Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-07-01
Cconsinued.)
VI. OHIO.


the Atlantic and western waters in a
direct course across the mountains an.
pears impracticable, yet those noun
tains may be turned either on the north
by means OF the Mohawk valley and
lake Ontario, or on the south through
Georgia and the Mississippi territory.
The first communication will be motto.
ed under the head of s. the river ST.
Lawrence and Great Lakes.n OF the
second it will be sufficient to observe.
that the country lying between the
sources OF the rivers Chatahouchee &
Mobile, and the Gulph of Mexico, is
an inclined plane, regularly descending
towards the sea, and that by following
the proper levels. it presents no natu.
raj obstacle to the opening of canal.
ted by the waters of the two last men
: toned rivers, and extending from the
t,ue water on the coast of Georgia, to
t IN mississippi. The distance In
airect line Is about $50 miles, and to
oe Overcome, requires only time, per-
seVe' 4nce ana labor. When tits recoI-
-ccted that such am undertaking would
discharge the Mississippi into the At
lantic, the remarks alreadymade on the
trade of that river, and other obvious
considerations, will sufficiently point
out its immense importance. Nor
should the plan on account of its mag
nitude, be thought chimerical; for the
elevation and other natural obstacles of
intervening ground, or want of a suffi-
cient supply of water, and not distance,
are the only insuperable impediments
to an artificial navigation.
This work, which is presented not as
an immediate but as distant object,
worthy of consideration, would proba-
bly, require ten millions of dollars, and
thirty years for its completion. The
annual sales of the public lands in the
Mississippi territory, which are esti.
mated at fifty millions of acres, would
after paying the debt due to the. state
OF Georgia, afford sufficient funds ; and
the increased value of the residue
would alone more than compensate the
expense.
1t is proper to add that an inland ma.
vigation, even for open boats, already
exists from New Orleans by the canal
Carondelet, to the lake Pontchartrain.
thence between the coast and the ada
cent islands to the bay Of Mobile, and
up its two principal rivers, the Albania
and the Tombigbee to the head of the
tide within the acknowledged bounda-
rles OF the u. States. The current of
these two rivers being much less rapid
than that of the Mississippi, they have
long been contemplated, particularly
the Iombighee, as aHording better
communication to the ascending from
New Orleans to the waters of the Ten
nessee, from which they are separated
by short por ages.
Commentators 6etqceen tie .1!ianfic ri. !
Oers, and me river So. Laurence and |
Great Lakes. |
Vessels ascend the river St. Law. |
renee from the sea to Montreal. The
river Sorel discharges at some distance /
below that town the waters of Lake |
George, and Lake Champlain, which
penetrate southwardly within the u. |
States. From Montreal to Lake On
tario, the ascent of the river St. Law
renee is estimated at about 200 feet.
From the eastern extremity of Lake I
Ontario, an inland navigation for YES
sells Of more than 100 tons burthen. is
continued more than 1000 miles, thro'
lakes Erie, St. Clair and Huron, to the
western and southern extremities Of
lake Michigan, without any other in
corruption than that Of the falls and ra-
Pids OF Niagara, between lake Erie and
lake Ontario. The descent from fort
Schlosser to Devils Hole, distance
Of four miles, which includes the per-
Pendicular falls of Niagara, has by cor
rect measurement been ascertained at
375 feet. The whole fall from lake E
RE TO lake Ontario, is estimated at $50 |
feet, making the elevation of lake Erie
above tide water, six hundred and fifty
feet.
Lake Superior, the largest of those
inland seas, communicates with the
extremity of lake Huron, by
the river and rapids of St. Mary's.-.-
The fall of these is not ascertained
but It is said that a small canal has
he I, cpened round ,ha ,,,oct l.a.a..Is !