Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-04-30

Improving the Navigation Of the Hudson. II orIn.
The Head Waters of the River.

inf utau-huitfs OF lhe hi8er.
The surveys conducted last summer by
| Prof F. \ Benedict, under the direction OF
Canal Commissioner Barkley, Of the head
waters Of the Hudson, with the view of
constructing reservoirs for the purpose OF
storing the surplus waters of the streams
and lakes for use in the dry season in feed
lng the canals and improving the navigation
OF the river, have already been adyerted to
in these columns.
Mr.. Benedict's report Of his operations is
embraced in the annual report Of Commits
sioner Barkley, soon TO be submitted to the
legislature. Long and Forked lakes were
surveyed by Wm. i. Cooper, and Messrs.
Judd. Benedict and Others visited most of
the lakes and ponds in the upper basins of
the Hudson and Raquette rivers. Prof.
Benedict description of the physical fea-
lures of the wilderness, and It's wonderful
adaptation geographically to the purposes
in view, will be read with interest
Wemay conceive the whole tract, formerly known
the northern wilderness TO constitute the upper
face Of a wedse-tne mountains rising above and
the valleys sinking below the average surface The
position OF this wedge-shaped plane coincides with
the various water surfaces which diversity its
whole extent. The upper face Of the wedge slopes
ie degrees west OF north and is nearly at ght
ans es 10 the st. Lawrence river, with a grade al
most uniform OF about fifteen feet to the mile The
ed &c of this wedge is along the St Lawrence, its
back above the Mohawk, and the opposite sides rise
from the banks Of the Black River and Lake Cham
plain, or, as is generally considered its east
ern lace stretching along the SchroOn river and its
northern continuation. The Adirondack me untains
culminae near the centre Of the eastern division in
a multitude OF SUBMITS, many of which rise nearly
TO the limits o; perpetual frost. The western
ton Is rugged and hilly, but not mountainous and
the northern, subsding 10 a plane gently rolling
surface loses the peculiar features OF the plateau
TINS whole extent, except where interrupted by
rocky SUBMITS, is covered by forests Of extraOrdi-
nary luXuriance. The northern exposure Of this
EXTENDED surface tends to reduce its temperature
lar below the point due To its altitude clone Add
TO this the exclusion ol the sun by rank yegeta-
tion Of trees, shrubs and mosses and we have
rare combination Of physical conditions all con-
spring 10 increase the gor o. the climate TO pro-
mote rainfall and reduce evaporation, and thus TO
swell Its drainage TO the greatest possible volume
The arteral or water system OF the region cores
poncs IN singular GeSree with the above rain-pro
ducns agencies, and seems purposely designed to
complement them by providing suitable recepta-
cies for their Overlooking waters and almost num-
berless channels. needing little artificial aid for
transmitting them TO all desirable points A sin
gle example must here suffice Tor Illustration snd
select for this purpose the drainage valley of the
RaGuette river. The general surface of the plat
eau, regarded as plain sioplng toward the north,
may be also viewed 81 beading very slightly along
. central line running north and sOGth one part IN
Ginning toward the east, directing its waters to the
bay Of New York, and the other inclining toward
the west, forming n water shed for the Gulf of ST.
Lawrence. The numerous rivers swelling the Hud-
on the east and the Black on the west all an
proach this line If it were natural division OF s
waters. But instead OF this have here inter
posed one OF the most characteristic features this
whole mountain tract, as singular in its physical
aspects as II may be made useful in It's economical
and practical uses. Tne eliminating edge Of these
planes instead Of coming 10 we'll defined ridges is
beveled and slightly depressed to form the drain
age valley OF the Raqustts. By this beautiful ar