Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-01-13

signed at ST. Petersburgh, "a the s-l7
of April, between the United States and
Russia, by Mr.. MIDDLETON, our minis
terat that Court, on the part Of the U.
States, and Count NEssELRoDE and M.
DE PoLETIcA, on the part OF the en-
peror of Russia, which establishes the
boundary line of the two nations upon
the northwest coast of America, and
in the islands adjacent, at 81 deg. 40
min. North latitude.
National Journal.
We unerstand that Mr.. WILLIAM M.
SUMMERS, a young gentleman from the
city of New-York, has lately patented a
mile mark, to be made Of cast iron, and
of such form and dimensions as may be
found necessary. He purposes casting
them about 4 feet inches long, foot
wide, and 8 inches thick, to be hollow,
leaving the enclosure about S-4ths
of an inch thick. To have projections
at bottom, to prevent its being drawn
out of the ground, in to which it is to
be sunk about Is inches. The letters
composing the direction to be sunk or
raised. 1t is thought it will be conve-
nient, to travellers generally, to put the
number of miles in full. The form to
be oval, thereby rendering impossible
to mutilate them. 1t is confidently be-
lieved to be impossible to deface the
directions by ordinary means. The
mile-stones now in use are oflittle orno
service to travellers. They have been
broken and injured so much as to pre-
vent the directions from being read
We think these substitutes will be an
effecual preventive to the present
much-to-be-regretted mutilations, and
recommend their immediate and gene
raj adoption on our highways, especi-
ally as the expense will, as we are told,
be but trifle more than stone ones,
and they w-ill, in all probability, be e.
verlasting. Nat. Journal
Surrey ofthe James & Kaaa,cha Rircrs.
We understand, that Judge Wright
of N. York, who has acted as Special
Engineer, and the Commissioners, au-
thorized by an act of the last Legisla-
ture, have surveyed the Improvements
in state of proficiency, and reported
generally favorably of the work. They
deferred survey of the other parts of
the ground; until some time in the
course of this year. They will meet
for the purpose; examine the ground
critically; and lay their Report before
the next Session Of the General Assem-
bly,.
AS soon as the works, now in a state
of proficiency, have been completed,
now important part Of the enterprise
will be accomplished. We shall have
a fine continued Canal to Maiden'sAd-
venture Falls, about 40 miles above
this city, embracing large portion OF
the Coal district. We shall have safe
navigation through the gap of the
mountain, in lieu Of the rapids of the
river, where the banks of the river are
covered with the melancholy graves of
the shipwrecked boatmen. We shall
possess convenient turnpike from the
James to the Kanawha; and the navi-
cation of the Kanawha itself extended
and improved.-These various works
constitute the first section of the great
enterprise in hand. They ought to be
instantly completed. On this question,
it is believed, there is little or no diver
sity of opinion.
But is it not prudent to pause here,
until the other portions OF the enter
prise have been surveyed by competent
and disinterested Judges? OF all sub
iects, that Of Internal Improvement
seems to be the most difficult to under
stand. Its details are so far beyond
the reach Of ordinary capacities. The
science Of Civil Engineering is so COM