2^8 
I ASSESIBI-Y. 
ceeding in a northwest direction, we soon reach the head waters of 
Racket lake. It is said that in passing over a very sHght elevation or 
ridge, we come upon a small lake, and following its outlet we may 
pursue an almost uninterrupted course into Racket lake, and thence into 
Long lake. It is over this carrying place, betw^een Indian lake and the 
first lake in the series towards Racket lake, that the Indians are in the 
habit of travelling, and over which they carry their canoes. The whole 
carrying distance from Indian to Long lake is six and three-fourths of a 
mile. The whole course of the route which I have now traced, is one 
which is feasible for the construction of a canal, and one too which 
would require but little capital, as there are no high summits to cross, 
nor heavy falls to encounter, or which would demand a great amount of 
lockage. But the internal navigation need not end here, for the waters 
of Racket lake may be connected with those of Moose river, for with 
scarcely a carrying place, the hunters and fishermen take their boats 
from the Racket lake into the head waters of Black river. And again, 
I was informed by a gentleman of Lake Pleasant, that during a visit to 
Racket lake, a few months previous, he met with two fishermen who 
came seventy miles in their boats and brought several barrels of salt; 
and they came the w^hole distance in their boats from the w^aters of the 
Saranac, for the purpose of fishing in Racket lake, from which they car- 
ried away seven barrels of lake trout on their return over the same route. 
The practicability of uniting the head waters of those streams which 
flow into the Hudson, Lake Champlain and St. Lawrence, is not doubt- 
ed by those who have carefully observed the features of the country. 
It may be inquired what advantages would result, which could jus- 
tify an expenditure of capital in a region considered of little value for 
agricultural purposes. 
1st. I will say, that it is not, as has been already intimated, that 
bleak, barren, desolate tract, which it has been represented to be; but 
is well adapted to the cultivation of wheat, and suitable for all agricul 
tural purposes, though it is more especially adapted to grazing, and the 
making of butter and cheese. 
2d. This region abounds in the ores of iron, limestone, marble and 
the usual products of a primitive region. 
3d. It would be the means of bringing into market (of w^hich there 
begins already to be a scarcity,) a vast amount of lumber, which, with- 
out facilities of the kind, must be destroyed or wasted on the ground, 
without benefitting the public extensively. 
