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navigation were inadequate to carry the trade between Manchester and Liverpool, and that the most frequent and ruinous delays were experienced by the merchants.'

We will proceed, without further remark, to give an abstract of the Report before us. After recounting the steps they had taken preparatory to entering upon their official duties, the commissioners, Messrs. Clinton, Van Rensselaer, Ellicott, Holley, and Young, taking up first, the canal from Erie to the Hudson, proceed to state,—

cock, Esq. as engineer, under the superintendence of Joseph Ellicott, Esq. one of the commissioners, who had been previously requested, by a vote of the board, to afford such superintendence.'

The route of the canal from Buffalo, is along the margin of the Niagara river to Tonnewanta creek, a distance of 16 miles. It is then proposed by erecting a dam, to raise the waters of this creek to the level of Lake Erie, 4 feet 68 and to form a towing path on the bank, which will easily admit of it; by which means the bed of the creek might be used for a distance of 17 miles. The ordinary objections to the use of naturalstreams as a part of canal navigation, are said not to be applicable to the

The dimensions of the western or Erie canal and locks, ought, in the opinion of the commissioners, to be as follows, viz. width on the surface, forty feet, at the bottom, twenty-eight feet, Tonnewanta. From the point where and depth of water four feet; the length of a lock, ninety feet, and its width, twelve feet, in the clear. Vessels carrying one hundred tons, may navigate a canal of this size: and all the lumber produced in the country, and required for market, may be transported upon it.

'From their own examination, the commissioners determined that it would be expedient to connect the west end of the great canal with the waters of Lake Erie, through the mouth of Buffalo creek. In adopting this determination, they were influenced by the following considerations. It is important to have, at that end, a safe harbour, capable, without much expense, of sufficient enlargement for the accommodation of all boats and vessels, that a very extensive trade may hereafter require to enter and exchange their lading there. The waters of Lake Erie are higher, at the mouth of the Buffalo, than they are at Bird island, or any point further down the Niagara; and every inch gained in elevation will produce a large saving in the expense of excavation, throughout the Lake Erie level.

"That section of the route which extends from Buffalo to the east line of the Holland purchase, and lying south of the mountain ridge, as before described, was explored by William PeaVOL 1.-No. tr.

the canal leaves the Tonnewanta, to the summit level between Lake Erie and the Genesee river, is 12 miles. In this distance the rise is nearly 75 feet, which it is proposed to divide equally between 10 locks. This summit level

extends 17 miles: from the end of the canal, at Buffalo, to the east end of the summit level west of the Genesee river, is sixty-two miles.

'In his report relating to this section, Mr. Ellicott observes, that in the preceding estimates of expense little has been left to conjecture, The aggregate amount of these estimates is $379,525. To which he adds; for grubbing and clearing; for conducting Bigelow's and Spring creeks into the summit level, near its east end; and for pay of engineers and officers to superintend the execution of the work, $70,477 making the entire expense of these sixty-two miles $450,000

'It will be observed, that if the canal takes the direction here indicated, it will be raised seventy-four feet, and eighty hundreths above the level of Lake Erie; in which case recourse must be had to other reservoirs for its supply of water. Common prudence demands, that upon this subject every doubt should be removed, before this route is definitively adopted. Mr. Ellicott has had the sources of this supply guaged Ӧ

with great care, during the driest part The northern route, commencing at of the last season, which has been more a point 11 miles up the Tonnewanta, remarkable for severe drought than any and which has its confluence with the ever before experienced in that part of other at Rochester, on the falls of the the State. Genesee river, was assigned to James 'Independently of waters deemed Geddes, Esq. as engineer, who extendsufficient to repair the waste occasioned ed his survey as far east as the Seneca by evaporation and soakage, these river.

It would, therefore, derive its waters, until it descends to the Genesee level, and as much further as may be necessary, from that never failing reservoir.

From the place of its commencement, at the distance of five miles and sixty-four chains, this route reaches the brow of the mountain ridge.

sources consist of ten streams naturally 'Pursuing this route, the canal neflowing, or capable of being conducted ver rises above the Lake Erie level. into the summit level. When these streams were guaged, they afforded in the aggregate, 253,435 cubic feet of water per hour, which would fill six hundred and seventy-three locks every day, and provide for the passage of 1,209,800 tons during eight months, in boats of thirty tons burden. Besides, the raising of one of the canal banks to the necessary height for a towing path, on the summit level, would produce the flooding of more than a thousand acres of land, which has a reservoir, together with the hourly discharge of the streams above mentioned, would be abundantly sufficient for all the wants of this level.

