of the United states. 299 



w^s necessary ; for the canal itself, and its locks, are much 

 larger than either of the navigations that give an outlet to its 

 trade. t 



In the State of Delaware we have no inland communication^ 

 of importance to mention, besides the Cheseapeake and De- 

 laware canal, described in treating of the great system parallel 

 to the coast. 



In Maryland, the principal contemplated improvement is a 

 communication between Yorkville, on the Susquehannah, and 

 the city of Baltimore ; this was originally examined with the 

 view of effecting it by a canal, but the elevation of the sum- 

 mit, and the scarcity of water, have merged this plan in that 

 of a railway. 



In Virginia, we have no works of mere local importance to 

 speak of, except the improvement of the Apomatox river, for 

 a distance of one hundred and ten miles. 



In North Carolina, great attention has been paid to the ex- 

 amination of plans for the improvement of its navigation ; but 

 the efforts have been principally directed to the opening of a 

 ship channel through the bars that inclose the sounds extend- 

 ing along its coast. The inlets have become so shallow, that 

 North Carolina, possessing a wide extent of coast, has not a 

 single sea-port for large vessels. 



In South Carolina, the Santee was joined as long since as 

 the year 1802, with Cooper river, one of the streams at whose 

 confluence the city of Charleston is situated. This canal, which 

 is twenty miles in length, is remarkable among the public works 

 of the United States for the solidity and beauty of its works of 

 masonry. The Santee river is navigable from the junction of 

 this canal as high as Columbia, the seat of the state govern- 

 ment, and. hence a mixed navigation has been carried into 

 Abbeville county ; the whole distance from Charleston being 

 one hundred and fifty miles. 



The State of Georgia has not executed any important canals, 

 but has for some years devoted appropriations to the examina- 

 tion of the resources and means of the state for constructing 

 them. 



In Louisiana, the engineers of the general government have 

 reported a plan for a canal between the Mississippi at New 



