ging the feeder, which was considered as the most lumber of the swamp. The only boats which difficult part of the work. Seven hundred and fif-navigate it are flats, forty feet long, six feet wide, ty thousand dollars are still wanted to complete drawing two feet of water and carrying eight thouthe work; of which sum, one hundred thousand sand shingles. dollars is payable by the stockholders, and the deficiency of 650,000 dollars, must be drawn from other sources. IV. Chesapeake and Albemarle. Digging, deepening to 8 feet, preserv. It must, in order to become a national object, be capable of receiving the vessels which navigate Albemarle sound, and for that pupose be restored to its first intended dimensions, or rather be widened 1. The shortest communication between the Che- and deepened, on the plan adopted for the Chesasapeake and Albemarle sound, is from North land-peake and Delaware canal. The expense would be ing, at the head of the tide of North West river, as follows: which empties into Currituck inlet, the eastern. most arm of Albemarle, to either Kempsville or Great Bridge, at the head of the tide of two different branches of the south branch of Elizabeth river, which passing by Norfolk, unites at Hampton roads with James river and the Chesapeake. The distance is stated at seven miles, and the levels said to be favorable. It is believed that the principal reason why this communication has not been attempt. ed, is a bar in Currituck inlet, which does not ad- 3. The last mentioned canal is in the most dimit the passage of vessels drawing five feet water. rect line of the communication through Albemarle 2. A company, incorporated by the states of Vir- to Pamtico sound, and the adjacent southern ginia and North Carolina, for opening a canal sounds. It has been objected, that the navigation through the Dismal swamp, has made considerable of Pasquotank river was intricate, and that it would progress in the work. The canal extends 22 miles in length from Deep creek, a branch of the south branch of Elizabeth river, 7 miles above Norfolk, to Joyce's creek, a branch of Pasquotank river, a northern arm of Albemarle sound. Vessels drawing 8 to 9 feet water may ascend both creeks to each extremity of the canal. $176,000 40,000 34,000 $250,000 be more advantageous to open a communication with Chowan river, which passing by Edenton, and then uniting with the Roanoke, forms Albemarle sound. 1 A company was incorporated for that purpose; but the capital was not filled, and no other operation performed, but surveying the ground. The intended canal on that route, would commence at The intervening ground along the eastern margin Suffolk, on Nansemond river, which empties into of the Dismal swamp, is almost level, the rise to James river, a few miles above, and west of the wards the middle not exceeding two feet above the mouth of Elizabeth river; and passing along the two extremities, which are only 18 feet and 9 inch-western margin of the Dismal swamp, would reach, es above tide water. The digging is very easy; at a computed distance of thirty miles, Gates' court the only obstacles arise from the stumps and roots house on Bennet's creek, a branch of Chowan river, of trees, and are nearly overcome; and a single which vessels drawing ten feet of water may ascend aqueduct, or rather culvert, over a small run, emp-to that spot. tying into North West river, is necessary. The swamp itself supplies, at the depth at which the canal is cut, the water which has heretofore been wanted; and a sufficient supply may be drawn by a feeder of three miles and a half in length, cut through a perfect level from lake Drummond, a natural reservoir in the centre of the swamp, of fif. teen miles in circumference, and about six feet higher than the water in the canal. The highest intermediate ground is 28 feet above tide water, and consequently higher than the surface of lake Drummond. But Bennet's creek and Curripeake swamp were considered as affording a sufficient supply of water. Should this prove adequate, the principal objection to this route will be, that the canal lands at Suffolk instead of Norfolk. This consideration, and the capital already expended on the canal from Elizabeth river to Pasquotank, seem to give a preference to this course. To which may be added, that if it be The canal, as cut by the company, is 24 feet wide, and six feet deep, with one bank on the west side for a towing path, 18 feet broad. The whole dig-preferable to strike the waters of Chowan river, a ging, with the exception of two miles which must be deepened three feet, and of three quarters of a mile in another place not entirely finished, has been completed. The locks at the two extremities of the canal are not built; but two have been erected at some distance from each extremity, probably in order to save some digging in the intervening space: they are made of square juniper logs, and have cost only three hundred dollars each. The expense of digging has not exceeded 4,000 dollars a mile; the whole capital expended, amounts to one hundred thousand dollars, of which the state of Virginia has furnished 17,500; and it is stated that the whole work may be completed in one year, and will not, including the locks and the payment of some debts contracted by the company, exceed 