The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-01-09
r T. Z y K L
Y II L
Of the Commissioners for exploring the
Connection 6et7veen James Rivcr and the
WeSfer7l Waters.

WcStcr71 Waters.
(coNCLUDED.)
The night Of the 23th November, was
passed among the islands in the mouth of
Grecnbrier; and on the IN orning of the 18th,
your Com nissioners entered New river.
The difficulties encountered in descending
this river were of character essentially
different from those which were eXperien-
ced in the Greenbrier. Uncommon as had
been the drought, the supply of water was
abundant. The boat sometimes, though
rarely, rubbed upon a shoal but in every
such case 1T was apparent that a sufficient
passage might be opened without much la
Dor or expense. The velocity of the cur
rent, and the enormous rocks which often
interrupt it, the number and magnitude of
the rapids and falls, the steepnesS, craggi-
ness and -abreptness OF the banks, consti-
tute the great impedimelts which at pre-
sent exist to navigation between the mouth
of the Greenbrier and the Great Falls of
Kanahwa. t- .,';i
The New river, or that part Of the Great
Nanahwa which is above the mouth OF eau
lev, having to search its intricate way, and
force passage through long chain of lof-
ty and rugged mountains, whose feet it
washes, exhibits an almost continued sue
cession of shoals and falls, from which the
navigator is sometimes, though rarely, re-
loved by fine sheet of deep placid water.
j he IFOn TIC Oh 1feSU-
brier to Bowers ferry, is 40 miles one
quarter ana As poles, and the descent is
46O feet inches that is, IL feet inches
in each mile. In general, there is much
sameness III the appearance of this part OF
the river. Long rapids, frequently termi-
mated by a fall from FIVE to ten feet i'll a
distance OF ten, twenty, thirty and some
times greater number Of poles an inter
vening space, sometimes more, sometimes
~
rocks, som etimes above the surface, some
times near it, so as to require great cauti-
on TO- save a boat from dashng on them a
copious stream with u current commonly
impetuous, constitute it's leading charaC-
teristcS.
Falls too great to come within this gene
raj description will be particularly noticed.
Brooke falls are about Id miles be-
low the NJ outh of Greenbrier. The water
desoends g feet inches in SO poles. in its
most rapid part the descentis feet 10 in
ches in IL poles The boat was nayigated
through this place.
A much more formidable obstruction is
the falls at Richmond's mill. These are
designated in the neighborhood by the name
Of the " Great Falls of New river" but are
generally called at distance, Lick
Creek Falls"
At this place the water may with propri-
Wv NC Ssii'i ~ Kan pChttiCuiel'y % ltCl-
For this distance, the sheet which dashcs
over the summit is Intercepted only bv huge
fragments of broken rock, which having
been succcseively disinined from the hrink
Of the pyecipce, have fallen into the foam.
ing basin below, where, piled on each o.
Their. they form one or two benches that
break the Cataract. A small distance lower
down is another fall Of 8 or 4 feet.
Here, for the first time, the boat was ia
s al -
The ground along which canal may be
carried around these falls, pursuing the
course Of Richmond mill race, was mca.
sured. and the elevation taken. The de
scent was found To- b. % feet 9 inches il
18i poles.
This estimate excludes part Of the falls
between and 6 feet of which are Just a.
b0ve the head Of RichmOnd's mill-r0ce.
The bottom Of the river for some distance
above these fails, is hard rock, often APP
pearing above the surface, and much cover
ID with movable stones, some ef which ar,
very large. The bottom OF tho mill race
.appears TO be of the same description.
From Bowers ferry to the falls Of tn,
Great Kanawha wasesiimated at 10 miles
and SIS poles, in ;7hch distance the rive
falls 33I feet. that is II feet to mile
The honorable the Legislator. will pcrcciv,
that below the ferry the descent, in th,
same distance, is greater than above. Fo
part of this space, the scene is awful ant
ascouraging. The vast volume Of wasci