In the dry seasons, the drift wood which collects on these ledges, is gathered and piled on the rocks, and burnt until they become quite heated : water is then thrown on them, when they immediately split into pieces : the rocks are then broke up and thrown into the pools below. These breaches are made one hundred yards in length, so as to allow rafts of any size to pass with safety. Large subscriptions have been made to carry on these works ; and there is no doubt but a few years perseverance will complete a safe navigation from the head of the Canisteo to Baltimore.

The navigation from the county of Ontario to Schenectady, sixteen miles from Albany, has been of late years much improved, and is of great advantage to that part of the country. The outlets of Seneca Lake, Canadarqua Lake, and Mud Creek, join together, and form the Seneca River, which, through its whole extent, is a very useful navigation. At the Three River Point it is met by the outlet of the Oneida Lake, and, after passing Oneida Lake, the boats ascend Mud Creek, from which there is a canal, to unite its waters with the Mohawk River, on which two other obstructions are canalled, to make the communication good to Schenectady. These improvements are made on the scale of boats carrying ten tons being used on this navigation. Considerable quantities of flour, potash, and salt, are every year sent down by this navigation, and thus the merchants are enabled to make their remittances. So much has the navigation been used, that one hundred boats have been known to arrive at the little town of Geneva in six weeks. In the beginning of the settlement of this country, families, moving in these boats, suffered much from want of shelter in the night ; but the number of travellers has induced persons to settle and keep taverns at the most suitable places, where the accommodations are far from being bad.