25,000 dollars. But the canal, which by the original act of incorporation was to be 32 feet wide, and 8 feet deep, can on its present plan be considered only as a local object, the principal utility of which consists in bringing to market the other useless lateral canal may be hereafter opened, along the southern margin of the Dismal swamp, from the southern extremity of the Elizabeth and Pasquotank canal, to Bennet's creek or Edenton. Whatever route may, after a critical examination of the ground, be thought the most eligible, the opening of this communication will be more easy and less expensive than either of the three northern canals. The following table is a recapitulation of the distance to be cut on the whole line, and of the estimated expense. company intended to have united, by a cross cut of and which may be increased to 150 acres, wi one mile, the Assampink or Trenton creek, with supply occasional deficiencies: other reservoirs may Stoney brook, a branch of Millstone river, and to be added, and Christiana and White Clay creeks have descended Trenton creek to the Delaware, may hereafter be brought in aid of Elk river, if the and Stoney brook and Millstone river, to the Rari-supply should prove too scanty for an increased ton. The capital, which was inadequate, was not navigation. paid; but their survey of the intended route, has shewn the practicability of a canal for sea vessels, on a proper plan. The canal, 26 feet wide at the bottom, and 50 at the top on the water line, being dug at the depth of 8 feet, is intended for vessels of 40 to 70 tons, drawing 7 12 feet water: but the banks, twenty feet wide, for towing paths, and one of which may be converted into a turnpike road, being raised three feet above the level of the water, will, by increasing the height of the lock gates one foot, admit a depth of nine feet of water in the canal; at which depth it would perhaps be eligible to dig at The locks, 80 feet long, 18 feet wide, and & once. The distance from Brunswick to Trenton is 26 miles, and the only obstacle in the way is the "sand hills," some distance west of Brunswick. These may, it is said, be avoided by a deviation which would not increase the distance more than two miles; and they may at all events be perforated, as has been done by the turnpike company, who have opened a road on a straight line between the two towns, without having in any place an angle of as-(or 9) feet deep over the gate silis, containing each 11,500 to 13,000 cubic feet of water, and with a cent of more than three degrees. The highest intermediate ground between Asift of 8 to 9 feet each, will be constructed of hewn Those dimensions, both of sampink and Stoney brook, is only fifty feet above stone laid in tarras. tide water; and it is suggested that the summit the canal and locks, recommended by Mr. Latrobe, level may be taken seven feet lower, cutting seven the engineer of the canal, may be adopted in all the miles through a level meadow, between the conflu- other canals for sea vessels, on this line of commuence of the Assampink and Shippetankin creeks, nication. and Rowley's mill, near the confluence of Stoney brook and Millstone river. An adequate supply of water will be drawn, by short feeders, from Philip's springs, Trenton creek, Stoney brook, and Millstone river, all of which are more elevated than the route of the canal, the "sand hills" excepted The depth of water at the two extremities of the canal, taken at low water, are feet at Brunswick, and ten feet at Lamberton, one mile below Trenton. The present annual carriage across the peninsu la, which would be drawn through the canal, is estimated at forty two thousand tons, exclusively of passengers. This will be greatly increased by the facility which the canal itself will afford to the commercial intercourse between the two bays, and to the conveyance of articles now carried through other channels; or too heavy for transportation, at the present expense of carriage. The coals wanted for Philadelphia, and which are brought down from the sources of the Susquehannah and Potomac, but principally from the vicinity of Richmond, would naturally pass through the canal, have been alone The expenses may be estimated as followeth: Digging 28 miles, at $20,000 per mile, 560,000 estimated at more than one hundred thousand tons Lockage, 100 feet, (probably less) at $1250 per foot, 125,000 a year. The annual carriage of all articles may, in Feeders, purchase of lands, and water the present state of population, be fairly estimated rights 115,000 at one hundred and fifty thousand tons, and the direct annual saving to the community at 300,000 dollars, being at the rate of 2 dollars a ton for the difference between land and water carriage across the peninsula, after paying the tolls. These, at the rate of fifty cents a ton, will give to the undertakers a revenue of 75,000 dollars, leaving, after a a deduction of 10,000 dollars for annual repairs, and of 10,000 dollars more for attendance and contingencies, a nett income of 55,000 dollars. $800,000 III. Delaware and Chesapeak canal. A company, incorporated by the states of Dela. ware and Maryland, for opening this canal, has commenced its operations, now suspended for want of funds. The canal will commence at Welsh point, on Elk