Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-11-11


whole amount would be nemly equal the cost of
regular canal, aud the advantages would re nini,el,
l,ss Upon full view OF The different plans, there
fore, IL Tor moment he douhIed hut that the
adoption of regular canal out OF the riyer, though
following its ravne, viii he the mot useful and
durable Improvement, and when the advantage and
costs Of each mode are relatively considered, ncom-
paIahly tho cheapest.
The canal, which under all circumstances the
commissioners have thought hest calculated 10 suit
the iocal'irs Ui Potomac river, on which our esli-
mates are founded, Is one so feet wide at top 20
| ieet al bottom, and ) feet deep, the earth TO he
thrown o"t next to the river, to form "a tow path el-
evated two ieet or berenbouts above the eel the
water IN the canal and the tract of the tow p.tb tu
he loeet WIDE. The level of the canal 10 be gene.
rally elevated above the highest floods, except when
II IS iouhu necessary tn take m supply of water
iror' the fiver or 10 pass expensive g.ound along
rocky shore. Ihittv feet II is supposed, * the ne
ccssaiy width 10 admit the passage Of two boais of
suihcen' size TO carry - TONS aud To adult Of su,al
platform IN the bow OF the boat, sufficient to lake
morse IN upon Tie sumo pan, that IN two places
would be necessary where il has been found expe-
d'en To cross The river 10y means OF dam, to avoid
! too expensive cutting or walling.
In order TO tain the pIacticability aud cost of
tins pian the commissioners have had the assistance
oI the late engineer of the state oG Virginia, on
whose sound practical judgment and knowledge en-
tire reliance may be placed, more especially after
the test hs estimates have under gone on that mart OF
James river, where par of the caaa he had design
| Ell, mas been Completed Aud it has been there
iouh.i, That contractors and underakers in sufficient
numbers cun he obtained from various parts of the
Uhued States, 10 undertake the works at the esti-
mated cost, whenever the states think proper to au-
'h9rze the cutting Of "A canal The report and cal
cua,Ions on this plan, made from MIR Moore's field
Loies, iy MIR. Isaac Briggs who has been ,pno;n,e
ms successor, as far as proceeded be the adj
lournment, nccaSioned by The serious sickness of the
s'e"'er part OF The commissioners, and of the engi
neer ana Surveyors, that Is, about half mile below
loose creek, are herewith presented, and show the
almost probable cost OF such II canal for that dis
Iaure.
Flats OF tile oil the rivp anJ ,,:tI
likewise accompany the plan and calculations and
alt he hereto annexed.
Tue commissioners have endeavored in their ex-
hmluaons oil the manner and of u,troyinp This
river, TO take as complete view of the suhieri a.
circumstances would permit, TO place before The
legislature, such representation as would enable
them, without losing sight of the uheror ADVANTAGES
wu'eh must grow out ot canal So located, and out
OF The consequent future notifications and extensions
o, "hich II WI necessarily bs the parent, as 10 be
ahe TO shew not only the entire cost of The un,Ieu,k
tng as Tar As the national road at Cumberland In,
! lhe cost oi so much as may appear within thr
',nlS o' Inc why's anu means OF the states With
tins view, they directed the engineer in his oulse r.,
make his calculations OF the surveyed route IN see
ions, 50 as TO shew the whole cost of each section
nom one important point TO another along its Whole
course lh's they supposed would place the COM
menremenl Oi tins great work competely within lin.
reach VI the resources of the states A. whether
the canal commenced for the present nj Cumher
"d, and descended the river where the greatest OH
suuctlons 10 navigation found as far AS Williams
port, or al tide water and assembled the river evor,
section when completed would add TO the yalne NJ
the commerce and soil of the states, and therefron,
something would at once be received In Tolls The
snh survey oi the whole course being once ascer-
i.Ined aud decided, any part Of the whole likely IN
'hord the greatest benefit and profit might be con-
plced IN such 4 manner as TO he uoited ,y;,b H. -
n"iner without addition OF cost Of
The plan. Tins partial cutting III sections would ena :
"'e me states TO Keep their expenditures within rea-
sonabie bounds and 10 guard against the necessity of
oppressive onrlhens ~ the time, that lhey
would lay The foundation of an Improvement which
wien extended 7cross he mountains and comnIeieh
IL Is no vnn boast TO say, will be of greater MINOR
United States is susceptible.
