Internal Improvements. 63 



3. To be able to appreciate justly and fully the im- 

 portance of the Susquehanna, and the immense advan- 

 tages which Pennsylvania would derive from opening 

 the navigation eficctually from the north line of the 

 state, little more is necessary than to examine a good 

 map, and to trace the sources of this great river. 



The north east branch of it rises in the lakes Otsego 

 and Canederago ; it is navigable for small boats from 

 its source, and might be easily made so for boats of 

 any description : its source, therefore, is nearly in the 

 geographical centre of the state of New York ; it is 

 within ten miles of the Mohawk river and of the canals 

 making by New York along the bank of that river as 

 a w^ater communication to the lake Ontario. After 

 passing lake Otsego, this branch flow^s nearly in a 

 southern direction for 70 miles, through some of the 

 most productive lands and flourishing settlements in 

 the state of New York ; in its course, it is joined by 

 the Unadilla river, and having reached our line passes 

 it, forms what is called the Great Bend, and then re- 

 enters New York : it then proceeds along the south- 

 ern line of New York for about 60 miles, receives the 

 river Chenango, again enters Pennsylvania, and is join- 

 ed by the north west or Tioga branch from the west- 

 ward. 



This north eastern branch is so intimately connect- 

 ed, by its own and its tributary waters, with the pro- 

 ductive counties of Otsego and Chenango in particu- 

 lar, and affords advantages so superior to those of the 

 Mohaw^k, at least in its present state, that it cannot but 

 become the medium of an intercourse highly benefici- 

 al to Pennsylvania, if our legislature will faithfully do 



