Grace L. Nute, "Washington & the Potomac,"
msa_sc_5330_23_7
, Image No.: 6
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Grace L. Nute, "Washington & the Potomac,"
msa_sc_5330_23_7
, Image No.: 6
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ll-asllingtoll alld the l'olonlac DoT even necessan- for the Legislature to interpose and prevent him from Exe- cuting his plan, in such a manner as may be so injurious to the community, as Stop the farther passage past that place, More Especially as it wou'd require bat a trifing additionall Fxpence to have a passage through his Darn and to continue his race a little farther which would equally answer every put-pose lie can propose to himself. From these falls there is now water sufficient for Boats properly constructed, (luring the winter and Spring months, and generally as late as the last of June or July as High as Payne's falls (the foot of what is called Shanadoah falls) a distance of about fort- miles. Paynes falls consistith of a narrow Rift of Rocks, extending a cross the River which may be passed through a naturall cltannell in land that may be improv'd, so as to admitt the passage of Vessells such as aforesaid aft an Expenee not exceeding £250, from thence it is about two miles and a half to that remarkable fall called the Spout art present the most difficult and dangerous above the great falls which ariseth not so much from its Height, as from the water of almost the whole River being confined and forced through a narrow Rocky Passage that makes it rapid, and subjects Vessells to the danger of tilling as they pass, but not- withstanding the apparent difficulty a safe and easie passage may be had by a cltannell dug within land having locks placed in it by computation at the Expence of £8oo. The next obstacle is above Harpers ferry about a mile above the Spout. this tho in appearance not so formidable as the last, t;-ill be found on tryall by much the most expensive, requiring a channell Dug and wall'd along the Side of the River for at least half a mile with locks placed in it, at proper distances, to execute which in an effectual mariner will require the Sum of Two Thousand Pounds. The next ob- stacle and last of any consequence, is at the head or beginning of what is called Shattadoah Falls, where there is already a naturall channell, formed between the main and an Island which channell was formerly begun to be improved and partly dug but never compleated and now much choaked and tilled up, which being cleared, the channell dug deeper and enlarged, and Dams and locks placed in it Vessells will pass through with readiness and <