' For river NAVIGATION. 299 



rent on their return. Thefe boats are more difficult to 

 ftecr and manage, in intricate and rapid parts of the rivers, 

 on account of their length ; are fubjett to receive damage 

 from ftriking on rocks and fand-banks, and from the 

 uneven furface and motion of the water where the defcent 

 is rapid, or the weather boifterous j and frequently get 

 twifted and ruined when the water fubfides and leaves 

 them on the (hore. 



Suppoiing that the lock-navigation, or overcoming the 

 defcent of the river by means of locks, could be generally 

 reduced to pradtice, yet the length of thefe locks, in pro- 

 portion to the tonnage of the boats, would render the 

 expcnce of their conftruQion more than the revenue arif- 

 ing from the tolls would warrant : but few indeed are the 

 rivers in which the navigation by locks is practicable, on 

 account of the rapidity of the waters and violence of the 

 freflies. Hence it follov,'s, that notvvithftanding this has 

 hitherto been the moft prevalent mode of overcoming 

 fuch obftruclions in rivers, it ought not to be attempted 

 here, if better modes can be pointed out. 



The improvements which have been made in canal- 

 navigation within thefe few years in England and other 

 parts of Europe, have, in my opinion, furnilhed us with 

 the means of overcoming, at a little expence, the prefent 

 impediments to our inland navigation ; and, by facilitating 

 the intercourfe, of joining the people of the United States 

 in bonds m^ore indiflbluble than thofe formed by legiflativc 

 atSs. Among the forem.oft of thefe improvements is that 

 of inclined planes^ over which the boat and cargo are car- 

 ried from one level to the other. Thefe are conftruded at 

 much lefs expence than locks generally are ; may be ren- 

 dered more durable, and are the means of overcoming the 

 greatefl: difference of level; as it is attended with very 

 little more labour or wade of time to afcend one hundred 

 feet, than to afcend twenty. The machines for tranfport- 

 R r 3. ing 



