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21. Internal Transportation (1791)

BY ELKANAH WATSON

Watson was an agriculturalist, a traveller, and an active promoter of public enterprises. He was one of the forefathers of the Erie Canal. His descriptions are notable for accuracy and for the display of keen insight. - Bibliography: McMaster, History of the United States, I–II passim. — See also ch. xxv below.

'EPTEMBER 4 [1791]-We proceeded on our journey with a

brought us to Maj. Schuyler's mills, in Palatine . . .

September 7 . . . At Eldridge's tavern, near Fort Herkimer, we overtook our bateaux, all well, and embarked the same evening, stemming fourteen miles against a strong current, with an awning spread over our heads. Each boat was manned by three men, two in the bow, and one in the stern to steer. They occasionally rowed in still water, setting with short poles, at the rapids, with surprising dexterity. In this mode, their average progress is three miles an hour, equal to truckschute travelling in Holland; but it is extremely laborious, and fatiguing to the At night we encamped in a log-hut on the margin of the river. September 8.-A pleasant sail of ten miles this fine morning, brought us to old Fort Schuyler. Here we were joined by Gen. Van Cortlandt and Mr. Bayard, who were waiting for us, which completes our number to thirteen.

men.

From Little Falls thus far, the river is nearly competent to inland navigation, with the exception of a serious rapid, and a great bend at the German-flats, called Wolf-riff, which must be subdued either by a cut across the neck of land, upwards of one mile, or by removing the obstructions.

An Indian road being opened from this place (now Utica,) to the Genesee county, it is probable the position at Fort Stanwix and this spot will become rivals as to the site of a town, in connection with the interior, when it shall become a settled country.

. . . In the afternoon we progressed thirteen miles, meeting many obstructions in consequence of the cruel conduct of the new settlers, (who are wonderfully increased since I was here,) filling the river with fallen trees cut on its margin, narrowing it in many places, producing shoals where the deepest waters had been accustomed to flow, and impeding the progress of our boats. We pitched our camp on the right bank of the river, in the midst of woods. All hands fell to work,

soldierlike. We soon had a roaring fire and our tents pitched — open on one side to the fire and closed at each end with canvas. We found an excellent substitute for feathers-laying our buffaloes on hemlock twigs, although the ground was extremely moist, we were effectually protected from any inconvenience. We enjoyed a pleasant night, with ten times more comfort than we could in the miserable log huts along the banks of the river.

September 9 At noon we reached Fort Stanwix, to which place with some aid of art the river continues adapted to inland navigation for boats of five tons burthen. Emigrants are swarming into these fertile regions in shoals, like the ancient Israelites, seeking the land of promise.

We transported our boats and baggages across the carrying-place a distance of two miles, over a dead flat, and launched them into Wood Creek, running west. It is a mere brook at this place which a man can easily jump across. In contemplating this important creek, as the only water communication with the immense regions in the west . . . I am deeply impressed with a belief, considering the great resources of this State, that the improvement of our internal navigation cannot much longer escape the decided attention of our law makers, and more especially as it is obviously practicable. . . .

September 10-This morning, our bateaux began to descend Wood Creek with the aid of a mill-dam which had been filled just above. Some of our party at the same time descended by land on a tolerable wagon-road to Canada Creek, six miles.

Although aided by the sluice, we progressed with infinite difficulty. In many places the windings are so sudden and so short, that while the bow of the boat was ploughing in the bank on one side her stern was rubbing hard against the opposite shore. In some places our men were obliged to drag the boats by main strength, and in others the boughs and limbs were so closely interwoven and so low, as to arch the creek completely over and oblige all hands to lie flat. These obstacles, together with the sunken logs and trees, rendered our progress extremely difficult, often almost impracticable. . . .

Bateaux which ascend the creek, and frequently the descending boats at this season, are dragged by horses travelling in the water. This is a work of incredible fatigue and difficulty. . . .

September 12-At 3 o'clock we reached the royal block-house, at the east end of the Oneida lake. . .

September 13... Immediately after breakfast we embarked, doubled

a point of land, and entered the Oneida lake with our sails filled to a light easterly breeze.

...

This lake is extremely turbulent and dangerous, a small breeze producing a short bobbing sea, in consequence of its shoal waters. . . .

September 14-Early this morning we embarked and proceeded across the lake, rowing, with a light breeze in our favor. . . . and we found ourselves opposite Fort Brewenton, at the entrance of the Onondaga river, which is a very shallow stream.

We landed near the old fort, where we found two families and a handsome improvement. After refreshing ourselves under the first Christian. roof which had sheltered us in five days, we commenced descending the Onondaga river with an easy current. The river is generally about three hundred feet wide. It is nineteen and three quarters of a mile to Three River Point. In this length there are three or four pretty long rapids; but these obstructions can easily be removed, and a boat channel formed. . . .

Here the Onondaga river from the east, and the Seneca from the west, form a junction in majestic silence, without rippling or confusion. Their waters mingle in a spacious confluence, and descend by a N. W. course into Lake Ontario, at Fort Oswego, which is twenty-four miles distant. . .