river, an arm of the Chesapeake, and terminate at a distance of 22 miles, on Christiana creek, a branch of the Delaware. At low water the depth of water in Christiana is nine feet, and in Elk twelve feet, within one hundred feet from the shore. The tide rises four feet in both rivers. The canal might, without increasing the distance, be conducted to New Castle on the Delaware itself, instead of ending at Christiana creek. The highest intermediate ground, over which the canal will be carried on a level of 13 miles in length, is 74 feet above tide water, the descent being effected by nine locks on each side. The digging is generally easy: no expensive aqueducts or bridges, nor any other obstacles but those which have al ready been overcome, in digging the feeder through a very rocky soil. The expenses of the whole work are estimated as follows: Digging 22 miles, at $20,000 a mile, $440,000 (The whole lockage being 148 feet, Feeder, (nearly completed,) reservoirs, dollars due by the company, 230,000 $850,000 The interest on which sum, at 6 per cent. is 51,000 dollars. The capital originally subscribed amounted to The supply of water drawn from Elk river, by a four hundred thousand dollars, divided into two feeder six miles in length, already completed, thousand shares, of two hundred dollars each. which is itself a boat canal three and a half feet One half of these has been forfeited after a small deep, united by a lock of ten feet lift with the main payment of five dollars on each share. One hun canal, is calculated to fill daily 144 locks; a quanti-dred thousand dollars paid by the other stockty sufficient on an average for the daily passage of holders, have been expended in preparatory mea twenty-four vessels. A reservior covering thirty, sures, in the purchase of water rights, and in dig. ging the feeder, which was considered as the most | lumber of the swamp. The only boats which difficult part of the work. Seven hundred and fif-navigate it are flats, forty feet long, six feet wide, ty thousand dollars are still wanted to complete drawing two feet of water and carrying eight thouthe work; of which sum, one hundred thousand sand shingles. dollars is payable by the stockholders, and the deficiency of 650,000 dollars, must be drawn from other sources. IV. Chesapeake and Albemarle. as follows: Digging, deepening to 8 feet, preserv $176,000 40,000 34,000 It must, in order to become a national object, be capable of receiving the vessels which navigate Albemarle sound, and for that pupose be restored to its first intended dimensions, or rather be widened 1. The shortest communication between the Che- and deepened, on the plan adopted for the Chesasapeake and Albemarle sound, is from North land-peake and Delaware canal. The expense would be ing, at the head of the tide of North West river, which empties into Currituck inlet, the easternmost arm of Albemarle, to either Kempsville or Great Bridge, at the head of the tide of two different branches of the south branch of Elizabeth river, which passing by Norfolk, unites at Hampton roads with James river and the Chesapeake. The distance is stated at seven miles, and the levels said to be favorable. It is believed that the principal rea son why this communication has not been attempt. ed, is a bar in Currituck inlet, which does not ad- 3. The last mentioned canal is in the most dimit the passage of vessels drawing five feet water. rect line of the communication through Albemarle 2. A company, incorporated by the states of Vir- to Pamtico sound, and the adjacent southern ginia and North Carolina, for opening a canal sounds. It has been objected, that the navigation through the Dismal swamp, has made considerable of Pasquotank river was intricate, and that it would progress in the work. be more advantageous to open a communication with Chowan river, which passing by Edenton, and then uniting with the Roanoke, forms Albemarle sound. The canal extends 22 miles in length from Deep creek, a branch of the south branch of Elizabeth river, 7 miles above Norfolk, to Joyce's creek, a branch of Pasquotank river, a northern arm of Albemarle sound. Vessels drawing 8 to 9 feet water may ascend both creeks to each extremity of the canal. $250,000 A company was incorporated for that purpose; but the capital was not filled, and no other opera tion performed, but surveying the ground. The intended canal on that route, would commence at The intervening ground along the eastern margin Suffolk, on Nansemond river, which empties into of the Dismal swamp, is almost level, the rise to James river, a few miles above, and west of the wards the middle not exceeding two feet above the mouth of Elizabeth river; and passing along the two extremities, which are only 18 feet and 9 inch-western margin of the Dismal swamp, would reach, es above tide water. The digging is very easy; at a computed distance of thirty miles, Gates' court the only obstacles arise from the stumps and roots house on Bennet's creek, a branch of Chowan river, of trees, and are nearly overcome; and a single which vessels drawing ten feet of water may ascend aqueduct, or rather culvert, over a small run, emp-to that spot. tying into North West river, is necessary. The swamp itself supplies, at the depth at which the canal is cut, the water