4^ [ 32 ] 
leys of tliese streams are broad, but tlieir banks are high, and per- 
pendicular in tiie lower part of their course; they are of soft slate in 
layers, wliicli, worn by the water, present a perpendicular surface. 
The Hoods of these streanies rise from 7 to 8 feet. 
The soil of the country between these steams, consists, in general, 
of a clay, vcrj' favorable for digging a canal, except at Austin- 
burg, wiK're we meet a ridge, which would require a deep cut; t'uere 
exist no obstacles any where to its excavation, and the preparatory 
surveys will determine whether we ought not to prefer it to the val- 
leys which run tlirought it. 
Conneaut lake belongs to the valley of French creek, its surface is 
valued at 1600 acres oi-tliereabouts: its outlet is called Conneaut creek, 
and falls in French creek, 6 or 7 miles below Meadville. Its inlet rises 
opposite the hea<l of Conneaut ci'eek of the Lakes. From the surveys 
of the Pennsylvania Canal Commissioners, a cut 14 or 15 feet deep, 
and 60 or 70 yards long, would join the waters of Conneaut creek, and 
Conneaut of the lakes. From the head of the inlet to that of the latter 
stream, the distance does not pass 3 miles. The same commissioners 
have ascer rained that a feeder, beginning at French creek, above 
Meadville, might, by following the western side of its valley, and then 
the ravine of Conneaut creek, feed Conneaut lake, if we considered it 
as tliC rest rvoir of a summit level. By erecting a dam wherever re- 
quire.}, round that Jake, we might obtain a vast reservoir to feed botli 
scctioihs of the canal. 
The description wiiich we have given of the water courses and 
ground on both sections of this canal, j)roves that we have the choice of 
sevetiil summit levels; Champion swamp and Conneaut Lake are the 
chief. 
The summit ground of Champion swamp, being 342 feet, and Con- 
neaut lake 470 feet above Lake Eric, the former has over the latter 
the advantage of 128 feet less in height, and of course 256 feet less of 
lockage. But the resources in water of the Champion swamp sum- 
mit level, as we have seen above, are only 56 ^Qf^X in a second, from th» 
Cuyahoga, and 6 feet from Silver creek, total 62 feet per second. 
T!ie resources of the Con< eaut summit level amount to 221 cubic 
feet per second from French creek, which gives it a supei-iority of 159 
cubic feet per second over the other. Resei'voirs may and ought also 
to be found in the Cuyahoga and French creek, and a mucii greater 
depth of water can be collected, at little expense, in Conneaut lake, 
by running dams in certain parts of its border. Its mean depth has 
not been sounded. 
Preparatory and comparative surveys must determine our choice 
between these tw^ summit levels, and combine their several advanta- 
ges with (hose of tlie several routes which may lead to them. The 
slcn<Ier means of the Board did not allow them to begin tliose surveys 
in 1824; of course, they cannot recommend either in preference to the 
other, as they do not possess those exact documents, which alone can 
give, in a certain and positive maimer, the local circumstances and 
details required to weigh their respective advantages and incoHvC' 
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