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1800
Glass
Book
COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT
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Engraved by J C. Buttre, NY.
Sothe Red
THE
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA.
BY
LAURA G. SANFORD. .
ERSO
REC
JE. DRIE
ET.
FIRST SEAL OF ERIE COUNTY.
LIBRARY OF
CITY CFW
PHILADELPHIA : J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. 1862.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.,
In the Office of the Clerk of the District Court of the United States in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
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MAP OF ERIE COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA.
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References.
1 Furt Presqu'ile Untt in 1755
? Three Blockhouses, erected in 17.9.5 A one on the sinne site ut 1813
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Beacon 20 11 18 2ª
3. The Brigs Lawrence & Niagara built in 1815
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I Old Navy Yard, three lions houts built in 1813 5 Blockhouse 1813
MAP OF ERIE COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA
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Plan of LIEUT T. S. BROWN'S SURVEY of Bay & Harbor of PRESQU'ILE, IN 1836.
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PREFACE.
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IF in every State we had those who were unprejudiced and truth-loving to examine and test the supposed history of their respective localities, and to record the testimony of the aged "before they go hence and be no more," truth would be vindicated, much that is interesting rescued from oblivion, and a correct and minute history of our country secured.
For the encouragement of those attempting this duty, Sallust says: "Among the different ways of employing one's abilities, that of writing history is of eminent use ; but I shall say nothing of its excellence, because many have already shown it, and lest I should be charged with vanity for extolling what I am myself engaged in."
Grateful acknowledgments are due to the many friends who have contributed to the History of Erie County by the use of their libraries; by the loan of valuable unedited manuscripts, and by their pertinent suggestions. Of these are Dr. U. Parsons, of Providence, Rhode Island ; Madams William A. Brown, Chas. Pollock, J. C. Reid, J. H. Bliss, H. Russel, J. Dickson, and Miss I. Williams; General C. M. Reed, Captain W. W. Dobbins, William Nicholson, G. J. Ball, J. Sill, J B. Johnson, B. B. Vincent, J. C. Spen- cer, T. G. Colt, A. H. Caughey, and G. W. Starr, Esqs .; Rev. Wm. M. Blackburn, and Rev. I. St. John, of Erie;
(iii)
iv
PREFACE.
Rev. S. M. Eaton, Franklin ; Mr. I. Eaton, Fairview ; Miss H. R. Cutler and Mr. Barnett, Girard; Miss Sarah Vincent and Mrs. McGill, Waterford; Rev. A. H. Carrier and Wm. E. Marvin, Esq., Northeast; and Mrs. M. Courtright, New York.
The Editors of the county are entitled to many thanks for their files, and for favorable mention of the work.
CATALOGUE OF SOME OF THE WORKS WHICH HAVE BEEN CONSULTED.
American State Papers; American Archives ; Proud's His- tory of Pennsylvania; Colonial History of New York ; Docu- mentary History of New York; Pennsylvania Colonial Records ; Pennsylvania Archives; Western Annals; History of Western Pennsylvania ; Thatcher's Lives of the Indians ; Naval Monu- ment ; Hennepin's Discoveries in America ; Historical Collec- tions of Pennsylvania; Shea's Discovery of the Mississippi ; Shea's Jesuit Missions; Annals of America, by Dr. Holmes ; Schoolcraft's Indian Tribes ; Conspiracy of Pontiac; Niles's Register ; Burgess's Account of Perry's Victory ; Mckenzie's Life of Perry ; Dawson's American Battles ; Dr. Parson's Dis- course ; Calvert's Oration ; Battle of Lake Erie Monumental Association ; Bancroft's United States ; Irving's Life of Wash- ington ; Stone's Life of Brandt; Elements of History, by J. E. Worcester; Historical Account of Erie County, by Dr. W. M. Wood; Dwight's Travels; Goodrich's History of the United States ; Smith's Laws of Pennsylvania ; Howe's Historical Col- lections of the West; State Geologist's Report ; Poor's History of Railroads ; Files of the Mirror, Erie ; Erie Gazette; Erie Ob- server ; Girard Republican ; Encyclopedia Americana; Alle- gheny Magazine ; Pennsylvania Gazetteer, by Thos. F. Gordon ; Pennsylvania State Book, by Burrows ; Old Fort Le Bœuf, by a Waterfordian ; Inauguration of the Perry Statue, Cleveland.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
An Account of the Eries-Traditions concerning them-Their Destruction-Symbols found on Kelly's or Cunningham's Island-Indian Remains 9
CHAPTER II.
