Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-06-04

aoS be Witnessed al any time when the
waters are high and the winds blow bsrd.
II follows therefore, that 10 finish the canal
began by nature in this place, would re-
qulre. as We have already said, but little
OF skill, time or expenee. On opening
the caual however, iwn difficulties would
be experienced. !. The Pieim would be
found TO be above the level of the canal
Ms waters OF course would be- diverted
from It's natural channel, aud pass by The
canalinio The lake. .. Surprising that
evil remedisd by lock 10 lift vessels in
10 the Pten,, yet the Ptein during hsllihe
wear does not contain water enough TO
float Il boat ami so would sot become
useful as national highvlv. To re-
NEEDY this defect of nature III the Piein
two projects subject themselves. /. To
sink the bed of the Pieia below the level
OF the sansi. and thus increase The
depth OF The Pieia as well by ill
ing it out of the lake as By collecting
his waters into narrower channel. ,. To
make the canal unite with the Piein low
er down IN lis course: "a few miles lower
would be sufficient, to give the watero Tie
lakes descent into The river, as The Piein
hasa sensible descent in this place; in so
much HAT the people of Chicago call !,
" The Rapids" having no other word 10
distinguish moving water from that which
stands still
o. the Picin below lis point of APP
proaclI To the lake we would remark that
II has hardly the attributes of a river, be.
my IN most places without banks, wing
as sheet of water in The prairie some
Times u mile wide, and so shallow that
The tall grass appears almost every where
above lis surface.
Having said thus much OF the facility
OF COMMUNICATIONS by the Chicago, we
would now observe that several other
routes perfectly practicable. /. From
point In the lake south Of Chicago, 10
enter The Plein below mount Juliet, at or
near vi hat is called lake du Page, bui
winch is only diiaiion of the waters of
ihe PteM. This route would lay over
ieVei prairie through a multitude Of small
lakes or ponds which have neither name
nor place IN any map ,. BY a canal
ieaVihg the lake near lis south end and
uniting with the Iheakiki, just above lis
confluence with the. Pieia Both OF these
canals would be fed from the lake, would
require lew or ne locks, would go over
ground OF the same soil, would be 80 or 90
miles long, IL would join the waters Of the
limos at points frosl which il is con
stanily navigable.--A third route was
spoken OF, but not seen by us. Ii would
he between the Thea iki and the St. 10.
seph OF The lake. Information says that
IL has been prIctisei by French traders.
fou Will perceive, sir, that we have moi
spoken ot the nature of the soil through
winch these sever al routes would pass
MOI Deia9 oiir business To search for and
report upon the praciicabihty OF water
communications, our observations were
limited 10 what ,1ell under The eye while
engaged III another duty. Aud in ma
N'hS TINS report o you il is our object TO
eHcie enquiry, not To furnish plans OF
practical project 5. We shall therefore on
~ say, ON this 2 nint, that The country in
general aud the bed of the Piein, exhibit
ed much loose stone, pebble, and firm
ground.
10 conclude, the route by the Chicago,
as followed by the French since the dis.
cOVery OF the illinois presents, al one sea-
son OF Tie year all uninterrupted water
communicate II for boats OF or 8 tons
be,"ecnilie 6sississippi aud the Michigan
f"ke, ~ auOIl Ter s ason, a portaGe of two
hi!ies al another, a portage Of seven
miles, fro m The bend of the Plein 10 the
arm of ~ G Ia lie, al another a portage of
nifty mi rs. from The mouth of the Plein
10 The Il A>e over which there is well
beaten Wagon road, and boais, and their
loads are hauled by oxen d vehicles
Kept or that purpose by the French set.
Hers 81 the Chicago.
With respect, &c.
JOSEPH PHILLIPS.
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