The works neceffary in order to facilitate the communications from the fea ports across the mountains to the Western Waters, must therefore confitt either of artificial roads extending the whole way from tidewater, to the nearest and most convenient navigable Weftern Waters; or of improvements in the navigation of the leading Atlantic rivers, to the highest practicable points, connected by artificial roads across the mountains, with the nearest points from which a permanent navigation can be relied on, down the weltern rivers. Communications between the Atlantic Rivers, and the River St. Lau rence and Great Lakes. Lake Superior, the largest of thofe inland feas, communicates with the northern extremity of lake Huron, by the river and rapids of St. Mary's. The fail of thefe is not afcertained: but it is faid that a fmall canal has been opened round the most difficult part, by the North Welt Fur company. Five of the Atlantic rivers ap. proach the waters of the St. Laurence; viz. the Penobscot, Kennebeck, Connecticut, the North or Hudfon tiver, and the Tioga branch of the Sufquehannah. This latt river will afford a useful communication with the rivers Seneca, and Geneffe, which empty into lake Ontario. The length of the paffage has not been precifely ftated; and the general navigation of the Susquehannah has already been noticed. It may however be observed that it is the only Atlantic river whofe fources approach both the weftern waters, and thofe of the St. Laurence The three eaftern rivers, afford convenient communications with the province of Lower Canada, but not with that extenfive inland navigation, which penetrates through the United States, within two hundred miles of the Miffiffippi. No statement has been received of any im Veffels afcend the river St. Laurence from the fea toontreal. The river Sorel difcharges at fome diftance below that town the waters of lake George and lake Champlain, which penetrate fouthwardly within the United States. From Montreal to lake Ontario the afcent of the river St. Laurence is eftimated at about 200 feet. From the eastern extremity of lake Ontario, an inland navigation for veffels of more than 100 tons burther, is continued more than one thousand miles, through lakes Erie, St. Clare, and Huron, to the western and fouthern extremi-provement having yet been made on ties of lake Michigan, without any other interruption than that of the falls and rapids of Niagara, between lake Erie and lake Ontario. The defcent from fort Schloffer to Devils Hole, a diflance of four miles, which includes the perpendicular falls of Niagara, has by correct measurement been afcertained at 375 feet. The whole fall from lake Erie to lake Ontario, is estimated at 450 feat, making the elevation of lake Erie above tide-water, fix hundred and hfty feet. the Penobscot, or Kennebeck; and a very imperfe&t account has been obtained of fome fhort canals opened around the feveral falls of the river Connecticut. One at Bellows falls, in the flate of Vermont, has been particularly mentioned, and is the higheft improvement on the river. What is called the North River, is a narrow and long bay, which in its northwardly courfe from the harbour of New York, breaks through or turns all the mountains, affording a tide navigation for veffels of So tops tons to Albany and Troy, 100 miles above New York. This peculiarity diftinguishes the North River from all the other bays and rivers of the United States. The tide in no other afcends higher than the granite ridge, or comes within thirty miles of the Blue Ridge, or eastern chain of mountains. In the North River, it breaks through the Blue Ridge at Weft Point, and afcends above the castern termination of the Catskil, or great western chain. A few miles above Troy, and the head of the tide, the Hudfon from the north, and the Mohawk from the weft, unite their waters, and form the North River. The Hudfon in its courfe upwards, approaches the waters of lake Champlain, and the Mohawk, thofe of lake Ontario. The works neceffary to effect water communications between the tide water of the North River, the St. Laurence, and all the lakes, (lake Superior only excepted are therefore eftimated at four millions of dollars, viz. Dollars. Northern navigation to lake Champlain, Weftera navigation to lake Ontario, Falls of Niagara for afloop navigation, Interior Canals. Turnpike or Artificial Roads. A great number of artificial roads have been completed in the eattern and middle ftates, at an expenfe varying from lefs than one thoufand to fourteen thousand dollars a mile. The labour beflowed on the least expenfive fpecies confifts in fhortening the diftance, diminishing the afcent of hills, removing rocks, levelling, raifing and giving a proper shape to the bed of the roads, draining them by ditches, and erecting bridges over the intervening ftreams. But the natural foil of the road is ufed, inftead of covering it with a ftratum of gravel or pounded flones. Fifty turnpike companies have been incorporated, fince the year 18-3, in the ftate of Connecticut alone; and the roads undertaken by thofe companies are all of that def cription Thirty-nine of thofe roads extending together 770 miles, are completed. No particular account has been received of the roads in the other eaftern ftates; but it is known that 8.0,000 befides fome of a fimilar defcription with thofe of the fate of Connecticut, feveral of a more expenfive kind have been completed, particularly in Maffachuffetts. 