WESTERN CANAL. li 



A\id v.liicli oo^t $6,044 7. The width of tie 

 «anal on the water surface is 40 feet— at tlie bot- 

 tom 28, and its depth is four fict. The leiigtii 

 of a lock is 90 feet, and its width in the clear is 

 14. Vessels of 100 tons may pass through tliis 

 oanal with ease, and will convey greater loads 

 than any of tiie Hudson sloops. One level ex- 

 tends from seven miles cast of Utica to near Syra- 

 cuse, a distance of 09 miles; and on tlie west 

 side of Genesee river, tliere is another lexel of TO 

 miles. Similar iristances of extensive levels are 

 ^uiprecedented as applied to any given canal, 

 rhere are on the middle section nine locks, and 

 ^ number of occupation and road bridges, waste 

 gates, safety gates, tumbling bays or weir?, cul- 

 verts, aqueducts, aqueduct bridges, embankments, 

 and deep cuttings, but not a single tunnel, draw- 

 bridge, or reservoir ; and on the whole route I 

 observed but one artificial feeder, the canal being 

 d,bu,ndantly supplied by natural streams. This 

 canal is constructed in the most solid and durable 

 manncrj and the water which fills it is as copious 

 and as perennial as the lakes and springs from 

 which it issues. This work was coinmenced ut 

 the eastern end of th.e section, and as you proceed 

 to the west, you observe increased improvement, 

 arising unquestionably from augmented experi- 

 \Mice and deep rejection. Tlie locks arc built of 



