ScA-eral of the rapids might be deepened by erecting small stone dams, nearly across the river, leaving a passage for boats ; but this whilst it would give a sufficiency of water, would so increase its velocity, as to render an ascent Avith a half loaded boat, of a size to carry three or four hundred bushels of Avheat, extremely difficult, Avithout the aid of machinery to draAV up the boat, and sucli machinery it Avould be difficult permanently to erect, on account of the vast quantity of ice which suddenly descends wdienever the Schohara Creek breaks up in the spring of the year, and Avhich Avould destroy such machinery.

Some of the rapids may be deepened by removing the stones in the bottom, but this can only be successfully executed Avhere the Avater above the rapid is deep ; for if it is not, another rapid

1093 INLAND LOCK-NAVIGATION.

is formed immediately above, by deepening the existing one. But the improvement of this part of the river although difficult yet it is feasible, and would be easily so, without any very extraordinary expence, if the bed of the river was a solid rock ; for then four or five dams at proper distances would create a series of ponds, covering the intermediate rapids; and hence by means of a lock and guard gates at each dam, boats would ascend or descend from the one to the other in succession, but to drive piles to secure all the dams from blowing, would be so arduous and expensive an operation, that a canal and locks in the adjacent grounds would be infinitely preferable. These various difficulties have employed the closest attention of your committee, and they determined on a re-examination of this part of the river : Mr. Schuyler accordingly, on his return re-viewed the river, and the contiguous grounds from N" 17, towards N° 16 : It appears to him practicable, and probably most effectual, as well as cheapest, to erect a strong dyke of timber and stone, parallel to the bank of the river, from the deep water just above the mouth of Schohara Creek, and on the north side of the river, until it shall descend the river as far as to gain height sufficient to enter the bank below the rocky part, which would be at the distance of about 1100 yai'ds, and, as the fall then would be about 9 feet a lock might be constructed there, and thence a canal might be carried through good grounds on the low lands, having the uplands on one side, until just below Clyne's tavern, where it would again enter the river, continued and confined by a dyke, or embankment for about 300 yards ; and then again through the low lands along the foot of the up lands to the river near the house of the late Guy Johnson, where it would enter the river with one or more locks : The whole distance from N^ 17 to this point is about four miles.