Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-02-08

unites again with tie river by two locks; the
river is again used for about two and a halt
miles, and then by a dam ii is forced INTO canal,
on the west side, which extends about 2o3 miles
to Waterford. This part contains SIX locks,
and at Waterford there are three more, making
in the whole extent 81 locks; 46 miles OF arti-
fetal nav cation, and Is! miles of improved ma
tural navigation, TO Wit five miles OF Wood
Greek, and l91 Of the Hudson River. From
Waterford the Canal proceeds p miles further
south, where it unites It's waters with the wes-
tern or Erie Canal, after crossing the Mohawk
river by a DAM and which river is thereby put
in requisition as a feeder for the northern Ca
nal, in both northern and southern direction,
and also before and after It's junction with the
western. THIS latter portion is nearly COM
pleted.
This whole extent is Ga miles, The work
was commenced on the 10Th of June, 1913, and
has been finished in somewhat more than four
years When compared with similar works
in the old world, the execution may be pro-
nounced rapid one, and has never been ex-
ceeded in that respect, except by its relative,
the western Canal. The celebrated Canal Of
Languedoc is l48 miles long. II took l4years
to finish it, and ii employed always the labor
Of 5000, and sometimes 1900 men. The
Forth and Clyde Canal is So miles long. 1t
was commenced in 1769 and not completed
until 1870.
The Canals of China have been the subject
of unbounded panegyric. The distance from
pekn to Canton, by canals and rivers, is 92O
miles, and II voyage takes boat three months.
On our canals the same extent could be passed
il one month. The truth Is, tnat the Chinese
canals are very interior to the European. in-
stead OF locks, the boats are drawn up and let
down inclined planes by human power, at vast
expense and trouble. A lock appears Of very
simple invention. 1t is but a slice with two
double gates, AID yeti never occurred to that
ingenious people The first lock was con-
structed by the Venetisns in l461.
The influence OF these works is already felt,
not only in the United States, bat has extended
to Europe. The transportation OF merchan-
disc from Philadelphiato Pittsbul gh, has fallen
from % dollars to ~ dollars a ton. When the
western Canal is finished, goods can be trans
ported from New-iork 70 Pittsburgh tor 50
dollars ton 1hey fornerl, cost 100 dollars
from Nee-Yor|S 70 BuEdo. 1t will now be
done for less han Is dollars. The receipts OF
the Holland Land Company have tbs year
been immense, because the western settlers
have foaad markets and the share holders
Of our uasiet'-hl.id ~ b aetaaishcd at nc an
expected increase Of tneir pro{i3
IN thcir report OF 1851, the C..n.. Board es-
innate, tha{ the country Withm The reach Of the
northern Canal, would t4rmsii annually TWO
millions Of boards snd 2i.nks oae nltilon fe0t
OF square unher, and 'mhehSe GaanlIles oil
dpo'-iogs, Scanning, nas's, ard sp4fs. Besides,
those northern regions ar he sites sppFopn-
ated D nature iof her m'nera pfodHctlons :
a1d it's %ell known that thrt c1n am i4on ore
unsurpassed fof qitan''tY AMI qa'i4ty; marbles
otyai1oas kinds aud coioe'i limestone itoin
riais os tpe o'ss ht"''l'.e e5!e''' DARK ior
inqyha,4iiblc sores OF tot and pearl ashes
wheat, Haar, butter, cheese, haN, Has seed,
wocl, beet, pork, and maple sugar; he best
OF cattle for tAc butsh-r, Ga!ri and Sia1ier
~ - ;,a ~ -. ~,
York market, the DraDrictors Of these ARTICLES