which has heretofore been wanted; and a sufficient supply may be drawn by a feeder of three miles and a half in length, cut through a perfect level from lake Drummond, a natural reservoir in the centre of the swamp, of fif teen miles in circumference, and about six feet higher than the water in the canal. The highest intermediate ground is 28 feet above tide water, and consequently higher than the surface of lake Drummond. But Bennet's creek and Curripeake swamp were considered as affording a sufficient supply of water. Should this prove adequate, the principal objection to this route will be, that the canal lands at Suffolk instead of Norfolk. This consideration, and the capital already expended on the canal from Elizabeth river to Pasquotank, seem to give a preference to this course. To which may be added, that if it be The canal, as cut by the company, is 24 feet wide, and six feet deep, with one bank on the west side for a towing path, 18 feet broad. The whole dig-preferable to strike the waters of Chowan river, a ging, with the exception of two miles which must be deepened three feet, and of three quarters of a mile in another place not entirely finished, has been completed. The locks at the two extremities of the canal are not built; but two have been erected at some distance from each extremity, probably in order to save some digging in the intervening space: they are made of square juniper logs, and have cost only three hundred dollars each. lateral canal may be hereafter opened, along the southern margin of the Dismal swamp, from the southern extremity of the Elizabeth and Pasquotank canal, to Bennet's creek or Edenton, Whatever route may, after a critical examination of the ground, be thought the most eligible, the opening of this communication will be more easy and less expensive than either of the three northern canals. The following table is a recapitulation of the distance to be cut on the whole line, and of the estimated expense. CANALS. DIRECTION. Lock- The expense of digging has not exceeded 4,000 dollars a mile; the whole capital expended, amounts to one hundred thousand dollars, of which the state of Virginia has furnished 17,500; and it is stated that the whole work may be completed in one year, and will not, including the locks and the payment of some debts contracted by the company, exceed 25,000 dollars. But the canal, which by the original act of incorporation was to be 32 feet wide, and 8 feet deep, can on its present plan be considered Chesapeake Chesapeake & Enz, riv. to Pasquotank 22 only as a local object, the principal utility of which Albemarle consists in bringing to market the other useless Massachusetts New-Jersey Weymouth to Taunton 26 Total. TERN WATERS. COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE ATLANTIC AND WES- all the mountains. From the Susquehanna"), the principal chain assumes a more eastwardly direc The Apalachian mountains, to use an ancient tion, and washed on the north by the lateral valley generic denomination, extend in a direction west of the river Mowhawk, whilst it gives rise southof south, from the 421 to the 34th degree of northwardly to the Delaware, it terminates under the latitude, approaching the sea, and even washed name of Catskill mountain, in view of the tide wa. by the tide in the state of New-York, and thence, ter of the Hudson. in their southerly course, gradually receding from the sea shore. Viewed as a whole, their breadth may be estimated at 110 miles, and they consist of a succession of parallel ridges, following nearly the direction of the sea coast, irregularly intersected by rivers, and divided by narrow vallies.The ridge which divides the Atlantic rivers from the western waters, generally known by the name of Alleghany, preserves throughout a nearly equal distance of 250 miles from the Atlantic ocean, and a nearly uniform elevation of 3,000 feet above the level of the sea. Those mountains may, however, be perhaps considered as consisting of two principal chains: between these lies the fertile lime-stone valley, which, although occasionally interrupted by trans. versal ridges, and in one place, by the dividing of Alleghany ridge, may be traced from Newburgh and Esopus, on the Hudson river, to Knoxville, on the Tennessee. This description has been introduced for the double purpose of pointing out all the rivers which can afford the means of communication, and of shewing the impracticability, in the present state of science, of effecting a canal navigation across the mountains. The most elevated lock canal, of which a correct description has been given, is that of Languedoc, and the highest ground over which it is carried, is only six hundred feet above the sea. It is not believed that any canal has been undertaken, or at least completed in England, of an elevation exceeding 430 feet above the waters united by it. The Alleghany mountain is generally, and from observations made in several places, about 3,000 feet above the level of the sea. The precise height of the dividing ridge was ascertained by the commis. sioners, who laid out the United States road from Cumberland on the Potomac to Brownsville on the Monongahela, at 2,260 above the first, and at 2,150 The eastern and narrowest chain is the Blue feet above the last river. Cumberland, from