La Salle-The Griffin-Relics-Governor Shirley's Proposition -Braddock's Advice-Governor Delancy's Plan-Estimating Presqu'ile-Hudson's Bay Company
19
CHAPTER III.
The English and French Claims-Construction of Forts Presqu'- ile (Erie) and Le Bœuf (Waterford) -Washington's Visit- Condition of these Forts in 1756, '57, '58, and '59-Their Desertion after the taking of Fort Niagara -Tradition in Erie - Major Rogers takes Possession for the English in 1760
25
CHAPTER IV.
Pontiac-Destruction of Forts Presqu'ile and Le Bœuf, as de- scribed by Bancroft, Parkman, and Harvey -Colonel Brad- street at Presqu'ile, in 1764-Colonel Bouquet's Treaty-A Detachment of British Soldiers and Indians embark at Chau- tauqua Lake-Hannastown burnt-Mr. Adams's Suggestion ... 46
CHAPTER V.
Penn's Charter - Boundaries of Pennsylvania - Mason and Dixon's Line - Review of said Line by Colonel Graham- Western Boundary of Pennsylvania fixed in 1786-Boundary between New York and Pennsylvania confirmed by Act of Assembly in 1789 -- Purchase of Triangle, 1791-Anecdote of Mr. William Miles.
54
CHAPTER VI.
Arrangements for the Settlement of the Triangle-Pennsylvania Population Company-Act to lay out a Town at Presqu'ile;
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vi
CONTENTS.
afterward repealed-Block-house at Le Bœuf -Indian Mur- ders-Governor Mifflin to the President -Attorney-General Bradford's Opinion-Ransom's Deposition-Letters of Cap- tain Denny -Andrew Ellicot and General Chapin - Joseph Brandt-Cornplanter-A Present of Land-Treaty of Peace at Canandaigua.
61
CHAPTER VII.
An Act to lay out the Towns of Erie, Waterford, Franklin, and Warren-To protract the Enlistment of Troops at Le Bœuf- Deposition of Tho. Rees, Esq .- Actual Settlers-Memorial to the Population Company-Deacon Chamberlain's Story-Cap- tain Martin Strong to Wm. Nicholson, Esq .- Louis Philippe at Mr. Rees's-Murder of Rutledge and Son-Mr. Augustus Porter's Visit-Mr. Judah Colt's MSS. Autobiography-Num- ber of White Settlers on the Lakes west of Genesee River- General Wayne's Death at Presqu'ile, 1796.
77
CHAPTER VIII.
Erie County from 1785-Organization in 1803-Its Geography, etc .- Original Townships-Changes -- Extent of Townships and Population-Population decennially from 1800-Census Items-Vote of 1808 and 1860-Receipts and Expenditures do -Extract from Auditor-General's Report -- Post-offices in 1830, 1856, 1860-List of Judges -- Members of Congress - State Senate-Representatives - Prothonotaries - Registers and Recorders-Sheriffs-Coroners-First Section incorpor- ated-Court-houses-Act for Public Landing-Borough Char- ter altered in 1833-Canal Basin-Peninsula-Poor-house- Several Acts-Government of Erie changed to that of a City -Present Population and Business-List of Burgesses and Mayors-Collectors of Customs-Postmasters in Erie.
93
CHAPTER IX.
First Road-Population Company Roads-Erie and Waterford Turnpike-Salt Trade-General O'Hara's Contract-Road to Buffalo - First Coaches - Erie Canal -- Railroads - Erie or Wattsburg Railroad-Sunbury and Erie-Erie and Northeast -Franklin Canal Company-Pittsburg and Erie Railroad- Plank-roads 111
CHAPTER X.
