The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-01-07

been remarkably dry. and tho water was
declared by tie Inhabitants To be as low a.
at any period within their recollection. II
frequently spreads over-a wide bed cover
ed with large stU.e, and is, in its present
unimproved state, and at the season when
1t was viewed, SO very shallow, for the
greater part OF its Course, as not to swim
an empty boat. The labour Of removing
stones, and OF dragging the boat over those
which could not be removed without imple-
mcnts provided for the purpose, was so
great that your Commissioners At one time
were enabled TO advance only three miles
IN two days, even with the assistance of a
horse and OF many additional laborers. In
part of the river the shoals are frequent
and loEg, and the falls. Us the report
of MIR. Alexander will show, consi-
derahle. At the great falls, which is the
most important of them, the descent is
twelve feet in 4S poles. There is no per-
pendicular fall at this place, but one con-
tinued rapid, with large rocks .irreguiarly
nterspersed through tie bed oS the river
Near the mouth IF the river.is "a fat rock
which continues for about go poles, with
many irregular apertures or bssares thto'
which the water passes. Although, in the
usual state OF the river, this rock is covered
with water of sufficient depth for ma
vigation, yet, such was the drought of the
last autumn. it was necessary to drag the
boat over it's whole extent. 4
These difficulties present obstacles to
navigation during season when the wa
tiers are remarkably low, which can be sur
mounted only at a considerable expence.
hut. from the best information your
commissioners can obtain, and they be-
iIeve 1t to Tie correct, the sGreenbrier is
seldom so low ut any season as it was du-
ring the last autumn and It seldom if e.
ver fails. for eight or nine months in tn
year, tob at least two feet higher than
when viewed by your Commissioners a
depth tot water unquestionably sufficient
Tor the purpose of navigation. The ties.
timony given by the inhabitants TO this "a It
was corrooorated oy appearances OH the RI
YER. he indications of recent considera-
bic diminution of water were not to be mis-
taken.
On an attentive consideration of the oh,
stacies which were found by your commits.
sioners to be great, while the river remains
IN the state in which they viewed it. thez
arc unanimously and decidedly of opinion.
that Its navigation may be rendered as safe.
as certain and easy as that of the James. at
all times except when the water is unusual
iy low. Thc'rocks are generally loose. and
may be removed without extraordinary
difhculty, so as to afford tolerably smooth
passage. 70 boats and, by collecting the
water into narrower channels, a sufficient
depth may beiobtained with the exception of
a short period in a very dry year, to swim
any boat which can be brought at the same
time down James river But so scantv 4,
the supply OF water in a time of uncommon
drought, that doubts are entertained whe-
Their there nay not be a short season of tn 9
year during which, unless a considerable
expence be incurred, the navigation mast
be suspended. Though aided BY men and
horses, ten days Of unrcmitting labour were
consumed in passing from the mouth of
towards creek to the mouth OF Greenbr;-
er river, distance not much exceed;no
forty-eight miles. In the month of June
the same voyage, if not retarded by maa.
snring the river, might have been perform.
ed IN a single day. Some of your Commits
sloher3, however, are of opinion. that the
Sreehbrier may, without great addit;on.l
expense, be, rendered at ali times pas,abJe
for boats carrying half load.
In additionto the shallowness of the wa
ter, ian Inconvenience which is common tn
all rivers as you approach their sources
and which disappears for eight or nine
months IN the year') and to the rocks which
nave been mentioned. the distractions 70
the navigation of the Greenbrier consist in
its falls, and the general rapidly of its cur
rent. a, :, :,
II he great falls alone are of sufficient mar
nltude to merit particular attention. These
Internationally admit Of being rendered ma
vigable, either by opening sIuice judicious-
~ through them, or by locks. The latter
would be most expensive, but would leays
the navigation less laberious. -.
The rapidity of the current may be esti
mated by observing that the descent in for
tty eight miles aud eighty four poles is three
hundredand sixty-two feet ten inches, BE-
tween seven and eight feet to the mile.
This current will present no difficults n
boat descending the river. To one as
cending it, the labor will be considerable.
but not SO considerable as in scme parts of
James river.
Report 81 TIE Conmissioacrs to Be e.s.inuex.
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