RIVERS 



settlement, be considered. In this direction, th^ 

 road by being extended to the nearest point on the 

 Ohio, at or below Wheling, from the circuitous rout 

 of the rivers Monongahela aiid Ohio, would pass 

 through the centre of the richest and best settled 

 parts of the country watered by the former stream, 

 and would afford an important accommodation to an. 

 establishment in the vicinity of the Laurel Hill, a 

 situation which commands in a high degree the re- 

 sources of a public arsenal and laboratory ; whence, 

 ordnance and military stores might be transported 

 to the seat of government, or any part of the Mis- 

 sissippi ; the Laurel Hill abounding in ir6n ore of 

 various qualities, and the copper and lead of the 

 Illinois, and the sulphur and saltpetre of Kentucky 

 being readily obtained. 



By the completion of such a road in Mr.Williams' 

 opinion, goods could be transported at less expense 

 fi om ihe seat of government to the mouth of the 

 Ohio^ than from Orleans to the latter place. 



The canal destined t^ connect Philadelphia with 

 Pittsburgh, and all the Ohio waters, by the Schuyl- 

 kill, the Swetara and Juniata branches of the Sus- 

 quehannah ; and the Kiskeminitas branch of Alleg- 

 hany, is by uniting the Swetara creek which empties 

 into the Susquehanhah, with the Quitipahilla ; a 

 distance of thirty-five miles ; and the latter to the 

 canal intended to be carried down to Schuylkill, at 

 the mouth of the Tulpehocken, near Reading, iii 

 Berks county; a distance of thirty miles. In the 

 whole route from Philadelphia to lake Erie, a dis- 

 tance of five hundred and sixty -one and a half miles^ 

 only two portages occur ; viz. one from Juniata t» 



