ANNUAL REPORT—COMMERCE. 
93 
is one and one-quarter miles per hour, and on the improve¬ 
ment (when running) from five to seven. 
“ Both are eastern and western through' routes, the one a 
continuation of the other ; and later an effort will be made to 
show that the commerce demanding the improvement to-day 
is little less in amount than the commerce seeking the Erie 
canal. 
“ With a length less than the canal, less than one-third of 
the lockage, abundant water on the summit level rendering 
artificial feeders unnecessary, a natural and not an artificial 
bottom, few or no streams to cross, and about one-half the 
number of locks, it must be apparent that the great cost of the 
Erie canal can be no measure for the cost of the improvement; 
a deduction fully sustained by the reports of Glen. Warren, 
hereinafter referred to, and a work, only a part of which it is 
proposed to ask the government to undertake. 
“Six of the eleven side canals of New York cost from two 
to six millions each, and the remainder less. In length they 
vary from 88 to 124 miles each. They are fed, in part, by ar¬ 
tificial feeders. The Genesee Yalley canal has 112 locks, the 
Chemung canal 116 locks, with 1,015 feet of lockage, and the 
Black river canal 109 locks, with 1,082 feet of lockage. They 
are outlets for two or, at the most, four counties each. 
“ The improvement of the Wisconsin river is about the 
same number of miles in length, has less than one-fifth of the 
lockage and one-fifth of the number of locks, and is the out¬ 
let for six states and a vast territory beyond.” 
COMPARISON WITH OTHER RIVER IMPROVEMENTS. 
“ Compared with the improvements proposed for other riv¬ 
ers putting into the Mississippi, the proposed improvement of 
the Wisconsin, is in the number of miles in length, and the 
number of feet of fall not greater than the rivers having the 
least number of miles in length and the least number of feet 
of fall, and not more than half as great, as the rivers having 
the greatest number. 
