Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-02-03
From the Baltimore Pafrfot.

LOUISVILLE AND PORTLAND CANAL.
Our readers will recollect, that a contractha
been entered into by some gentlemen of New
York for the excavation Of canal round the
falls of the Ohio. The canal it is said, and we
have no doubt with truth, will be highly inter
esting to the inhabitants OF twelve out Of the
twenty our States; viz, Louisiana, Mississip-
pi, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois. In
diana, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania,
and New York. But to the people residing
Immediately upon the Ohio and its tributary
streams, the advantages will be immense The
obstruction occasioned by the falls, tc the com.
merce Of the west, has been seriously felt, and
loudly complained offor several years AS the
falls could only be passed with even keel or FIAT
boats, containing cargoes, for four or five
months in the year, it has been necessary for
the purchaser Of our produce, to ship it at par
ticular periods, or 10 incur the expense and risk
Of having ii transported round the falls, by land
exposing flour, tobacco, &c. to the weather, s
soiling the barrels, sc. with mud, which fire.
quently subjected them to heavy losses.
1t is stated in the Louisville Advertiser that
there were fifty-six steam boats employed on
the Ohio last season, and thirty more will be
added the present season. In the course ofthe
year each boat will make about six voyages,
passing the falls each way. Eighty-six boats,
each making six trips per annum, will give
1850 passengers. Each boat that arrives at
Shippingport, will average, say Is tons Cargo;
and boats departing take cargoes averaging
50 tons each, making an aggregate Of about
232, 200 tons; 100000 Of which, is believed,
have been subject 10 tax for drayagc around
the falls, either on this or the Indiana side,
-. q 70
The expense Of storage, commissions, delay,
rregularity of trade, Of flat boats, sc. sc. add
ed to the above estimate, makes the annual
saving, when the canal shall be completed,
S59o,00o. If the work is destined to be so adj
vantageous to the country, in its present state,
how much more valuable will it be, in twenty
or thirty years to come? Forty years ago, Ohio
and Indiana were exclusively Inhabited by the
natives of the forest. Now, Ohio contains a
population Of nearly million of white inhab-
itants; and Cincinnati, which, some thirty or
thirty-hve years since, was garrisoned by few
soldiers, under the unfortunate St. Clair. is
now among the most fourishng cities in the
Union.-Indiana, which in 1900, contained a.
bout 5000 inhabitants, contains, at this time,
about $50 ,ooo!-IlIinois, Missouri and Arkan-
sas, are increasing with equal rapidity, in
wealth and population. Kentucky, which was
wres,ed from the possession Of the Indians, by
enterprising adventures from the east, many Of
whom are still living, contains or 100000 in.
habitants, and the number is rapidly increas-
ing. Should the western states continue TO
increase in wealth and power, as they have done
for the last twenty years, the commerce Of the
Ohio will, in all human probability, be tenfold
what it now is. The furs Of the Mississippi
and the Rocky Mountains, and large portion
Of the abundant supply of lead that will soon
be drawn from the inexhaustible mines Of Mis-
souri,, must naturally pass through the canal,
consigned to cities and places east of US; and
should rupture again take place, between the
United States and one Of the European powers,
the cotton and sugar of Tennessee, Alabama,
Louisiana and Mississippi, would mainly pass
through the same channel.
The Louisville Advertiser, from which pa
per we gather the above facts, says-"The first
year after the completion of the canal it will
yield dividend of p or IS per cent. and that
too, without exacting tolls that will be esteem
ed immoderatc or unreasonable, and the bust
ness and income Of the canal will be regularly
augmented, with the growth and progressive
prosperity OF the country, until the stock be-
comes amongst the most valuable in the world"