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Description

Rare map of the Monongahela River, drawn from an earlier survey by Felix Brunot in 1841.

Drawn by a member of the family for whom Brunot Island is named (the first island on the Ohio River below Pittsburgh), the map is remarkably detailed, reflecting the results of meticulous modern surveying techniques.

The map was prepared from the field notes and manuscript maps drawn by Brunot, who was involved in survey of the River for the Monongahela Navigation Company. We locate only a single reference to the map, in the Monthly Bulletin of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Volume 20 (1915), which contains the follow entry at page 370:

Just what Mr. Brunot's particular duties on this surevy (ofthe Monongahela river) were I do not know . . . but judging from the beautiful map of the Monongahela Valley . . . I think he must have been a topographer. Slattery's Felix Reville Brunot.

We were able to locate the following discussion, which involves the map:

To His Excellency Governor R. E. Pattison, Ex-officio Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania:

Sir: I have the honor to lay before the Board a report on the collieries of the Monongahela Valley, prepared by Mr. Wall, of Monongahela City, illustrated by maps and sections, and by a series of photographic views taken at my direction by Mr. E. B. Harden, Topographer of the Survey.

The map of the river valley in a pocket of the bound volume was constructed and drawn by Mr. Wall on the basis of the river survey made by Col. Milnor Roberts in 1838, and plotted by Mr. Felix R. Brunot in 1841. The side country has been added by Mr. Wall, as well as the locations of collieries, towns, villages, &c, from his numerous surveys in subsequent and recent years....

A second letter provides as follows:

Professor J. P. Lesley,

State Geologist, Philadelphia, Pa.:

Dear Sir: I herewith take pleasure in submitting to your consideration and approval Part First of my report; on the Monongahela River Collieries, prepared from observations and examinations made in accordance with your instructions of June 24, 1881. . . .

This report is also accompanied with an outline map of the Monongahela river, from the West Virginia State Line to Pittsburgh, showing the outcrop lines of the Pittsburgh Coal Bed, location of coal mines, locks and dams, railroads, &c, throughout that distance. In the preparation of this map, the Hon. Felix R. Brunot, of Allegheny City, has kindly granted me the use of the very excellent map of the Monongahela river made by him in 1841, the history of which is contained in the accompanying letter from him

The following is the transcription of Brunot's original letter referenced above.

Dear Sir: On my return home from work I find your favor of the 20th, making inquiries about a map of the Monongahela river made by me in 1841.

I was a rodman in the corps making the navigation surveys, and assisted in the office work afterwards, until the maps and drawings were all completed.

After leaving the employment of the Company, I borrowed the note-books and made from them the map to which you refer. The Company maps which I also helped to make, were on quite a large scale, the separate sheets being bound together. They were burned in the fire of 1845, with the note-books, except those I have in my possession for the above-named purpose. The original map drawn by me I gave to the Monongahela Navigation Company about twenty years ago, and subsequently it was lithographed for one of the annual reports. The scale was reduced in the lithograph to about one-half that of the original. My map hangs in the office of the Navigation Company, and no doubt Gen. Moorhead or Mr. Harlow, the Engineer of the Company, will take pleasure in showing it to you. The surveys were made under the direction of W. Milnor Roberts, civil engineer, in 1838; and the principal assistant in charge of the parties was Nathaniel McDowell, both now dead. I plotted my map with great care from the notes of the survey, and I think you may rely upon it as being perfectly accurate in all essential particulars.

Very respectfully, &c,

Felix R. Brunot.

The Brunot family was a distinguished Pennsylvania family. Brunot's father, Dr. Felix Brunot (1752-1838) came to America as part of the medical staff of Marquis de Lafayette's military expedition, participating in many of the battles of the Revolution. He first settled in Philadelphia but moved to Pittsburgh in 1797. He purchased and resided on the island in the Ohio River which still bears his name. He was famous as a pioneer in the use of electricity in medical treatment.

His son, Felix R. Brunot (1820-1898) trained as a civil engineer and was a part in the Sheffield Steelworks, one of the largest firms of its type at the time. He was a leader in medical and humanitarian aid during the Civil War. In 1868, President Grant placed him as the head of the Board of Indian Commissioners. Later, Brunot was active as a director of the Western Pennsylvania Hospital, the Allegheny Cemetery, the Western University (University of Pittsburgh), the Monongahela Navigation Company, several banks and other interests.

Condition Description
Flattened and archivally backed, to reinforce fold weakness and some minor paper breaks.