Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-12-14
From the National Journal.
y REPORT
Of the Central Committee of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canns-G CONCLUDED.

right which she did not before possess, TO make
lateral canal between the waters OF the Poto-
mac and the Patapsco, they further designed 10
promote an extension Of this navigator 10 the
commercial metropolis Of the Chesapeake.
So much of this extended line of artificial
navigation, as, pursuing the valley OF The Poto-
mac, from its tide, terminates at Western Por-,
the base OF the Allegheny mountain, could not
be regarded as unerpiored ground The Ohio
Company of Mary land and Virginia, which es
tabIlshed the town Of Cumberland, in the year
l749, at that early period, used the river Poto-
mac for the purposes of transportation; and
proposals TO lock It's principal falls were pub
lished in Europe before the war The Reyolu-
ton, at a period when the British Ministry had
under favorable consideration proposal to e.
rect a new Colonial Government ives, Of Vir-
GINA, on the river Ohio.
By the "Potomac Company created in 1884
at the instance Of General George Washington
the total descent of this river from the same
point, as well as its length, had been ascertain
ed by examination and survey. At very re-
cent period, following immediately, however,
the first suggestion of the possibility Of uniting
the waters of the Potomac and Ohio, by nav
igable canal across the dividing ridge, as sub
sltute for The very laborious portage between
those rivers, the principal engineer OF Virgin
la, frs, by authority of the Board Of Public
Works of that Commonwealth, and afterwards
under the joint authority of the States of Mary
land and Virginia, in conjunction with an ex-
perienced civil engineer OF the former, carried
the long antecedent survey and examination of
the waters of both rivers, to Deep Greek, in the
Glades of the Allegheny, and, in both instan-
ces, ascertain their levels and distances so far
towards the Ohio, as 10 induce the belief that
their junction, by a canal, was practicable. AS
far as the mouth Of Savage, it was undoubted;
and as far up as Cumberland an estimate was
supplied under the authority of the Commits
sioners deputed by the States of Maryland and
Virginia 10 superiDtend the second survey. The
inexhaustibe banks OF coal, Of superior quality
bordering Immediately OH the Potomac and
rising far above its surface, constituted the
chief motive for terminating, at the mouth OF
Savage, the Eastern section of the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal; the value Of this mineral being
believed to be competent, alone, 10 defray the
cost of constructing so much OF The proposed
canal, the practicability OF which had been al
ready demonstrated. An estimate for so much
of the work had been submitted 10 the Conven-
ton, along with detailed financial plan to
provide its amount, which had also received
their appreciation
From the mouth Of Savage, in the line pre-
by the antecedent reports of the Virginia and
Maryland Engineers, further survey and COR
responding estimates were necessary through
out the Western section; and the termination
of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, on the
Western waters remained to be fixed, in refer
ence to its ultimate extension, by Pittsburg, to
the shore of Lake Erie. This constituted the
UNEMPLOYED ground.
AS the profit of the Eastern section Of the ca
nal would be UNNECESSARILY promoted by plac-
ing beyond the reach OF rational doubt the
practicability ofextending it, with a sufficient
supply Of water, across the mountains, which
now oppose so formidable an obstacle TO the
direct trade Of the valley of the Ohio and Mis-
sissippi with the seaports of the Chesapeake *
the Atlantic, it was deemed expediens to delay
an appeal to the public enterprise, for subscrip-
lions of stock to defray the cost of this extern
sive work, until this propitious confidence
should be confirmed.
An-extension of the navigation ofthose great
Western rivers, by one canal, TO the cities OF
the District Of Columbia; by another, from the
head OF their navigation TO the Northern lakes;
by third, from the markets of the Potomac to
that OF the hourishing city Of Baltimore; by
fourth, then in rapid execution, to the long es-
tablished market Of Philadelphia, and, by fifth
already provided for, TO the present emporium
of the foreign trade of the United States, in
New-York; could not fail to attract the wealth
ofEurope, as well as America, and to multiply
the chances Of obtaining that portion ofthe cap
i,al stock, necessary for the completion Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, for which the
Convention relied on Individual subscriptions
The Presidents Recommendation to Congress
was succeeded, in the same session, by public
&C, making the specific appropriation which he
had suggested, for obtaining plans ana es,l-
mates ofsuch roads and canals as ne might
deem i, expedient 10 cause to be surveyed, with
view to the transportation Of the mail, the
commercial intercourse, and military defence OF
the United States.
In the execution of this act, supervising
administrative Board OF Internal Improve
ment' was created, by order OF the Executive,
consisting of two military engineers, and CIV
il engineer. AT their head was placed dis.