The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-06-21

The papers marked CC.1 contain the inforna
ton which has been collected respecting the
works executed or contemplated on the great IL
vers already enuemerated 1t has not been I'm
aerStood that any Improvements of Importance
had been yet attempted on the Savannah and Pc
dee, nor on any of the tributary streams OF the
ONO and the communications received under
this head, relate only to the Santee, Roanoke.
James river, Potomac, Susquehanna, and OHIO.
1. SAgrEE.
The Santee or Catawba, is said, to be occasi
onally navigable for near 500 miles, as high NO as
Morgantown, IN North Carolina. Two compa.
mes have been incorporated by that state, and
that OF South Carolina, for the purpose of i'm
proving ITS navig cation. The lowerfals are above
Camden and not far from the arsenal of the Uni
ted States, at Rock Mount. A canal had been
commenced there, but either from want of sue
cess IN the commencement, or from want offimds,
the work appears to be suspended The market
Tor the produce brought down that river, is
charleston and the river boats were obliged at
the mouth OF the river to enter the sea, and to
reach that port by a navigation along the sea
shore, tor which they were not calculated To
remedy that inconvenience, and to insure a cerrna
nent navigation, canal has been opened by ano-
ther company, uniting the Smtee with Cooper RI
yer, which emphes into the harbor of Charles.
ton.
The distance between the points united, is %
l.'iias the highest Intervening ground was So
feet above Santse, and IS feet above the river
Cooper; but it has been reduced II feet by dig.
gms; the descent to Santee being IS feet, effect
ed by four locks, aid that To Cooper GO feet, eff
fectcd by nine locks
The principal supply of water is afforded by
springs arising from the aisiiy ground at the
bottom OF the canal, and by several drains which
coiiect ana BRING from an adjacent swamp the
sources ot the river Cooper The quantity IL said
to he seldom deficient yet a steam engine has
Seen contemplated as perhaps necessary in order
10 rase from the Santee an adequate supply
lhe canal was carried over some small streams
ny means OF aqueducts inc onsdc rabe ravines
have been filled, and the ground was dug in some
places to the depth OF sixteen feet, in order to
preserve the level But il appears that the roots
OF trees we're the greatest obstacle encountered
| IN digging the canal Its breadth is 20 feet AT
the bottom, and IS feet at top: the depth of wa
ter is feet and IT admits boats of 20 tons The
locks made of brick, faced with marble. are ga
feet long and 10 feet wide.
The capital expended is stated at $50, 667 dol
lars including sixty negroes and some tiscts Of
"ha Delohgibgto the company. The canal has
| been completed SIX years tie annual tolls had
never exceeded $4,000 dollars before the wear
IoVT, and the annual expences are stated al 1000
Gotars- The want OF success in this undeIt =, ING
winch, though completed, 10 very unprofitable.
may be asciibed to several causes. The expence
compared with the work is much greater than
might have been expected, and probably than
was necessary. The locks arc too small for large
beats, which are therefore obliged TO pursue :Hc
ormer route down the Santee, and by sea TO
Charleston and want Of water is aledped as q
sufficient reason for the size of the locks. g,n
canal III that situation cannot in America be pro
'habie' unless the navigation Of the main rive;
with which II communicates, is rendered safe and
permanent and wiiencver uiat Of the S.,tee il .
sth shall have been improved, the Utility and pro
its OF the ss'isl Will be console. ably enc cased
(.Yo De- Cor,frped.