-NfXpif
/sn
(i '
LEGISLATURE OF NEW-JERSEY.
HOUSE OF ASSEUfBLY,
SATUBDAT, NOVEMBER 2%, ISQ3.
Mr. GRIFFITH offered the following Resolution :
Resolved, That there be printed for this house, to be distrib¬
uted at their discretion, five hundred copies- of the Report of the
Commissioners appointed by an act of the Legislature, passed Feb¬
ruary 14, 1816, for ascertaining the most eligible route of a canal
to connect the tide waters of the Delaware with those of the Rari-
tan River, including the Report of John Randel, jun. relative to
said canal.
Which, resolution was read and agreed to by tlie house.
The Commissioners, appointed by an act of the Legislature, for
ascertaining the most eligible route for, and the probable ex¬
pense of, a Canal to connect the tide waters of the Delaware
with those of the Raritan,
RFPORT,
THAT in ascertaining the fnost eligible route for a Canal, to
connect the tide waters of the Delaware with those of the Raritan,
they have examined the plans and routes of canals heretofore
proposed, and have considered the advantages and disadvantages,
which would respectively attend them.
The first and most obvious plan heretofore proposed, was to
use the beds of the streams intervening between the Raritan and:
the Delaware, to ascend the Raritan from the tide water to the
first obstruction, and by deepening or widening, or by confining
the stream to a narrower channel, to pit)ceed as far as practicable
ontiiat step, and then by a dam and lock to raise boats to another
step to be pursued by deepening, widening, narrowing,|p clear¬
ing as before, until another dam would become necessary, and in
the same manner to continue the process until the navigation would
arrive at the mouth of the Millstone river ; to proceed from
thence up the Millstone, erecting locks in the several mill-dams,
and deepening, widening, or clearing the channel, and placing
other dams and lucks where necessary, to the mouth of Stonybrook,
and from thence up the Stonybntok in like manner, to the vicinity
of the great meadows, in the township of Lawrence : Here a con-
neçting cut would be made through the meadows of Lawrence to
the Shippetaukin branch of the Assanpink creek» This connect¬
ing, cut would on this route, be the lowest part of the ground di-
2
Tiding the waters of the two rivers» and would form the summit or
crown level of the canal. The boats would be raised by locks to
this level, whieh would be supplied by a feeder from the nearest
stream of suflSicient elevation ; they would from thence deseend by
locks into the Shippetaukin, where a like process would be used,
to enable them to navigate to the Assanpink, and down the As-
sanpink by Lamberton to the Delaware. In this route it would be
necessary in some places to make cuts through entervening low
grounds, and to depart occasionally from the beds of the streams ;
the elevation of the summit level would be about forty-six feet above
the tide water, and the whole distance would be about forty miles.
The route was viewed and levelled by several gentlemen in the
year 1804, who were Of opinion that a communication might be
opened between the tide waters of the Delaware and Raritan, of at
least three and a half feet in depth.
This plan is liable to objections :
1st. From the diflSculty and great expense of removing ob¬
structions in the beds of the Raritan and Millstone, which are
formed as far as Rockyhill, of red sand-stone and its accompanying
red shell, or wack.
2d. From the precipitous, marshy, or cavernous banks of the
streams, preventing the construction, and continuance of towing
paths, tliereby rendering the labour of men necessary, for propel¬
ling boats, instead of the draught of horses.
3d. From the dams across the streams occasioning backwater
on the adjacent ground, destroying the finer species of grass, ánd
generating a miasma, affecting the health of the inhabitants of the
country.
4tb. From the locks being placed in low situations, and there¬
fore subject to injury and decay.
5tb. From the cuts in the low grounds being liable to be filled
by freshes »with sand or mud, or to be washed to an improper
size or shape.
6th. From the unequal currents of the streams, which in some
places would require the labour of many men to stem their force.
7th. From the inconvenience of eight mills in the route, any one
of whiclAould at any time during the summer destroy the naviga¬
tion, by using and exhausting the water of their ponds so as to
occasion shallow water above, and to prevent the use of the locks.
8th. From the great distance of the route, preventing the des¬
patch so necessary to ensure a preference of conveyance and trans¬
portation.