the Ridge of Virginia, which in its north east course levels taken by the Potomac company, is itself 735 traverses, under various names, the states of Mary-feet above tide water. Although some more adland, Pennsylvania, and New-Jersey, forms the high vantageous and less elevated places may be found, lands broken at West Point by the tide of the particularly amongst the ridges which divide some Hudson, and then uniting with the Green moun of the upper branches of the Susquehannah from tains, assumes a northerly direction, and divides the corresponding streams emptying into the river the waters of the Hudson and of lake Champlain, Alleghany, there is none which is not of an elevafrom those of Connecticut river. On the borders tion much beyond what has ever been overcome by of Virginia and North Carolina, the Blue Ridge is canals in any other country. The impracticability united by an inferior mountain, with the great arises from the principle of lock navigation, which western chain, and thence, to its southern extre-in order to effect the ascent, requires a greater mity, becomes the principal or dividing mountain, supply of water in proportion to the height to be discharging eastwardly the rivers Roanoke, Pedee, ascended, whilst the supply of water becomes less Santee, and Savannah, into the Atlantic ocean; in the same proportion. Nor does the chain of southwardly the Chatahouchee and the Alabama, mountains through the whole extent, where it diinto the gulph of Mexico, and westwardly the New vides the Atlantic from the western rivers, afford river and the Tennessee. The New river, taking aa single pond, lake or natural reservoir. It may be northwardly course, breaks through all the ridges added, as a general feature of American geography, of the great western chain, and at a short distance that except in the swamps along the southern seabeyond it, unites under the name of Kanhawa, with coast, no lake is to be found in the United States, the Ohio. The Tennessee pursues, at first, a south-south of 41 degrees north latitude; and that almost west direction between the two chains, until hav- every river, north of 42 degrees, issues from a lake ing reached, and in a westwardly course turned, the or pond. southern extremity of the great western chain, it assumes a northwardly direction, and joins its waters with those of the Ohio, a few miles above the confluence of that river with the Mississippi. The works necessary, in order to facilitate the communications from the sea ports across the mountains to the western waters, must therefore consist either of artificial roads, extending the The western chain, puch broader, and generally whole way from tide water, to the nearest and more elevated, is known under the names of Cum most convenient navigable western waters; or of berland and Gauley mountains, from its southern improvements in the navigation of the leading Atextremity, near the great bend of the Tennessee lantic rivers, to the highest practicable points, conriver, until it becomes, in Virginia, the principal or nected by artificial roads across the mountains with dividing mountain. Thence in its northernly course, the nearest points, from which a permanext navitowards the state of New York, it discharges west-gation can be relied on, down the wertern rivers. wardly the Green Briar river, which, by its junc The principal considerations in selecting proper tion with the New river, forms the Kanhawa, and directions for those communications are, the disthe rivers Monongahela and Alleghany, which, tance from the navigable western waters, both to from their confluence at Pittsburg, assume the tide water, and to the nearest navigable Atlantic name of Ohio. Eastwardly it pours into the Atriver, and the extent of navigation, either natural lantic ocean, James river, the Potomac, and the Susquehannah. From the northernmost and less elevated spurs of the chain, the Gennessee flows into the lake Ontario; and in that quarter the northerly branches of the Susquehanna seem to take their source from amongst inferior ridges; and, in their course to the Chesapeake, to break through or susceptible of improvement, which may be afforded by the rivers. Distance alone is mentioned, so far as relates to roads, because the mountains, however insuperable for canals, offer no important impediment to land communications. So far frem being an insurmountable barrier to commercial in. tercourse, between the two great sections of the union, it is now ascertained that those mountains | ly at the same elevation, their rapidity increases may almost in every direction be crossed by artifi in proportion to the shortness of their course. For cial roads, as permanent, as easy and less expen that reason the navigation of the Susquehannah, sive, than similar works in the lower country. For above the Blue Ridge, is better than that of the congress having, contrary to current opinion, di- Potomac, which affords, as has been stated, the rected that the road from Cumberland to Browns-shortest communication from tide water to the ville should be laid out so that its ascent should nearest western river. The levels of the last mennot in any place exceed an angle of five degrees tioned river having been taken by the Potomac with the horizon, no difficulty