Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-06-07


ny to add any comments on the utility of
the work, in peace or war, Tor the trans |
por,a,ion of merchandize, or The convey |
ance OF persons.
The several papers under the letter { A !
herewith transmitted, contain the informa.
lion which has been received on those Sc
veral intended communications. The Sub
stance will now BE- stated.
!. MASSACHUSETTS CANAL.
|. Sandw CHI is linus, between Barnsta.
bic bay on the north, and Buzz.rd's bay
m the south, had first attracted the pub
lie attention. Surveys and levels were
taken, for the purpose OF ascertaining he
practicabilIy of opening cross cut, 10 be
supplied by The sea itself, from The mouth
OF Back river, in Buzzard's bay, TO the
mouth of Scusset river, in Barnslabr bay
The distance was found TO exceed Sc
ven miles the elevation of the highest in.
termed,ate ground Is forty feet above low
water mark in Barnstable bay the depth
a water al the mouh OF Back river, does
not as low water exceed seven feet aud
half; and the channel to that spot thro'
Buzzard bay is obsirucled by shoals. The
tide which rises but three feet aud hall
IN that bay, rises three hours and halfla
ter, and more than eighteen feet in that oil
Barnsiable. The shore on which that for
midable tide would operate, is AN ope5
beach, without any harbot or shelter wha
ever. independent, of other obstacles, u,
was apprehendLd that the same natura.
causes, which had formed the sthmus
~ h..r NH kar -.
entrance; and he project seems to hav;
been Abandoned
9. lhe ground was also examined be.
tween Barns,able harbor on the north, ant
Hyannus harbor on the south al some dis
lance east of Sandwich. The bread,h oi
the peninsula does not exceed here fou,
miles and half and there would be an
harbor at each eOd Of the canal. The
same difference exists in the tides VIII: ch
rise four feet in Hyannus and sixteen feet
IN Barnsable harbor. The entrance of this
is obstructed by shoals; but The great OBJ.
stacle TO cross cut,is The elevation of the
Intermediate ground, estimated at eighty
teet above tide water. Manageable ponds
On that high ground might perhaps form
part OF a lock canal, and supply the re
with wa err. But canal frozen
IN winter, would not have effected the great
object in view, which was TO enable YES
sells from sea, to proceed in winter from
Martha's Vineyard to Boston, without sal
ling around Cape hough the dit
hculty OF the navigation from Boston 10
bar"stable, dminlshes the utility Of this
communication, as one IF the great links
N this line OF inland navigation, II may be
escorted 10, should that which will b. next
prove impracticable for ayes.
sells.
3. The attention of the legislature of
under whose authority the
grounds at Sandwich and Barnstable, had
been examined. has la.eiy been 'urued oil
A direct communication between Wey.
Mouth ndiog, within the harbor of Bos
on. AID auaion river, which empires H.. !
% the bay of Rhode island. A fasorabl !
Iepor' has been made during the last ses-
sion, OF which copy has lately been OBJ.
AIMED. The distance from tide water 10
,ice water, IS 90 miles by one route, and
% mics by another. The highest in
ermedlate ground, is l33 fee above tide |
wafer, bui must be reduced ten leel by dig
gag 10 hat depth, the length of mile. |
NO ponds Known BY the names of Wey-
nou.h AID Graz berry, the largest ardl
east elevated OF when cover five hundred
acres aud is ID fee higner than the sum.
NIT ot the propos ca, al will supply he
lpper locks with wa'er by feeders, fouf
niles long. Whether the quantity Of wa
er contained IN hose ponds, and estimated |
;qual to daily supply of 450,CO0 cubic
Gel, will be sufficient for sloop naviga-
ION and whether any other ponds OF
'treams may be brought in aid, does not
scenic b. fully standardization des.
lending 20 feet iowa ds Weymouth, and
70 towards Taunton, an ample supply from
he lower locks, will be derived from other
arge ponds, The principal of which are
SHOWN by the names of Braintree and Nip.
,inilic,
The expense may, on supposition that
he route Is partly through rocky soil,
'e estimated as follows:
Digging 90 miles, at 8 10000
a mile, S $50 900
4ockage 400 feet, at s 1850
foot, 9s5 600
feeders, purchase ofIand, &c. $4,000
-
/, 100000
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