Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-09-06
ALEXANDRIA:
SATURDAY MORNING, SEPT. 6, 1894

GREAT INTERNAL IMPRovEMENT.-The citizens
of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, have been engag.
ed, for some time, in maturing grand scheme
of internal improvement for connecting the Wa
tiers of the Chesapeake with Lake Ontario
letter is published, written by H. X. Strong, ESQ.
in behalf Of the citizens Of Harrisburg to the
Secretary of War, recommending the project of
opening National Sloop and Steamboat com.
municaton from the Chesapeake Bay, by the
way the Susquehanna River, Seneca or Cav.
mated by men acquainted with the route and
long employed on the public works of Pennsvl.
vania, that the whole improvement can be Of
fected.
l. More than one-half Of this great work has
been made by nature. 1t is in unconnecteL
links which only want forming into comns,a
chain. There is sufficient water in the liver
Susquehanna from its mouth through pennsvI.
vania to the State Of Sew Y ork II is larGe,
river than the Connecticut or the Hudson. The
greatest difficulty to overcome in its navigation
is in the thirty or forty miles near IFS entrance
in the Chesapeake Bay, where occasional ride.
e. oftransition rock run across the stream, can,
sing falls or ripples. Between these rippIes or
falls, are pools Of deep navigable water some.
times extending for miles. The section of the
river above this, extending about one hundred
miles above Harrisburg to the Wyoming Valley
has no falls of any consequence There is oc
casonally ripple, in consequenceo of a ridge ne
rock running across the bed of the river; Vet a
rudey constructed steamboat has traversed the
whole distance. From the Wyoming Valley,
about one hundred mileSfarther north. 10 Osvi.
60, or Elmira, in the State of New York there
are no ridges, as below, in the transition rock
formation, running across the Susqueharna.
The whole country is Of the secondary forma.
ton to the lakes, and the rocks are horizontal.
Steamboats, can now be run the whole distance
of one hundred miles or more, from the Wyo
ming Valley TO Oswego, in the State OF New
York. There is an association of gentlemenin
Wilkes Barre, in Pennsylvania, and OswegO IN
the State of New York, who have already raS-
ed number of thousand dollars, for the inme.
diate construction Of d line of steamboats, to run
this distance, for the purpose Of towing vessels
laden with coal from the Wyoming mines 10
Oswego, for the use Of the salt works in New
York, and in return to be freighted with salt for
the consumption Of Pennsylvania. Perhaps no
str onger evidence can be mentioned, to show
that the Susquehanna, with comparatively lit
tie expense, can be rendered navigab!c BY steam
than the following fact. Eight years ago, cast
iron steamboat, built at York, in this State, by
an ingenious mechanic by the name of John e.
gar, was put upon the river, about twelve miles
below Harrisburg, and forty from tide water,
and was propelled by steam to the line separat.
ing the States OF Pennsylvania and New York,
nearly two-thirds of the whole distance from the
Chesapeake Bay to the Lakes II this was not
the first iron steamboat ever constructed, it was
the first that ever sailed upon American waters.
From Oswego, it is but about twenty miles
north to the south end of Cayuga lake, which
is &c miles long aud navgated by steamboats,,
to point less than twenty-five miles from Lake
Ontario But Elmra and not Oswego. is the
mace, considered best by some, where the route
.arnld !save The Susquehanna. This place is
connected with Seneca, between IS and 40
mrIe Ey the Chenung canal, twenty-one miles
long, which could be widened and deepeneda at
a very small expense, so as to admit the pas.
sage of steamboats, from the Susquehanna river
to the lake. This lake is navgabe for vessels
Of any size. Its southern end approaches the
Susquehanna river within twenty miles, and us
northern end, about the same distance from So.
dus Bay on Lake Ontario, one Of the best har-
bors on the lake, where the government hasai'
ready expended a considerable sum to render
it safe and commodous. From the north end
OF either Seneca or Cayuga Lake to Lake oh'
tarlo there is canal already made to Osweeo'
But II is thought to be better route to 20 direct
ly to Great Sodus Bay, as il is much nearer ana
entirely practicable, both on account OF the easy
excavation and the abundance of water.
Such are some of the facts in relation to this
splendid national project.
OMrNoUs.-A new set of playing cards nave
been manufactured in which Gen. Jackson : X