has been experien- company, the general result is annexed, as giving ced in effecting the object without cutting through a more correct idea of the navigation of the Atlan hills, and although the road, thus laid out, be in a tic rivers, than could be conveyed in any other mandistance of 72 miles, two or three miles shorter ner. than that heretofore in use. Although the distance from the sea to the principal dividing mountain, through its whole length, between the western sources of the Susquehannab, and those of the Savannah, be nearly the same, yet the Atlantic bays, penetrating the coast at different depths, and in different directions, the distances from the sea ports to the nearest western navigable waters, vary considerably. Taken in straight lines from each port to the nearest branch, beyond all the mountains, of each of the four great western rivers, they may be stated as follows: From Philadelphia to the confluence of From Richmond to Morris's, on the From Savannah or Charleston to any navigable branch of Tennessee, the distance exceeds The papers marked (C.) contain the information which has been collected respecting the works exmiles ecuted or contemplated on the great rivers already 220 enumerated. It has not been understood that any improvements of importance has been yet attempted on the Savannah and Pedee, nor on any of the 150 tributary streams of the Ohio; and the communications received under this head, relate only to the Santee, Roanoke, James river, Potomac, Susque210 hannah and Ohio. I. Santee. or from want of funds, the work appears to be suspended. The market for the produce brought down that river is Charleston; and the river boats were obliged at the mouth of the river to enter the sea, and to reach that port by a navigation along the sea shore, for which they were not calculated. To remedy that inconvenience, and to ensure & permanent navigation, a canal has been opened by another company, uniting the Santee with Cooper river, which empties into the harbor of Charleston. The Santee or Catawba, is said to be occasional300 ly navigable for near 300 miles, as high up as MorThe distance from the same western points, togantown, in North Carolina. Two companies have the upper navigation of the corresponding Atlantic been incorporated by that state, and that of South rivers, cannot be stated with precision, as the up- Carolina, for the purpose of improving its navigaper points to which the navigation of those rivers tion. The lower falls are above Camden and not may be improved, is not yet ascertained. The far from the arsenal of the United States at Mount shortest portage between the waters of the Poto-Rock. A canal had deen commenced there, but mac, and those of the Monongahela, in their natu- either from want of success in the commencement, ral state, from West Port on the Potomac, to Cheat river below the falls, is about fifty miles in a straight line. But in order to secure a tolerble navigation, particularly on the Potomac, the route from Cumberland to Brownsville, (Red Stone old fort) has been preferred, and the distance by the road lately laid out is 72 miles. The portage be tween the North fork of the Juniata, a branch of the Susquehannah, and the corresponding waters of the river Alleghany, is somewhat shorter. That between Pattonborough, on James river, and the falls of the Kanhawa, exceeds one hundred miles The most prominent, though not perhaps the most insuperable obstacle in the navigation of the Atlantic rivers, consists in their lower falls, which are ascribed to a presumed continuous granite ridge, rising about 130 feet above tide water. That ridge, from New York to James river, inclusively, The principal supply of water is afforded by arrests the ascent of the tide; the falls of every springs arising from the marshy ground at the botriver within that space being precisely at the head tom of the canal, and by several drains which colof the tide. Pursuing thence southwardly a di- lect and bring from an adjacent swamp the sources rection nearly parallel to the mountains, it recedes of the river Cooper. The quantity is said to be selfrom the sea, leaving in each southern river, an ex-dom deficient; yet a steam engine has been contemtent of good navigation between the tide and the plated as perhaps necessary in order to raise from falls. Other falls of less magnitude are found at the Santee an adequate supply. the gaps of the Blue Ridge, through which the rivers have forced their passage. Higher up the rapidity of the northern rivers, which penetrate through the inferior ridges of the great western chain, increases as they approach the dividing or Alleghany mountain; and their sources being near The distance between the points united, is 22 miles: the highest intervening ground was 52 feet above Santee, and 85 feet above the river Cooper; but it has been reduced 17 feet by digging; the descent to Santee being 35 feet, effected by four locks, and that to Cooper 68 feet, effected by nine locks. The canal was carried over some small streams by means of aqueducts; inconsiderable ravines have been filled, and the ground was dug in some places to the depth of 16 feet, in order to preserve the level. But it appears that the roots of trees were the greatest obstacle encountered in digging the |