[ 32 ] 104 
The Massachusetts Kecomwissaiice. 
In pursuance of the orders of tlie Secretary of War to the Board of 
Interntil Improvement, they proceeded to Massachusetts, to make an 
examination of the grounds between Barnstable and Buzzard's Bays, 
in accordance with the memorial of the delegates of that state, addressed 
to the President on the 4th May, 1824, in compliance with a resolve of 
the Legislature of the 21st January, 1824, strongly representing the 
national importance of a communication between tliose waters, and 
clearly elucidating the valuable effects thereof, both in regard to do- 
mestic and foreign commerce and naval operations. 
The public attention had been drawn, at an early period, and with 
greater interest, as the coasting trade increased, both to the riarrow- 
iiess of the IsthmuSjand the favorable circumstances of the ground. Ac- 
curate surveys of ithad been made both at public and private expense; 
and provided with the maps and reports from the archives of the state, 
and with the use of othej-s, politely loaned by the proprietors for the 
occasion, the Board went upon the ground with a knowledge of the 
most essential facts, and aided with tbe judgment of all who had pre- 
ceded them: but it not being within the scope of their commission, at 
this time, to form a definitive plan of the works, and to make an esti- 
mate of the cost, but rather to form a decisive opinion of tlie practica- 
bility of the canal, and to acquire a knowledge of the route requisite 
to direct the execution of surveys necessary to the final plan, a brief 
description of the intervening country will make the subsequent re- 
marks more intelligible. 
At this place, the Rocky Ridge, which appears to occupy the nearer 
portion of Plymoutli county, and extend eastward along the middle of 
the Isthmus, discontinues for about one-fourth of a mile, and a long nar- 
row valley exists, which, including the marshes on the jiorth, mea- 
sures eight miles. The highest ground in tlie route is a plain of near- 
ly one mile in extent, S3 feet above low water mark on the Barnstable 
Bay side. Two small rivers flow in opposite directions in this valley. 
The Scussit rises on the noith side of the plain, in a bog of some ex- 
tent, and, in its course, has fall enough to carry a mill situate thereon. 
The Monument has its source in Herring Pond, a large expanse of wa- 
ter, situated on the west side of the valley, and 40 feet above it. This 
stream enters about the middle ol^the valley, and flows to Buzzard's 
Bay. 
The summit ground has not, to our knowledge, been bored or searcli- 
ed by sinking shafts. How much it may partake of tlie nature of the 
adjacent country, remains to be ascertained. 
The tide is three hours latest in Barnstable Bay. and rises eight feet 
in neap tides, nine feet in common tides, aiul twelve to thii'teen in 
Spring tides. Low water mark is eight inrlies lowest on this side; 
on the south side of the Isthmus it rises tliree to five feet, or, more accu- 
