SOURCE OF ST. PETEr's RIVER. 69 



They were directed to submit the result of their operations 

 to the legislature, who would then be enabled to decide 

 upon the merits of the respective routes. 



These duties were too extensive and too arduous to 

 admit of their being executed in one season ; and the com- 

 missioners have been arrested in many of their surveys by 

 the unhealthiness of the country, through which they were 

 obliged to carry on their operations. We have taken pains 

 to acquire information on this interesting subject, and we 

 are inclined to consider that which we have received as 

 correct, because it was obtained from persons conversant 

 with it, and particularly from M. T. Williams, Esq. of 

 Cincinnati, one of the acting commissioners, with whom we 

 had the pleasure of travelling for a few days ; and who, in 

 the many conversations which we had with him, has shown 

 himself master of the subject. We have likewise drawn 

 part of our information from the able report made on the 

 21st January, 1824, by the canal commissioners to the 

 general assembly of Ohio, for copies of which we are in- 

 debted to Mr. Williams. 



From this report it appears that the routes proposed may 

 be reduced to four, viz. : — 



The first route would be to connect the waters of the 

 Grand river of Lake Erie with the Ohio, at the mouth of 

 the Big Beaver creek. This route, being very near to the 

 Pennsylvania line, and in some parts east of it, cannot be 

 eligible by the state of Ohio, if any other practicable route 

 may be found. From the surveys made by Judge Geddes, 

 or under his direction, it would appear that this summit, 

 which is known by the name of the Mahoning summit 

 level, is elevated three hundred and forty-two feet above 

 Lake Erie, and two hundred and fourteen feet above the 



