Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-09-21
CHESAPEAKE AND LAKE ER1E.

present on the western section Of the Canal, that
no difficulty whatever will exist in extending
the = anal from Pittsburg to the Lakes. The
distance VIII be much shorter, and the expense
much less than has ever bccn supposed The
whole distance, it appears, will not exceed III
mics, oonnedta Lake will supply the summit
level, into which, il appears, French Creek can
be easily brought as feeder, and which, alone
on the 9th of August, when it was measured
afforded twice much water as Was reo,,ircJ
Judging by the experience of the New York
canal.
Thus far every thing seems to favor the snc.
dy accomplishment of this great object. which
Sli not only greatly increase and facilitate tue
trade and intercourse between the eastern and
western states, but operate as n most uo,yerf,,l
bond OF union between them, which yEashipe'
ton. 40 years ago, pronounced "Me Best If not
TIE only cement ichict ,oouid bind TIE cas-. and
'rest together for any length of lime n and who
denounced the views of those opposed 30 il. as
cont'actet m,,cise, iitebcrai and pa,sinonio,s
and we think every enlightened statesmen i'm the
Union must concur in the sentiment Ge,,iuy
Of Liberty.
trf1'act Of a letter 10 a gentleman in this place.
dated Eric, .3ag. go, 1924.
"1hence we conceived il expedic,,t To fol-
low down the Shenangoto the cast branch-tbe
western branch of which rises abou, four miles
from Conneant Lake, and las supposed we
found Its valley continuous TO tile Lake itself.
although its outlet finds ar, easier course in.n
French creek. Having ascertaineti tf., ouanti
ty OF water flowing from this beautiful Lake.
lwhch Is SIX miles by mfc)-we were anxious
TO see French creek before the occurrence of
rain, there having been none for the last few
weeks at Meadvilfc we took the dimensions
oil section OF the stream, and the result as wei:
as the sight OF 1t, terminated our spirits it beina
practicable to turn il into Conneaut ]. axe. and
thence proceed northward tyou already know
with the Canal to the Lake-thc nearest point
being at the month of Elk creek
We proceeded therefore from NIeadv;llo bv
this route, the dividing ridge at the north end Of
the Lake being but ri feet for short distance,
and the rest of two mile, but 3 feet thence. the
beautiful valley of the Conneaut creek gently
declines to the lake, aforfing the most favorable
ground possible for the Canal, and at the Lake
a faForabie spot for an artificial harbour. But
by keeping the levels higher,-and crossing Elk
and Walnut creeks, the canal might reach Erie
harbor By extending il about 90 miles,
several OF the inhabitants of NIeadyi,le as
sarcd ms the river had never been lower within
.helr recollection, and that its sources are found
IN numerous springs. at this time il discharges
73cubic yards, per second, which according to
the experience on the Ere canal will be. for
the distance we should extend the summit level
twice as much would be necessary. after the
banks have acquired soldity.
we returned by the Waterford route, in or
der TO compare the quantity of water aud other
circumstances ofthis, with the other We shall
tnen go to the junction of French Greek with
the Aiieghany, and probably descend this river.
4 ms cursory view will give you some Tlca of
ths section OF the country in regard to It's cana
o'hues; and, IL might indulge myself in a spe-
cuia,ive Prediction on its future improve
hent, L should pronounce it likely 10 he
one OF the most popuious and best cultivated dis
.ficts OF the W estern States, exceeded by none
10 saiubi1ty, fertility, and transit trade Should
me N aiionai Canal be located, as you may have
perceived 1t to be probable, from Erie 10 Beaver
by the way'of one ofthe valleys of the Chenapgo.
II IS not improbable that the Cmytltogn will be
used 10 supply smaller canal, connecting the
district at thehead ofMuslkingum Sciota, with
tte iNaliohai canal as the most convenient route
either for their commerce with New York n,
me middie States. But as this route TO the
middle states will he three or four weeks earlier
than that OF Buflalo--and will avoid tht. Lake in
'he autumn, an advantage will be found iD
using 1t and, at mid summer when the Poto-I
mac is uniriendly, the communication with New
YORK VIII be more inviting. Take it all in all
tins improvement will embrace remark able
concurrence OF interests.
But there will sti'be wanting one irnproye
mcnt notyet thought of, perhaps to complete This
Knot VIZ: a bold dam across the Allegheny suf-
hcientiy above Pittsburgh TO briD9a rood column
of water along by the Arnory or ARSENAL TO
meet the central canal from the Chesapeake in
the city of Pittsburgh, and thence cross by an a.
queduct to the right bank of Ohio, and down a
long 1T to Beaver; because the Ohio is, between
these places, quite occupied with bars. and the.
ground will not be favorable to canal fed from
above Beaver fall, even if the quantity of wafer
were certainly sufficient. This subject will pro-
badly occnfy the attention Of our party when
we reach the spot in question.
ShOuI1 flic roufc hn 1It;,,,. I'll,
.aieadville and Waterford will have cop1muI,ica
non with the canal by means of the feeder, ana
their trade upward will reach them by IL. while
The decending business will still go by the cur
rent. Thus, recoDciling all local interests---in-
deed, II may be by far the best way for naviga-
ton bound up TO the head Of Allegheny 10 des-
cend TO Beaver tl,at river at Franklin. II be-
ing IN fact 100 miles from Pntsburg to Franklin
by the river, and probably 40 by the way of
Beaver and down Frcuch Creek, and it viii
be ai0at 100 from Pittsburgh to tie lake al
Elk.
Extract IF n iefterto n gentleman IN J7iorio7ct
dated E{hsbta.-h, Sep. Isl. 1924.
Dean SIR ] am extremely happy 10 inform
you, that we have ascertained, 10 our entire sat
isfactiop, that canal between the lakes and o.
hio is practicable. We have met with no diff
culties that could not be easy suTmouuted by the
means in our power and best Of all, we have
found in French creek supply of water sudi-
cient to feed canal of 100 miles, when, by ac-
tual measurements, the projected line of canal