2,200,000 1,090,00 4,000,0 0 Under this denomination will be included all the canals of which any knowledge has been obtained, and which are not immediately on the rivers opening communications with the western waters or with thofe of the St. Laurence, although fome of them may be confidered as extending thofe communications to more remote fea-ports. A greater capital has been vefted on turnpike roads in the fate of New York, than in any other. In lefs than feven years, fixty-feven companies have been incorporated, with a nominal capital of near five mil lions of dollars, for the purpofe of making more than 3000 miles of artificial roads; and twenty-one other companies have alfo been incorporated with a capital of 400,000 dol❤ lars, for the purpofe of erecting 21 toll-bridges More detailed information has been obtained refpecting the roads in New New Jersey, Maryland. Pennsylvania, and In New Jersey a turnpike road has lately been completed from Trenton to Brunfwick. The diftance is 25 miles the greatest angle of afcent 3 degrees, and the road is nearly in a ftraight line, the only confiderable obftruction being the Sand Hills," through which it was neceflary to dig at the depth of thirty feet, in order not to exceed the angle of afcent. The road is 36 feet wide, fifteen feet of which are covered with about fix inches of gravel. A few wood. en bridges with ftone abutments and piers have been erected across the intervening ftreams. In Pennfylvania artificial roads of the moft fubftantial kind, have been completed, or are proceeding from Philadelphia, in fundry directions. In Maryland, roads extending from Baltimore in various directions have lately been undertaken by feveral companies and are rapidly proceding. South of the Potomac few artificial roads have been undertaken. From Alexandria one is now progreffing in a northweftwardly direction towards Middleburgh. Another has lately been commenced from Richmond to Rofs's coal-mine. But the only one which, fo far as any accounts have been received, is completed, extends twelve miles from Manchefter, oppofite to Richmond, in a westwardly direction to the coal-mines of Falling creek. The greater progrefs made in the improvement of roads in the northern parts of the Union, must be principally afcribed to a more compact population, which renders thofe improvements more neceffary, and at the fame time fupplies with great facility the means of effecting them The fame difference is perceptible in the number of bridges erected in the feveral flares. In the eastern states, and particularly Maflachuffets, wooden b-idges uniting boldness to elegance, and having no defect but want of durability, have been erected over the broadeft and deepest rivers. In the lower counties of Pennsylvania ftone bridges are generally found across all the fmall treams. Both in that ftate, and at fome distance eastwardly, bridges with ftone piers and abutments, and a wooden fuperftructure are common over wide rivers. The want of bridges fouth of Pennfylvania, even on the main poft road, is fenfibly felt. One lately thrown across the Potomac three miles above the city of Washington, and which without any intervening piers is wholly fufpended to iron. chains extending from bank to bank, deferves notice on account of the boldness of its construction, and of its comparative cheapness. The general principles of improv ed road feems to be: ift, The reduc tion of hills by diminishing the angle of afcent, which ought not to exceed, whenever practicable, 3 degrees and a half, and under no circumftances 5 degrees: 2d, A fufficient convexity in the bed of the road, together with ditches and drains, all which are intended to prevent the injury caused by standing water or freshes: 3d, An artificial bed of pounded ftones or gravel fufficiently fubftantial to fupport the weight of the carriages in general ufe on the road, either for the conveyance of perfons, or for the tranfportation of merchandize On the last point it appears from the facts already stated, or scattered in the communications received on that fubject: 1ft, That the ftones ought to be fimilar in quality and reduced duced to the fame fize which should not exceed three inches in diameter. d, That the preferable qualities of ftone rank in the following orderhard black fone, granite, flint, or quartz, blue lime ftone, white ditto: 3d, That the ftratum may be either of pounded ftones twelve inches thick, or of pounded ftones ten inches thick, with two inches of gravel fpread over the ftones; or entirely of gravel eighteen inches thick: 4th, That when the materials are equally convenient, the expenfe of thofe three modes will not materially differ, but that the rate of expense depends principally on the number of hills and bridges, diftance of materials, breadth of the road, and price of labour and 5th, That the general adoption of broad wheels for the tranfportation of heavy loads, is neceffary to the full enjoyment of the advantages expected from the moft fubftantial artificial roads. On the degree of convexity and on the proper shape to be given to the natural bed of the road under the arti ficial (tratum, a diverfity of opinions feems to prevail. Recapitulations and Refources. The improvements which have been refpectfully fuggefted as molt important, in order to facilitate the communication between the great geographical divifions of the United States, will now be recapitulated; and their expense compared with the refources applicable to that object. I. From north to fouth, in a direction parrallel to the fea coaft: 1. Canals opening an inland navi gation for fea veffels from Maf fachuffetts to Dollars. North Carolina, tes THE people of Ulfter are frequently spoken of with fome afperity, for their very uniform refiftance to the circulation of Bank Notes, by refufing to take in exchange for their manufactures any thing but gold. This practice which they never deviate from, owe its existence to the rapacity of the agents of the emigrant landlords, who will not take their rents but in guineas. If the community were to imitate this mode of excluding the ufe of paper money, laid down in the North by the landed and trading inhabitants of that very active and populous district, it would tend to embarrass the public business in a very fericus and extenfive degree; for the law, or any human inftitution could never effec tually impofe paper currency as a univerfal medium. Were the people as hoftile to it as the Northern landlords, they might with impunity reject any thing but real money in all their dealings. To fay that Bankers' Notes are legal tenders, is to affert an abfurdity, for no tender made to a man which can bear any doubt of its authenticity or value, can be deemed an equivalent; a Banker's Note can be imitated with fuch facility and clofenefs to accuracy every day occurs, a perfon can never be affured to his fatisfaction, he poffeffes all the y lue in his hands for which he transferred his property, and if deal ing |