Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-06-17

been experienced in effectiBg the obiec
without cutting through hills, and although
the road thus laid out, be in distance Q
~ miles, two or three miles shorter thai
that heretofore in use.
Although the distance from the sea {,
the principal dividing mountain through
It's whole length, between the wesl, I'll
sources OF the Susquehapna, and those O
the Savanna, be nearly the same, yet th
Atlantic bays, penetrating the coast at diff
ferent depths, and in different directions
the distances from the sea ports to- ,ht
nearest western navigable waters, var,
considerably. Taken in straight line.
from each port TO the nearest branch be
yond all the mountains, of each of the
tour great western rivers, they may be
stated as follows: Miles
From Philadelphia to the con.
huenee Of Conemaugh and
Loyaihannon, branches of
the .dHeghany, 22o
From The City of Washington
tn the confluence Of the ri.
vers Monongaheia s. Cheat, t.. $50
Fsom Richmond 10 Morrs's
on the Kanawha, below all
the falls of that river, slo
From Savannah or Charles.
ton To any uasigablo b anch
oil Tennessee, the distance
exceed 1 500
The distance from the same western
points, TO the upper navis alton of the CO \
responding Atlantic rivers, cannot be sta !.
red with nrerfcior, the ,,-r.,
which the navigation of those river, may.
be improved, is not yet ascertained.-Th
nortest portage between the waters Of
he Potomac, and those of the Mononea.
hcla, IN their natural state, from West
Point OIL the Potomac, 90 Cheat river be.
low he falls is about fifty miles la straight
me. But IN order TO secure tolerabI,
navigation, paRIcularly on the Po,omac
me route from Cumberland TO Browns
ole, lRed Stone old forO has been pre-
serred. and the distance by The road Iatcl,
aid out is 70 miles. The portage be
| ween the north fork of the Juniafa, :
branch of the Susquehannah, ard The cor
responding waters of the river AIleghanv
is somewhat shorter. That between Pal.
tpnborough on James river, and the fall,
of the kanawha, exceeds one hundred
miles.
The most prominent, though no, per
haps the most insuperable obstacle I'm tn,
navigation of he A lan;ic rivers, consist.
In their lower falls, which are ascgibed 10
presumed continuous granite ridge, r..
sing about $50 feet above tide water
That ridge, from New York 30 James ri
vesr 81.
I, tide; the falls of every river within that
space being precisely at the head of the
tide. Pursuing thence southwardly d.
reclion nearly parallel 10 the mountains,
It recedes from the sea, leaving in each
soulhern river an extent of good navigs.
lion between the tide and the falls. O
Their falls of less magnitude are found a,
the gaps OF the Blue Ridge, through which
the rivers have forced their passage.
Higher up the rapidly of the northern ri
vers, which penetrate through the inferior
ridges OF the great western chain, encrea.
sss as they approach, the divi sing or AL
Ileghany mountain and their sources be.
lrg nearly at the same elevation, their ra
pidlty INCREASES in proportion TO the short.
ness of their course. For that reason The
navigation ofthe SusquehannRb above the
Blue Ridge is better than that of the Pc.
.omac, which affords as has been stated,
he shortest communication from tide wa.
Ter to the nearest western river. The le.
vels OF the las mentioned river having
been taken by the Potomac company, the
general results annexed, as Civ ng more
correct idea Of the navigation of the Al
ldntic rivers, than could be conveyed in anv
other manner.
Distance. Fall Rare of tall.
Miles. Feet. Fl Pr. mile
From the mouth
of Savage river,
dCxun. tn Gum.