Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-24
From the National Lntelhgencer.
a, O.. ,n.ur ANN Ouln canal No

advised OF certain misapprehensions, whicn arc
said 20 be afioat respecting the original object
of the charter Of Inc Chesapeake and Ohio Ca.
nal Company; the character Of some OF Hs pro-
visions, s. the plan Of finance, approved by the
Washington Canal Convention, out 'of whose
res lptions the charter sprung.
The charter OF the Chesapeake and Ohio "a
BAL, ie, il BE- remarked, then, divides the entire
line of navigation connecting the tide ofthe Po-
ton,ar with the Ohio river, into two sections,
and req, ire that its first, or eastern section,
shsli be first completed if fficien. funds be not
subs-rhpd for the completion Of both at the
SAM time the Company is exposed 10 no
forfeiture, however. for falling TO complete,
within a limited period. the second section OF
the Canal, which extends from The Eastern base
Of the Allegheny, or from Cumberland, TO Pitts
burg, except that Of The yigh TO do so. But, II
is required to appropriate all It's surplus reve'
noe, after netting ten per cent. on It's stock, 10
that object. While its nominal capital Is but
ak millions Of dollars, j; is authorized to eX-
tend that capital TO any amount, which may be
found nee essary for ihe construction OF the en-
tire canal.
The narrow extent of Southern capital, e1-
ccpi in lands and labor; The absence OF very
large Accommodations Of active wealth on The Po-
tomac; the rival interests, opposed 10 this ca
nal, with the States, which are most deeply
concerned in its navigation; The present occu-
patton Of Ohio and Pennsyl, ania, in very costly
works, upon their own account, increase the
difficulty Of providing adequate funds for the
construo lion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Ca
nal, and have turned the attention OF its friends
TO the completion Of the first section, with the
least possible delay; in order that, by promptly
reaching the coal banks, at its Western ex'.
sremity, its profit, Of which l shall hereafter
speak, may ensure the carly commencement *
successful accomplishment of the second or
Western section: the utility (which must de,
pend, in great degree, on the prior opening
pfthe outlet from the Eastern base Of the Ale
ghany. to the Chesapeake and The Atlantic.
To certain financial schemes for raising the
necessary funds for the Eastern section Of the
Canal, therefore, tiihout any design 10 abandon
The other, rhe friends Of this enterprise have,
hitherto, confined their exclusive attention.
Could the sum of ten or eJeuen millions Of dol
lars be Immediately provided, the whole OF his
Canal might he put under contract and be ac-
complished, in very little more than the time
which will be spent on the Eastern section a.
lone; all OF IL, indeed, except, perhaps, the tuE-
mel; whic h. from its structure in conhned space
admits Of a more limited application Of labor
10 lis excavation. S,Ill, by multiplying The ,Cork-
ing SHIFTS, so as 10 have one IN every 400. or
$50 yards, as proposed by the Uni,ed States
Engineers and BY employing small steam en-.
gints TO rle, a,e, through them, the excavaied
materials, the entire tunnel might be finished
in the same period in whio h the most fficult
section Of il, not exceeding ninety yards in
length, could be completed. BY employing, at
every working shat throughout the tunnel, a
double set oflaborers. to relieve each other, at
.r,a. hv, Job eli RI III il
not improbable that This part OF the Canal
might he made TO advance as rapidly as the
less difficult portions oft.
Sue h engines, il has been ascertained, can be
porch for twelve or fifteen hundred dollars,
n Pitsburg; and,.a the labor in the tunnel
must be carried on by lamp light, no expense
would be incurred in working upon il By night
that would no, attend the same labor by day.
while the uniformity Of its Temperature, both
In Winter and Summer, and the absence Of all
interruptions from the external weather, would
!a,or lis progress.
One mile, in England, of a tunnel Of great
length, was the work Of but single year
That water, in sufficient quantities, will be
found, 20 fill the tunnel Of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal. and 10 supply its descending lock-
age, not doubt now exists among those who
are best informed upon this subject; and Gen.
Bernard, the aale chief OF the u. States Board
OF Internal Improvement, who spent several
months in this inquiry, has assured the, writer
OF these essays that, if the Board have overrat-
ed the cost Of this enterprise, they have, TO the
same extent, moderated the supply Of water for
its summit level: their object having been to
present the ieas, favorable view Of the whole
enterprise.
The extent ofits lockage, as the report Of that
Board demon .tratvs, from experience, will be
more than at,ned for by an enlargement Of the
transverse section Of the canal 20 a breadth of
fory-eight feet, and in depth, of five feet. It's
otherwise appalling effect, upon ordinary under
standings, will be eAec,uslly removed by re-
garding its total ascent md dsscsnt as if it were
uniformly distributed along the whole line Of
a canal of s42 miles; and BY comparing it with
thc lockage of number Of canals, constructed
In Great Br ala and elsewhere, which taken
have as much rise aud fail in length
o. no greater extent. BY such comparisons a
lone. tie least in ellis' mt mind must become
fam 'liaiized to difficulty which has been so
often aud absu rtilv oys rratcd Bv enlarplDg the