'As the excavation of the canal, through this, constitutes one of the most serious difficulties presented on the whole route, great pains have been taken to avoid all impracticable data of calculation relating to it, and, at the same time, to give to the work such dimensions and construction as may be required, with the greatest attainable economy.'

From the east end of this level, down the valley of Black creek, and along the west banks of the Genesee river, to the point where the route explored north of the mountain ridge passes that river, the face of the country has not been scientifically examined. It is well known however to present no serious impediments to the construction is 25 feet. of a canal; and its facilities are thought to be such, that if the difficulties occurring on thesummit level do not prevent, the canal should certainly take this direction. The length of this unexamined section would be about thirty miles; and it would require locks for a fall of one hundred and thirty-nine feet and eighty hundreths.

The calculations are then given with great precision. The length of the deep cutting necessary to perforate the ridge, and preserve the Lake Erie level is 4 miles and 70 chains; the greatest depth of the excavation Here the Lake Erie level terminates, and the line of the canal descends 65 feet, to the level of the Genesee river. Our limits will not allow us to follow the description of the course on this route, which is minutely detailed. It appears, however, that numerous bridges, and some aqueducts and embankments, will concur The expense of to swell the expense.

these locks might be estimated at

$150,000 and all other expenses of this distance at $6,000 per mile, $180,000 making the entire cost from Lake Erie to the Genesee river, in this direction,

The compara

tive cost of the northern and southern routes to their intersection, is computed as follows:

The distance from Buffalo to the point eleven miles up the Tonnewanta creek, is 27 miles. From that point, $780,000' to the Genesee river, on the north

route, 72 miles 10 1-2 chains. The distance in that direction is 99 miles 10 1-2 chains.

'The distance in the direction south of the ridge is supposed to be 92 miles. The whole expense, from Buffalo to the point, eleven miles up the Tonnewanta, including a proportionate part of the allowances for grubbing, superintendence, &c. as estimated on Mr. Peacock's section, is $205,877. The whole expense, from that to the Genesee river, as estimated on Mr. Geddes's section, is as follows: Whole expense of excavation, for 6 miles and 42 chains, $401,271 Total amount of extras, thence to Genesee R. 224,378 Expense of each mile, after all extras are calculated, for 65 miles 48 1-2 chains, at $2250, (for which allowance, see a subsequent part of the Report,)

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The entire expense of this section is

$1,550,985 The Seneca river, at low water, is 194 feet lower than Lake Erie; and to provide for this descent, 25 locks, besides the two guard locks at Genesee river, are located upon the canal line. The lift of some of these locks is small, owing to the unusual evenness of the country. At places where there are embankments and deep cuttings, of which the dimensions are not particularly stated, the calculations have been such as give a width of water, in the surface of the canal, never less than 27 feet. From the end of this section, eastward, to Rome, there is a rise, in the line of the canal, of 48 1-2 feet; thence the line descends to the Hudson.

'The middle section of the canal extends from Rome to the Seneca river, and is about 77 miles in length.

It was surveyed and laid out by Benjamin Wright, Esq. who acted as the engineer.

The exuberant supply of water for the canal, in this section, must be at once perceived from an inspection of the topographical map. At its commencement, the waters of the Mo. hawk river will be used, and they can be increased to any extent, by introducing a feeder from Fish creek. Independently of numerous small brooks, the canal can derive as much water as can be desired from the Oneida, the Cowaslon, the Canassaraga, the Chitteningo, the Black, the Limestone, the Butternut, the Onondago, the Ninemile, the Skaneateles, the Bread, the Cold spring, the Owasco, and the Crane creeks; some of which are the outlets of lakes, and others originate from perennial springs in high lands, and will never be affected by the clearing of the country.

The adaptation of the grounds of this section, for a canal, is peculiar and extraordinary. After proceeding two miles and fourteen chains, it will be necessary to descend 6 feet; after which, the line of the canal proceeds 41 1-2 miles on one level. A descent of 19 feet then takes place, from the foot of which another level extends 30 miles. For the remainder of the distance to the Seneca river, there are three departures from the level-one of 8, one of 9, and one of 6 1-2 feet. Thus the whole extent of this section, occupying 77 miles, will require but 6 locks.

