Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-03-12
THE NORTH BRANCH CANAL---MR. MAFFIT
AND THE CANAL COMMISSIONERS.

AND THE CANAL COMMISSIONERS.
During the many years the people of North
ern Pennsylvania have been anxiously expect
ing and waiting for the completion of the
North Branch, there has been little prospect
Of the realiza ion of their hopes, until the last
season. Even when the Canal was declared
finished, it was so far from being fit for use,
that the hopes of many of its friends died with
in them, and they were ready to despair of
ever beholding it in a navigable condition.
The creation of new Office by the Legisa-
ture and the selection of WV. r. MAFFIT, to
fill that office, invested with ample powers to
control the management of the work on the
North Branch, Independent of the Canal Com
missioners, coupled with his high reputation for
experience, his ind0nitable energy and untir-
ing industry, created new hopes in those who
had almost give up in despair,
Mr. MAFFIr went to work upon the North
Branch, which our readers will rccollcct, had
already been pronounced fEtshed, to put it in
navigable order He found that the water
had been passed through that portion from
the State line to Towanda, distance of about
10 miles-but while it was in use, it was navi-
gable only for boats with light loads, being
obstructed by bars, and throughout the entire
distance, was full of leaks and weak places,
making its permanence exceedingly doubtful,
and in dry weather the quantity of water ex
ceedingy limited. The whole distance requi-
red oycrhauling and repairing.
From this place to PittSton the Canal was
in still worse condition AL attempts to place
water in the entire distance had proved una
vailing. The body Of water contained in the
Susquehanna would not suffice to feed the
leaks and overcome the difficulties in the way
Radical defects in the construction were met at
every step. Yet in spite of Instructions and
Misrepresentation which would have deferred
any other person, he persevered, until last fall,
we lad the pleasure Of announcing the arrival
of the FIRST boat load of coal from PitSton-
Not that the Canal was by any means in prop
er condition for business But water had been
Nv
banks pretty thoroughly tested, demonstrating
that another season Of energetic and well applied
labor would be sufficient, without extraordiua-
ry miSfortunes, to make the Canal as perfect
as any new work can be- OF the labor per-
formed by Mr.. MAFFrT to bring about this
gratifying result no conception can be formed,
except by those residing in the immediate Vi
cinity of his operations At the outset he
had to incur the Misrepresentation and ridi-
cule of those who wished TO have control of
the Canal for political purposes, reiterated by
others who had favorite theories for the imme-
diate repairs of the Canal Relying upon his
many years experience, and confident of the
wisdom of his plans, he has persevered, until
he has extorted even from his enemies, the
confession that he has done wisely all that man
could do, for the permanence and welfare of
the North Branch
Not only has Mr.. MAFFIr met with obsta-
cles at home, but he has been constantly sub
jected to annoyances at the hands of the Ca
nal Board. We are sorry to say that the. in
terests of the North and the State, as involv-
ed in this great improvement, have not met
with proper encouragement and attention from
the Board of late years. Excepting our friend
Gen. CLOVER, who displayed great interest in
the work, the Board has apparently manifest
ed but little interest in it. Particularly since
the passage of the law creating the Office Mr.
MAFFIT now holds, this has been the case
On the contrary, the Board have on many oc-
casions evinced desire to retard and embar-
rass Mr.. MAFFIr in his operations They did
not willingly resign the control of any portion
of the public works. They probably saw in
the action Of the legislature taking away from
them the North Branch, the initiation of
policy which would finally lead to change in
the management of the public works They
feared that the public, seeing the energy and
faithfulness with which the Superintendent on
the North Branch performed his duties would
naturally contrast it with the corruption and
ineficiency of their officers, and thus in time
endanger the perpetuity of the debaauching
and worse than worthless system of nov man
ging our public works.
Hence their jealousy, and the handspring of
the littleness which characterized their actions.
Heretofore they have been content with
privately manifcsting their displeasure-by il
liberality in their dealings with the Superin-
tendent-and by embarrassing him in the dis
charge of his duties on every possible occa-
sion. Now by technicality, deeming they
have grounds sufficient to justify full mani
festatlon of their i'll will, they have addressed