Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-07-07
IMPROVEMENTS.
From the National in,cliigvnecr, june -.
the CHESAPEAKE AND ONO CANAL.

TIE CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL.
The execution - this great National
work has progressed with rapidity rs
astonishing n il - unparalleled in tic
history OF works Of this description. A
short time only has yet elapsed since
the necessity existed Of rousing public
sentiment to proper appreciation Of
the importance Of this great enterprise
by essay after essay. and 1t diver,ing
the national energy tn its accomplish
meat by convention after convention.
But now, rot only have the moral OBJ
siacles to its progress been removed.
The root at prejudice eradicated, aud
the rock Of error blown away. but ply.
steal Obstructions, far more difficult
than any one can appreciate who has
not. seen them, have been overcome,
and. under the plastic hand Of man.
made subscr,ient to the great interest,
OF commercial intercourse. The wri-
ter witnessed with gIcat1pleasare the
operations on the Cansl few days
since. At that time. the work was in
such a state at torwardncss that no
doubts were entertained as to the prac-
ticability Of admitting the water into
the whole line Of the Canal from Sene-
"a Ia the Little Falls on the 5th july.
Prudence, however, requires that its
admission should be gradual, and con-
Quoted with cautious hardness. 70
ensure the safety OF the heavy embark
ments it will saiurste; and although
che Engineers will probably btgia to
fill the Canal on the 5th. tho ope, a,ion
will not be completed for several
weeks.
The distance from Seneca to George
town, II twenty-two miles. The prin-
cipal works on this portion of the Ca.
nal, are twcnty-four locks Of hewn
stone, a large basin common to Wash
'ngtou and Georgetown, said to cover
eight and fourth acres OF land. and
10 embrace one and a half miles Of
shore or wharf; 5 or q stone bridges
IN Georgetown. eight large culverts
and several smaller ones. two dams
bailt on q new plan entirely Of solid
masonry, several walls, which vary
from forty To fifty feet IN height. and
upwards Of mile Of embaukment for
~ feet high; the whole finished in a
style which at once reflects credit on
the work, aud the genius of the age in
which It has been accomplished. The
whole line 10 how nearly completed
from Georgetown to the Point Of Rocks.
distance Of forly-four miles and.
but Tor the legal controversy growing
out OF the occupation Of that point by
the Baltimore aud Ohio Rail Road
Company, the whole line would have
been finished to IIarpers- Ferry thi,
season. The FIST two miles of the
Canal, above Georsetown.are seventy
icet wide at the surface of the water.
ana seven feet deep; \she next two
miles are eighty feet wide aud six feet
deep. This portion derives its supply
OF water from the Potomac. five miles
above the town, and IS go planned that
branch may be conducted TO Alexan-
Gria, one To baltimore, and one tn the
Navy Yard. At this latter place. Dry
Docks can be constructed. possessing
advantages over any others in the
world. The remaining distance to the
Point of Rocks. the width Of the Canal
will be sixty feet, aud its depth six
feet.
In the short distance Of twenty-five
miles. now complete, Tor very nearly
so.) one hundred aud ninety feet o,
Iockagc arc embraced, or rather more
than onc-third Of the lockage from tide
water TO Cumberland so that, assum.
'ng TOR truth, (what is not the case.
that the character Of the ground over
the remaining distance is as difficult As
what nas been passed, there will result,
ON the score OF iocksge alone. n dimi.
mutton OF expense per mile in the re.
manning distance. of seven Thousand
dollars. But, the fact l.. the Canal
has now passed over the most difficult
ground.
Such has been the scarcity Of earth
IN some places, that IL became peces.
sary 10 construct the towing path Of
wall at solid stone work.
This Canal. when completed, will
possess the very important advantage
OF being free from the obstruc tons. no
suiting from the bridges usually built
over other Canals. They are an an.
rroyanee To travellers, and nm e,pense
Go their owners. which il is at ono.
pleasing to be rad Of, aud polite to .
void.
We recommend To- all persons. whose
Leisure enables them. 90 visit the work
An enterprising contractor has now in
progress handsome Packet. Boat. de
s'gnsd to ply regularly. az soon as the
rIlae 70 opened for navigation. aud, az
there are 30 bridges 60 pass under.
passengers will he able to take their
seats on tie roof ~ the Boat. and en-
JOY uninterrupted the romantic nature
Hf fIe arannr. al