11 [32] 
No. 19. Plan and profile of a survey and level for the proposed canal 
between Buzzard's ami Barnstable Bay, surveyed Septem- 
ber, 1818. by L. Baldwin— copied by Lieut. Fessenden, ot 
the Artillery. 
In execution of the orders of the Secretary of War, communicat- 
ed in your letter of the 31st May last, -to make a reconnoisance ot 
the country between the waters of tlie Potomac and the head ot steam 
beat navia;ation of the Ohio, and between the Ohio and Lake ii^rie, 
f,)i- the purpose of ascertaining the practicability of a commuuica- 
tion between tlsese points; of designating the most suitable route lor 
the same; and of (orming plans and estinwites, in detail, ot the ex- 
pense of exerution:" the Board proceeded from the seat of govern- 
ment, through the portion of country indicated therein, iiaving 
delibci-afelv exaniincd every local circumstance on that part ot the 
Alleganv inountain which lies between the head waters of the Poto- 
mac and those of the Yougliiogany, a branch of the Munongahela, 
the Board prepared instructions for the preliminary surveys and mea- 
surer.ie.its lo be executed by the Topographical Engiuecrs and other 
officers and gentlemen attached for this service; and having now 
maturely considered tiie circumstances observed by them personaUy, 
and carefully studied the results of such of these preliminary sur- 
veys as are completed, they are decidedly of opinion that the cummuni- 
cation is practicable. i t i 
The Board, on viewing the country between the Uisio and l.ake 
Erie, along various lines indicated by public opinion, became posses- 
sed of sucii facts as place the practicability of canalling, from the 
liead of steam boat navigation, in the Ohio, lo Lake Erie, beyond all 
doubt. Tbe information collected by the Board is not, however, ot 
a nature to enable them to decide which of tbe several routes de- 
serves a preference; ard a definitive choice can only be made alter 
the several surveys, indicated by the extract from the record ot the 
Board, herewith, shall have been executed. ,, e 
In further execution of orders, the Board repaired to the state ot 
Massachusetts, and viewed the ground between Buzzard's and 
Barnstable Bays, where the isthmus of Cape Cod is not only nar- 
row, but so low, compared with the. adjacent country, as to have 
attracted public attention to this itsprovement, at an early period. 
Aided by the maps and reports heretofore made of this ground, at 
the public expense and by maps and investigations which had been 
made more recently, at private expense, the Board are of opinion 
that this canal might be opened, at least as deep as low water, at no 
extraordinary cost. The tide rising from eight to ten feet on the Barn- 
stable side, this depth of water might be carried through the canal. 
The locks, on the Barnstable side, to be protected by a breakwater. 
The board also made a reconnoissance of the ground between Nar- 
ragansett bay, and Boston harbor; likewise, with the advantage of 
knowing the result of previous surveys, under the authority ot the 
