| 718 Documcrtts
that bottom, and blowed sundry rocks between there and the spout at
Shaimandoali, and removed sujidr_v obstruction..
November 5th. Left Paynes falls. and went tip to Shannandoah
falls, blasted and removed Sundry obstructions, above the spout, up to
the mouth of Cates branch: and went over the former works, deepened
them; and Improved the daming, as much as the river would admit of
and tile health of the people.
November 24. Left Shannandoali falls, and Came to the Great falls,
went to work in the Lock seats, and on sunday the I ith of decentber,
the river raised Considerably, there happened to be a musk rat hole, in
the banking, which the water got thro, and carried away about Id feet
in-the front, and two feet deep, and against the back wall, went upwards
and downwards Some distance. which tools the hands near a week to
repair, and returned then to work at the Lock seats.
1792 January 7th. all hands went to the little falls.
[Fndorsement:] Return of Movements by- the Potowinack Company's
hands being 9 time, from December 18, 1790 to January 7th 1792."
NIX. T0131AS LEAR TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.
`VASttINGTON -March 13tH 1;96
Dear Sir,
Owing to some delay in the mail or neglect in the post offices your
acceptable favor of the 28th ultimo did not „et to toy- hands 'till the
Loth. I am pleased that it is in my power to answer your queries re-
specting the navigation of the Potomac.
1st. " What proportion of the work is done? At least four fifths.
Boats carrv:ng from too to i2o bbls flour pass freely from New Creek.
12 miles above Cumberland to the Great Falls. A feiv places in this
distance require bettering; but in the low water of summer they can he
done at no great expence. The Canal leading to the Lock,eats at the
Great Falls is completed. The lock seats remain to be excavated and
the Locks finished. This is the great mork now to be done. Six locks,
of 12 feet each, are required here. the three first, froin the situation of
the ground, or rather rock, will require more walling than excavation;
but the 3 last, next the River, must be sunk in a Rock and this Rock
being of a tough, sluggish nature, but too hard to be broken with picks,
will cause great expence of powder and much hard persevering labour.
The course of tile locks is changed from the original plan and they will
now communicate with the River in a secure and eligible situation. The
portage from the basin of the Canal at the Great Falls to a good and
safe landing place below the Lock seats oil the River is scarcely half a
mile. Great pains have been taken in perfecting the navigation be-
tween the Great and little falls, which is now safe and good, and may
be used at all seasons. The Canal and Lock, at the little falls are fin-
ished and have been in use upward of 8 mouths. So that excepting the
portage at the Great falls the River is used from 12 nines above Fort
Cumberland to tide water.
2d Query. What proportion remains to be done? This is answered
in the foregoing.
"The handwriting of this endorsement, which is that of tile text of the
paper. is unlike any other autograph among the papers. No chic is given as
to
authorship.
|
