C 23 3 



On the practicability of a Canal between the head of Se- 

 neca lake^ xvith Tioga creek, Bif Philip Churchy 

 Esquire, 



[The following letters are those referred to by Mr. 

 Church, in Memoirs, p. 270.] 



" I have not, until a few days since, been able to 

 procure such precise and accurate information, as 

 would authorize me to make any communications to 

 you, respecting the practicability of connecting, by a 

 canal, the head of Seneca lake with the Tioga branch 

 of the Susquehanna : and I have thought it better not 

 to write to you, on the other subjects of your letter, 

 until it was ascertained whether there was a probabi- 

 lity that the canal in question could be made ; because 

 had the making of it been deemed impracticable, it 

 might in some respects have altered the steps, which 

 your legislature will (perhaps I should rather say, 

 ought to) take, to connect Philadelphia with the west- 

 ern part of this state. 



" Between the Seneca Hke and the Susquehanna 

 there is a large and very wet swamp, from this issues 

 Seneca inlet, which after running thirteen miles in a 

 northerly direction, falls into Seneca lake : no part of 

 this stream is navigable excepting the last three miles 

 adjoining the lake ; this part will admit boats of consi- 

 derable burden ; the stream is a perennial one, rather 

 swift, but its course is not obstructed by rapids or 

 falls : — JVeivtown creek rises in the same swamp, and, 

 after running in a southerly direction nine miles, falls 

 into the Tioga branch of the Susquehanna, near the 



