60 Internal Improvements. 



ment to the other, is the substantial improvement of 

 the Susquehanna, from Middletown to the north line of 

 the state. This work should also be superintended by 

 an engineer, that the navigation may be really improv- 

 ed, and not made more difficult, as has hitherto been 

 often the case in other instances. In order that this 

 improvement, which is of great importance, may be so 

 considered by every reader, I will offer my remarks 

 under these distinct heads : 1. The present state of the 

 river : 2. The improvement wanted, and the expense 

 of making it : 3. The effects of improvement from the 

 north east branch : 4. Those from the north west 

 branch. 



1. The Susquehanna has at all seasons a sufficient 

 quantity of water for any sort of river navigation, if it 

 were confined within one channel, or rather if its breadth 

 were not so great ; but, the bed of the river being very 

 ^Vude, owing to the force and volume of the spring 

 floods, it frequently happens in summer that large boats 

 cannot obtain an ascending navigation. As it is here 

 proposed merely to improve the river from Middle- 

 town to tNvitate line, there is no necessity for saying 

 any thing of that part of it below Middletown ; fiom 

 that town to Wilkesbarre, about 125 miles, the river 

 is in several places im.peded by rocks and ripples, 

 which might be easily removed, under the direction of 

 an engineer, so as to diminish the width of the main 

 channel, and afford a complete ascending, as well as 

 descending navigation, at all times. From Wilkesbarre 

 to the state line, 103 miles, there are no falls, and but 

 two or three rocks injurious to navigation ; the ob- 

 structions, to be removed, are what are termed turn. 