Shipping-The Washington, the First Vessel built on the South Shore of the Lake-Hudson's Bay Company-British Govern- ment Vessels-American Government Vessels-The Salina- Valuable Cargoes-Walk-in the-Water-First Lighthouse- William Penn-First Steamer at Chicago-Cholera-Tonnage and Number of Vessels in 1810-20-31-36-47-60-Lake Dis- asters-Commerce of Port of Presqu'ile-Vessels and Ton- nage registered at Presqu'ile in 1860-United States Steamer Michigan- Revenue Cutters
129
vii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XI.
Banks-Gas Company-Insurance-Fire Companies -- Volunteer Military-Agriculture-Mutual Aid-Cemeteries-Moral, Be- nevolent, and Literary Societies. 139
CHAPTER XII.
Newspapers-Common Schools-Academies-Normal School- Sabbath School-First Protestant. Missionaries West of Utica -Moravians in Venango County, 1767-First Religious Serv- ice in Erie County-First Church Edifice-A Religious Expe- rience-Presbytery of Erie-Revs. Patterson and Eaton - Extract from Rev. A. H. Carrier's Historical Sermon-Rev. R. Reid-Churches of different Denominations in Erie-Re- vivals 156
CHAPTER XIII.
Waterford-Edinboro-Northeast -- Wattsburg-Girard-Union Mills-Albion-Cherry Hill-Wellsburg-Cranesville-Lock- port-Pageville-Lexington - Fairview- Manchester-Mc- Kean Corners-Wesleyville-West Springfield-Springfield- Beaverdam-Concord Station. 189
CHAPTER XIV.
Biographical Sketches of Colonel Seth Reed-Rufus Seth Reed- Judah Colt-Dr. U. Parsons-Dr. John C. Wallace-Rev. Rob- ert Reid-Thos. Wilson-P. S. V. Hamot-Captain D. Dob- bins-T. H. Sill-G. Sanford-Judge J. Galbraith. 208
CHAPTER XV.
War declared-Commodore Perry-Captain Dobbins's Corre- spondence-Commodore Chauncey, Mr. Henry Eckford, and Noah Brown -Difficulties in fitting out the Fleet-General Mead-Captain Perry at Fort George-Five Vessels brought from Buffalo-Provincial Marine Corps-Difficulties in pro- curing men-Letters to Commodore Chauncey and the Secre- tary of the Navy-A Providence recognized in the War- Getting the Vessels over the bar-Commodore Barclay at Port Dover-Seven of the Vessels make a Cruise-Officers and Men from Lake Ontario-August 12th, Perry sails for Sandusky- Interview with General Harrison-They proceed to Malden- Kentucky Militia-Sickness-Letters from the Secretary- Ohio dispatched to Erie-Strength of the British Force-The American Force-Americans look in at Malden-Corrected In- structions for the Battle
235
CHAPTER XVI.
British Vessels appear-Commodore Perry remodels his Line, and other Preparations-A brief Description of the Battle of
viii
CONTENTS.
September 10th by Dr. Parsons-The Vessels return to Erie with the Wounded and Prisoners-Captain Perry promoted- His Reception at Erie-A Remark of Mckenzie-President Madison-Congress-Prizes.
264
CHAPTER XVII.
Block-houses built in 1813-14-State of Society-Buffalo burned -Alarms at Erie-Captain Sinclair arrives-Bird, Rankin, and Davis executed-Disposition made of Government Vessels -List of Commanding Officers at Erie from 1813 to 1825- Topography of Presqu'ile Bay and the Peninsula-Misery Bay-General Bernard and Major Totten's Survey-Appro- priations made by the State and the United States-Changes since 1813-Rise and fall of Water in Lake Erie-A singular Phenomenon-Lake Survey 273
CHAPTER XVIII.
