[82] 
t6 
The instructions from the Board to them were definitively directed 
to the determination of points of inune^Jiate and primary conspquence, 
viz: The comparative elevation of the streams a*id intermediate 
grounds. Consequentl}', the elevation of the dan)s necessary on the 
Yoiighiogeny, to raise the water liigh enough tc be led into the Deep 
creek summit. By what line it would he preferable to descend to- 
wards the west. By what line to pass with most convenience through 
the Dividing Ridge. The length of tunnel required on each Hne. 
The command of water, hoth in its natural flow, and capable of being 
held in reserve against the dry season «;f the year. 
While preparations were making for these ir.vestigations, the B ard 
continued the rcconnoisance of the country throughout the we >ii rn 
section. 
Following the course of the Youghiogeny it was found to flow al- 
ways rapidly between bottom lands an<l high lulls, till within esght 
or ten miles of Ohiopyle falls, when tlie boltoni lands di;-conti,!t'ae, 
and the shores become rocky and steep. We crossed the Laurel 
mountain, and returning to the river at Connelsville, asc^nued tb.e 
ravine to view the places considered by theinhahitaijts the ir.ost rapid 
and narrow. This mountain passage of the stream was by thf m com- 
puted to be eighteen miles through. Below Lan* » ( .i'.,u;>t£in tine 
valley exhibits more easy ground; and the river winds i^s vvay an; mg 
extensive meadows and comparatively gentle bills Un- li'.ny miles to 
its junction with the Monongahela, whence the g- .'urri is favorable 
along the right bank to Pittsburg, 
Wc next ascended along the fertile shores of the Monongahela to 
Geneva, where George's creek comes in f".m the southeast, periiaps the 
means, one day, of <:onnecting this proouctive district Vvitb th^ ('an^l. 
The immediate object of this part of our reconttoissance was to 
view tiie south ravine of I^aurel mountain, through which Cheat river 
flows, and then to ascend the high ground between it aiid the Youghio- 
gney, to examine Pine swamp, the sou.ce of Pearl Run, which had 
been conjectured to be low enough to allow oi a canal route in this; 
direction, but it was ascertained to be 222 leet aoin e Deep creek. It 
is, however, found that Pearl Run may be made to flow a large extent 
of ground in Pine swamp. 
Having, in our way. made some observations on the southern part 
ef Big Sandy Creek, which joins Cheat river jfst above tlie ravine, 
we directed our course to the inspection of those branches which oc- 
cupy the space between the Laurel ridge and Youghiogeny river; and 
so far as the ground was seen, the aspect of the couuti-y was not un- 
favorable. But whether it would be accessible to a line of canal 
commencing at the Forks of Bear creek, led along the sloj>e of the 
eastern side of the Youghiogeny 'till opposite Selby Fort, crossing the 
river t() gain Coddington's valley, at a sutiicient elevation to be car- 
ried into the Valley of the northeast branch of Sandy creek, and by 
the line which may be found preferable, reach the eastern base of the 
Laurel range, to pass it by a tunnel, and emerge not far from the 
village of Monroe, in the county of Fayette, is not yet ascertained,, 
