Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1804-05-18

M Il il questionable wheeler this IN
convenience does not result from the,
bad construction Of the boast employed
In the navigation, than any defect inthe
work on the river. These boats carryl2O
;bbls Of ilour, and draw from 20 inches
DO two feet water. Ifthey drew but 81
or Ranches, they would meet with no
difficulties for ten months in the year, and
experiments are making, the success Of
which Is said TO be certain, to reduce
them to ths proper draft Of water. 4
In 81 Rkar there has been no inter.
ruptio1 j. 3 navigation from the want
Dfwatsr. ortoo great draft Of the boats {:
large quantities Of -four, timber, and o.
thsr articles have descended the river 1;
and the prospects are such - to leave NO
doubt; thar every thing in the upper coun-
Try prepared or preparing for water
transportation, will readily find its way
TO market, in the present season. One
gentleman, rich enterprising farmer in
Frederick county, in Maryland, residing
sorae miles higher UP the river Mono
easy than FFedericktown has already sent
his boat Ave times g this market, since
the breaking up ofthe frost. and has de-
ixered upwards Of 500 barrels aoar.
There are several streams thar dis.
charge themselves into the main branch
of the river, some Of which are scarcely
less important than the main branch itself.
The most considerable Of these are the
Shenandoah, the South Branch, the Mo-
nocacy, and the Conochocheague. The
South Branch Is now navigable so or so
miles, the Monocacy, about half that
distance and into the heart Of Frederick
county, the largest, richest, and most
productive county in MARY land--the o.
Their two branches are not 10 d state Of so
much improvement but the whole ener-
gies Of the company are now directed to
an operation on the Shenandoah, which
will cost 4oor SC, OOo dollars, and which,
when finished, win add to our present
inland navigation, little short of 200
miles, and into the finest country in the
United States. -s.,., = So
From these data, the pubfiek will
draw its own conclusions. : Every intel
hgent reader win perceive in this great
effort off private company, Consequence
e. above the reach Of ordinary minds, not
to large portion of the people of Virgil
mia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania only,
who are more Immediately 10 enjoy the
benefits ofthe navigation but to the best
interests of the whole people Of the u
nised States in tie duration Of their uni
on. Between the heretofore navieable
eastern and western waters there is q
country Of immense extent the greater
part Of which 10 without inhabitants,
and 50 wosld have remained, but tor the
enterprise Of which we are speaking. Il
was insaiE to hope that this country
could be settlsd unless navigation could
be carried nearer 10 it's centre. Il was
equally visionary to immagine that the
Atlantick and western states separated
by such barrier, could remain long unit
ed under one government. The Poto-
max navigation which now extends west
ward within 4oor so miles Of the nayi-
gable western waters, largely contributes
to the immediate settlement and cultiva-
tion of this wilderness, by atfording to
the cultiya.ors, the means of carrying to
market the fruits Of their industry. 1t
viii also afford to the people on the vest
en waters, Is low down as the faIls of
the Ohio and perhaps lower, the easiest
and cheapest conveyance for those sup
Pliesfrom theold world which their necea-
sitiss and their comfort require. No
ties are so indissolible a. those of inte-
rest. This navigation Is also interesting
70 the people Of the United States, tho
in 4 smaller degree in the influence Il
must have onthe rapid growth, and flu
ture grandeur Of that city which il esta-
blished by the constitution and the laws,
and by . still stronger boAd, the general
convenience Of the whole people, a. the
j. permanent scat Of their government. / :.
- .aSs..a.z>.sa. a. e