48 THE HISTORY AND ECONOMIC VALUE OF CANALS. 



shoal and fog-bound passage around Cape Cod, known as Pollock Rip Channel. 

 This will cost at least $3,000,000, and the shifting sands in that region will close 

 it within a few years. This channel will be useless after the completion of the 

 canal ; it will be a waste of money to put it there, therefore in one sense the deepen- 

 ing of the canal will cost the Government nothing. 



Mr. Edward P. Bates, Member: — Mr. Chairman, the writer has referred to 

 DeWitt Clinton and Robert Fulton in a general way in this paper, and I have 

 heard it stated that Robert Fulton was a consulting engineer for DeWitt Clinton 

 in the laying out of the Erie Canal. I have never come across any such authority 

 myself and I would be very glad if any member here who has knowledge of such 

 authority, or if he finds any such authorit}, would communicate it. Robert 

 Fulton, I believe, died nine years before the canal was completed. 



Commodore Miller: — Referring to Mr. Bates's question — how far DeWitt 

 Clinton used Robert Fulton as designing engineer — I am unable to state. I do 

 know, however, that he supplied general designs for the inclined planes to Presi- 

 dent Macculloch of the Morris Canal in New Jersey, and these inclined planes still 

 exist. DeWitt Clinton and Professor Renwick were advisors in that enterprise, 

 and John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War, gave the services of General Barnard. 



At the ceremonies incident to the opening of the Erie Canal off Sandy Hook 

 on November 4, 1825, the following toast was given: — 



"To the memory of Robert Fulton whose mighty genius has enabled us to 

 commemorate this day in such imparalleled magnificence and grandeur." 



From which quotation it would seem that Fulton prior to his death was an 

 advisor to DeWitt Clinton. 



The Chairman: — Are there any further remarks? If not, the time having 

 arrived for luncheon, the Chair will announce that Mr. Cramp's paper, "The 

 Evolution of Screw Propulsion in the United States," will be read by Mr. Forbes 

 immediately upon reassembling at half past two. 



The Convention thereupon took a recess. 



