USA > New York > The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New-York, v. 1 > Part 17
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1. From New-York to Albany ›145 miles.
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2. From Albany to Black Rock 363 do.
. 3. To Detroit River 275% do.
- 4. To Lake St. Clair 28
do.
5. Across Lake St. Clair 18 · do.
6. To Lake Huron 26 do
7. To Point de Tour 250
do.
8. To the mouth of Lake Michigan 260 do.
9. To the head of Lake Michigan 260
do.
Navigation of the Susquehannah and its confluents.
The whole of this river is navigable for boats, from Otsego lake, in the county of Otsego, in this State, to its mouth at the head of Chesapeak Bay, in the State of Maryland-to this we may add the lake which is eight miles. Both give an extent of four hundred miles. Otsego lake approaches within twelve miles of the Mohawk, at the head of the Little Falls, in the county of Herkimer. Of the navigation of the Susquehannah, about one hundred and thirty miles are in this State. This river crosses the boundary, between this State and Pennsylva- nia, three times.
The Chenango, a large branch of the Susquehannah, is boat- able some way upwardly.
The Tioughnioga, which constitutes nearly one-half of the Chenango, is boatable up to Homer, in the county of Cortland.
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STATE OF NEW-YORK.
The Tioga, or Chemung river, another large branch of the Susquehannah, and whose course is mostly in this State, is na- vigable for boats from its mouth upwardly, forty-five miles or more.
The Conhocton, and the Canisteo are wholly in this State- the former is boatable from its union with Tioga, thirty-five miles above Tioga Point, to Bath, in Steuben county, about twenty miles-the latter about thirty.
In order to navigate the Chenango, Tioughnioga, Tioga, Conhocton and Canisteo with loaded boats, there must be a small swell. The Tioga, however, may be ascended to the mouth of Conhocton, but it is attended with difficulty.
The Susquehannah itself, when low, is not passable upwardly with loaded boats, above the mouth of the Chenango. From this place it is navigable downwardly at all times, for Durham boats and batteaux. A small rise of the stream, however, is desirable.
Boats never ascend the lower part of the Susquehannah, comprising a distance of sixty or seventy miles, owing to the rocks, rapids, and velocity of the current. The ascending navigation is therefore from Columbia, in the State of Pennsyl- vania, above the rapids.
The Durham boats carry from twenty to forty tons, and draw from one to two feet of water. The batteaux carry from ten to twenty tons. There is another kind of craft used solely for descending the river, and its dependants, called an ark. Its tonage varies from twenty to seventy tons. The structure is slight and rude. Arks are abandoned upon the disposition of the freight or cargo.
The Susquehannah has no perpendicular falls-the only im- pediments from Chenango Point, in this State, to the rapids at Columbia, in Pennsylvania, are several rifts which are by no means insignificant. These, however, are passed without much difficulty. The same may be said of the rifts upon its auxilia- ries under consideration.
The boatable parts of Susquehannah river might be connected with the canal at a number of points. We shall enumerate four.
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The first is from the head of Otsego lake, in Otsego county, to the canal at Minden, in the county of Montgomery. The line does not differ much from twenty miles. It would have to be by a rail road, as there is not water to supply a canal. . The ascent from Minden to Summit Pond, in Springfield, Otsego county, is one thousand and forty-eight feet, and the descent to Otsego lake, one hundred and fifty-eight.
The descent from Otsego lake to Chenango Point is three hundred and fifty-three feet.
The second is from the Susquehannah, at the mouth of Che- nango river, to the Erie canal, between Utica and Whitesbor- ough, in the county of Oneida, or some place near by. The dis- tance by the valleys of Chenango river and Oriskinny creek, in- cluding the summit level, does not differ much from one hundred miles. The ascending and descending lockage is about one thousand and thirty-two feet. The expense has been estimated at about $715,000. The rout is practable, and it would seem to be interest of the State to construct a canal. Considerable of the trade which now centers at Baltimore, would be diverted to the city of New-York .*
The third rout is along Owego or Cayuta creek, waters of the Susquehannah, to the village of Ithica, at the head of Cayuga lake, in Tompkins county. The distance on either rout does not vary much from thirty miles.t The rout between Ithica and Owego is now the thoroughfare of a considerable commerce in gypsum, salt, and other commodities. This rout would have to be most- ly a rail way.
The fourth rout is either from Newton, on Tioga river, in the county of Tioga, up Elmira creek, and thence down into Seneca lake, or from the same river at a certain pond to the same lake.
