Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-05-15
. POTOMAC RIVER.
journal Of the Commissioners of Mary
land and Utrginia, during their sur
gey Of Potomac.
THURSDAY MORNING, Aug. 8, l82.


Moved from the confluence of the north and
south branch of the Potomac; good water a
short distance to Old Town Falls, upwards
of two hundred yards long, water in best chan
mel, at the upper end, seven inches deep, at
lower end FIVE inches very narrow channel
and crooked, the water good small distance,
then shoal fifty yards long, six inches water J;
passing short distance OF good water, enter,
"a shoa above Taylors's, extending to the mouth
of Town Creek through this shoal the COM
Inissoners' boats. (dra wing under five inches
water,) pursuing the best channel rubbed, and
were dragged by men wadng nearly the whole
way through at The mouth OF Town Creek
wing dams, and shute in the middle of the
river; water SIX inches deep in the shute. Good
water to Macomb's Island, but difficult nav-
CATION among scattered rocks, appearing above
the surface then commences shoai in which
the boats rob, and pass with difficulty wing
dam and narrow shu'e. then better water IL
40 Is inches to ONes bottom; Young
Macomb, the tenant here the boat moored
dor the night.
FRIDAY MORNING, Aug 9th.
Moved at 8 O'Clock i, good water; passed
Malcomb's Island and mouth OF little Cape
Capon, percbes wide good water continues
to Coxes Fails at CoAes island. Along this
Island are three rapids extending upwards OF a
mile, through which the boats rubbed the whole
way, except about a hundred yards between
each rapid, where the water was from to ) feet
deep, with high rocks appearing on the surface,
which rendered the navigation precarious; the
lower rapid more gradual than the other two,
but longer and shoal the whole way /; boats rub
and stick on the shoal, then good water still
current from 2 10 feet deep for one mile, to
the Devils Nose, rapid above Col. Green
well house !; at 'his rapid are wing dams, a
IlcNa ucif 70 ouHr kahc chs nal
making the navigation difficult; then good wa.
ter 100 yards TO Greenwells ripples' 100 Yards
long, where the channel is crooked and shall
low, the boats rub most of the way through; to
GreenwelPs second rippies, 100 yards long,
boats rub through then better water to rect
of rocks, nearly crossing the river, leaving a
narrow channel where the river is not more
than 10 PAGES wide; then good water, still mar.
row TO John MltchelPs bottom. eXcepta rect
OF rocks, where there ISL small tall, then good
water from to % feet deep, opposite ~ Don
aids, on Virginia side then water good, half a
mile, to Mitchels rapids, half mile long, IN
which are SIX reefs across the river. narrow,
very crooked, and difficult channels, the boats
rubbing at each reef the rapids end nearly op.
posite BoxWells, the tenant OF john Mitchell,
where the boats moored tor the night
AUGUsr 10Th
Moved from Bowels for 200 yards. good
water, then encountered small falls or lodges OF
rocks quite across the river, 500 yards IN ex-
tent the water from 5 10 inches deep; good
water for one quarter OF mle, then for the
next mile, occasional rlppes, water inches,
along which the boats were dragged; between
b tie rpples, water good; come TO Swede )
fNFails, half mile IN extent, the boats frequent.
ly rubbing, and with difficulty passing over
them. Good Gatei short distance, then diff
cult navigation for near half mile, from the
prodigous number OF rocks peeping above the
surface, the water between them II inches
Travelling BY land as difficult as the nayIga
ton
AUGUST 18th.
Moved from N, Abel's riPples, where. fol
some distance above and below, there are arg
rocks standing two or three feet above tue
surface of the water, and SO numerous that the
p ssgge between them is very intricate, by
which it was necessary to cross and re cross
from shore to shore, to avoid them, some tunes
hanging upon the rippes, wher- there was
lot four inches water. rhess ripples continued
considerable distance, the boatmen having
frequently to get out and hit and drag the boat
over them. Immediately above the tumbhng
dan tails, there IS shallow bar, aiiltdlng ont
tour inches. At these falls. there is anon
many others, one perpendicular pitch, apparent
~ OF ) inches, aud exactly in the boat chan
1eL Beside these natural obs ructl0ns, tsere
are here and at many other places artificial
ones, made by building fish dams ia the rlyer
IL shan .etui Violation q Law. Below the bal