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Add five per cent. for contingeneies,

36,961

For engineers, superintendence, and expenses connected therewith, at $1,000 per mile, 77,000

The total amount of estimates

for the middle section is $853,186 'The five per cent. for contingencies is borrowed from the European mode of forming estimates ; and the charge of $1,000 per mile for engineers, superintendence, &c. is too liberal.

· The eastern section of the canal extends from Rome to the Hudson river; and Charles C. Broadhead, Esq. was employed as engineer, to act upon that part of it which lies between Rome and Schoharie creek. He has accordingly levelled over and explored the route, within these limits.

• The details of the line explored by Mr. Broadhead terminate on the west side of the Schobarie ereek, 71 miles and 27 chains from Rome. In the course of this distance, the line of the canal falls precisely 132.85 feet. To accommodate this fall, 16 locks are placed, at various distances, pointed out on the map, where the ground is favourable, and the materials for making them easily to be obtained.

In many places inexhaustible beds of gypsum exist, which can, by means of this canal, be conveyed cheaper to the great agricultural counties of the State, than it can be procured by importation. And nothing is more easy The quantity of water which may than by a short lateral canal of 1 1-2 he introduced into the canal, on this miles in length, to form a communica- section, is such as to leave no solicitude tion between Salina and the great ca- on that subject. And no calculation of nal, thus furnishing fuel to the works, the expense of feeders from the Moand salt to the whole country. A hawk is made, because, at several level has been carried from that of places where dams and walls are to be

erected against that river, its waters may be admitted into the canal, with out additional expense.

There are required on the route between Rome and Schoharie creek, 45 bridges.

'The aggregate of all expenses on this section, is $1,090,603 'It may here be remarked, as a feature of the country traversed by this canal, not less favourable than the evenness of its surface, that, from three miles above the Little Falls of the Mohawk, westward for 240 miles, the route will not require the excavation of a single yard of any kind of rock.

'Mr. Broadhead's level approaches the Schoharie creek on its west side, at an elevation of about 22 feet above its surface. There are two modes of crossing this creek, either of which might be adopted. A dam may be made across the creek at A, (on Mr. Broadhead's map,) which shall raise the water 10 feet, when the canal may be let down by a lock, into the pond, which this dam will create, and a floating bridge may be stretched across it for a towing path. But it is believed, from the examinations and levels here tofore made between this creek and the Hudson river, that it would be the better mode to cross the creek on an aqueduct bridge, in order to keep up the line of level, with a view of passing the more easily two slaty ridges, four or five miles below Schenectady, near Alexander's mills. Should this plan be adopted, the bed of the creek, which is about 400 feet wide, should be increased to a width of 700 feet, so as to give the water an unobstructed passage under the aqueduct. This aqueduct may be composed of wood, supported by two abutments and sixteen piers of stone, each of which piers would occupy about 10 feet of the width of the

stream.

The commissioners have not been able to procure a level and survey to be made from Schoharie creek to the Hudson. They had in their employ,

four engineers on other parts of the line of the western canal, and one on the northern, neither of whom had time to level and survey that part of the line above mentioned; nor could they find a sixth engineer, who would undertake to finish the Mohawk route. But although they are prevented from submitting to the Legislature a report of this part of the line, with all that minuteness of detail which is exhibited in relation to other parts, yet they possess information which, for all general purposes, is equally satisfactory. This part of the line was formerly examined by Mr. Weston, an English engineer, and pronounced to be practicable without a very serious expense. It has also been heretofore twice levelled and surveyed by Mr. Benjamin Wright, in various ways, with the same result. The commissioners, therefore, confidently state, that the navigation may be continued from the Schoharie creek to the Hudson, by a eanal along the valley of the Mohawk.

This route, from Schoharie creek to the city of Albany, will comprehend a distance of 42 miles. It is proposed to give the canal on this route a fall of one inch in a mile. The whole descent in this route will be 286 feet.,

'The expense, by a liberal calculation, may be estimated at $1,106,037

RECAPITULATION OF EXPENSES.

From Lake Erie to a point 11 miles up the Tonnewan

ta, $205,377 Tonnewanta, to the Se

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