APPENDIX, No. XLIV. EXTRACT FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW YORK, CONTAINING THE REPORT OF THE CANAL COMMISSIONERS ON THE CHAMPLAIN CANAL. STATE OF NEW YORK, No. 44. York Canal Com A communication from the board of Canal Commissioners, being their report on the Appendix Northern or Champlain Canal, was read, and is in the words following, to wit: The advantages which will result from the connection of Lake Erie with the navigable Report of the New waters of the Hudson, by means of a Canal, have been so frequently elucidated, and are missioners. indeed so obvious to every one who possesses a correct geographical knowledge of the West, that it has been deemed unnecessary to enumerate them. But presuming that the benefits to be derived from a similar communication with Lake Champlain, are not fully understood, or duly appreciated, the Commissioners ask the indulgence of briefly pointing out a few of the most prominent of these benefits. That part of this State which is contiguous to Lakes George and Champlain abounds in wood, timber, masts, spars, and lumber of all kinds, which, transported by the Northern Canal, would find a profitable sale along the Hudson, and in the City of New York, instead of being driven, as much of those articles have heretofore been, to a precarious market, by a long and hazardous navigation to Quebec. Some idea may be formed of the immense quantity of lumber which would be conveyed on the contemplated Canal, from the following statement, made on the best authority, and which embraces only that small section of the Northern part of this State from whence the transportation is carried on to the City of New York, or to intermediate markets. Within that tract of country, embracing the borders of Lake George and the timber land north and west of the great falls in Luzerne, there are annually made, and transported to the South, two millions of boards and planks: one million feet of square timber, consisting of oak white and yellow pine, besides dock logs, scantling, and other timber, to a great amount. A considerable portion of the northern part of this State is rough and mountainous, and in a great measure unfit for agricultural improvements. These broken tracts are covered with native forests, which, by the contemplated Canal, would furnish vast supplies of wood and lumber for many years; and thus the great and increasing population which occupies the margin of the Hudson, would be supplied with boards, plank, timber, fencing materials, and even fuel, with less expense than from any other quarter while at the same time the lands to the north, considerable tracts of which belong to the people of this State, would be greatly increased in value. The mountains in the vicinity of Lakes George and Champlain, produce a variety of minerals, among which are found, in inexhaustible quantities, the richest of iron ores. Several York Canal Commissioners. Appendix. forges are in operation in the Counties of Washington, Warren, Essex, and Clinton, No. 44. the number of which may be indefinitely increased and the iron which they produce Report of the New is very little, if at all, inferior in quality to the best iron manufactured in the United States nor can it be doubted that, after the completion of the contemplated Canals, the middle and western parts of this State would be furnished with this necessary article on more advantageous terms than it can at present be procured. The inhabitants of a large tract of country on both sides of Lake Champlain, embracing a considerable portion of the State of Vermont, would find, by the Northern Canal, a permanent market in the City of New York, or at intermediate places, for their pot and pearl ashes, and also for all their surplus agricultural productions; from whence they would also be cheaply supplied with all the necessary articles of foreign growth. The iron of the northern part of this State, which at present is unwrought in the mine, and the fine marble of Vermont, which now lies useless in the quarry, would be converted into useful and ornamental purposes in the west, in exchange for salt and gypsum; and thus the large sums which are annually sent abroad, for the purchase of iron, of salt, and of gypsum, would be retained among our citizens, and added to the permanent wealth of this State. In short, the connection of Lake Champlain with the Hudson, by means of a Canal, would greatly enhance the value of the northern lands: it would save vast sums in the price of transportation: it would open new and increasing sources of wealth: it would divert from the Province of Lower Canada, and turn to the South, the profits of the trade of Lake Champlain; and by imparting activity and enterprise to agricultural, commercial, and mechanical pursuits, it would add to our industry and resources, and thereby augment the substantial wealth and