Geology from Professor Rogers-Character of the Soil-Calca- reous Marl-Bog Ore-Petroleum-Mineral Waters-Descrip- tion of the Sink-hole by Mr. R. Andrews-The Devil's Back- bone and Nose-Botanizing. 284
CHAPTER XIX.
Miscellaneous Items, among which are: A Tradition-General Wayne-An Anecdote-Price of Provisions-Wm. W. Reed, Esq .- First National Celebration-Churches-The Garrison -A Relic-Saturday Afternoon-Game-Mrs. P.'s Reminis- cences-H. Russel's Journal-An Early Settler in Fairview -- La Fayette's Visit in Erie-Cholera-Perry Monument-An Informal Meeting-Speculation-Fires-Sad Accidents-Ex- President Adams-Patriot War-Old Court-house Bell-Pion- eers-Perry-Lientenant Yarnall-Survivors of the Battle of Lake Erie-Perry Monument at Cleveland-Inventions-Mo- ravian Lands-Omissions-Bankers and Exchange Brokers ... 300
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
An Account of the Eries-Traditions concerning Them-Their Destruc- tion -Symbols found on Kelly's or Cunningham's Island-Indian Remains.
" A noble race! but they are gone, With their old forests wide and deep, And we have built our homes upon Fields where their generations sleep."-BRYANT.
AT the beginning of the seventeenth century the fierce and powerful Indian tribe called Erigas, Eries, Erie-honows, Mad Spirits or Cat tribe, occupied the southern borders of the lake now bearing their name. The same tribe was known to the French as the Neutral nation or Chats, and to the Dutch as Shaonons or Satanas. Champlain, in his first map, made no mention of them, locating other tribes in their ter- ritory ; subsequently he heard of them when in the Huron country. The territory they occupied, according to Charle- roix, was the celebrated valley of the Niagara River. On its northern margin they were found spreading both east and west on the shores of Lake Erie and Ontario, but not to any great distance. Shea describes the localities of the tribes thus : "The Wyandots, traders of the West, lay in their densely-peopled villages, well fortified by ditch and palisade, on a small peninsula in Lake Huron ; southwest lay their allies, the Tionontates, whose luxuriant fields of tobacco won for them and their fertile hills the name of Petuns ; and south and east of these, stretching beyond the Niagara and its marvelous cataract, lay the many clans of the
2 (9)
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Atiwandaronk, friends to the Huron and Algonquin, friends, too, to the Iroquois, and called by the French the Neutral nation ; east of these, in New York, stretching from the Genesee to the mouth of the Mohawk, lay the five clans of the Hohnnonchiendi, whose name remains in the natural features of New York, and who are now known collectively by the French name Iroquois ; west of these, on the southern shore of Lake Erie, lay the far-famed archers, the Eries or Cat tribe, who have melted away like a dream; on the Sus- quehanna were the Andastes or Conastagues, friends of the Huron and Swede, few but brave." The Eries at this time numbered 28 villages, and 12 large towns or forts ; these contained 12,000 souls, 4000 of whom were fighting men.
In 1653, Le Moyne, an adopted Indian and priest, took his departure from Quebec, and landing at Oswego pro- ceeded to the town of Onondaga. Here he was received with pomp, and after offering the authorities presents from the French governor, he commended to them peace and the faith of which he was the minister. Captive Hurons, of whom there were no less than a thousand in their midst, had prepared the way for the missionary by their instructions, causing the adults and children to desire baptism at his hands. Among others, a chief setting out against the Eries, on the eve of his departure begged for baptism. The pru- dent missionary counseled him to defer the rite to a future time, when he would visit them again. "Ah, brother !" ex- claimed the chief, "if I have the faith can I not be a Chris- tian to-day ? Art thou master of death, to prevent its striking me without thy order ? Will the shafts of the foe be blunted for me ? Must I, at every step in battle, dread hell rather than death ? Unless thou baptize me I shall not dare to meet the blows. Baptize me, for I will obey thee, and give thee my word to live and die a Christian." Such entreaties could not be resisted, and Le Moyne being per- suaded of the chieftain's fitness, baptized him by the name of John Baptist, and the next day each set out on his dif-
11
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
ferent career. The baptized warrior was successful. In- spired by his zeal, the braves, when surrounded by the Eries, invoked the God of the Christian, and vowed to embrace the faith if victory were granted. The tide of battle was changed, and the thousand braves of Onondaga drove an Erie force, which quadrupled theirs, from a strong post and won the day. Thus does even a corrupt Christianity in- spire its possessors, and thus may paganism ever fall before the gospel .*
A semi-educated Tuscarora, David Cusic, published a pamphlet of Indian traditions, in Western New York, in 1825. This writing, though crude, ill digested, and gener- ally obscure, throws much light on the history of the Eries. In 1626, among the first efforts made by New France to civilize the Indians, the Eries were visited; and the peculi- arity for which they are most celebrated was first brought into notice, that of neutrality among fierce and powerful tribes. Hence they are called by the French the Neutral nation.