| The territorial feature the United States, which
Is most important 10 all our relations political com.
mtrcidi and social is the extensive ranSe nj o,onc
famous regions which divides the rivers CaIling into
!he Mississippi, from those which fall into HE Az
'a""e ocean; II forms vail OF separation between
the west and east, and the difficulties il presents a
u"ered The western commerce from the nearest sea-
POI, AND caused IFS general current TO seek dis,a
outlets around Its southern and northern exrem;,es
Such, however, ia the wise ARRANGEMENT Of P,nvi
dencr, that when the evils resulting from this great
barrier; operate most severely, thar is nearest IN Ia,
ce"ue, u has placed the remedy within our reach, of
all me rivers winch reciprocaIly dram the lands be-
yOhi, and on IhIs side the mountains The OIin ~,
the one side, and lie Potomac on the other ,,,end
| Their qualifications, Of which any use can lie made
nearest To each uther, and to The summit e 81
OF The dividing ridge Such, Also is the G,,our,bIe
shape oi HE mountains nj this point, where these wa
iefs approach nearest that its Aaiened surface forms
| extensive aud luxurant meadows called slades. A
well known operation of the laws of pat.re al ,bis
hieNaled point at all times many degrees cooler thar
me surrounding mir, COndenses the vapours and ar
uac'9 te clouds rising on either side Of the noun.
ains, 80 that these elevated plains or gIsdes in the
ufesi season, copiousy supplied with wnter auJ
afford rich aud abundant pasiufage hen all the val
| lies below them are paTched with drought Deem
creek Is a western stream falling into Youghacany
winch Iorms IN these glades, aud is situated at the
point from which the commissioners commenced
Their measurement, within 20l feet Of The summit of
The dividing ridge, aud he broue hi by cut win
| w TWO miieS ol branch Ol Savage river, called
Si""'iee run, nj Tie Junction Of lis branches AT
ownh OH MIL on this side OF the mountains Deem
creek Is COpioUs stream, with banks nearly MR.
pehnicuihry running through the soft earl, of the
| s'AueS anu "d~, IN Tue season when they examined
| y, Supposed TO be the dfest which has orcu,r.d
"''n'n lhe memory OF most men livine) from three
10 Tour ieei deep, aud FROM to IL feet wide with a
rureni 0i about one and \ half miles TO The hour -
! l"r'e IS marrow PAST IN n ridge of the cades
through which Deep creek niHkes its waV where "a,
eecti"g dan 10 or 20 feet high and moi mare al -
~ or Oh yards long, these meaduNs NAV he inundnt-
e'', aud an immense pond may be formed em1l. at
| ieaa' 10 . or miles ~ length, and half mile in
breaGh lhis reservoir, ~ is believed would furnish
sufficient wafer for locks and a canal If c.,,;ol
through The dieidng frige 10y tunnel two miles long
| 10 cSscehu md ascend 10th sides of the mountain 10
me h'""hghhelh on The west aud to Savage river ON
tHF cas-, rspecially when recruited as YOU descend
! 10y Big fohgh7gany on he west SIDE and by Crab
Tree ron on the east SIDE respecii,ely The fart was
hpi nhctrtin"d tut from the position Of The sources
! oi Litle Yougbdgauy, IL is heiieyed ttcy ni;ebt le
easily conveyed into the same reservoir
! Sufficient at"ni , has not beu,foCnrp been nail
q" 'ht n'alnHblt supply Of wafer aorded at this eIe-
'-Su P"ih', ~, TIE principles Of attraction and CON
densduon. Whenever mountains L,ve . a,ucd CO.
face Ut their sugih of amy exiert. e,6;c;e,
To prevent the Tnpd OF water which sirens nc
cnsiOn, the, generally possess ~ The nualities or tho
brs' meadow hand. Mr.. Gnllann, 10 bis mastery
rnporl on ie roads and canals of lie United Saits
! entlTplF ar ,l...