount. of Lumber, en. Feet. Feet value per 1000 ft While Pine, Hemlock, 566 Sawed lumber 3,282,000 Yellow Pine, Round logs 220,000 Spars 150,000 15 15 Round logs 374,000 49,000 Hewed logs 497,000 Sawed lumber 202,000 644,000 Geology. The geological formation of Wayne county is transition. Its stratified rocks consist of brown argillaceous slate, grey wacke, grey wacke slate, and limestone, which alternate with each other. The Moosic mountain is composed of conglomerate or pudding stone, resting on grey wacke, and containing beds of amygdaloid. A bed of clay slate occurs near the mouth of Cauley brook in Dyberry township, interposed between strata of grey wacke slate. This rock also occurs on the western side of the Moosic mountain near the Belmont coal mine. The brown slate is the transition clay slate or argillite of geologists. It readily splits into thin plates, which exhibit glimmering scales of mi24,656,00 ca on their surface. Its color is usually brown, by ox5,400,00 yde of iron, being highly ferruginous, it however, some37,881,00 times of a greyish color. Clay slate is of the variety cal led shining argillite. It is of a fine texture; its fracture 3,300,00 is rather splintery than slaty, and exhibits a glassy lus2,250,00 tre; its color is a smoke grey or clove color; it is used for whet stones, for which it is well adapted. 2,115,00 Grey wacke and grey wacke slate are in fact varieties 2,982,00 of the same species, referred to same stone-the essen5,076,00 tial difference between these varieties consists merely in the relative proportions of their constituent parts. 504,00 Grey wacke is comprised of angular grains or fragments, 5,236,00 chiefly of quartz and felspar, united by an indurated argillaceous cement. Grey wacke slate is composed of 612,00 the same substances: but the grains are so minute that 2,856,00 they are scarcely visible by the eye; and the mass ap 490,00 pears nearly homogenous; the color is a blueish grey, 168,00 sometimes a smoke grey and the fracture is glimmering 2,420,00 from interspersed particles of mica. 2,075,00 Amygdaloid has a basis similar to grey wacke in which are imbedded fragments of a spheroidal or oval form, of 720,00 various sizes, from that of a pea to that of an egg. The base is subject to decomposition, leaving the nodules to Total $98,741,00 project above the surface and finally to drop out CLIMATE.-Wayne County partakes of that variety Conglomerate is also an aggregate or sand stone. It of climate usually attributed to mountainous, woody re- is composed of siliceous pebbles of various forms: genegions in this latitude. Frosts have been known to set rally rounded, united by a cement. It is frequently emin as early as September, and to continue to appear as ployed for mill-stones, and is said to be nearly equal in late as June; but this is not common. Except extraor-quality to the burr. It contains veins of sulphuret of dinary seasons, the months of December, January, Feb- iron, feldspar and quartz. ruary and March never pass without deep snow; and sometimes part of the months of November and April are included. It is remarked, that on the uplands the The limestone is of a compact texture and uneven fracture, and sometimes slaty. It sometimes contains foreign matters imbedded in its substance. It is fusible at 1829.] INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT FUND. a white heat into a black glass which denotes the presence of much siliceous matter. 139 These are said to be among the purest of all varieties of fuel: they contain 90 per cent. of carbon, there being but from 3 to 5 per cent. of incombustible matter, the rest being water.* The strata of brown slate and grey wacke most frequently alternate, and are of considerable thickness and extent, declining from the horizon at an angle of thirty The Delaware and Hudson Canal company have comdegrees, and sometimes more. It is frequently the case, menced operations on an extensive scale, for the transthat the recession of the several strata over each other portation of anthracite to New-York market, at Carbonform successive ridges, which seem to rise behind cach dale, which is situated within the limits of Luzerne other like steps to the summit of the upland. Thus, as- county. From this place a railway extends to Honescending from Dyberry flat towards Bethany, the first dale, in Dyberry township, a distance of sixteen miles ridge crossed by the turnpike is brown slate, dipping to- and a quarter. A canal extends from Honesdale to the wards the north-west. This is succeeded by a small stra- mouth of Lackawaxen river: and thence to Kingston on tum of limestone near the south line of the Borough. the Hudson river. These works are nearly completed. The Bethany ridge rising next is grey wacke slate, with The Belmont coal mine is situated in the same valley, the exception of a small quantity of limestone, cros- about seven miles above Carbondale. In its vicinity is sing the public square diagonally towards the north. found clay iron stone, in nodules and amorphous masThe ridge south west from Bethany is brown slate and ses. Some of these nodules exhibit only a shell filled grey wacke in alternate strata. Beyond the west branch with a dark blueish liquid, of the consistence of paint; of Bethany brook, grey wacke and brown slate in strata or with a compact substance of the same color, of differfrom ten to an hundred feet thick, alternate, with occa- ent degrees of hardness, but always capable of being cut sional small strata of limestone, dipping also to the north-with a knife. A specimen of this ore yielded 33 per cent. of metallic iron. west. Anthracite, &c.-In connection with the subject of the geology of Wayne county, it may be proper to introduce the following notices collected from various sour ces, of the minerals lying near its western line,though, for the most part, without its boundaries; as these are already of some importance in their relations to this county. The western side of Moosic mountain contains an extensive Anthracite formation, along the valley of the Lackawanna creek. This anthracite is of the columnar and *For a description of this coal region, see observaslaty varieties; the former being the most abundant.-'tions by David Scott, Esq. Register, vol. 3, page 18. [En. A company was incorporated by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, in the winter of 1825-6, for constructing a rail-way from the Belmont mine to the Susquehanna river. The company is empowered to hold 2000 acres of coal land, for the purpose of carrying on the coal trade. It has also the privilege of engaging in the manufacture of iron, &c. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.. Report communicated to the House of Representatives, REPORT That the accompanying statement exhibits the state of the fund from the 6th day of February, 1828, to the 7th February, 1829, inclusive, by which statement it apPears that after paying all sums directed by law to be paid out of the Internal Improvement fund, their remained on the 7th day of February 1829, a balance of 26,744 dollars, and 19 cents. It also appears by the accompanying estimate of the probable receipts and expenditures during the current year, that there will be a deficiency of money belonging to the fund on the 1st day of February, 1830, to meet |