prosperity of the State. The examination and levels for this Canal have been made under the direction of the Commissioners, by Col. Lewis Garin, and the line for the same has been marked out upon the maps herewith presented. There are two places of departure from the Hudson, in order to connect that river with Lake Champlain, each of which affords a very favourable route, in point of soil to be excavated, and of materials, for the artificial works; one of these routes, by commencing at the mouth of Fort Edward Creek, and pursuing the valley of that creek to the summit level, and then following the ravine of Wood Creek, will reach Whitehall in the distance of twenty-two miles. This route was formerly deemed most eligible by a board of Commissioners. composed of General Schuyler and others. It is, however, supposed by the engineer that the other route may be preferable, which commences about six miles further down the river, near the mouth of Moses' Kill, and which, by the natural channel of this Kill and of Dead Creek, joined to a short length of artificial canal, forms the summit level, from whence it proceeds partly by the natural channel of Wood Creek, and partly by artificial cuts, which greatly shorten the distance, to Whitehall. The length of this route is twenty-eight miles, and it passes over a soil which is, in general, remarkably favourable, consisting principally of vegetable mould, loam and clay; at the northern termination of the Canal a few yards of lime stone excavation will be necessary this however is not deemed an unfavourable circumstance, as the Stone are of such a quality as will be useful in the construction of locks; and it may be remarked that the materials for the construction of the locks, between Lake Champlain and the Hudson, can be procured with little difficulty. Between the Hudson and Lake Champlain, nine locks will be necessary, viz. three at the Hudson, of 7,779 feet lift, each, by which the summit level will be attained, and by a deep cutting, the greatest depth of which will be 12,465 feet, and the length of which is about two miles, the summit level will be extended fifteen miles; and will terminate about one mile south of Fort Ann. At this place two locks will be necessary, of 6,217 feet lift each. Between this point and Whitehall, two locks, the first of 8,223 feet lift, and the next of 9,243 feet lift, are to be made. At Whitehall the Canal is to be connected with Lake Champlain by two locks, No. 44. York Canal Com of 8,550 feet lift each. About fifteen miles of this route will need no excavation, as Appendix: the Canal for that distance will occupy the natural channels of Moses' Kill, Dead Creek, and Wood Creek. In order to turn as much as possible the superfluous waters Report of the New of freshets, and to insure at all times a sufficiency of water on the summit level, it is missioners. proposed to erect a dam across Half-way Brook, of eighteen feet in height, half a mile above the mouth of said brook, and by a natural ravine, leading to the south, to direct so much of the water of said brook to the summit level, and from thence, by several waste-weirs, into the Hudson, as may be necessary for he convenience of the Canal. The water in the Canal is not to be less than thirty feet wide at the surface, twenty feet at the bottom, and three feet deep, and the locks to be seventy-five feet long, and ten feet wide in the clear. By the mode of calculation heretofore adopted by the Commissioners, the whole expense between Lake Champlain and the Hudson at the mouth of Moses' Kill, will not exceed two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. From the mouth of Moses' Kill it is proposed to improve the channel of the Hudson, for the purposes of navigation, as far south as the Village of Stillwater, at the head of Stillwater Falls. This may be effected in the following manner. By erecting a dam three feet in height across the Hudson, at the head of Fort Miller Falls, the river above, as far as Fort Edward would at all times afford a sufficiency of water for boats drawing three feet. To overcome the descent of Fort Miller Falls, a side cut or artificial Canal, of about one mile in length, and with two locks, of 10,321 feet lift each, will be necessary. These works, including the dam, locks, excavation, towing path, and all other expenses, may be estimated at fifty thousand dollars. Two and a half miles below the south end of this Canal, at the head of Saratoga Falls, a dam three feet in height is to be made across the river, and a side cut round the falls, similar to the above, of about one mile in length, with two locks of 6,198 feet lift each. It is believed that all the artificial works at this place may be constructed for thirty-five thousand dollars. Thirteen miles below this place, at the head of Stillwater Falls, another dam of three feet in height will in like manner insure agood boat navigation up to the Saratoga Falls. 'The cost of this dam, the construction of a towing path, with several bridges, the purchase of Schuyler's Mill, which it is supposed will be necessary, together with all the other expenses of this section, are estimated at fifty thousand dollars. From the village of Stillwater, at a point above the dam last mentioned, it is proposed to cut an artificial Canal to the village of Waterford, where it is to be connected with the HudThis Canal will be supplied with water from the river at its upper end. Its length will be nearly twelve miles, and the whole descent is 76,464 feet; which will require eight locks. The excavation of this Canal, for some distance near the upper end, will be considerably expensive, as it passes through a slate rock; the middle and lower parts, however, are very favourable. The expenses, from Stillwater to Waterford, may be estimated as follows :: son. 76 feet lockage, at $1,000 per foot 12 miles of Excavation and Towing path, with bridges, culverts, and other necessary works, at an average of $30,000 per mile $76,000 360,000 Whether the Canal from Lake Champlain enters the Hudson at Fort Edward Creek, or at Moses' Kill, is not very material in the estimate of expense: and the Commis 250,000 50,000 35,000 50,000 436,000** 50,000 Total $871,000 Appendix. sioners wish to be explicitly understood, that they consider this question as still open, No. 44. and as one which will require mature deliberation. It is ascertained that both routes Report of the New are equally practicable. The termination of the Northern Canal in the Hudson, at Canal Com- Waterford, will afford the cities of Albany and Troy, and the villages of Lansingburgh York missioners. and Waterford, a full participation of its benefits; and its approximation to the great Western Canal will open the most beneficial channels of communication between every great section of the country, and furnish every facility for promoting the activity, and enlarging the sphere, of inland trade, which constitutes one of the principal elements of national opulence, prosperity, and greatness. And before the lapse of half a century, those who succeed us will witness, in the consolidation of those cities and villages into one great city, a union of interests and sympathies which will totally dissipate the apprehensions and jealousies that may now exist. All which is respectfully submitted. DE WITT CLINTON. Albany, 18th March, 1817. STATE OF NEW YORK, I certify the preceding to be a true extract from the Journal of the Assembly of this State, of the year 1817, deposited in this office. [L. S.] In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of this Office, at Deputy Secretary. By Nathaniel Pitcher, Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York, acting as It is hereby certified, that the preceding attestation is in due form, and by the proper [L. S.] In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Great Seal of this State, at the City of Albany, the 4th day of October, 1828. NATHANIEL PITCHER. APPENDIX, No. XLV. ESTIMATE. OF THE HEIGHT OF THE WHITE HILLS, IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, BY N. BOWDITCH: FROM THE MEMOIRS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Vol. III. Part II.- ESTIMATE OF THE HEIGHT OF THE WHITE HILLS, IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, BY No. 45. Extract from the Memoirs of the A merican Academy of Arts & Sciences. The White Hills in New Hampshire, which are the highest mountains in New Appendix.. England, have been estimated by Dr. Belknap, in his History of New Hampshire, to be above 10,000 feet above the level of the sea: but from some barometrical observations, made in July, 1804, by several gentlemen who ascended the mountains, it appears that his computation is by far too great, and that the real height does not much exceed 7000 feet. This will evidently appear by comparing the observations given in the following table. Those on the top of Mount Washington, the highest of the White Hills, were made by Doctor Cutler and Professor Peck: those at Mr. Messervey's, in the town of Adams, (not far from the foot of the mountain,) were made by a person who observed the state of the barometer and thermometer, at intervals of thirty minutes, the whole day the company were on the mountain. The observations at Salem were made by Dr. Holyoke; and those at Boston, by the late Rev. Mr. Emerson. All these observations were made in the shade. The barometer varied but very little on the sea coast for several days before and after the 28th of July. The range from the 25th to the 30th of July, at Salem, was from 30.00 to 30.11; and at Boston, from 29.9 to 30.1. The smallness of these variations is, in general, conducive to the accuracy of the result of the calculation by barometrical observations |