Open Road — Guides — Railroads — Canals — Bridges 



Williamson's Account of the Genesee: — " The Fall was found isoo 

 to be three hundred and twenty feet from Steadman's Landing Maude 

 (Fort Schlusser) above the Falls, to Queenstown Landing 

 below: the distance to be cut (for the proposed Canal) did not 

 exceed four miles, nearly three of which is on a level with the 

 navigable part of the River above the Falls." 



To judge from Captain Williamson's description, the construc- 

 tion of this Canal would be a trifling labour: he has, however, 

 forgotten to mention, that these four miles are to be cut through a 

 limestone rock, full of fissures, which would make it necessary to 

 line the Canal with tarred plank, or other materials impervious to 

 the water. 



For more extended extract by same author, see chapter II. 



1807-1808 



ScHULTZ, CHRISTIAN. Travels on an inland voyage through the 1807-8 

 states of New- York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Schultz 

 Tennessee ... 2 vols. N. Y.: Isaac Ripley. 1810. 1 :58-59. 



From Niagara we proceeded up the river to Lewis Town, on 

 the left bank, a new settlement of about a dozen houses, so called 

 in honour of his exexcellency Governor Lewis ; but, as his sun of 

 glory has set, the inhabitants talk of petitioning the legislature 

 for leave to change its name! Immediately opposite to it lies 

 Queen's Town, a village of Upper Canada, containing about a 

 hundred houses, and a small garrison of twenty-eight men. Both 

 these towns are situated at the head of the navigation of Niagara 

 River, and each has a carrying place round the falls ; that on the 

 American side, however, is the best, and two miles the shortest. 

 The freight and passage are the same, whether you land here or 

 at Niagara. 



The rapids commence about a quarter of a mile above these 

 towns, and continue with increasing and irresistible force for 

 nearly eight miles, up to the foot of the falls. 



The State of New- York has granted the exclusive right to 

 Porter, Barton & Co. for a term of years, of the site of old Fort 

 Schlosser, which is the landing place on the American side, upon 



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