Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-14

necessary in widening the canal and this would be
additional estimate to be added to the reported cost made
out by Capt Cram. In giving this additional width to
the canal of &c feet would be necessary to remove the
wall and pavement built side of the canal and
very large OF heavy earth and rock
cayation, which, together with the enlargement of the
locks could fall short of doubling his estimate in
creasing ii to least 500 000 To this be added
the value of the drydock swelling the aggregate
a nearly equal TO million Of dollars-the esti-
mated cost of work the Indiana side Of the river
This would be independent Of the purchase Of stock,
owned by>individuals in the present company.
Other objections exist not mentioned by Capt Cram
The present canal is ncumbered by two bridges: the
upper permanent of stone and the lower over the lock-
draw bridge; and both required by public highways
the outlets between Shipping Port and the Ferry Of
Clarksyille
Under the recent decision of the Supreme Court this
becomes very important feature in the navigation Of the
river and new canal they could not be dispensed
with.
Other objections might be named and another mpor
tant 1.-the locaton by which he banks sech side
are Il IA wafer and dr-dgns psehiAs
kept in TO from the entrance the deposites Of
silt and mud constantly nerruptng the passage Of boats
Your committee further report that in addition TO the
immense Importance of this work, in which the whole
people Of the Union interested, there other
siderations which demand its immediate construction 1t
must be acknowledged that the Ohio river is national
highway guaranteed to the people of the Union by the
ordinance of l767 which declares that the nayigable
waters leading into the Mississippi and ST. Lawrence,
and the carrying places between the same, shall be
Of the Northwestern Territory to the citizens of
the United States and those any other States that may
be admitted into the Confederacy without any tax or i'm
post therefor From that time to this the Ohio has been
acknowledged national highway and since the nrst ap-
preparation under Mr.. Monroe every successive dmins
tration has recognised the nationality Of improvements
this river consequently the improvement at the falls of
the Ohio is national work. and ought to come under the
control of the nation 1t is demanded by the whole of
the Mississippi Valley which numbers nearly half
the population of the Union The immense commerce of
the Ohio estimated at than hundred millions OF
dollars, requires it. And when we take into view the
increase of this from the of the coun
try which just beginning TO be developed and brought
into activity by the numerous connexions OF railroads,
which extending from the Atlantic to the PACING,
making the Ohio and Mississippi rivers the great stem
which is to receive and distribute the various depots
the commerce from all parts of the world viii then
feel the necessity Of still enlarged improvements
around the falls than those now under consideration
for there is problem susceptible OF demonstra-
tion and is which continues impart TO railroads
the popular influences they exercising than that
they create the Of INSTRUMENTATION and OF
business"
The network Of railroads which is about to be spread
over Ohio will bring into immediate its immense mi
neral resources which useless for want of these
facilities. The great coal fields OF this State, containing
than 900 square miles, nterspersed with rich iron
ore remain yet to give impulse heavy manufactur
ing interest Through the whole valley of the Mssssip
p from the peaks of the Aleghanes to the Rocky noun
tains there is happy blending OF mineral and agricul
constant accessons Of population which will require cor
responding facilities for the transport Of their products
Therefore, when the petitioners before Congress ask an
additional canal around the falls, they claim that the
Western people contribute their portion of the expenses
Of the Government in the payment OF duties upon the i'm
ports of the country in proportion 10 their population and
consumption Of foreign goods which amounts annually
many millions Of dollars; large portion of which goes
to support the marine service which is sought TO be
benefited by this work. and which has been recognised
part Of the marine department by the establishment Of
earS
the river These petitioners also say that they cannot
perceive the justice Of expendng millions in the erection
of docks lighthouses harbors, and other works, whilst
the Western have not received dollar of ap-
preparation for the improvement Of navigation for the last
ten years.
Your committee have had under consideration numer-
plans reports and surveys heretofore made to the
Government for the improvement Of the falls and amongst
others the construction of dam and locks, which
reported on by Capt Cram in 1874 The committee will
here give his objections in his language contained in
his report which states That the objections to the dam
strong ls Although ever so strongly built II would
be liable to injury from ice and drtwood; I'd. IL would
be an obstacle the natural navigation Of the falls in the
first and third periods mentioned in another part OF the
report The harbor Of Louisville would probably be Sc
riousy injured If not entirely filed with deposes Of mud
In like manner the landing at Jefersonyille, on the
Indiana side, would be seriously injured The locks
would not be Of any easier than those Of the other
methods
The risk to contractors in the process Of construction
of the work would be immense il would be impossible to
calculate this risk beforehand 1t would be found almost
useless in few years from injuries depostes Of mud
and being choked with drift wood else such i'm
expense would have be incurred in every rise Of
water clear the works from these evils, that the tolls
would bear heavily upon the trade"
But whilst the importance Of increased facilities for
passing this point is generally felt and universally ac
knowedged the committee regret TO find that some con-
trariety of opinion exists to the best method par
tcular plan, to effect this desirable object
This matter has been subject Of investigation and ex-
for man by
Congress and engineers under the authority Of this Gov
ernment but by civil engineers under the authority Of
companies chartered by the States each side Of the
river.
The committee do feel competent to decide as TO the
best method particular plan which ought to be adopt
ed further than give il their conviction that to an
swer the wants Of the and increasing commerce OF
that river ttco canals Indispensable each side OF
the river The committee fortified in this opinion
not only by Capt Grams report, but also by all the me-
MORALS and petitions before them except those from Lou
sve and perhaps other points in Kentucky whose local
and individual interests would naturally have more or
less influence upon their opinions
Various routes for canal on the Indiana side have
been surveyed and estimated the cost Of each ranging
from $4,000 to 81, 100000.
While the committee forbear TO name in the bin here
with presented either Of these routes they think it better
to leave IL to the scientific investigation and determine
ton of the proper bureau. They decidedly OF the
opinion that the route surveyed and estimated for by Col
Long and ordered by Col Albert the head Of the opogra
phica bureau and herewith presented is the preferable
Your committee will observe that the rver-wal to be
erected in the stream parallel the line Of the canal and
lnd down n of he mn recommended by