Schuylkill Navigation Maps
at
Reading Area Community College
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Schuylkill Navigation Maps at Reading Area Community College |
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Appraisal Schuylkill Navigation Co. Canal
for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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| Lock 51 - This lock is located in Birdsboro between the River Road and property of the Birdsboro Steel Company. There were two stone locks; the one nearest the highway having been filled in. The other has remained open and there is a water course [sic] from the canal flowing through to the use of the Birdsboro Steel Company. Between the lock and the River Road there is a very good stone house having been erected about 1834. It has been occupied by the present family or their relatives for the past 58 years. During this entire period they have worked for the owners of the canal until recently.
This house contains six rooms and has a tin roof. It has electric and water but no heat. It has been well maintained by the tenants who also have a very attractive yard. There are two small tool sheds size 8 x 10. There is a frame barn erected on this land but we have been informed that the building does not form a part of this appraisal as the tenant has the right to remove same. About 500 feet below the above-mentioned aqueduct (referred to in Lock 50) there is a dam which diverts a portion of the Allegheny Creek into the canal bed channel which is approximately 20 feet in width and this flow of water continues on through the canal through Lock 51 into the property of the Birdsboro Steel Company. This is a very important factor and must be given special consideration in forming the valuation. The canal bed from Lock 51 and continuing past the Birdsboro Steel Company has been filled in and apparently is used by the company for purposes incidental to motor vehicle travel. Continuing past the main intersection of the high-way leading over a bridge extending over the Schuylkill River, the canal formerly flowed through an aqueduct extending over Hay Creek. This aqueduct is probably 200 feet long and is now used as a swimming pool for the benefit of the community. Continuing past the Hay Creek aqueduct, the canal winds in and through farmland, and several wooden bridges must be maintained for adjacent owners. It is our opinion that a lot of the frontage along the farmlands could be sold to adjacent owners. The greater value, however, would be found in that portion which supplies water to the aforementioned steel company. Remarks - We observed that a certain amount of stagnant water exists in the canal bed beyond the aforementioned aqueduct at the lower end of Birdsboro. We believe it would be well to include this entire length of the canal to the Berks – Chester County line with the aforementioned described land, starting about 500 feet beyond the aqueduct over the Allegheny Creek. It is our opinion that this entire area is of considerable value to the steel industry which is utilizing the canal bed in order to get a proper flow of water. Therefore, it is our opinion that the entire area, including buildings, locks, canal bed and bridges, together with all their liability, would have a fair market value of $12,800.00. |
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