Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-06-17
lie 1-2 Gents Ssagses i;
1. SANrEr.

Il
The Santee or Catawba, is said to
be occasionally navigable for near 500
miles, as high up as Morgantown, in
North Carolina. Two companies
nave been incorporated by that state.
and that of South Carolina, iur the
purpose of improving its navigation.
he lower falls are above Camden
and not far from the arsenal OF the
United States, at Rock Mount. A
canal had been commenced there. bsf
either from want of success in the
commencement, or from want Of
funds, the work appears TO be suspen-
ded. The market for the produce
brought down that river is Charles
ton and the river boats were oblired
at the mouth of the river to enter the
sea, and TO reach that port by navi-
CATION along the sea shore, for which
they were not calculated. To ren.e.
Idy that Inconvenience, and to insure
"a permanent navigation, canal has
-heen opened by another COMPANY. u.
hitting the Santee with Cooper river,
which empties into the harbor OF
Char lesion.
the distance between the points Tie
nited, is % niles the highest inter-
vening ground was 50 feet above San.
lee, and S5 feet above the riv, CooA
per; but 1t has been reduced II feet
ny digging: the descent to Santee be.
ing 95 ieet, effected by tour locks, and
that to Cooper 90 feet, effected ly
nine locks.
The principal supply of water is
Afforded by springs arising from the
narshy ground at the bottom Of the
anal, and by several drains which
collect and bring from an adjacent
swamp the sources of the river Coo.
per. The quantity is said to be sell.
dom deficient; yet steam engine has
been contemplated as perhaps neces.
sary In order TO raise from the Santee,
IN adequate supply.
he canal was carried over some
5mah streams by means of aaueducts
'nconsiderable ravines have been 6ls
red, and the ground was dug in some
places to the depth of sixteen feet in
order to preserve the level. But is
appears that the roots of trees were
the greatest obstacle encountered in
digging the canal. Us breath is 90
teet at the bottom, and IS feet at ron /.
the depth Of water is feet and is
admlts boats oi,2O tons. The Iocka
made OF brick, faced with marble. ara
90 teet long and 10 feet wide.
The capital expended is stated at
65o,667doils. including sixty negroes
and some trac 5 # land belonging to
the company. The canal has been
completed six years the annual tolls
had never exceeded $4,000 dollars
before TIE year 1907, and the annual
exPences are stated al 1000 dollars,
The want OF success in this under.
taking, which though. completed is
very Improbable, may be ascribed to
several causes. Bie expence com
pared with the work is much greater
than might have been expected, and
probably than was necessary. The
locks are too small for large boats
which are therefore obliged to pur-
sue the former route down the SAM
see, and by sea to Charleston and
want of water is alledged as a suffici4
ent reason for the size of the locks.
But canal in that situation cannot
In America be profitable, unless the
navigation of the main river with
hich it communicates, is rendered
safe and permanent; and whenever
that OF the Santee itself shall have
been improved, the utility and profits
of the canal will be considerably enc
creased.
ITO be continued.1