Call Number:

Ms. Codex 1864

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

1 volume

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Wrightsville and York Railroad Company contracts and receipts, 1836-1837, Ms. Codex 1864, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1836-1837 (inclusive)

Creator:

Wrightsville and York Railroad Company

Form:

Receipts (financial records), Contracts, Blank forms, and Codices (bound manuscripts)

Abstract:

An oversize volume comprising the contracts and receipts of payment for the construction of the Wrightsville to York Railroad line spanning one year from 1836 to 1837.

The railroad company, also known as the York and Wrightsville Railroad Company, was approved as a corporation by a Pennsylvania Act in 1835 to construct a railroad from Wrightsville to York. The company's mortgage and majority of stocks were held by the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad Company. In February 1837 Wrightsville and York was united with Wrightsville and Gettysburg Railroad forming Wrightsville, York and Gettysburg Railroad Company. The Wrightsville York line was completed in 1840.

This oversize volume comprises contracts and receipts of payment for the construction of the Wrightsville to York railroad line in Pennsylvania, for one year: from 1836 to 1837. The pages are numbered from 1 to 392. "Contracts and receipts" is stamped on the spine. The volume contains pre-printed forms of contracts and receipts filled in with handwritten information. Receipts of payment follow each agreement. The contracts contain agreements with various construction engineers to create embankments, break stones, perform excavation, graduation, and masonry for the company. At the top of each agreement is a section number. There are twenty sections, however the arrangement is not numerical. Some contracts list the name of the land owner where construction is being preformed. The cost of payment was determined per square yard. All the contracts are signed by the engineer employed and Thomas McGrath, who was an agent and a commissioner of the company. Some agreements have an additional leaf affixed at the bottom. There are two indexes one on the inside front cover and one on the last page. The indexes are arranged by section number and then by contractor. Contracts from page 217 to 392 are blank forms. Some receipts are handwritten. The back cover is detached.