88 



the Rapids, and opposite the eibow at Shipping- 

 port. In time it may become a place of consid- 

 erable business. On the opposite bank, about 

 midway between the^e two villages and opposite 

 the Rapids, is Louisville, which is much larger, 

 and bids fair to become a flourishing town. It is 

 situated on an elevated plain, and contains about 

 one hundred and fifty houses, a printing and a 

 post office. It is a port of entry, and has a con- 

 siderable number of mercantile stores, and sev- 

 eral ware houses for storing goods. Shipping- 

 port is on the same side, at the foot of the falls. 

 Here, boats generally make a landing after passing 

 the Rapids. Ship building was began and was 

 carried on with considerable spirit here, until it 

 received a check by the late embargo law. Hav- 

 ing an excellent harbour, the situation appears 

 eligible for prosecuting this business to advan- 

 tage. - 



The Rapids are occasioned by a ledge of rocks 

 extending entirely across the river, and is the 

 most dangerous place for navigation, in the whole 

 extent of the Ohio river. The distance over them 

 is about two miles, and the descent from a level 

 above is twenty-two feet and a half. When the 

 water is high the fall is only perceived by an in- 

 creased velocity of the vessel, which is computed 

 to be at the rate of about ten or twelve miles an 

 hour. When the water is low, a large portion of 

 the rocks are seen, and it is then that the passage 

 becomes dangerous. There are three channels. 



