[ 32 ] 42 
cd of a rich alluvial soil; they are corroded by the current, and when the 
river rises they crumble into it, and render its waters muddy. The 
floods of the Monongaliela are considerable; at Brownsville it rises 
thirty-eight feet; whilst, at its lowest stage, its depth is only from 
twelve to fifteen inches on its highest bars. The two banks present 
all along a succession of flats and bluffs; the flats of one bank are gener- 
ally opposite to the bluffs r)f the other, and the former are found where the 
river expands, whilst the latter close on its banks where it narrows. 
The chief tributaries of the Monongahela are on its right shore, 
George's Creek, below Mr. Gallatin's residence, Big Redstone, below 
Brownsville; and on the left, Ten Mile Ci'eek. These streams flow 
constantly, but in summer give but a small quantity of water, an ob- 
scj'vation which is also applicable to many of the ti-ibutaries of the 
Youghiogeny. 
If the western section of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal cannot 
be led to the Monongahela, it will at least embranch with it at M'Kee's 
port, and perhaps when a denser population will render it desirable, 
a line of Junction may be drawn between Cheat River and the valley 
of Ihe Youghiogeny. It would be fed by a reservoir above the gap of 
Cheat river, and the co)istant springs which run from the western 
ridge of Laurel Hill. 
IFesiern Section. 
This section begins at the mouth of Bear Creek, and ends at Pitts- 
burg, descending the valleys of the Youghiogeny and Monongahela 
to the Ohio. 
From the moutli of Bear Creek to that of Casselman's River, the 
YoH2;hio2:eny runs in a very winding course between a succession of 
flats and bluffs, the flats of one shore being generally opposed to the 
bluffs of the otiicr, the banks high and rugged where they wind in, 
and flat where they wind out. The two banks presejit nearly the same 
difficulties, the right shore, however, seems the best. The distance 
between those points, following the winding of the river, is about l6§ 
miles. 
Casselman's river is about 100 yards wide at its mouth; it is a 
fine river, and will give a great deal of water to the canal. At the 
dryest season it offers from eight inches to one foot in depth; before 
joining the Youghiogeny it receives Laurel Hill Creek. 
From the mouth of Casselman's River till you reach two or three 
miles above Connellsville, the Youghiogeny forces through Briery 
IMountain and Laurel Hill, and its bed is very deep. The left bank 
is very high and rugged, the right somewhat less. In this space ol' 
about 28^ miles, the canal must be frequently cut in.a shelf on the 
sides of the valley, or run on embankments sup])orted by a wall. The 
river has a fall of about sixteen feet at Ohiopyle falls; it is here about 
150 yards wide. 
Connellsville is considered as the head of navigation in the Youg- 
liiogeny. In the dryest season, it has here from eight inches to one . 
foot in depth. 
