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

OF the Ohio, few miles above the con-
iuence OF that river with the Mississippi
The western chain, much broader, and
generally more elevated, is known under
the names of Cumberland and Gauley
mountains, from its southern extremity,
near the great bend of the Tennessee Ri
yer, until it becomes in Virginia, the prin.
cipal or dividing mountain. Thence in
rs northcrly course, towards the state oil
New York, Il discharges westwardly the
Green BSiar river, which, by its junction
with the New river, forms .he Kauhawa,
AID The rivers Monongahela and Allegha-
ny, which, from their confluence az Pits
ourgh, assumes the name of Ohio. East.
Sard,y II pours into the Atlantic ocean,
James river, the Potomac, and the Sus.
luehanna. From the norlhernmost and
less elevated spurs of The chain, the Gen
nessee flows INTO the lake Ontario and in
| that Quarter ths noriherly branches Of he
eusquehaDna, seem to take their source,
from amongst the inferior ridges, and in
their course to the Chesapeake, 10 b eak
through all he mountains, From ,he Sus-
lquehanDa, the principal chain assumes a
more easlwardly dtsset,un, ard washed on
the north by the lateral valley OF the rives
M0aawk, whilst 1t gives rise southvardly
o The Delaware, ii terminates under the
name OF CatskiIi mountain, in view OF III,
tide wafer Of the Hudson.
This description has been introduced
Tor the double purpose of pointing out all
he rivers which can aifotd the means OF
communication, and Of shelving the i'm
Iprachcabihty. IN the present state of sci
ence, of effecting csaalnayiga,ion across
| the mountains.
he most elevated lock canal of which
correct description has been gwen, is
that OF Larguedoc. and The highes,
ground over which il is carried is only .ix
nandred feet above the sea 1t is not b.
''eved that any cansi mas been undertaken,
or at leas, completed in England, of ar
elevation exceeding 43O feet above the
saiers united BY 1.-THE Allcghany
nountain Is generally, End rom observa
lions made 10 several place ), about 5000
iee above the level Of he sea. Ehe pre-.
':i'e he,ght Of lhe dividing ridge way as
certalned by the cosnmisst1nsrs.s ~ he la q
eut the ". >. lad from {, ltl3aTls a OF.
Inc Pp oinac 10 Brownsville 81 he Mopon-
h-ia, al 2 800 above the frs, and al
% ieet above the last river. Cumbrr
: ION The levels aiken by the Poo
SIC company is liseif735 feet above tide
water. Aahough some more advantage
oss AID iaSs elevated places may b. found,
2a.ucui- IS noag the ridges wh.th d..
''de S, fne # he upper branches of the
oesquehagna from he corresponding
's'esm tmp,ying into he river Alleeha.
ny, Their IS none whJch is not Of an ele-
i+tan much beyond what has ever been
IsysrcoIEe by canals in aby other country.
ne irpractic sbl'ty arises from the prin-
cipie Of lock navigation, which in order 10
meet The ascen rsqliyes greater sup
NY III ~aierIn proportion to the height TO
oe assembled whilst The supply OF water
| oecomes less in The same proportion. Nor
does the Chain OF mountains through the
Whole ,xieNt, where ii divides the Allan
sc from he western rivers, afford single
| pond, Lake or natural reservoir. II NAV
DC added as general fe AZURE of Amer.
can geography, that except in the swami
along the southern sea coast, no lake is 10
be found in he u. s. south Of Al degrees
north latitude and that almost every ri
yer, north of 80 degrees issues from lake
or pond.
! The works necessary, in order 10 faci
ltate the communica ions from the sea
por,s across the mountains to the western
waters, must therefre consist either of
artificial roads extending the whole way
from tide water, 10 the nearest and mo
convenient navigsble wes,e y waters; or
of Improvements 10 the navigation Of the
leading Atlantic rivers, to the highest prac.
ticaI points, connected by artl6cs roads
across the mountains, with the nearest
points from which permanent navigation
can be relied on, down the western rivers
The principal considerations in select
| ing pr per directions for those communi-
cations, are, the distance from The nayigs-
bic western waters, both to tide water, and
the nearest nawgabie Atlantic river, aud
the extent of navigation, either natural OF
susceptible of Improvement, which ma,
be Afforded by the rivers. Distance alone
Is mentioned so far as relates TO roads, be
cause the mountains, however insupera-
Die for canals, offer no important impedi.
menl to land communications. So "a,
from being an insurm Juntable barrier m
commercial intercourse, between the We
great eefliOns of the nuton Al ts ff,sy "a