Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-11-09
rsoM rnr UTICA rArnIor.

laer, and UesSrs. ffoiiey ana seymour, Cdhdi
commissioners, Mr.. Wright, engineer of the
middle section Of the Erie canal, Messrs.
White, Bates and Jarvis, assistant engineers,
and Mr.. agent Barlow, together with the
rev. DR.. BlatchfGrd, of Lansiaburgh. and
Mr., Stansbury, of Albany, Mr.. Bonner OF
New.Yorz, judge Miller, Messrs. Williams,
Clark, Van Rensselaer,, Blooigood, Lansing.
Childs, Walker, and many other gentlemen
Of the village of Utica and IFS vicinity, the
sheriff of Oneida county, col. Westcott, and
the hon E. Hart and Perry G. Childs, sena-
tors Of the western district, started, in canal
boat, from the eastern extremity of The mid
die section, on an excursion OF curiosity and
experiment for Rome.
The dam at 0riskany creek having been
flashed, and the bars of earth adjoining it
having been removed so as to admit the pas
sage of boat, depth of two and half
feet of water had been let into the canal on
the Thursday preceding.
The first admission Of water into canal is
always attended with great solIcitude. II is
the ultimate test of the accuracy Of the levels.
and affords most important differences, as TO
the soiidity and fidelity, with which the banks
have been constructed, and the sufhciency of
the feeders. One of the jobs, east OF the
Oneida creek. not being entirely completed,
il was deemed expedient to prevent the wa
ter from extending farther west, on the Rome
summit than Wood aqueduct, dis
lance Of eighteen miles. And il was known,
that the quicksands, at Oriskany hill, pre-
sented more cause OF alarm than are, any
where else, to be found on the section. A
number Of men had been stationed on the
bank. at that place, to watch the motion, and
effect of the waters, as they accumulated, and
to arrest, as quick as possible, the progress
of any evil that might arise.
The waters moved gently on, from Oris
kany creek, the great feeder of the eastern
end Of the level towards Utica-swelled
round 0riskany hill to the intended depth,
and were not observed to produce any threat.
ening indications into the banks for several
hours, when at about one o'clock on the NOR
ming OF Friday, a breach was suddenly effect
ed at place where a drain had been very
recently filled up.
A, the place of this drain, the natural sur
face of the ground was two feet below The
bottom of the canal, of course, when the wa
Ter was two feet and half deep, along the
line in general, there was here pressure of
four and hall feet head. But this pressure
would have produced no injury, If due care
had been taken in raising the bottom OF
the canal, and breaking in the sides of the
drains, and pudding the earth required in
closing it.
By the activity and energy of Mr. Brown,
assistant engineer, and Messrs. Brainard,
Miller, Chaplin, and Simpson, contractors,
the breach was soon repaired, so that by noon
on Friday, the matt rs were again allowed to
enter the canal, And before daylight. on
Saturday, they filled II for eighteen miles TO
the depth OF near three feet, on tie morning
oil this day, therefore, the party above men
toned commenced their excursion.
The scene was boyel anu most interesting.
Considering Ihe circumstances OF our country
the great benefits sure 10 result 10 Us from
internal tradC-the intelligence OF our citl-
gems to perceive and appreciate these hene-
fits-ther virtue ard public spirit 10 make
the necessary permanent appropriations be-
forehand-lhe influence upon all our best
sympathies which cannot fail TO he most ex
tensnely produced, by such easy, pleasing
and economical means of general intercourse
as are furnished by navigahle canals-and
the construction OF our great work, not only
in the light of lis own exceeding utility, but
as introducing, throughout the ample terrific
ries OF our national empire, spirit Of active
and persevering internal improvements is
believed that the records of social life do not
afford scene more interesting.
Amidst the cheers and shouts of almost the
whole neighboring population, the ringing OF
the church bells in Utica, and the patriotic
tunes OF band Of music on board, the boat
was put 10 mo,ion Ii was drawn by one
horse, by means Of a rope eighty feet long,
of which one end was connected with the
whipplctree, and the other with hook Sc
cured 10 the boat, al little distance from
The bow, On the towing path side and eve