Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-01-30

the parent, as 10 be able 10 sneW, not
only the entire cost of the undertaking
as far as the national road at Cumber-
land, hut the cost of so much as may
now appear within the limits of the
ways and means Of the two states.
With this view they directed the cngl-
neer in the outset, to make his caleu!a-
iions of the surveyed route IN sections
50 as TO shcw the whole costs OF each
section from one important point to a
mother, along its whole course. This
they supposed would place the COM
mencculent of this great work com
pletcly within the reach OF the resDur-
ccs of the states, as whether the canal
commenced for the present at Gum
berland, ard descended the river
where the greatest distractions to nav
igation are found; as far as Williams
Pert, or at tide water, and assembled
the river, every section when com
pleted, would add TO the value of the
commerce and soil of the states, and
thercfrom something would at once
be received in tolls. The level and
survey of the whole course being
once ascertaincd and decided, any
part of the work likely to afford the
greatest benefit and profit might be
completed in such manner as to be
united with the remainder without
addition of cost or any arrangement of
the plan. This partial cutting in sec
tons, would enable the states to keep
their expenditures within reasonable
bounds, and TO guard against the neces-
sity OF oppressive burthens. AT the
same time that they would lay the
foundation ofan Improvement, which
when extended across the mountains
and completed, it is 10 vain boast to say
will be Of greater importance than a
ny other of which the topography of
the United States is susceptible
The territorial feature of the United
! States, which is most important 10 all
our relations, political, commercial
and social, is the extensive range OF
mountainous region which divides the
rivers falling into The Mississippi,
from those which fall into thesAtlan.
tic ocean. II forms wall of separa-
lion between the west and east, and
the difficulties it presents has diverted
the western commerce from the near
est sea ports, and caused its general
current to seek distant outlets around
its southern and northern eXtremities.
Such, however, is the wise arrange
ment of providence, that where the e
wills resulting from this great barrier
operate most severely that is, near
est to its centre, it has placed the rem,
edy within our reach. Of all the riv-
ers which reciprocally drain The lands
beyond aud on this side the mountains;
the Ohio Oh the one side, and the Pc
tomac on the other, extend their rami-
lications, of which any use can be
made, nearest to the summit and lev
Ell of the dividing ridge Such also is
| the favorable shape of the mountains
at this point where these waters APP
proach the nearest, that its flattened
| surface forms extensive and luxuriant
meadows called glades. A well known
operation ofthe laws ofnature, at this
elevated point, at all times many de-
grees cooler than the surrounding air
condenses the vapors and attracts the
clouds, on either side ofthe mountains,
/ so that these elevated plains or glades
in the driest season, are coplously sup
piled with water, and afford rich and
abundant pasturage, when all the val
lies below them are parchcd with
drought: Deep Greek is a western
stream falling into Houghagany, which
forms in these glades, and is situated
at that point from which the commits.
sioners commenced their measurement
within two hundred and four feet of
the summit of the dividing ridge, and
can be brought by a cut within two
miles of a branch of Savage River,
called Crabb tree run, at the junction
! of its branches at Swans old mill
on this side of the mountains. Deep
Greek is copious stream with banks
| nearly perpendicular, running through
the soft earth ofthe glades, and was
in the season when they examined it,
(supposed to be the driest which has
occurred within the memory of most
men living,) from three to four feet
deep, and from nine to twelve feet
wide, with a current ofabout one and
a half miles to the hour. There is a
narrow* pass in Ridge Of the glades
through which Deep Creek makes its