*A survey has been made from the Erie canal, up Onondaga creek, and through the valley of Tulley lakes or ponds, to Port Watson, on Tioughoioga riv- er at Homer, in Cortland county. The distance is thirty miles, and the lockage seven bundred and ninety-five feet. The whole excavation, including feeders, would be forty-seven miles. The cost is put down at $432,000.
tThe rout along the valleys of Owego and Mud creeks, to near the mouth of Cascadilla, at the head of the lake, is thirty-one miles, and the lockage seven hundred and sixty feet. The estimated expense is $320,000.
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The distance on the line of the former is about twenty miles. That on the latter is greater, without taking into estimation a feeder from Couhocton river. The latter, however, has the pre- ference in respect of water. The lockage is five hundred and twenty feet, and the expense is estimated at $407,600. The length of the canal is eighteen miles, and that of the feeder thir- teen and a half.
A canal will in all probability be constructed in a few years. The Seneca canal, which is intended to unite Seneca lake with the Erie canal, at the Montezuma marshes, will soon be finished. This will open the navigation to the head of the lake, a distance of about fifty-two miles, and within twenty miles of Tioga and Conhocton rivers.
Canandaigua river and lake. The ascent from Lyons, on the Erie canal, to Canandaigua lake, is two hundred and sixty feet. The rout along the river, by its tortuous valley, exceeds thirty miles. Much has been said about opening a canal, but nothing has been done beyond taking a survey. The State is not yet disposed to engage, and individuals whom it most con- cerus, do not consider themselves able. The main obstacle in the way is the expense of making so many locks. The exca- vation would be easy. Water is abundant.
Navigation of the Alleghany River, &c.
In spring and fall floods, and generally speaking, whenever this river is swelled, boats may navigate it from Olean, in Cattaraugus county, to Pittsburg, in the State of Pennsylvania, about two hundred and twenty miles. The current, when it is considerably raised, is strong. There are no falls. Boat naviga- tion on this river is attended with some hazard occasioned by numerous rocks lying in the stream, most of which are supposed to have rolled down from the bordering hills. During July, August and September, to which, in some years, we might add October, there is such a scarcity of water that loaded boats can- not descend or ascend unless by accidental rises. This evil will be greatly heightened by clearing the lands and draining them. VOL. I. 24
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The Conewango, a branch of the Alleghany, is boatable in swells from its mouth to its union with Chatauque outlet, in . Chatauque county. Above the union the navigation is continu- ed to its source in Cosdaga lake. Boats also ascend into Chatauque lake, and thence to its head at Mayville. The distance from this place to the mouth of Conewango, by water, is computed at forty miles. By means of these streams and the lakes out of which they issue, boats approach within six or seven miles of Lake Erie. Between the head of Cos- daga lake and the navigable waters of the Canada-way, a small stream descending into Lake Erie, there is a short portage. In past times the Aganuschioni, and other children of the forests, used to carry their bark canoes from the navigable wa- ters of the one to those of the other. Our people do not use it. The outiet of Cosdaga lake is not passable for boats unless swelled. An eastern branch of the Conewango, considered by some as the main stream, is navigable in freshets some way. Its bed is tortuous.
The proposed canal, from Lake Erie to the head of Chatau- que lake, is in extent ten miles and a-half, and the estimated ex- pense $400,000. The lockage is seven hundred and twenty- four feet. The rout begins at Portland on the former lake.
It has been proposed to make a canal by the Conewango, from Alleghany river to Buffalo, a distance of ninety miles. The lockage is eight hundred and fifty-six feet, and the com- puted expense about $503,000. -
We scarcely need mention that the Ohio is a continuation of the Alleghany, and that boats leaving Olean in this State may descend to the Mississippi, and thence to New-Orleans, or after reaching the latter, they may ascend to the falls of St. Anthony, or by the Missouri to the rocky mountains. From Olean to the Mississippi is about eleven hundred and seventy miles. It is not likely that the navigation will ever be used by our citizens to any considerable extent. The distance, and espe- cially the scarcity of water between Olean and Pittsburg, at the junction of the Alleghany and Monongahelia, are formidable obstacles. Besides the Erie canal offers a shorter and cheaper
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STATE OF NEW-YORK.
rout for commerce. The New-York market is preferable to all others. :
Buffalo creek, in the county of Erie, is boatable about eight miles. Its mouth, within the bars, at the village of Buffalo con- stitutes a good harbour.