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September 15 This morning we re-embarked, ascending the Seneca river against the current coming from the west.

After about eight miles sailing, passing two or three rapids, and low lands heavily timbered, we entered a small narrow river, leading south into the Salt lake, one mile from the Seneca river. . . .

This lake opened most pleasantly before us, six miles in length, N. W. and S. E., and about two wide. . . . We steered by our map and compass, and with some difficulty found the creek on which the saltworks are now erected half a mile from its mouth at the foot of a hill. These works are in a rude, unfinished state, but are capable of making about eight thousand bushels of salt per annum, which is nearly the quantity required for the present consumption of the country. The mines are so affluent and abundant as to be equal to the supply for the United States, even when our population shall reach one hundred millions.

Providence has happily placed this great source of comfort and wealth, precisely in a position accessible by water in every direction.

When the mighty canals shall be formed and locks erected, it will add

vastly to the facility of an extended diffusion, and the increase of its intrinsic worth.

It will enter Ontario, and the other great lakes, and find its way down the St. Lawrence by Oswego, into Pennsylvania, and the Chesapeake, up Seneca river to the head of the Seneca lake, and by a portage (perhaps eventually a canal) of eighteen miles to Newtown, on the Susquehanna river; and through canals in contemplation, up Wood Creek and down the Mohawk river, into the Hudson. . .

September 16-One of our people lost all his baggage last night, which we supposed was stolen by some lurking Indians hovering around our camp..

...

We entered the Seneca river, proceeded west, and encamped near the Cross lake, in a disagreeable camp, having passed several rafts and eel wiers. . .

September 19. . . From hence to the Cayuga Lake, six miles, we were much impeded in our progress by a rank weed and the salt marshes, in which we were continually entangled. In the afternoon we reached the opening of the Cayuga Lake . . .

We traversed obliquely across the lake three miles to the ferry-house. Here we pitched our tent for the night, with bad accommodations, surrounded by land pioneers, many of whom were rude and uncouth, both in manners and appearance; but they are a useful race of citizens, calculated to subdue the wilderness and make way for more civilized settlers, rising by gradations. In spite of fleas and bugs, as this was the only civilized roof we had slept under for ten nights, we submitted cheerfully to our fate. . . .

September 20 We double-manned one of our boats, leaving the other, with the principal part of our baggage and stores, with one of our men, overcome with fatigue, and proceeded on our way to the Seneca Lake. We sailed north three miles, and then entered a narrow river which connects the two lakes. We stemmed against a rapid current, three miles, to the foot of the Seneca Falls. The carrying-place is kept by one Smith, who has a comfortable log-house, and considerable improvements.

This transit extends one mile. We transported our baggage by land, and our men stemmed the rapid with an empty boat in a surprising

manner. . . .

We walked two miles by a foot-path to a place called Scawayas, where these rapids commence. Here we re-embarked, and ascended the

Seneca River to the Seneca Lake, which we entered just as the sun was sinking behind the western hills.

The new village of Geneva made its appearance, in the north-west point of the lake, to which we directed our course, after disentangling ourselves from a hard sand-bank at the outlet of the lake.

September 21-Geneva is a small, unhealthy village, containing about fifteen houses, all log except three, and about twenty families. It is built partly on the acclivity of a hill and partly on a flat, with deep marshes north of the town, to which is attributed its unhealthiness. We received decent accommodations at Patterson's on the margin of the lake, but were troubled the most of the night by gamblers and fleas, two curses to society. At nine o'clock this fine morning we re-embarked, and traversed obliquely across the lake to Appletown, eleven miles...

September 24 - Having rejoined our party at the ferry, we dispatched one of our boats to Schenectady, and proceeded with the other up Cayuga Lake. . . .

. . . Having devoted my ardent and deep attention to the important subject, the practicability of opening an uninterrupted water communication from these interesting lakes, as branches of the mighty chain of connected oceans descending by canals and locks to the Hudson River, I shall now sum up detailed views and estimates, from that river to the Seneca Lake.

To open a water communication from the Hudson to the Seneca Lake, the following works are indispensable, viz :

First. A canal to connect the Mohawk with the Hudson in the nearest direction from river to river, or a canal with locks, on the north of the Cohoes, to come out at Waterford, will probably cost £—

Second. The Mohawk to be cleared of some rocks, and the riffs deepened to the Little Falls.

Third. A canal of one mile at the Little Falls, either cut in the solid rock, or by embankments, and four or five locks, the descent being estimated by the eye and from information at forty two feet.

Fourth. Obstructions to be removed to Fort Stanwix, and some rapids laid open.

Fifth. Wood Creek to be improved by removing numerous natural or artificial obstructions; and cutting through the necks, it may be shortened, probably one-half from Canada Creek, eighteen miles, as the river meanders.

Lastly. To open the riffs and rapids in the Onondaga and Seneca

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