and upon a specific pledge of the proceeds of the State's investments in the capital stock of the company, for the payment of principal and interest. The act, however, contained, as conditions precedent, clauses requiring the several companies of Allegany county, to enter into bond, satisfactory to the treasurer of the State, for the construction of a rail road, from the [coal] mines, to connect with the canal, and to complete the same simultaneously with its completion to Cumberland; and also, to guaranty the payment, to the company, of at least $200,000, per annum, for the transportation of their own coal on the canal." The board of directors, as well as the coal and iron companies of Allegheny County, made strenuous efforts to comply with these conditions, but the securities offered were not satisfactory to the treasurer of the state and the act failed. Later it was repealed.
At the December session, 1841, the professional beggar again asked aid of the legislature, but failed to secure it. For some time previous several contractors had been prosecuting the work on the canal on
