Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-02-03

sioos were also enlarged in depth and
breadth. 10 cross section Of much more
than double the surface or that Of the
state canals Of Pennsyivania. and N.
York. Its locks are longer than those
Of the Erie aud Juniata canals; via.
ducts. under the canal, have been mul.
tiplicd. and land porchases effected,
to save the INCONVENIENCE, danger and
obstruction, to navigation, frsm numer-
Gus bridges.
In the construction Of this part Of
the Chesapeake and Ohio eansi, the
eotenPoraneoss prosecution Of ell the
canals Of Pennsylvssis, has, till very
lately, conspired with the snhealthi.
ness Of the valley Of the Potomac for
near two months ofevery year, to swell
the wages Of common labor to twice
the estimate on which the probsble
cest Of the canal had been founded.
Two dams of great length, one of
them exceeding $500 feet, also occur
on this part Of the canal, a. well ~ .
stone aqueduct, Of seven arches. across
a considerable river, which 10 expect.
ed to cost not less than 300, 600.
Thirty enc lift locks, and guard
locks. moreover, enter into the cost Of
the go miles Of the canal below Har-
Pers-Ferry; and its termination be-
tween two cities, through one Of which
II passes, has involved deep cut. part
w through rock. in some places ex-
ceeding IS feet in depth. This result
OF al Indispensable compromise be-
tween the three rival corpora tions Of
the district; and the capacious basin
between those cities, which is neces-
sary appendsge to the termination Of
the entire canal, rather than to o par
iicular part Of IL, also served to swell
this cost.
After these explanations, IL will not
surprise those who are at all conversaut
with such subjects, that the cost IF the
construction of those 60 miles Of canal
10 now estimated, il is not vet
hnished.-at as much ~ $50, coo a
mile; while il is not expected, even
should the enlarged dimensions Of the
canal below Hsrpers Ferry be pre-.
served throughout its extension Ia Cum
berland, that the entire eastern sec
,ion. comprehending distance Of sol
miles, will exceed in cost S25, 600 q
mile.
II Is already ascertained that seve.
raj miles together Of the work under
contract, will not cost SIS, 900 per mile.
The first half mile completed at No.
lands Ferry, averaging G feet depth
ut cutting. had actually cost less than
5000; aud a single half mile has been
aimee finished for less than $1,000 ;
while the work in Georgetown alone,
not exceeding ] mile in length, will
cost little less, including the expense
OF basin Of acres Of water, than
$500, 900; and l mile, at the Great
Falls Of the Potomac, embracing 6
locks, has cost near 100000.
Your second query 10 more difficult
20 answer than your first. Messrs.
Fulton anil Latrobe, both eminent ci-
vii engineers, preferred small to large
canals. The most profitable canals
In England are very small. being de-
signed for boats Of ten tons only. or
animal iabour, 'aat of horses, in our
country is. and viii, l hope, long con :
tinue. much cheaper than that Of men
and a single horse is known 90 be ca.
pable OF drawing thirty tons, at the
rate Of two and half miles an hour.
on canal Of suitable breadth; such
as the State canals Of New York Penn
sylvania and Ohio. could mot there
fore recommend 10 you, a boat Of di-
menSions less than would fit IL for car
rying thirty tons aud furnishing suffi
cisnt drapght for one horse. But, on
the size Of the boat depends, in some
degree. the breadth Of your canal; and,
on that alone, depends the breadth OF
your locks, unless the latter be con-
stTucted to receive and psss two boats
at time.
La the PAMPHLETS, which will CT
deayor 10 collect for yOur use. you
will SEQ much learning on THE sub CT,
which ] could not introduce here.
Niihout swelling this letter into irea-
. Lise. knowing your country, a. I do.
IL wauld recommend TO you a canal
never isss than So feet Wide, nor les
than five feet deep; TO be extended
wherever practicable, teifhoisf nuei
additional cost, % breadth Of sixty
. feet, OF even more, where the ground
fAvors il and you have water enough
{ and having dspsh Of siK or seven feet,
: if Ia be easily obtained and this fo'
reason which had not occurred to sns
= I'll my attention was forcIbly attracted
/. 10 the subject by the able report o
d the United states Engineers, on th'
D location, pisa and probable cost Of th'
. Chsasspeske aud Ohio canal. Th'
4 part u that report, 20 which nov ~
q fer. VAS exnscted frOm u, and mad
4 ta c0nstitate q pruminent topie It ih