The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-01-09

VIDE, IS seldom more than 100 or $50 Yards
wide. In some places, for mile or more
in continuation, it is compressed by the
mountains on each side. into i CHI annei from
20 To 90 yards wide; and even these mar
row limits are still more narrowed by c.
normous rocks which lie promiscuously in
the bed OF the river. through which it is
often difficult to find a passage wide enough
for the admission of boat. In some pla-
ces, the bank is formed OF rugged Sc per-
pendicular cliffs of entire rock, which ap-
pear to be 20, so and 40 feet high in o.
theirs, enormous but unConnectcd rocks dip
into the water.
There are unequivocal indications of the
rivers having risen, in these narrows, from
80 TO 40 feet perpendicular.
Immediately above the mouth of Cauley.
the river opens and presents a beautiful
sheet ot deep smooth water, which is sue
ceeded by the rock over which it dashes &
forms the Great Falls of Kanawha The
heights of these falls is twenty feet four
inches. With its name. the river loses it's
wild and savage aspect 1t is no longer
confined by rugged cliffs, by mountains
barely separated by each other, nor inter
ruptedby enormous masses OF rock which
are scarcely to be avoided.
Within a short distance above the falls.
the current is not unmanageably swift, nor
the rock over which it passes uneven. Be
low, cutie to the rocks which have fallen
from the brink over which the cataract
PUSHES, is deep smooth and beautiful basin.
The river is so wide &c to rise, in the great
est freshes. only Or feet. The falls
themselves constitute the impediment, and
the only impeachment at this place.
Your Commissioners have deemed it pro
per to state intheir full strength the diff =
cuities which are to be surmounted in open
l,as 4
state of Virginia, and the western country
and to put the Legislature. as far as is pos
sibie, inpossession OF the testimony on,which
their opinion is formed, as well as of their
opinion. If, misguided by their conviction
OF the importance of the object, they are too
sanguine in their hopes of it's accomplish
ment, the facts now communicated will e.
nabie the General Assembly to correct the
mistaken conclusions which have been
drawn, and to determine on the course
which viii best promote the interests of the
public. :"
The practicabiity cfrendering the Green
brier navigabic has already been stated
The system which may be found best adap-
ted tor the Improvement of James river
will be equally applicable to the Greenbrier,
and will be equally successful. The one
river and the other VIII be rendered more
or less valuable as more or less labour and
skill may be employed on them /; but there
can be no mistake in saying that. without In
earring an expense which any would pro-
nolnce eS.ravagaDt, they are both capable
OF being brought into extensive use Not on :
iy In descending, but in ascending also,
these rivers may be nsvigated TO great ad
vantage. '-i'
With respect to New river, judgment
cannot be formed quite so decisively, nor
pronounced quite so confidently. The diff
culties are great, and deserve to be SERIOUS
ly considered.
= The boat which conveyed your Commits
sioncrs, passed from the mouth of Greenbri-
er, to the place where their expedition ter
minated, without being taken out of the wa
ter, except at the Great Falls of New river,
and at the Great Falls of the Kanawha. -
1t was navigated in the usual way through
all the other difficult places which abound
in New river, except two-both below Bow
yer's ferry. Through these it was conduc-
ted by ropes.
The boat was not laden, nor was it emp
ty. In addition to the number Of hands u =
sually employed in navigation, it carried
between two and three thousand weight
The greater part of this burthen was taken
out in the most difficult places but, in
many of considerable magnitude, it remain
ed in the boat. Where the vessel was guild
vi W iSpSS, SuO iCSEooity u IcSOTll1S I'D tnlS
expedient was occasioned solely by the in
tervention Of rocks which can be removed.
1t is also worthy of notice. that this voy-
age was performed by boatmen, who, hay
ing never before seen the river, were redu-
ced to the necessity of selecting their way
at the moment, without the aid Of previous
information.
The only impediments 20 the descent of
the boat, except at the Two great falls al
ready mentioned, were rocks lying so near
the surface of the water, as to strike the
bottom while shooting over them. At the u
sual height OF the river, these rocks would
be entirely covered, and all danger from
them be removed; but eshcrs would be pla-
/ C1u 80 :. S'S,4,,s,O"- ~ ApUae 0uut 90 equal
hazard. 1t is therefore necessary, even
for the descending navigation, to open plain
and broad siuice through all the rapids and
falls. SO as TO relieve boats navigating the
river from all danger of being dashed a.
gaiHst rocks. This NAY be effected by re-
moving some and blowing others. This
suice may he so conducted as to graduate
tic falls where they are most sudden, and
thereby, in some degree, to diminish the i'm
pctuosity of the current.
Brooks falls, the Great Falls of New ri
yer, and the Great Falls Of Kama VIVA, viii
probably require and admit of different
course. t
The first Of these, which is the least for
midable OF the three, will present three al
,ternatives To the election OF those who may
I H.. a,,r.,.J a, tf,,,.Cy;v.r . =,