Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-07


time to time, become due to the United States, on
the shares of stock aforesaid: Provided, That the
dividends becoming due to the United States on I
said stock, shall be the same, as if the amount of
expenditures said Canal had been made from
actual subscriptions, and that debt or debts, on
the part of said company, existed. |,
Sec. q find be it further enacted, That this
act shall not 90 into effect until the United States
Board OF Engineers shall examine said canal and
make report. in writing, to the Secretary OF War;
that, In their opinion, the plan on which the canal
is TO be executed, will answer, as far as circum-
stances will permit, part of the chain of canals
contemplated along the Atlantic coast, and that
In their opinion, the sum hereby authorized TO be
subscribed for, will be sufficient 10 finish the canal
according to said plan
| Sec. 4. find be further enacted, That the mo-
ney subscribed on behalf of the United States.
shall be actually expended in the completion of the
canal, and not IN the payment OF any debt or debts
now owing by the company; and it shall be the
duty OF the Secretary of the Treasury, before the
| payment OF any part of the money subscribed on
behalf of The United States, to adopt such mea-
| sures, as shall ensure the application of the same
to the completion of the said canal, according to
the plan proposed, and to other purpose what
soever."
| Mr.. Hemphill of Pennsylvania, chairman of |
the Committee who reported the bill, rose in its |
support. will detain the Committee but a very
short time, (said he, Introducing this subject TO
its consideration Ii the subscription to this Canal
is to undergo any serious discussion will eave
1t in the hands OF the honorable gentleman from
| virginia, MIR. Newton,) who lives near it, and
such others as may choose to take a part in the
| deb tie.
| The bill contemplates the subscription of GOO
shares In the stock of the Dismal Swamp Canal
Company. The Committee of Roads and Canal.
have considered this Canal TO be one of the greatest
Importance, not only to the adjacent States OF
virginia and ~. Carolina where it is located, but
TO the Nation at large, as it will form part of the
extensive line of Canals contemplated in the in
terror, and near the Atlantic Coast
This Canal originated as long ago as the LIST of
december, 1887, by &C, of the Assembly of Vir-
g'nia, which act was conquered in by the Legsla
tire OF North Carolina: these Acts incoI porated
Company, with authority to construct navigabie
! Canal from the waters of Elizabeth River, in the
state OF Virginia, to the waters of Pasquotank
River, in the State of North Carolina.
This Canal, according to the original design. j.
nearly completed, and has been in the receipt OF
tolls Tor a considerable time.
The canal Is % miles in length in breadth
IS feet at the surface of the water and in depth
about l-2 feet. Its South end terminates a,
Joice's Greek, which empties int the Pasquoiank
River, thirty miles from its mouth at Albemarie
{ Sound.
by an act of the General Assembly of Virginia,
when Is concurred IN by the Legislature of No-.h
Carolina, the Company is authorized to cut a Canal.
connecting the Dismal Swamp Canal with the
North w est River, at any point which they NAV
select This Canal which will be FIVE miles in
length, Will accommodate the interest of large
portion OF the citizens of Virginia and North Caro-
INA, and so much increase the commerce and pro-
hts otthe Dismal Swamp Canal, as tn make il am
object Tor The Company perfect this small work
: short cut of mile at the South end would
'aSe me canal direct 10 Pasquotank River, and
avoid Joice's Creek.
To make the Dismal Swamp Canal correspond
with the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal as n.a-
as circumstances will admit, is considered of an
important National character--but owing to depth
OF water in the Sounds of North Carolina which i,
Is to connect with the Bay of the Chesapeake the
depth of this Canal need only adapt itself to the
depth OF these Sounds.
Here Mr.. Hemphill introduced and read letter
from Gen. Bernard
1t Is believed that a vessel of. a capacity TO ma
yIsate the Sounds and pass through the Dismal
Swamp Canal, will be capable of navigating the
Bays and passing through all the Canals North of
the chesapeake.
The Locks on the Dismal Swamp Canal are, in
their dimensions, nearly equal to the Chesapeake
and Delaware Canal and their floors are placed so
tar below the bottom of the Canal as 10 admit the
passage OF vessels drawing feet water; and OF
the burthen of rs or 80 tons
/ a fact is stated by the President of the Comma
ny, that there is at this time in the trace of the Ca
nal Coaster from New York, having passed
through two locks, taking in a cargo and bound TO
the port at which she cleared
| When the Canal is finished so as TO accommo-
date itself with the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
"a reasonable prospect opens OF having water COM
munication from Boston to Beaufort, in North
i Carolina, in the course of few wears
| The Taunton and Weymouth Canal. which
opens to the North in Boston BAY; and to the
South in Mount Hope Bay, branch of the Mar
ragansett Bay, is SO miles, and by ano,her route
wore 10 ihe Eastward, the distance would be % II
miles only.
Fhe 31zzards Bay and BarnstabIe Canal is but
about miles The Board of Engineers say that
ITS praciicablity does not admit Of a doubt and
thai the expense will not be great
| The Delaware and Raritan Canal in New Ter
sey, is 20 miles in length; and the Legislature of
pennsylvania, in granting permission TO the Com
pany which has undertaken this work. TO sponIv =
Feeder on; of the River Delaware. have annsxed /.
conditions that the Canal SHALL in the opinion of
the United States Board OF Engineers, sufficiently
correspond with the chesapeake and Delaware
Canal.
| This, II is supposed, will require the Canal IN
be eight feet deep, so as to be navigable for Bav
vessels; and not TO interrupt The noble line OF nte
rIor navigation contemplated TO run parallel 10 the
coast for great distance.
| The Committee will now perceive how much has |
actually been undertaking. and hos, little remains tn
he undertaken, to accomplish this interesting and
grand National work.
These Improvements which have mentioned |
and which will not be yer expensive. 81 i'll com
ple'e the inland navigation from Boston 20 Bean
Tort, in North Carolina. distance of ten or eleven
hundred miles from the ce hope il will be found
practicable TO proceed to Georgia. The practical