The Niagara river is navigable for steam, and other large boats, from Lake Erie to within two miles of the famous falls. On approaching the rapids above the falls, caution is required. The distance is eighteen miles, and the descent fifteen feet.
The lower part of this river is navigable for such vessels as are used upon Lake Ontario, up to Lewistown, seven miles. The depth of water is sufficient to float ships.
The Tonnawanta, which falls into the Niagara opposite Grand Isle, is boatable to near the southern steep, thirty miles. The removal of the alluvial bars would improve the navigation of this stream.
Vessels drawing about eight feet of water ascend Genesse river to Falltown, three miles and a-half, where the navigation is stopped by the rapids below Carthage falls.
St. Lawrence River, &c.
This river affords good navigation for lake vessels, from its exit out of Lake Ontario, to Ogdensburg, at the mouth of Os- wegatchie river, about sixty miles. The distance from Lewis- town, on Niagara river, to the latter place, is about 217 miles. The rout is open from the middle of April to November, in or- dinary years. 1
From Ogdensburg to Montreal, some where about one hun- dred and thirty miles, it is ouly navigable for boats and rafts. This distance is divisible into two parts. 'The first is between Ogdensburg and the mouth of St. Regis, and contains several tremendous rapids. The second is between the latter place and Montreal. In the former, boats of about twenty tons are used. In the latter, much larger, the depth of water admitting boats of seven or eight feet draft. In ascending the rapids the
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boats have to be towed or warped up with ropes. A canal would obviate these difficulties.
The St. Lawrence, from Montreal to Quebec, one hundred and seventy miles, and from thence to the ocean, three hundred and twenty, is navigable for ships. Between Lake Ontario and Montreal it is a very uniform stream.
The Oswegatchie, a water of the St. Lawrence, and wholly within this State, is boatable up to the village of De Kalb, twen- ty or twenty-five miles. In freshets boats pass to and from the the river Grass, into the Oswegatchie, by the natural canal.
Indian river, which enters the Oswegatchie about five miles above Ogdensburg, is navigable for boats of ten or twelve tons, into Black lake, a sheet of water twenty miles in extent, and thence to the falls near its head. The falls are at Rossie. Above these the navigation is resumed to the next falls.
The Racket, another water of the St. Lawrence, is navigable for boats of five or six tons, about eighteen miles, to a small village called Louisville, where it is suspended by falls. It is said to be resumed about thirty miles higher up.
Salmon river of St. Lawrence, allows-the ascension of boats carrying eight or ten tons, up to French-mills, nine or ten miles.
Montreal is, and always will be, the natural mart for the pro- durtions of our counties on the river St. Lawrence.
Black river, which falls into Chaumont bay, an arm of Lake Ontario, offers few facilities to boat navigation apart from canals. From its mouth up to Wilna, at the head of the Long Falls, it is altogether impracticable on account of falls. Wilna is in Jefferson county. At the head of the falls at this place, a very good boat navigation begins, and extends upwardly, to the foot of the high falls, about forty-seven miles by the streams bed. In ordinary times, the whole of this is slack water or what comes very near it. Above the high falls, there is no boat navigation owing to declivity and diminution of water. The navigation of this river might be extended from the head of the falls at Wilna, to its mouth, by means of short canals and locks.
In this place we think it not amiss to introduce a few words, in relation to the proposed Black river canal.
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STATE OF NEW-YORK.
The proposed rout commences at the Erie canal, a little above the junction of West Canada creek with the Mohawk, and pro- cceds up the valley of the latter creek, sixteen or eighteen miles, where it turns to the right, and passes through the town of Rus- sia, in the county of Herkimer, leaving the noted Trenton falls a short way to the left, into the town of Remsen, in the county of Oneida, from whence it continues to the summit level, in the latter town, situated between the latter stream and Black river. The summit level is two or three miles east of the road leading from the town of Utica, in the county of Oneida, to the village of Lowville, in the county of Lewis. From this point the rout descends into the valley of Black river, and follows that stream to Wilna, or somewhere in its vicinity, where it diverges leaving that stream and its valley, and crosses over to Indian river. After reaching this river it follows it down to Black lake, and thence by that lake's issue, to Ogdensburg on the St. Lawrence, at the mouth of the Oswegatchie. The entire extent of the rout does not materially vary from one hundred and sixty miles. The lockage would be about one thousand eight hundred and thirty feet. The ascent from the Erie canal to the summit level, in Remsen, is eight hundred and forty feet, and the de- scent from thence to the river St. Lawrence, nine hundred and ninety feet. These data are given from a survey made by Mr. Geddes, (whom we have had occasion to name more than once, and whose name is identified with the Erie canal) in 1825. The excavation, independant of a feeder for the summit level, pine or ten miles long, would not run over seventy miles. The other ninety miles are natural. that is, the beds of Black and Indian rivers, and Black lake, &c. might be used. The exca- vations of moment are between the Erie canal and the high falls on Black river, and between the town of Wilna and Indian river. A word in relation to the proposed rout-too much has been asked of the State. A canal, to be beneficial, ought to stop at Wilna, at the head of the long falls.
