359 



M 



PAPERS. 



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which, they judge, might he done at the expence of forty 

 thoufand pounds, as aforeiaid.. ■ , • , 



Mr. Thomas Gilpin, one of the above committee, laid 

 before the Society a plan of a canal, and the elevation of 

 the ground, &c. between Chefter river, in Maryland, and 

 Duck Creek, in Pennfylvania, at the place markea_ L.D, ; 

 in the annexed map. « The diftance from tide to tiocis 

 here about twelve miles, and the length of the canal, by 



the courfes it muft take, would be tourteen_ miles Fhe 



md above the tide is thirty-three 

 that the water in Chefter River 



heighth of the middle ground above the tide i^^^hirty-three , 



feet;" and he reports, " ----- ,1,1 



and Duck Creek is fufficient to fupply the canal and locks 

 to the height of twenty-two feet above the tides. He c!ii~ 

 mates only about eight thouland and hfty pounds for maic- 

 inp- a navigation for flat-bottomed boats, that would carry 

 011^ thoufand bufl.els of wheat each; but to make it fit for 

 ihallops, with a lock navigation, he ftates the vvhole ex- 

 pence at twenty-eight thoufand two hundred and ninety- 

 eight pounds." ,11-1 .1 *i ^ 

 Several difficulties having been apprehended m both the 



above plans, and particularly the great expence in execut- 

 ing the firft to any advantage; and that if the fecond could 

 be executed at the expence propofed, it would carry all the 

 navigation of the river Sufquehannah (which 13 the great 

 obiea in view,) too far down into Chefopciik-Bay, for an 



advantageous communication with Philadelphia; it was 

 therefore propofed, that feme other places fliould be exa- 

 mined, by which the water carriage between Sufquehannah 

 and Delaware might be rendered fliorter, and more prac- 



Committees were accordingly appointed to examine, 

 furvey and level the ground, between the navigable wa- 

 ters of Delaware river in Pennfylvania, and Elk river 

 that empties into Chefopeake, near the mouth of Suique- 

 hannah. This fervice was complcated by the committee 

 with great diligence, and in the extremity of winter, as 

 they found it beft to proceed when the furface of the wa~ 



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