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

length of its course to tide water, and
which vary in elevation from fifteen
10 thirty feet would in high water
without enormous expense, form lnse.
cure abutments to the dams; this KIND
of margin being formed OF loose earfn,
ofcomparative recent formation, would
when distractions are placed III the
bed of the river, be liable to be forced
and washed away at the cxtremlties
ofthc daias; the dams themselves, al
though ever so so!idly built, would
reqnirc frequen. repairs; the fall IN the
river from Cumberland to tide water
being about 537 feet, would require
abont 3 ; dams as the banks would not
admit OF greater elevation being CIV
en- to the dams than 10 feet, without
great risk of damaging the marginal
property. and of increasing the llablli
" to frequent injuries To the dan1'
themselvcs;" each dam would require
4 lock of the same lift as the dam, and
also an entering canal with a guard
lock, of considerable elevation, to be
used in high water; add to these the
danger ofbcing thrown by the current
over the dams, however judiclously
located, below the guard lock, ano
the Inconvenience, which would arise
in high water; taking all these disad-
vantagcous circumstances into the ac
count, consider the number OF dams,
docks, &c and their great length from
lUU to 800 yards, and the necessary
soidity required in their construction,
and then calculate the other incidental
expenses, the whsie amount would
be nearly equal to the cost ola regu
lar canal, and the advantages, would
be infinitely less. Under full view
oliI,c differ plans therefore, it can
not for moment be doubted, but that
the adoption of regular canal out OF
the river, though following its ravins,
will be the most useful and durable
improvement, and when the adyan-
tages and cost of each mode are rela.
lively, incomparably the cheapest. The
canal which, under all circum stan.
ces, the commissioners have thought
best calculated to suit the localities Of
Potomac River, on which our est.
mates are founded, is one go feet wide
at top, 90 at bottom, and 3feet deep;
The earth to be thrown out next to the
river, to form tow path elevated
two feet or Whereabouts above the level
of the water in the canal, and the
track oftow path, to be 10 feet wide.
The level of the canal to be generally
elevated above the highest floods, ex
cept when it is necessary to take in
supply of water from the river, or TO
pass expensive ground along a rocky
shore; thirty feet, it is supposed, is
the necessary width to admit the pas
sage oftwo boats Of sufficient size to
carry IS tons, and to admit OF a small
platform on the bow of the boat, suifi
cient to take horse in upon, as that
in two places would be necessary,
where it has been found expcdicnt 10
cross the river by means eta dara TO
avoid too expensive cutting or waling.
In order to ascertain the practicable
u and cost of this plan, the commits
sioners have had the assistance OF the
Engineer Of the state of Virginia, on
whose sound practical Judgment and
knowledge entire reliance may be
placed, more especially after the test
his estimates have undergone on that
part of the James River, where part
of the canal he had designed, has been
completed + And it has been there
found, that contractors and underta-
kers in sufficient number can be OBJ
tanned from various parts of the United
States, to undertake the works at the
estimated cost, whenever the states
think proper TO authorize the cutting
ola canal. The report and calcula-
tons made on this plan made from
Mr.. Moore's field notes, Mr.. Isaac
Briggs, who has been appointed his
successor, as far as we proceeded be.
fore the adjournment, occasioned by
the serious sickness of the greater
part of the Commissioners and of the
Engineer and Surveyors that is, a
bout half a mile below Goose Greek,
and since to tide water, are herewith
presented, and shew the utmost prob.
able cost of such a canal for that dis
lance; platts 0fthe courses of the riv
or and canal will likewise accompa.
ny the plan and calculations, and shall
be hereto annexed.
The commissioners nave endeavorcd
in their examination of the manner