Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-23

These SHORES arc &equcntiy .ntcrsccteG viii, steep
gu lies, Which to have been excavatcdby noun
tain torrents. 1t was necessary sometimes 10 pro-
cct the line along the face of the steep banks, and in
several places, upon the sides of hedges and cliffs.
Where the canal occupies the bed of the river, the
>u,er side of the bank is surmoonted by enormous
$ pc walls to protect it from abrasion.
+ None but those who had examined the line prcvi-
Gus to the commencement of the works WHO had
seen the rude and undula,ng surface which it ira
vcrscd the rocks which TO be blasted, the ire
guar lodges filled with chasins aud bres which
to form the sides and basis OF watcr-ught canal
the spurgy swamps, and gravel beds, and quick
sands, which to be made impcrvious to water {:
and III short, the huge masses of rough materials,
which. with immense labour, were to be reduced TO
symetrv aud form, can duly appreciate the effort
which it has required to surmoun these various OBJ
staclcS.
The execution of the VARIOUS works on this sccti-
on has put in rcuuSion all the skill and experience
which had b2cn previously acquired.
1t has imposed the necessity of constant vigilance
in examining and calculating probabilities in care
fully balancing one difficulty against another, and
in striving TO adopt not only the most udIcious pns,
but the best mode of cilecting them.
| And the canal commissioners and their engineers,
do not hesitate to admit, that had this section been
commenced originally while their iniorina ton onthc
subject Of constructing canals was merely theorcti-
CAL it is probable that the attempt 10 complete it.
would either have been entirely abortive, inn
perfectly executed TO have defeated, and perhaps
postponed, FOR century, the accomplishment IS the
great work of internal improvement. wbich Is alrca-
dy so nearly perfected.
On the eighth day of October, the first boats pass
cd from the west and the north, through the junction
canal into the tide waters OF the Hudson at Albany
And this day was celebrated IN manner which u
vincel the lively satisfaction of thousands Of c
items, the triumph of art the formidable i'm
| pcd;mcmts which nature had thrown III the road to
prosperity.
From the eighth of October, until tho canal was
closed by the ice, there but one small brca ch,
which did not obstruc the but three days;
and during this period, from thirty forty loaded
boats pass i'll the course of twenty four
hours.
To complete the work on tive eastern section, the
banks must be raised and strengthened in several
places, the fencing must be finished, number oil
lock-kcepcrs' houses must be built, great number
of drains must be cut, number of side culverts are
required around the locks, TO conduct the water
| from one level to another.
The inside slope of the banks at the foot of the
locka,in many instances must be supported, and pro-
ec;cd from the force of the water discharged from
| the lock gates.
| The dam at Bowman's creek, which has been
partly carried away by freshest the present win
ter, must be repaired several other dams which
cross violent streams, have been found too high and
to endanger the bridges across them, aud in some
instances the neshboring buildings.
| IncSc must DC cut down and secured Basins
guagcd, and graduated for the weighing of boats
their loading necessary to be constructed to in
sure the payment of the full amount of the toll.
considerable amount of work is necessary be done
on the Troy side cut, to enable boats pass from il
into the Hudson, and probably good deal of WORK
which is not now rccollected, and more which can
not be foresecn must be accomplished.
! The damages throughout the greatest part of the
section, must be assessed, entered on record, and
paid.
| The general regulation of the navigation on the
canal, and the collection OF the tolls which has now
become so important, will demand particular at
tcntion.
The aforementioned subjects, with the adjust
mcnt of suspended claims, and unsettled accounts
comprise the principal duties required of the canal
commissioners this section the ensuing SEASON
and will probably involve an expenditure, of more
than one hundred thousand dollars.
The following amount of tolls collected OF
this section
Collected at Little Falls, 1928 1G
Schenectady, 1851 OF
| Wateryiiei, 1889 81