Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-05-29

70 obtain the great object Of uniting Pittsbure
and Philadelphia by continuous canal without
any material increase Of distance, over the
route proposed by the State Of Pennsylvania.
and at, perhaps, less than one-fourth Of the ex.
pense which would be incurred in constructing
it upon either Of the Pennsylvania routes The
distance BY the Juniata route, the shortest vet
discovered from the mouth Of the Juniata to
Pt,sburg, is stated by the Pennsylvania Com.
missioners, to be upwards of 267 miles, and on
this route portage of at least % miles will be
unavoidable, overcoming, in that short distance,
an ascent of 1853 feet, ,27e in FIVE miles, and
descent of 900 feet by succession of in
clined planes The northern route, which is
of very doubtful practicability, is from the
west branch route sos miles, and the Clearfield
route S94, while the whole distance, by the pro-
posed route, connecting with the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal, between the same points, it is
believed, will not exceed 2S6 miles, as follows:
from Pittsburg, by the Ohio and Chesapeake
Canal, to the point Of divergence, at the mouth
of Little Wills creek, 1872 miles: thence to
Bedford, "a miles; and thence to the mouth of
the Juniata, so miles, requiring for its accom-.
plishment only l62 miles Of canal, through an
easy and cheap route, without having 10 en-
counter the difficulties and expense usually
incurred in constructing tunnels, deep cuttings,
&c. This connection is further recommended
by the consideration that it will relieve the
State Of Pennsylvania from the immense cost of
uniting the Eastern and Western waters at her
sole expense, by bringing to her aid the united
efforts and aid If the United States, Virginia,
and Maryland; besides, by this route, CONT
nuous water communication will be opened be-
tween Philadelphia and Piusburg, by the nearest
and perhaps the only practicable route, passing
through three counties, Somerset, Bedford and
Fayette, with a population of 900 in 1920,
while Cambria, Indiana, and Armstrong, on the
Juniata route, had but $4,000, (these are the
only counties not intersected BY both routes;)
the policy Of Pennsylvania, therefore, cannot be-
doubtful.
Probable cosf.--It is a matter OF regret that
the Board of Internal improvement have not
been able, with every effort on their part, TO
have their report and estimate prepared in time
to communicate to Congress during the present
session, out the committee are assured il will
be in readiness at the commencement Jf the
next session, so as 10 enable Congress then TO
act Understandings on the subject According
to the plan of construction proposed by the
Board, which is Of The most magnificent and
durable character, the cost will not, perhaps,
fall short OF twenty millions of dollars, TO com
pele the canal from this city to Pittsburg,
distance, by the route selected, of about three
hundred and forly.six miles, including tunnels,
reservoirs, feeders, and every other possible ex-
below the cost, per mile, Of the
Delaware and Chesapeake Canal, to which the
I vtn1c hay HAL L..
Of stock. Still, the Committee are aware that
the estimate will at first be calculated to alarm
many Of the friends of this measure, before
they are made acquainted with the dimensions
and durable character Of the plan Of construc-
ton, or have compared this work with what
has been accomplished by other Governments,
when the inducements and the advantages
were inconsiderabe compared with this. Even
Spain has encountered and overcome much
greater difficulties than are presented by me
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, in The con5,rdc-
ton of the Reynosa Canal, "whch asccnds an
elevation 5000 feet in the short space Of
three leagues, (looo in less than quarter of a
league,C more than the utmost elevations Of
the Alleghanies. One of the Roman Enpe-
rors, (Claudius,) it is said, employed $4,000
men for twelve years, in the construction of a
single canal; and Holland, scarcely half as large
as one of our States, has expended upw ards of
three hundred millions pounds sterling in the
Of canals alone-more than dou-
bic the whole amount Of the expenditures OF
this Government, in peace and war, since the
establishment Of the present constitutions and
these canals, it is well known, furnish the great
source of the immense wealth and commerce
Of Holland, as well as every where else wherc
they have been adopted. In England, they
have constructed twenty-five independent ca
nails across the highlands or mountains which
separate that country as the Alleghanies do
this. These are but few instances, to show
what has been accomplished in other countries,
greatly our interiors, Except England in eve
nv thing else; and shall we weld to them in the
spirit of internal improvement, by retiring
from this work, which, according to the most
extravagant estimate, cannot amount to the re-
venue of single year? And when was there a
period in our history so suspicious to the COM
mencement Of the great work Of internal i'm
proyements as the present? At peace with all
the world; unconnected with Europe, and s.ran-
gers 10 the storms which disturb her repose,
unique in our situation; abundant in our re-
sources; the freest Government or earth, and
a country embracing in its wide dominion eve
nv variety of climate and soil; intersected eve
ry where with vast mountains and rivers and
lakes, extending their arms from the East to
the West, and from the West TO the East, inn
ploring, as it were, the aid of industry and art
IN uuits them in the bonds of nernetual union: