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In transacting this important business, Mr. Rush came in contact with many of the greatest capitalists in Europe. We regret that space al- lotted in our Sketches, will not admit of room for a narrative of the negotiation. A synopsis of of the ratified conventions as follows, is, there- fore, all we can insert:
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Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
" The PUBLIC CONVENTION consists of fifteen articles. Iu their leading points, they may be thus summarily noticed. - After a preamble, the first article provides, that the subserip- tion is to go for nothing, unless sanctioned by the king of the Netherlands. This sanction, stated in the correspondence to be an indispensable pre-requisite, has since been obtained.
By the second article, the Messieurs Crommelins are to is- sne their own bonds, 3750 in number, for 1000 florins or guil- ders each, this sum corresponding in amount, valuing a dollar at 250 cents Netherlands currency, with the aggregate sum of a million and a half of dollars, as at present expressed on the face of the certificates.
By the third, the holders of these bonds are to he the true creditors of the towns.
By the fourth the bonds are to bear an interest of five per cent. payable in Amsterdam, half yearly, at the counting-house of the Messieurs Crommelins.
By the fifth, the lenders are to pay up their subscriptions, one half in the month of January, 1830, the other in July fol- lowing, receiving interest from the first of each month.
By the sixth, the reimbursement is to begin in 1841, and pro- ceed at the rate of one-twentieth annually, until the whole is paid off. [Altered afterwards to one-twenty-fifth, making the average duration of the loan between twenty-two and twenty- three years. ]
The seventh arranges the form in which the bonds are to be paid off
The eighth that of filling up the blanks in the certificates, which are to be made due to the trustees of the proprietors of the stock, bearing an interest of 54 per cent., and reimbursa- ble as the bonds, the bonds being derived from the certificates.
By the ninth, the certificates, so filled up, are to be deposi- ted at the domicilium of a public notary at Amsterdam, under the forms stated.
By the tenth and eleventh, the trustees are to receive, by their proper agent or attorney, from the treasury at Washing- ton, all suis due under the certificates, interest and principal. The tenth also provides for keeping alive the trust, during the whole time that the loan has to run.
By the twelfth. the remittances are to be made in Nether- lands currency, the lenders having the benefit of exchange, or the borrowers, according as the exchange may be at the time the lenders to be at no risk in transmitting bills on account of shipwreck, failures, or otherwise, This article also provides
411
Rush's Holland Loun.
for the keeping an account current between the agent of the trustees and the towns, of all moneys paid and received.
The thirteenth provides for the mode of reimbursing, should the original certificates be lost at sea.
The fourteenth gives the formal stipulations by which I, as the agent of the towns, bind them; and invest the lenders with the rights of the borrowers under the law, upon the stock of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
The fifteenth embodies the formal conclusion.
The PRIVATE CONVENTION comprises twelve articles. The preamble recites that the Messieurs Crommelins having en- tered into the publio convention as the bankers of the loan, further agreements, which do not concern the public, are ne- cessary as between them and the towns, through me as their representative:
The first article provides for the opening of the subscrip- tion at their counting house, as soon as the sanction of the king was obtained.
The second that the loan was to be considered as made, though the whole amount was not subscribed, provided three fourths were. This article, together with the provisions of ar- ticles 3, 5, and 6, are superseded by the fact of the whole hav- ing been subscribed. I approved of them had the issue been otherwise.
The fourth article provides that the subscription to the no- minal capital stock of 3,750,000 guilders, would be offered to the public at 96, the whole when received to appear to the credit of the towns on the books of the Messieurs Crommehns at the price of ninety-six; subject to a deduction out of the last instalment of 44 per cent. on the whole, which they are to bring in account with the towns for expenses of petitioning. brokerage, registration dues, stamps, paper, printing, lawyers' fees, and all other expenses required for the creation of the loan.
The seventh article is connected with the preceding, but said to be only for greater caution, there being no danger that the natioral revenue in Holland will make any further demands than those which have fixed the expenses in article four, cal- culated under laws that now exist.
The eighth article provides that the lenders are to retain out of the last instalment a sum sufficient to pay the dividends of interest that will be due on the first of July, 1830, and on the first of January 1831.
The ninth contains certain provisions respecting remittances; amongst them, that should it ever so happen that the towns.
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Chesapeake and Ohio Canal,
through inevitable casualty in the transmission of bills, have not their funds ready in Amsterdam to meet their obligations punctually, and the Messieurs Crommelins think fit to advance money for the honor of the towns, that they are to charge five per cent. interest on such advances, and an extra commission of one per cent. upon them.
The tenth provides that the amount of the loan which will stand to the credit of the towns on the first of January, 1830, and the first of July. 1830, may be drawn for as they see pro- per.
The eleventh offers the towns an option that is described, as to the mode of drawing:
The twelfth and last secures to the Messieurs Crommelins a commission of one per cent. on the payments of interest, and one per cent. upon the reimbursement of the principal .- + It also entitles them to charge in account with the towns all their actually paid expenses of postages, brokerages, and stamps on remittances: with the cost of advertisements, and other similar small expenses necessary to the due performance of their obligations under the loan."
OFFICERS of the Chesapeake and Ohio Cana! Combany.
Presiden :- Charles F. Mercer, of Virginia,
Directora-Phineas Janney, of Alexandria, Joseph Kent, of Maryland, Peter Lenox, of Washington,
Frederick May, do. Walter Smith, of Georgetown,
Andrew Stewart, of Pennsylvania.
Treasurer-Clement Smith, of Georgetown. Clerk-John P. Ingle, of Washington.
Assistant Clerk-Robert Barnard, of Georgetown.
Corps of Engineers.
Benjamin Wright, of N. Y. Engineer in Chief,
Nathan S. Roberts, do. Member, Board of
John Martineau, do. .Member. Engineers.
Robert Leckie, of Scotland, Inspector of Masonry.
Philibert Rodier, of France, Draftsman.
Residents. Thomas F. Purcell, of Virginia, Daniel Van Slyke, of New York, Prastas Hard, of Massachusetts,
-
415
Officers and Contractors,
Wilson M. C. Fairfax, of Virginia, Alfred Cruger, of New York. Assistants and Rod Men Herman Boye, of Denmark,
Charles D. Ward, of Maryland,
Charles B. Fish, of Connecticut,
Charles Ellet, Jr. of Pennsylvania, James Mears, Jr. of New York, Lanadar G. Davis, of Vermont, Peter Schmidt, of Russia, R. G. Bowie, of Maryland.
List of Sections and Names of Contractors on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
No. Name.
No. Namo.
A Dibble, Beaumont, M'Cord 20 James C. Lackland
B John W. Baker
21 Closs, Hill & Farquharson
C Jesse Leach, & Co.
22 John Farquharson & Co.
D do
do
I. do
25 Arnold T. Windsor
G Hewes, Lewis and Hewes II do
26 Callan & Clements
1 A. B. Hovey & Co.
28 Washburn, Gustin & Bond
3 Daniel Bussard,
29 Reuben Brackett
3 do
30 H. W. Campbell
4 John W. Baker
31 do
5' Daniel Bussard 32 M. S. Wines
6 Wathen & Underwood
33 do
7 Clark and Clements
34 H. W. Campbell,
8 W. W. Feulon & Co.
9 Charles Mowry
10 Daniel Bussard
37
do
11 do
12 George Ketchum
39 Crown and Lanham
13 Thomas B. Tripp
14 A. P. Osborne
41 James Fletchall
15 Parmenio Adams
42 T. S. & G. Watkins.
43 James Fletchall
17 Henry Smith
44 Plater and Helm
18 Daniel Renner
45 James L .. Plater
10 MeGlangh!in & Tammany 46 Plater and Helm
35 Abraham Knapp & Co. .
36 do
38 do
40 Thomas Crown
16 Luke Hitchcock
23 Thomas M. Maccubbin 24 H. W. Campbell
27 James O'Reilly
414 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
No. Name.
No. Name.
47 Thomas Crown
67 Reuben Brackett
48 do
49 Peter Owens
50 Elias Gumaer
51 do
71 Thomas McIntosh, & Co. 72 Amos Johnson
52 Peter Owens
53 James Costigan & Co.
54 do
55 James Fletchall
56 Z. & E. M. Gatton & Co.
57 H. W. Campbell
58 Thomas M. Maccubbin
59 W. A. Nicholls & Co.
60 Thomas MeIntosh & Co.
61 Walter B. Kemp
62 do
81 do
82 do
63 Darrow and Whitmore 64 do
83 do
65 Thomas McIntosh, & Co. 84 Walter B. Kemp.
66 A. H. Millerd
CONCLUDING REMARKS.
It will be seen that the depth of the Chesa- peake and Ohio Canal, as prosecuted, is 60 feet on the water line in width, and 42 feet on the bot- tom, and 6 feet deep, The Locks are 100 feet by. 15, within the gates. This depth of water will pass Boats of more than 100 tons, drawing not exceeding 4 feet water. And if it should be found useful, a Boat may be constructed to pass on this Canal, which shall carry 150 tons; but it do not believe this sized boat will be found . the best; probably boats of 50 to 75 tons will be found most economical and useful.
The Locks are almost all of 8 feet lift -- are built of cut stone, and laid in the best hydraulic cement.
1
70 do
73 Jarvis Hurd, & Co.
74 Z. & E. M. Gatton, & Co.
75 Thomas MeIntosh, & Co. 76 do
77 Z. & E. M. Gatton, & Co
78 Jarvis Hurd, & Co.
79
80 do
81 do
68 do 69 M. S. Wines
n
1
415
Rock Creek Basin.
The Canal from the head of the Little Falls, 5 miles above Georgetown, receives water from the Potomac river; and the river being at that point, raised by a dam across it, of 4 feet in height above the surface. This level of water is brought down toCongress street in the heart of Georgetown, and is there 37 feet above low-water of the Poto- mnac; on the East side of Congress street there is a Lock, and at the tail of the Lock on Jefferson street, a bridge; below Jefferson street a second Lock andi bridge, to pass Washington street; below Washington street, a third Lock and bridge at the foot of it, to pass Green street; and below Green street a fourth. Lock, to let down into the basin of Rock Creek.
The plan of the Basin at Rock Creek is one of the most important of the details of the whole pro- ject, and nature seems to have placed Rock Creek at a point calculated by this improvement to be invaluable.
By the project of forming a mole or dam across the mouth of Rock Creek, the outer part of which is along the side of the channel of the Potomac, where there is from 9 to 12 feet water at low tide. This mole is 1200 fret long, and 160 feet wide, made of stone on both sides, and filled between with earth taken from the Canal, as it passes through Georgetown.
This mole is intended to raise the water of Rock Creek 3 feet above common high tide in the Potomac, and retain it uniformly at this height. About the middle of the mole there is a Lock to let down boats into the river, and this Lock will be a lift of only 3 feet at high tide, and 6 feet at
416
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
low tide. This Lock with the form previously named, brings the boats into the Potomac river.
Bv the side of the Lock which lets into the Potomac, there is to be a waste weir 200 feet long, .over which the surplus water of Rock Creek will pass.
This mole or dam flows the water of Rock Creek back about three quarters of a mile, and makes a beautiful basin from 100 to 250 feet wide, which has a depth of 6 feet water in nearly the whole distance, and gives on the Washing- ton and Georgetown sides of Rock Creek, the greatest possible advantages for wharves and ware-houses, which can be imagined. It appears that nature never formed a more convenient and useful spot, to end a great and important work of this kind, than Rock Creek, with these improve- ments upon it. And we do not see any place where a useful and capacious basin could have been formed, which would have accommodated the trade with so great facility and economy, any where in the neighborhoods of Georgetown or Washington.
In carrying the Canal through Georgetown to reach Washington upon the plan now adopted. the Stockholders have been peculiarly fortunate in having a route through such a compact town as Georgetown, without disturbing any valuable buildings. The route of the Canal passes very direct (almost straight) through Georgetown; and the cutting is generally only what is wanted. It is true that between Potomac street and High street, there is a short space of 300 feet, where we find it necessary to cut 30 feet. in one place
-
0
417
Georgetown Cutting.
32 feet. All this earth is deposited to form the mole or pier; this is the deepest cutting or exca- vation on any part of the Canal.
After leaving the streets in Georgetown, the Canal runs along the steep bank of the Potomac for a mile and a half, the greater part very steep, formed of rock, which requires blasting with powder; above this last distance the country as- sumes a little more gentle declivity and better shape for a Canal, and it passes along sloping ground, till it intersects the old Potomac Canal, and following that to near the Western end, it then leaves it and rises to a higher level by a Lock of 8 feet lift, and soon after, another of the same lift, and then it passes on for one and a half miles, and then a Lock of 8 feet lift; then one anda half miles and then another Lock; then half a mile. and then commences a succession of 6 Locks, at intervals or spaces of 100 yards be- tween each; then commences a long level of more than 4 miles without a Lock. This brings you to the Great Falls, where are 6 Locks more, at in- tervals or spaces of 100 to 200 yards between. We then reach the head of the Great Falls, and have ascended 20 Locks, or 160 feet from Rock Creek. This part of the Canal about the Great Falls presents features in the formation of the country, which are very striking and bold; and nature has done a good deal by forming a ravine of nearly a mile in length, with huge ledges of large blocks of granite or gneiss, forming its sides, and where the water will be from 10 to 30 feet deep, and 100 to 200 feet wide. Along this we pass, and a towing path is formed by level- ling some, and raising other parts so as to make
418
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
our path regular on the side of it; at another part of the Canal we have vertical walls to sustain the Canal 50 feet high among the rocks.
To those who have but a limited knowledge of the duties of Civil Engineer, it has been objected that the plan of cutting so deep through George- town was wrong. It is however, believed, that the plan presents many advantages. 1st. It en- ables the Canal to pass through Georgetown with less inconvenience to private property than any other route, and a great deal cheaper. 2d. It furnishes an easy pass way by bridges over the Canal, nearly, or quite level with the streets, thereby not incommoding the buildings along the streets, nor making the ascent of the streets
(which are now considerable) any steeper.
Sd.
It furnishes the earth to make a mole or pier of great width, and capable of receiving warehou- ses in the centre of it, where boats can discharge at one end of the warehouse, and ships take in at the other. This furnishes a plan for tranship- ment of property with the least possible expense. 4th. By making this basin at Rock Creek, it pre- sents shores where boats can lay in safety for one and a half miles on both its sides. It also finds a place in its upper part, where boats not in immediate use, can lay without paying much wharfage or expense, and be perfectly safe .-- These are considerations which are invaluable, at the termination of the Canal; and when the plan of the work is continued to the mouth of the Tiber, and a basin formed there, connecting with the Washington Canal, its whole project and outline are as perfect for a great business as any one can well conceive.
419
Fish and Wild Fowl of the Potomac.
Since the first part of this work was put to press, treating on the Potomac fisheries, (see page 61) an intelligent and experienced gentleman, who from early youth, resided on the banks of the Potomac, has furnished us with some sport- ing reminiscences, which, without going too much into detail, cannot fail to be perused with interest; and must confer additional value on this portion of our sketches-
THE FISH.
'The Potomac abounds in fine fish and water- fowl. In the lower part of the river are taken most of the kinds of fish common to the salt wa- ters in this climate. In the upper part, that is, from the termination of salt water to the first Falls, during the summer and fall, and winter months, the variety of good fish is small, consist- ing principally of the large white perch and rock- fish of moderate size, taken with the line, and of the carp and winter shad : but at certain seasons of the year, the supply is abundant indeed. In the latter part of winter, and early in spring, great numbers of large rock-fish, weighing from 25 to 120 lbs. are taken in seines, just above the salts, and brought to the markets in the District of Co- lumbia. About four years ago, there were taken at one of the fisheries on the Virginia side of the river, about thirty miles below Washington, * at
The noted Fishery, called the Sycamore-landing, be Jonging to Gen. Mason.
27
£
Qm
420
Potomac Sporting.
one draft of the seine, four hundred and fifty rock - fish, averaging sixty pounds each, as is well at- tested, and was recorded in the newspapers of the day. Besides these, there are vast shoals of migratory fish, which Providence, in his muniti- cence to man, kindly sends periodically from the sea to the fresh water of many of our rivers to cast their spawn, and so, while they are obeying the dic- tates of nature, in providing for the multiplication of their species, they offer to the adjacent coun- try a prodigious supply of delicious and whole- some food, as well while fresh for immediate con- sumption, as when cured for preservation, and for transportation into the interior, or abroad.
There are three descriptions of these that ascend the Potomac. The large white shad, the herring, and the sturgeon. The two first make but one annual visit, between the last of March and the Ist of June ; the last mentioned, the sturgeon, comes up twice a year, in the months of May and August. He presses up to the very foot of the first falls, and is taken in the greatest quantity within the District in times of freshets in the strong water, between Georgetown and those falls.
STURGEON.
These fish are of enormous size, weighing from 75 to 150 pounds ; in some places they are es- teemed a great delicacy, as in the James, the Po- tomac, and the Hudson Rivers. While on the Delaware, they are considered worthless, and scarcely eaten. Singular as is this circumstance, and however difficult to be accounted for, con-
421
Sturgeon.
sidering the contiguity of those rivers, it is never- theless true. Is it, that in some of these waters, they feed on substances so different from what they get in others, as to render them more or less palatable? or is it to be ascribed merely to the whim of taste ? We pretend not to determine. 'They are taken either in floating nets, with large meshes, or by an ingeniously contrived hook, not provided with bait to be swallowed by the fish, but by a curious device, prepared to pierce him on the body so certainly and so deeply, as to hold him and to bring him in, notwithstanding his great size and strength. As this mode of taking the sturgeon is believed to be peculiar to the Po- tomac we will describe it :- The hook is made of stout, well-tempered iron, keenly pointed and barbed with steel, is about thirty inches in length, bent at the lower end, and much in the way with ordinary fish-hooks, in proportionately larger di- mensions, and so as to place the barb on the in- side of the curvature but the stem, or that part to which the line is attached, and which is about twenty-four inches long, instead of being straight, is bent nearly as the segment of a circle, the di- ameter of which would be equal to the length of the hook-to this circular part is attached an iron weight cylindrically formed of three or four pounds weight by a stiff loop, but roomy enough to allow the weight to slide up or down the stem, to which the hook is thrown into the water, this weight not only answers the end of the common sinker to keep the line stretched at the depth re- quired, but by its superior gravity, so soon as it has reached the point prescribed by the length of
£
422
Potomac Sporting.
the line given out, it draws the hook down in a perpendicular position in the direction of the fine, and by its power of sliding on the stem of the hook, adjusts itself just at the bottom of this, and where the curvature in the opposite direction. that forms the hook proper, begins, by the instru- mentality of this weight so placed, and operating on the peculiar form of the hook-while suspend- ed by a tight line, the hook remains, with the back of the circular stem turned towards the hand of the fisherman that holds the other end of the line, and of course with the barbed end turned from him, whether held still, or kept in motion.
Thus prepared the fisherman sometimes drags. as it is termed, for the sturgeon ; that is, he rows his light little boat slowly backwards and for- wards, with his line suspended from the stem at a given depth ; or, sometimes at anchor he lays in wait, his line stretched perpendicularly under him, with the hook near the bottom-when the fish strikes against any part of the line, it is so stirred by its great weight as to be sensibly felt by the fisherman, who then hauls rapidly but steadily up, until he feels that the hook has come in contact, and has turned suddenly inward, the barbed part towards to the fish ; when by an in- stantaneous and strong jerk, he buries the barb in its body. Here is the development of the contri- vance of this hook, and here too is exerted all the tact of the fisherman-the hook is drawn up as before described with the convex part of the stem towards the fisherman, the line touching the fish, consequently that part of the stem of the hook at- tached to the line reaches the fish, with the barb
426
Sturgeon.
part turned from it, and as the back of the stem is drawn on, being circular, only a small part of it at a time is in contact with the fish ; but at a certain point of this contact, near the middle of the entrance of the curve, the weight, from its position below, and the facility with which the stem plays in the open loop, so operates as to cause a sudden turn in the hook and to reverse the position of the barbed end, and throw it di- rectly under the fish, with so smart a tug, that it at once designates to the practised hand of the wary fisherman, the critical instant at which he is to make his last effort; and he succeeds the more readily in the thrust, because from the posi- tion of the barb, it is brought up directly against the belly of the fish, which is of soft skin, unpro- tected by the bony shields dispersed over the back and sides. So soon as the sturgeon is hung, he makes off with great strength and swiftness, the line is paid out to give him play, and the little boat, if before stationary, is cast loose, so that when the line is out, the boat, to which one end was secured, is for a time darted so rapidly thro' the water that her bows are brought almost under ; his speed however presently slackens, his strength exhausted, and he yields himself up to be drawn in and hoisted on board. An instance occurred near the Little Falls some years ago, of the strength and power of this fish .- A noted fisher- man, whose name is well known, had incautiously made fast one end of the line to his leg, and hay- ing hung a sturgeon, was dragged over board and drawn off by it, to a considerable distance in the river,sometimes below and sometimes under water,
1
124
Potomac Sporting.
but from his intrepidity and skill in swimming, he was enabled to get through this perilous conflict safely, and to conquer the sturgeon and tow him on shore, without the aid of his boat. It remains to account, as to this interesting fishing, by which the amateurs for sport, as well as the more hum- ble, for gain, are much attracted, how it happens that the sturgeon would seem to seek, rather than avoid the line put out for bis destruction, when there is no bait about it to invite him.
Sportsmen and fishermen, to be good in their way, as is known, must be well acquainted with the habits of the animal they would circumvent and bring within their toils ; the simple solution, in this case, is said to be, that it is the habit of the sturgeon to rub itself against any thing sta- tionary that it meets with in the narrow waters.
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