Internal Improvements. 71 



of tide water to Philadelphia, in a south western direc- 

 tion, thirty four miles — total 239. 



I am aware that, to render the navigation of this ri- 

 ver perfectly safe, a large expenditure would be ne- 

 cessary ; but it is not the cost but the advantages that 

 follow the expenditure, which a wise legislature should 

 consider. The society for promoting internal improve- 

 ments, which existed in 1791-2, estimated the cost of 

 clearing the river at less than 8000 dollars, but if it 

 could be cleared for thrice that sum, the state should 

 rejoice at the appropriation. In its present state, the 

 river is navigable during the spring floods from its 

 source : from Milford, heavy articles are transported 

 on rafts to Philadelphia, at a less expense than they 

 could be boated to Philadelphia from Easton ; upon a 

 single board or spar raft, from 300 to 400 bushels of 

 grain have often been transported for above 150 miles : 

 the transportation in this way costs 75 per cent, less 

 than the carriage from Ulster county to New York. 

 It is, however, on account of its advantages as a route 

 of communication from the western parts of New York, 

 that the river deserves attention ; and that these ad- 

 vantages, as well as those of the Susquehanna, may be 

 understood and compared with the routes to New 

 York, I will now enumerate the claims of each : 



1. I have heretofore shown that there is no water 

 9ommunication from lake Otsego to the Hudson : 

 the distance by land from that lake to Albany is 60 

 miles, from Albany to New York 165 miles — in all 

 225. But there is a water communication from lake 

 Otsego down the Susquehanna to Harmony 70 miles, 

 from Harmony to Stockport by land 20 miles turn- 