They were under the government of a queen, called Ya- gowanea, or as called by the French and Senecas, Gegosasa. According to Cusic, she was a second Zenobia. The settle- ment of Canada by the French produced a division in the great Iroquois family-the Wyandots adhering to the Gallic side, and the Five Nations to the Dutch and English. In this fend of the Iroquois, the Algonquins or Adirondacks, who were at war with them formerly, were glad to make allies of the French and Wyandots. Between these the Eries occupied a geographical position on the banks of the Niagara, and had already become closely allied to the Wy- andots and Five Nations. Neutrality was their only salva-
* The name of Le Moyne is again found as a leader when Schenee- tady, in 1690, was destroyed, and the most inhuman eruelties were perpetrated by a party of Canadian Freneh Indians, being one of the three parties fitted out by Count Frontenae to distress the Britishı Colonies.
12
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
tion-they were in a delicate position, and great wisdom was indispensable to its preservation. Gegosasa was called the mother of nations, and her wampum and peace-pipe were held sacred. Protected by the sanctity of Gegosasa's char- acter and office as keeper of the symbolic house of peace, she received messengers and ambassadors from the Five Nations, Wyandots, Mississaques, and others. Her author- ity extended much farther than her territory, but one incon- siderate act brought destruction to her nation after long and bloody wars. Two Canandaigua warriors (Senecas) were announced at her lodge, and began to smoke the pipe of peace, when a deputation from the Mississaqués was also announced. The object of their visit was soon made known, and their request, which was to demand vengeance for the murder of their chief's son, was immediately granted. In- telligence of this violation of neutrality on the part of Gego- sasa spread in every direction. The queen dispatched mes- sengers to explain her position to Ragnatha, (Buffalo,) where the principal commander of the Eries resided. She even undertook herself to execute the commission ; but a meddling woman also stepped off quietly, taking a canoe along the shore of Lake Ontario, and communicated the death of the Canandaigua chief. Spies were sent by the Senecas to ascertain the truth of the rumors, who, without exciting sus- picion, learned the facts from some boys found hunting squir- rels, and an army was raised in hot haste. As a decoy, a man was dressed in bear-skin and directed to sit in the path, and when pursued to lead the way into ambush. The plan succeeded, and the Eries were brought into the midst of crouching Senecas, who sounded the war-hoop most terrific- ally, but themselves, after a severe contest, were forced to flee. Afterward they rallied and fought with great desper- ation, and the Eries were compelled to yield, leaving 600 slain warriors on the battle-field.
