Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-01

New Commercial ChanHel.-Goods are regu.
larly received here, by way Of the Canal, for
merchants in ST. Louis, Louisville and other
towns on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. These
goods are wagoned over land to Portsmouth and
Cincinnati, where they again take water for their
respective places of destinatiOn-Thus reversing
the direction of the trade of the country and
turning it out Of the original channel through
which It has flown since the first settlements on
the waters of thosf rivers! When the Canal
shall be opened to the 0eio, which will be within
the next year, it will be at once the great inte-
rior avenue Of intercOmmu nication between the
North and the South; and like the Ocean itself,
become the com,uon medium, thruagh which the
rich and abundant productions of both will be
carried, for purchase or exchange. The simple
relation of this fact almost makes US question
our own veracitv, and yet. the event will as
surely happen, as that the Canal itself will be e..
n,shed.
Canal Udter Poicer. Among the many advan-
tages which Will result to the State and to the
community generally, from the construction OF
the Ohio Canals the water power which they will
create at almost every lock throughout their whole
extent, is esteemed to be not the least valuable.
In many parts of the State through which these
Canals traverse, and especially in the Scoto val.
ley, there is great want Of water power, so that
that which is thus arti6ciallv afforded comes in
very seasonaky. This power, in addition to its
permanency, is rendered still more valuable to
the proprietor and useful to the country, from the
ease and cheapness with which it may be improv-
ed and the security which it offers against floods
and other risks common to living running streams.
1t is 4 ated that the surplus water at each
lock. Oh both Canals, will, upon an average,
.l,,., IL. e Ga,1
which is about equal to steam engine of thirty
horse power. On the Ohio Canal, extending
from Cleaveland to Portsmouth, there are one
hundred and forty.sx locks, which will sup
ply surplus water enough to drive about four hun
dred and fifty pairs Of stone. On the Miami
Canal, running from Cincinnati to Dayton. there
will be water power sufficien. to propel two
hundred runs more: making together six hun.
dred and fifty runs. Calculating the annual
rent of this power at one hundred and fifty dol.
lars for each run Of stones, the income to the
State Treasury from the creation of this artifi-
cial power-when it shall be all taken-will be
but little short of1OO thousand dollars! which is
the interest on one million six hundred and fifty
thousand dollars Of invested capital.
But the benefit resulting from the creation of
30 much additional manufacturing power, in a
country like ours, is not to be estimated by the
dollars and cents which the use of il may throw |
nto the public golfers of the State. Its advan-
ages are to be valued by its usefulness to the
and by the multfarious human pur-
roses to which it may be prohtably applied. -
as it is. along line of three hundred
md seventy miles Of Canal, it will furnish sites,
t convenient points, for the erection of every
description of machinery which the wants of the |.
ountry through which the Canals pass, may call
or. This is one decided advantage which Canals
osssss over Rail Roads. in their passage through
very country. Gull. (Ohia) Gaz.