Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-07-08
INTEpIOP CANALS.

INTERIOR CANALS.
J>,Sler this denomina ION WI be included
al, the canals os which any Knowledge has
been obt,i,sd, and which are rot immedi1
atelv on the rivers opening couloiunicati-
ons with the W estern waters, or wih those
of St. Lawrencc, altho' some of them BayI
be considered as extending those commu-
nicatiuns TO more remote sea ports. Tue
documents from which the information isl
extracted will be found under the letters
&C. Co.
j. MERRIMAcK.
The navigation of that river, which RI
sing in the state OK New Hampshire, falls
into the sea at Newburyport after course
of 100 miles, is interrupted by several falls.
A canal called Bodget's canal has been o.
pened around Asmoskeag falls. Lower
down, and about 40 miles from the sea,
the Essex canal, A miles in length, and adj
uniting boats drawing feet and halt,
will open a communication around the Pa
tucker falls, effecL!ng through 3 locks, a de-
scent of 81 feet. From the lower extremi-
ty Of the canal, the river is navigable TO
TIE head Of the tide at Haverhill, although
the fall be 45 feet within that d;stance.-
No particular account has been received of
the capital expended but il is believed
that the work will be profitable to the un..
derta.cers.
The Middlesex canal, uniting the waters
of that river with the harbor of Boston, Isl
however, the greatest work Of the kind
which has been completed in the United
States.
That canal, 10 feet wide and 8 1-2 feet
deep, draws its supply of water from Sud
bury or Concord river, branch of the
Merrimack, and from the summit ground
extends six miles with a descent of 2S feet
TO the Merrimack above the Patuci-et falls,
aad % miles with descent of 10Y feet to
the tide water OF the harbor Of Boston. -
The descent TO the MerTimack is effected
by three. and that to tide water, by nine
teen locks they are all so feet long, IL
feet vide, OF solid masonry and excellent
work manship.
In order TO open that canal, It was ne
ce>sary 10 Dig IN some places at the depth
OF 20 feet, 20 CO. through ledges of rocks,
20 fill some vai#ss and morasses, and to
throw several aqueducts across the interye-
ming rivers. One of these across the river
Shawshine is $50 feet long, and % feet a.
.bove the river. All those Obstacles have
been overcome, and boats of 81 tons, Is
feet long and IL feet wide, can navigate
the canal. Those in most neral use are
Of smaller dimensions, and are drawn by
two horses at the rate OF three miles an
honr 4 raft OF one mile in length, ant
containing eight hundred tons of timber, ha;
been drawn by two oxen, part of the was
at the tage OF one mile an hour. Comm,
bp1ts pass from one end of the canal to III;
other in ~ hours. The capital expended
on the work is stated at $4,000 dollars
and the water rights and necessary lGHC
cost a further sum oF $4,000 dollars Tn
total expense has exceeded $4,000 dollar
the tolls have never exceeded IL, 0OC dol
lars year, but arc INCREASING.
Several other canals have been cCutem
plated in the state Of Massachuec cts, inten
dcd to unite the waters Of Providence o
Patucket river, with those of Charles ri
yer, which falls into the harbor Of Boston
and of the river Connecticut. The ground
have been surveyed, but 10 particular DIES
eruption has been obtained, and the work
have not yet been commenced.
II. ScnUYLKGLL AND DELAWARE.
a company WIS Incorporated severa
years ago by the state Of Pennsylvania, 70
opening a canal from Norristown, on III
river Schuyikill, TO the TIDE water Of Oh
Delaware at Philadelphia. The dis,anc
is is miles. the fail 50 feet, ard 1hc cana
deriving its water from the 5chuylkn
would have been carried on level to Phi
ladelphia, and IN IT'S descent 10 the Della
ware supplied the city with water, an
the shipping with docks. Tho exprns
had been estimated al $50, COO dollars in
work VIE commenced, che third part
the digging effected, and CONSIDERABLE
sum expended But, either from want,
funds, or from an imprcrer selection Of Il,
ground, or from other Causes not fully III
ders,ood, the undertaking, if not altog,
ther abandoned, has been suspended f
several years.
This canal was intended as the first lin
Of an extensive western communicates
The SchuylSiil, from Norristown to Rea,