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HISTORY OF THE
RAIL ROADS.
THE first account that we have of rail roads, is that of New- castle, in England, coustructed in 1602. From that period to the commencement of the present century, rail roads seem to have been neglected. At that time, several enterprising individuals in Great Britain, directed their attention towards the subject, and caused an additional rail road to that at Newcastle, to be constructed. Since then, numbers have been made in the Unit- ed Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland. On some the car- riages are moved by horses, and on others by steam.
In the State of New-York, much has been said on the subject, but no rail roads have as yet been constructed The Hon. Stephen Van Rensellaer, and some others, in 1826. procured the enactment of a law to make one from the city of Schenectady to the city of Albany. Since then an act has been passed au- thorising the making of a rail way from Catskill, on the Hudson, to Ithica, on Fall creek, at the head of Cayuga Lake. These roads, should they be made, are to be constructed by companies, the State taking no interest in them. The practibility of con- structing both seems to be conceded. The expense of the latter is estimated at $1,500,000.
The inhabitants of Broome and Otsego, and those in the south -. westerly part of Montgomery, have had in contemplation. a communication by means of rail ways, and slack water navigation, from Fort Plain on the Mohawk, to the coal mines of Belmont, in Pennsylvania. The distance from Fort Plain to the coal mines of Belmont, is about one hundred and thirty-six miles, by the rout. We will give the distances, ascents and descents : First, the distance from Fort Plain, to the head of Otsego Jake, by the proposed rout, is some over twenty miles. The ascent from the Erie canal, at Fort Plain, to Summit Pond, in Springfield, Otsego county, is ten hundred and forty-eight feet : Second, from thence to Otsego lake, the descent is one hundred and fifty-ciglit feet. This part of the communication would have to be a rail road, as there is not water for a canal : Third, the dis-
STATE OF NEW-YORK. . 191
tance from the head of Otsego lake, to Pennsylvania, is ninety- one miles, and the descent two hundred and ninety-two feet. This part would consist of navigation. Thirty dams with locks would have to be coustructed on the Susquehannah : Fourth, the distance from the river Susquehannah, to the coal mines, is twenty-five miles. and the ascent and descent eleven hundred feet. In the first ten miles the ascent is eight hundred feet, and in the residue, which is fifteen miles, the descent is three hun- dred feet.
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Table of elevations and depressions.
From Fort Plain to Summit Pond 1046 feet ascent.
do. Summit Pond to Otsego Lake 158 " descent. -
do. Head of Otsego lake to Pennsy. 292 4 do.
do. Thence to the Summit 800 " ascent.
do. The Summit to the coal mines 300 " descent.
Total 2,598 feet.
It has been proposed to make a rail way from Utica to Che- nango Point. The rout is up the valley of the Oriskinney, and down that of -the Chenango. Rail roads have been spoken of from Auburn, and Canandaigua, to the Erie canal.
In Pennsylvania several rail roads have been made, and have been found to answer very valuable purposes. On a rail way, a single horse will draw, in a waggon, about fifteen tons at the rate of two miles an hour, which is about half as much as a horse can draw in a boat on the Erie canal in the same time, or about one-sixth of what a single horse draws on the canal of Langue- doc.
The distance from Ithica to Catskill is about one hundred and sixty miles. From Chenango Point to Utica is not over one hundred miles by the rout. Auburn is distant from the Erie canal seven miles. The constructing of rail roads from Catskill to Ithica, and from Utica to Chenango Point, would occasion the rise of villages, and tend to populate those sections of the State through which they passed. The making of the Erie and other canals have had this tendency. Lock Port, Brock Port, Rochester, Pittsford, Bucksville, Weeds Port,
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HISTORY OF THE
Jordons Port, Geddesburg, Syracuse, Canestota, &c. have sprung up since the Erie canal was begun. Such are the effects of internal improvements.