In this first war of the Eries, which occurred in 1634, they proved themselves no despicable enemy. In 1653 they
13
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
again engaged in war with the Iroquois. In this contest "Greek met Greek," and the event, otherwise doubtful, was decided by a pestilence which prevailed and swept off greater numbers even than the club and arrow. After their defeat, according to Seneca tradition, they fled down the Ohio, and the once sacred peace-lodge of Yagowanea was demolished. They were compelled to leave the land where . Niagara pours its echoes and animates to heroic deeds. The Iroquois they found the worst of conquerors-inordi- nate pride, thirst of blood and dominion were the main- spring of their warfare, and their victories were stained with every excess of passion. When their vengeance was glutted by the sacrifice of a sufficient number of captives, they adopted the survivors as members of their confederate tribes, separating wives from husbands and children from parents, and distributing them among different villages, in order that old ties and associations might be more completely broken. This policy, as Schoolcraft informs us, was desig- nated among them by a name which signified "flesh cut into pieces and scattered among thie tribes." Jefferson says of them : " They fled to distant regions of the West and South, and wherever they fled they were followed by the undying hatred of the Iroquois. In accordance with the threat of the Onondagas, their council fire was put out, and their name and lineage as a tribe lost."
When the Jesuits visited the Onondagas, a Neuter was the first adult baptized. They were living then among them as helots, and bore their chains impatiently. They panted for freedom, their numbers giving them confidence. At one time they formed a plot to cut off their oppressors, but when aid was refused them by the French missionaries to whom they applied, they ceased to hope for deliverance. In 1674 the Eries are mentioned as constituting a part of the Chris- tian village just then formed at La Prairie.
The various nations have long since fused into one, losing all distinctive trace of origin, and no clue of names can ena-
2*
14
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
ble us to distinguish the Neutral element in the present Iro- quois race. In the history of the Jesuit missions we find several of that order penetrated the country of the Eries or Neuters from the year 1626 to the year 1640. Among them are the names of Father Joseph De la Roche, D'Allyon, Brabœuf, Noue, Chaumount, and Sayard. They were re- ceived with coldness and distrust, in spite of which they remained some months preaching in ten of their villages and endeavoring to enter and obtain a knowledge of the country.
The efforts of De la Roche (who at first was quite a favor- ite) to find the mouth of the Niagara, excited their jealousy, and after they had robbed and beaten him severely, he was forced to depart.
The missionaries described the country as being finer than Canada, and producing an abundance of tobacco and grain. Brabœuf and Chaumount, by the aid of a charitable and intel- ligent native woman, compared the Huron and Neuter dia- lects. The result is lost, but Chaumount, in his manuscript, makes the Neuters, Hurons, and Iroquois use parts of the same language. They dressed in the most primitive style. In their manners they resembled the Hurons, but did not, like them, engage in commerce.
Brabœuf foresaw that the French must have a post among them in order to extend commerce and Christianity, but their jealousy prevented his taking out his astrolabe to find the latitude of the Niagara River, and he had to content himself with roughly estimating it at 42 degrees. The mis- sionary Sayard suffered at the stake, and the cognizance of the Jesuits was from that time withdrawn from the Eries. When the valley was finally opened it was in possession of the Senecas, and a tradition was rife corresponding with that of Cusic, that the Eries had been expelled in a bloody war and exterminated.
And these traditions extend down almost to our own day. David Eddy, a resident of Hamburg, near Buffalo, and who settled there in 1804, relates that in early times there was
15
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
an Indian living upon the reservation who probably was 115 years of age. He was a Christian, and had been a peace-maker through life, and related to Mr. Eddy the fol- lowing : That a nation called the Eries once inhabited all that region -that they were a powerful, warlike people, dreaded and feared by all other tribes, but were finally warred upon and their country conquered by the Senecas.
Fortifications and mounds in Western New York indicate a race more skillful and persevering than the Senecas or the Indians known to the first white travelers. In many cases the mounds have trees growing upon them, the circles of which date them back a period of 300 years. Symbols of this extinct race have been found on Cunningham's or Kelly's Island, near Sandusky, Ohio. This island is about three miles long and two broad, and in consequence of the fine air, and its facilities for fishing and bathing, is a favorite summer resort. It is now, also, highly cultivated, and noted for producing an abundance of the finest grapes. The island is described as having a horizontal limestone basis like the main land, and rises fifteen feet above the water level. Where the rock is exposed, it appears to have been polished by diluvial or glacial action. The Indian remains discov- ered there consist of pictographic characters on the rocks, and earth-work embankments.
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