Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-05-15

| is then better for = small distance, say a quar-
! ter OF a mile, which reaches another shoal
| called Tryal fish dam. very appropriate name
as it sufficiently triedthe strength and skill OF
the men in lifting and dragging the boats, rub.
i bling the whole distance of two hund red Yards
and upwards-;he water then became deeper for
| short distance, then very shoal TO MiddlecsIf's
! Island, aud some distance along IL the water
] then good TO the mouth OF Conococheague at
Middle alf's-then becomes shoa passing two
| islands known by the name of Buzzard Islands
| and then on passing Hawks island, the whole
! ct the distance, the water very shoal-the boats
were got over with great difficulty, and by
doubling crews, one mil and half-the water
! then becomes deeper--the boats, at er passing
! quarter OF mile, put in tor the night.
August o.
Left the upper end Of high ridge of rocks
on the Virginia shore, about 81 miles above
Wiliamspore-fo two miles the water or 10
feet, the boatmen using their oars the whole
diStance-the next rile the water varying from
four feet 70 Is inches-then mile Of about one
foot water-moored for the night about l.
miles above WiIiiamsport -
August 90
Left the station, miles above Wllamsport,
the river being wider than any place above
the boats rubbed on the gravel a great part of
four hours by the hands going on shore. From
Wihamspoot TO the place called Falling Water,
on the Virginia side, the boats often stuck fast,
and were only got along oy lifting and dragging
them by man force.
August so.
Started from the Falling Waters-water
good--yelocity. ofthe current diminishing gene
raj depth increasing, and the navigation less
frequently interrupted by reefs aud shadows
in the space to Hadley's Rock, about d miles.
fish dam on gravel bank, and two Lodges OF
limestone, rising near the surface, are the only
difficulties, but were passed with a rub--the
bed of the river for the above space is uniform.
y limestone rocks Opposite Lefebre's house
It rises, and forms the bank Of the river on the
Virginia side, for SO yards-at Hadley's the
rock displays itself on the shore for more than
quarter of mile, on the Maryland side A
fish dam and ripple, on which we grounded
just below Hadley's--then good water TIL we
passed the mouth of 0pecon, when we ground
ed on Opecon ripple. where there is another
fish dam, and water about nine inches deep
then little good water, then grounded again
on Opecon ripples-- moved on a little, then
rubbed hard agaa then better water For
three quarters of mile above 0pecon, rocky
shore on the Maryland side--jusi below, the
rock. approach the shore on the Virginia side,
and continue for one and quarter miles. Ano-
Their fish dam obstructs the navigation in Ope-
con ripples, anu then three narrow reefs of
limestone rock--below this last dam cross the
river, on which there is not more than 6 or
inches waier--then deep water to Sprigg's MILL
where we stopped for the night considerable
fall in the water in the space occupied by Opecs
on ripple. Here Boyd went home Tor day,
and party rested on Saturday and Sunday.
September I'd.
Started from Newcomers, good water for a
mile and half /. cliffs on Maryland side for
quarter part of the way--a ledge of limestone
extends nearly across the river, Just below Cal
loway's mill, but does not interrupt the nayga.
| ton water very deep, out OF the reach of the
| pole water good at Mlit's spring, except
about two hudred yards of shoa water.
September 3d.
| Left spring good water for three quarters
of mile, then pass the fish dam then good
water for half mile. then another fish dam;
| good water but intersected by big rocks and led
ges then Hog river ripples continues about
mile wingdam made by Potomac company
about midway then ripples boat fast on
| ledge of rocks III inches water; good water
! for mile, then fast on bed of rocks at Zuck's
| fish dam. Water variable, passing three FISH
dams to the head of Grounds ripples, two
miles. Boats moored at spong'S landing for the
nigat-
| September 4tli.
Moved from Grounds ripples; shoai water
short distance-boats rub at one place on ledge
of rocks; the navigation interrupted by lodges
of rocks, ranging with the current where is
| fall of three or four feet in quarter mile; mar
row passes through those lodges, then good wa
| ter to Chaplin's, then shoal abort distance
then good water to Shepherdstown,
THURSDAY, September 5th.
Moved from ShepherdstoWn, on good water
half a mile; then shoai from shore TO shore;
lodges OF rock, with few passes for boats; very
difficult navigation the channel shoal and wind
| ing; boats rub, and are dragged in many places
through this shoa, which extends mile and
! half ther good water to the hntietam Forge
ripples narrow ledge of rocks across the RI
yer, with but one shallow and narrow pass;
the fall in this ledge about foot, then good
water to Coon's, where the boats put in for the
night
FRIDAY, September 9th.
Set off from Coon's, two miles below the AM
tietam iron works, with fine sheet of deep wa
ter one fourth mile below; this river bends sud.
denly to the west, is wide, aud too deep for
polling; at Reynolds mill, river bends 10 the
south; at the bend, rocky island, On the 5ia
ryland side, and rocky on the Virginia side; wa
| er deep to the end fthe island, where ledge
OF limestone crosses the river obhqueIy-l,erc
we enter the Cow Ring sluice, on the Virginia
side this suce is formed in the most approved
manner, by the assistance OF nature, and ledge
of rocks, so Situated as to throw the collected
water Of the river into the sluice-with this adj
| vantage, the greatest that can be obtained by
| wingdams, you have the increased rspldity OF
the current to surmount, which Is so great az to
require capstan, which is placed at the head
of the sluice, by which boat is drawn up slow
4 l., aud xute nh tab pff heas.