OHIO CANAL.
Tmis canal, when completed, including its feeders, will be three hundred and twenty miles in length. Its breadth is forty feet at the surface, and its depth four feet. The locks are ninety feet long, within the gates, and fifteen in breadth. It commen- ces at Cleaveland, on Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Cuyahoga river, and ends near Portsmouth, on the river Ohio, extending throughout the State, in a winding direction. The amount of lockage is eleven hundred and eighty-five feet. From the Ohio river on the south, to the elevated plain separating the streams that fall into the Ohio, from those that run into Lake Erie, the lockage is ascending, and from that plain, in the main, descend- ing. This canal is in great forwardness, and will, in all proba- bility, be finished in the course of two years. This splendid. work reflects great honor on the enterprise of the citizens of this infant State-we say infant, because this State has been erected since 1802. In 1800, its population did not exceed five thou- sand. At present it cannot fall much short of eight hundred thousand. Ohio, although an inland State, is one of the most important in the union. It contains more cultivable lands, in proportion to its extent, than any other State in the confedera- tion. New-York is the emporium for its surplus produce.
WELLAND CANAL.
THIS canal is in the Province of Upper Canada, and is design- ed to connect the navigation of lakes Erie and Ontario. It be- gins on the northwest side of Lake Erie, at the mouth of Grand or Ouse river, about forty miles southwesterly of the village of Buffalo, in this State, and runs up that river a mile and a-half, keeping its bed, when it leaves it and runs northwardly fifteen
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miles and a-half, to the little river Chippewa. It then runs down that river fourteen miles, where it turns from it and takes a northerly direction to Lake Ontario, sixteen miles. Its length is forty-seven miles, and its course across two plains, the upper and the lower. Its breadth at the top is sixty feet, and at the bottom forty, and its depth ten feet and a-half. Vessels carry- ing two hundred tons will be able to navigate it when finished. The lockage is about three hundred and thirty feet. The actual excavation will be thirty miles and a-half. This canal is in a state of great forwardness, and promises to be of great' utility to the people of Upper Canada. Should the citizens of this Province, and those of the Lower, make a canal from Prescott, which is in the vicinity of Ogdensburg, in this State, to the head of Lake St. Francis, which is not much over forty miles, there would be an uninterrupted water communication for lake vessels from St. Mary's river, which is the outlet of Lake Superior, to Montreal.
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CHAPTER VIII.
FALLS.
'THE celebrated Cohoos Falls are on the Mohawk, a mile and a-half above its mouths, or the sprouts, as they are called, and nearly the same distance westwardly of the vallage of Wa- terford, in the county of Saratoga. The descent of the catar- act is seventy-eight feet, and at an angle of about seventy de- grees. Above the pitch, the bank on the left side of the river, is ninety or one hundred feet perpendicular elevation, and below one hundred and seventy. On the south side, the bank above the pitch is low, but below eighty or ninety feet. Below the falls the river flows for a short distance in a deep rocky ravine. In floods and rises the whole bed, at the falls, is covered with water, which descends in one sheet. The width is about nine hundred feet. A fine view of the falls, and the roman- tic and picturesque scenery around them, may be had from the bridge over the river, half a mile below. The high barriers of rocks which confine the stream, the roar of the cataract, the dashing of the troubled waters, as they descend in rapids be- neath you, and the striking contrast of the torrent with the wild- ness of the scenery above, combine in rendering the whole an unusual scene of sublimity.
The Erie canal runs on the south side of the river, passing close by the falls ; but they cannot be seen from it, owing to its depth, which is twenty-eight feet. The traveller, however, by leaving the boat, and going on foot a short distance, may have a splendid view from the towing path.
The bed and banks of the Mohawk, are slate, from its mouth upwardly, fifteen miles. The layers, at the falls, dip towards the Hudson, and lean from it, at an angle of seventy degrees,
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which gives them nearly a verticle position. The layers are thin, waved and contorted.
Falls on the Chuchtononeda.
The Chuchtononeda, in the town of Amsterdam, in the county of Montgomery, descends one hundred and twenty feet in eighty rods, forming in its way a series of beautiful cascades. . They begin 'on the brink of the declivity of the river hill. .. When the stream is low, it sinks below these falls, and runs in a subteranean duct.
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