The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-05-17

barque Addison," Capt. w. Il. Law
renee, for Sutherland Falls and coastwise
ports, having on board complete voyage
outfit, except provisions, her object being
to explore the channel as suited to steam
boat navigation.
Below will be found commander Tick
nor's report, dated on board the Addison,
May 10th. He says:
take great pleasure in reporting to
"Otter Creek Steamboat Company " and
others who may be interested, as follows:
The object of our expedition being the
measurement of water depth and pace
above TO certain bridges, and character
OF shoal beds and distractions. as also to
measure distance from Middlebury to
head water at Sutherland Falls.
| had provided the necessa apparatus
and means, aud sailed as per clearance
above ON board the Addison, now under
my command.
The first and chief obstruction above
or below water, in entire distance Is found
three miles above Mi1dlcbury, known as
the three mile BRIDGE" which is ten
inches lever Or nearer water than any
other on the stream. This difference
would indeed be valuable in space between
decks of steamer or above her water line.
have occasion, therefore. to recommend
thus TO yonr special notice concerning
space above water, and | am gratfied to
add only this one bridge. among eighteen.
being the number crossing this entire
channel, will injure i'll any degree the pro-
posed ENTERPRISE.
OF the distractions in bottom and on
surface OF channel, | am led so say, from
the evidence obtained, there being bat few
OF either of surface say eight, consisting
of fallen and 10 ICED trees, with the usual
accumulation of flood matter: and of the
hidden kind in shoals, say ten. being
mostly foreign in character to the natural
formation. accumulation of water. settled
timber and sand or rubbish common in
such cases. one exception beng cobblc
shoal, n description of which Won will
li,d in my special report. 10 be conclu-
sive, | believe with light expenditure.
all distractions can be readily disposed of.
TO float in safety the craft as per draft |
have in my possession, giving her frequent
opportunity to change her cour.e with or
against the tide. and a stretch in distance
between Middlebury and Sutherland Fails
OF AZ nautical miles, in or throughout
the entire open season.
1t seems hardly in place TO tax you
with description in any degree of the
very many pleasant features in making
the trip, yet | cannot refrain from Motto
ing some important items and first will
notice the popularity in the banks or
shores Of the stream so perfectly regular
i'll height, and so smoothly graded and
even turted to the waters cdgc, as TO
seem the work of art, the value of which
in establishing regular channel would
be very great.
Now to the pleasure seeker | would
say word, and even many, could |
measure to him in justice the satisfaction
which is certainly 10 be obtained in ma
king IL through trip on this beautiful
stream in the promised steamer.
Under the head of points of interest
must Of course be noticed first Sutherland
Falls. 1t is grand but picturesque, and de-
serving better place in description than
| can give it, assuring you modestly that
it pays to visit. We will run our craft
far up in that little shoal so near the Falls
that as we look up through a cloud of
spray; all the beauties ola rainbow are
portrayed in the clear sunlight Having
run clear we climb over the rocks and
through cedars up to the level of this other
region. 1t being perhaps hazardous to
move without clearapce papers, | must
look up tie surveyor of the port, most TO
the top, and | hear the nuinberless saws
in the new marble mills owned by the
5. Falls Co., and find acting in control
the very gentlemanly j. b. Reynolds,
who | was pleased to address as Port
Surveyor" Learning Of our mission and
Its nature he soon prepared our clear
ance, which l hand you with the YES
sells papers, Taking choice specimen
of colored MAJ bic upon which is to be
inscribed the day and date of so much
interest, we descended to the craft, joined
by the surveyor, when taking taste
of the odor from the rock where the
first bottle of wine was broken an hour
since, and bidding our friends good bye"
TIL the days of steam, we looked with
wonder and admiration once more at this
great feature of interest, the Fails We
then gave three hearty cheers for the
success of the enterprise and head waters,
also to the surveyor, who responded in
suitable manner when we turned the
PROV of the Addison with the tile, spread
IA little canvass to Il gentle breeze from
5. T., and placing two men at the oars,
smoothly and not slowly glided homeward
through channel with not less than six
feet of water at any point in the stream,
having as You see, water to float thSlar-
gest of the Hudsoa River steamers.
Making a few graceful curves and bend
in the stream, surrounded in close prox-
unity with hills and mountain sceney,we
gained IA landing opposite the pretty town
of Pittsiord, where yesterday at s Z. NJ.
we snugged up and went into town for
supplies, and had hearty reception from
II number of its good citizens, especially
the hotel proprietor, who tells an excel