The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-08-15
From the New-Haven Herald
WESTERN CANAL.

est, which so much attracts the attention
OF the Northern and Eastern people of
the United States, as the Canals in the
State of New York; and of those, the
great Western Canal from the city of
Albany to Lake Erie, ending at or near
Buffalo, is the most important. This,
when completed, will be from $40 to $50
miles in length; thereby connecting the
waters of Erie with those of Hudson,
and then uniting the nayigable waters
of all the Western Lakes with the Allan
tick Ocean. The shores adjoining these
lakes, are of greater extent than the
whole of our shores on the Atlantic, from
Maine to Georgia, both inclusive. On
this canal, the produce of a fertile coun-
try, much greater in extent than all the
New-England States, will be brought to
market. The object then to be accom-
plished by this stupendous undertaking
is. of more importance to the Eastern,
Northern, and Northwestern states
than any other ever can be; and, when
executed, will reflect more honour on
the enterprise and character of the
State of New-York than can ever be
achieved by any other State in the
Union.
One hundred and five miles of this
canal are now completed, and the water
let in for publick use, beginning nine
miles south of the village of Utica, and
ending at Montezuma, SO miles west of
that village. The canal is A feet in
width, and in depth. The first level,
beginning 9 miles below Utica, is SO
miles without any lock. On this Middle
Section Gas it is called) there are 9 locks;
of these, fall, and 9 rise. The great
est fall at any lock, is II feet; and the
least, 6; the greatest rise is Il 1-2 feet,
and the least, 6 1-2
Two basins or harbours have been
made by the village of Utica, in the linn
its of the village, within which great
number OF boats can be very convenient
ly accommodated, for the purpose of
taking in and discharging freight. At
Whitesborough. Oriskany, Lenox, CAMS
tota, and Caneseraga, are similar basins.
At Coiteningo is side cut canal, which
runs to the turnpike road At Syracuse
is the junction of the side-cut canal to
Salina, being one mile from the Onon-
daga Salt Springs, in which are several
spacious basins. At the village of Ged-
des, is large basin; at Nine-mile Creek
is lock and basin; at a new village
called Weeds Basin, Z miles north of
Auburn, is an important basin, and fine
situation for a large village, which no
doubt will soon rise into commercial i'm
portance. At Bucksville is lock and
basin, and at the Seneca River is a
large basin above the lock. At all these
basins, stores and dweIling-heuses are
now erecting; and all kinds of country
produce, together with salt and lumber,
are there shipped in large quantities for
Utica.
On the middle section of the canal the
deepest cut into the earth is 22 feet,
andthe highest embankment SO. There
are several aqueduct bridges, construct
ed OF well wrought stones into arches,
which carry the waters of the canal
from 90 to 80 feet above the level of
The streams that pass under it.
1t ought to be here noticed, that in
erecting the locks and other stone works
connected with water, the builders have
used what is called water-lfme, which
petrities and hardens under water. like
the Duke of Bridgwater's lime. This
lime is found adjacent to the canal in
great abundance, and may well be con-
sldered a great acquisition in the United
States.
1t is impossible for the writer to state
the number and size of the market
boats now in use; yet he can assert,
that there are many constantly passing
and re-passlng up and down the canal.
There are two packet boats, the Monte
yuma and Oneida Chiefs owned by the
Erie Canal Navigation Company, (incor-
porated.) These boats are II feet in
length, and IS in width; are each nav
lgated by Z hands, viz. a captain, 2
helmsmen, bowsman. steward. a
cabln-boy, and cook; and are employed
exclusively for the conveyance of pas
sengers. The forward cabin is used for
lodgings, and is handsomely finished off
with IL births, each having good bed
or matrass, and every suitable acCommo-
dalton. Next, and in the centre, is
dining cabin, 10 feet by 10, where 25
passengers can conveniently be seated