Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-07-05
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The papers relative TO those communl
cations will be found under the letter (B.;I
but the utility of these will not be conineti
TO the extensive navigation of the iakes
themselves. For the mountains being COM
pleteiy turned, when arrived into lake E.
rie, the ridge which separates the waters
emptying into that and into lake Michigan,
from the northern branches Of the Ohio.
and from the waters of the MissisS ,,pi, is
OF moderate elevation, and is gradually
depressed in its course westwardiy, There
Is 10 donht OF the pract caoility OF opening
canais at future period, between several
OF those waters, either by selecting proper
levels, or by means of shCrt tunnels across
favorable parts fthe ridge. Ii will at pre-
sent be sufficient to point out the princinal
communications now in use.
The distance from lake Erie to lake Che
toughe, an extensive and important eleva.
ted reservoir, which is the source of the
ICanowango branch of the Allegheny, is
seven miles by continual ascent, the Gle
vation OF which is not ascertained.
From Presqu' isle on lake Erie, to lie
beut on French creek, another branch of
the Allegheny, the distance is sixteen miles.
and company IS Incorporated by the state
OF Pennsylvania, for making an ARTIFICIAL
road across that portage.
The navigation frcm take Chetoughe, and
from LIE Beuf to Pittsburgh, offers no impe-
dimcnt whenever the waters are high and
the greater part of the salt now Consumed
IN the north west counties Of Pennsylvania.
| as far as Pittsburgh, and some distance
down the Ohio, is brought from the sal,
springs of New York, by Oswego, through
lake Ontario; then across the port age oi
Niagara TO lake Erie, and thence by eithei
OF the two last mentioned portages to the
waters OF the river Allegheny.
The distance from the place where the
CayuSa, river emptying into lake Erie
ceases to be navigable, to the nayigabl,
waters Of the Muskingum, which em1tie,
Into tae Ohio 40 miles below Pittsbure. i,
only six miles and a company is said I,
be formed for the Improvement Of that com.
lmunication.
Sandusky river and the Scioto take thei,
sources in the same swamp. The naviga.
ltion OF the Miami oflake Erie IS interrtip.
ted by some falls; but its upper branche.
lapproa9h those of the Miami Of the Ohio
and OF the Wabash, and are stated as be.
ing nearly on the same level
The Illinois river, which empties int,
the Mississippi above St Louis, rises in !
swamp, Which when the waters are high
affords natural canoe navigation 70 III,
sources of Chicago creek, a short stream
which falls into lake Michigan, at its sou
thern extremity.
Another communication generally useC
by the Indian traders is that from Greer
bay, also in lake Michigan, to the Missis
lslppi, by Fox river, and the Ouisconsng.-
! Nor is there any doubt that If the INLAND
navigation between the north liver and N,
lakes was completely opened, the Who'll,
i dian trade either of Mississippi by lake
Michigan, or Of the north west by lake SUI
Perior, must necessarily center in an Al
iahtic port of the United States; a consi
Iteration Of minor Importance IS com.
mercial object, wnen compared with ths
other advantages Of that great communi
cation, but of great weight IN It's relation
to the political intercourse Of the u. States
with the Indians.
y (Io be Continued J