The Pennsylvania canal extends from Columbia on the Susquehanna to theJuniata river, and thence to Pittsburg , a distance of 322 miles.
The Pittsburg and Erie Canal is intended to unite the Ohio river at Pitts burg , with lake Eric at the town of Erie . Length 168 miles, of which about20 miles are now finished.
The Delaware division of the Pennsylvania Canal extends from Easton , atthe mouth of the Lehigh river, to Bristol on the Delaware , a distance of 60miles.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal will extend through the south-east part ofPennsylvania , from the state line at Wills’ creek to Pittsburg , a distance of 151miles.
According to the “ Pennsylvania State Register,” for 1831, “ The whole ex-tent of the state canals is 428^ miles, of which 406 miles are completed. Be-sides this extent of canal navigation, there are 302 miles belonging to privatecompanies, making an aggregate, in the state, of 728 miles—The publicproperty of the commonwealth is as follows :
Expended on the state canals.$10,544,243 16
Bank stock owned by the state.2,108,700 00
Turnpike stock do.1,911,243 39
Canal stock do.200,000 00
Bridge stock do.410,000 00
State debt, January 1, 1831,
Total $15,174,186 55.$12,512,520,48.”
. _ The Columbia Rail-Road view of the coi.umbia railroad.
o extends from Philadelphia to Columbia , on the Susquehanna river , and is 83 miles in length. Itcrosses the river Schuylkill on asubstantial bridge of three arches,about two miles above the city ofPhiladelphia .
Tho Philadelphia , Germantown, and Norristown Rail-Road extends from thecity of Philadelphia , in a north-western direction, to Norristown , upon the riverSchuylkill, a distance of about 18 miles.
Pennsylvania is intersected by various mountains. The principal ridges ofthe Alleghany mountains , comprehended in Pennsylvania , are the Kittatinny,or the Blue mountains . Behind these and nearly parallel to them, are Peters,Tuscarora, and Nescopeck mountains, on the cast side of the Susquehanna ;on the west, Shareman’s hill, Sideling hill, Ragged, Great, Warrior’s, Evit’s,and Wills’ mountains; then the great Alleghany ridge, which being thelargest, gives name to the u'hole; and west of this are the Chestnut ridges.Between the Juniata and the west branch of the Susquehanna , are Jacks,Tussvs, Nittiny, and Bald Eagle mountains. The valleys between these moun-tains are often of a rich, black soil, suited to the various kinds of grass andgrain. Some of the mountains admit of cultivation almost to their summits.The other parts of the state are generally level, or agreeably diversified withhills and valleys.
The soil of Pennsylvania is various; a small part of it is barren, but agreat proportion of it fertile and a considerable part very excellent. It is gene-rally tetter adapted to tillage than grazing; and much of it, particularly thesouth-east part, is under excellent cultivation. The two best tracts of land are,one in the south-east part, along the Susquehanna , the other in the north-westpart, between lake Erie and Alleghany river. Wheat is the most important
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