9th. From the varying quantity of water at different times of
the year. In dry seasons the water near the dams being spread
over the wide surface of the bed of the creek or river, and in some
places over the adjacent grounds, great quantities would be lost
by evaporation, and on the streams becoming low, the navigation
would be obstructed by either permanent or shifting bars, and
3
shallows, which would be often impassable for several days or
weeks ; and in wet seasons the torrents of water after heavy rains,
would totally stop the navigation, displace the stones and walls
constructed to widen or narrow parts of tlie water course, ñll up
parts of the eha)inel, and sometimes destroy the dams and locks
and perhaps the boats. These contingencies would occasion great
losses to tlie navigation, not only from the expense of removing
sands and obstructions, replacing facilities, and rebuilding dams
and locks ; but also from the injury to the boats and their cargoes,
the delay and loss of time, the consequent l(^s of toll, and the
diversion of trade to other channels.
Another plan has been suggested by digging a canal in the
Tallies and along the banks of the streams above mentioned, pur¬
suing the level as far as practicable, and constructing locks where
necessary ; thus rising to the summit level, from whence the navi¬
gation to the opposite tide water would descend in the valli^, and
along the banks of the other streams, by the same process.
This plan is also liable to objections :
Ist. From the frequent occurrence of deep ravines and gullies,
conveying small runs of water to the stream of the valley, occa¬
sioning expensive aqueducts, culverts, walls, and embankments,
which in wet seasons would be subject to injury.
'2. From tlie adjacent stream overflowing its banks, in souie
situations Ailing the canal with mud or sand, and in other places
destroying the locks and sides, and washing deep holes.
3d. From the irregularity of the rallies, high promontories and
low bottoms often succeeding each other, rendering the crossing of
the stream frequently necessary, by expensive acqueducts.
■ith. From the red stone and other hard matter difficult to exca¬
vate, forming the banks of several of the streams.
5th. From the circuitous route of the navigation,
etil. From the number of locks which would be required at
irregular distances and in ineligible situations.
7th. And above all, from the almost insuperable difficulty of
procuring a sufficient supply of water at the crown level to an¬
swer the demand at the locks, for the passage of every boaj; to or
from the summit, and from thence to the tide water.
Another route proposed was to make a cut from Lamberton to
tlie Assanpink creek, and to proceed on the bed of the Assanpink
to the moutli of Stonybi ook, as in the first mentioned route : from
thence up the Millstone to Devil's brook, up Devil's brook to the
head thereof, from thence across to Lawrence's brook, and to pro¬
ceed on the bed of Lawi-ence's brook to the tide water of the
Raritan. A third route proposed was to ascend Crosswicks creek
to Doctor's creek, up Doctor's creek to the vicinity of AHentown,
and from thence, crossing the Millstone and other intervening
streams, to the Monolopon, then down the Monolopon to South
river, and down South river to the tide water of the Raritan. A
4
fourth route proposed was to proceed from the Assanpink, near
"Wright's mill to the Monolopen, near Mount's mill, or Spotswood.
A fifth from Crosswicks creek to the head of Lawrence's brook,
and a sixth from the head of Lawrence's brook to Wright's mill, on
the Assanpink.
It has also been proposed to dig canals in the vailles of the
above mentioned streams on the foregoing routes, in the manner
specified in the second proposition.
It is obvious, that many of the objections to the plans already
examined apply also to these ; and that there'are others still more
forcible from the elevation of the ground and the scanty supply of
water ; but in order to appreciate their relative merits, it is ne¬
cessary to take a general view of the district of country through
which it is proposed to effect an inland navigation.
In the county of Monmouth, there is a ridge of high land, which
like the chief part of the district, is of alluvial formation ; this ridge
divides the waters of the streams running immediately into the
ocean, from the waters of the streams running into the Delaware
and the Raritan ; the highest part is near Perrine's and tlie
Burnt tavern, in the township of Upper Freehold.
Within a circle of not more than five miles diameter, are the
heads of Tom's River and Metetecunk, flowing into the ocean, of
Crosswicks creek and Assanpink creek, flowing into the Dela¬
ware ; and of the Millstone and South rivers, flowing into the
"Raritan. Although no actual measurement has been made, it
may be safely asserted, that this spot is three hundred feet above
the tide waters of the Delaware and Raritan from hence the
Country gradually descends in a noi-therly direction to the mouth
of the Millstone, a distance of thirty miles, and where the waters
of the Raritan are not more than thirteen feet above the tide wa¬
ter.
It is manifest, therefore, that the further we proceed from this
circle in a northerly direction, and the nearer we approach the
mouth of the Millstone, the less will he our elevation above the
tide water ; hut in our progress northerly, keeping in view the
descending country between the Delaware and the Raritan, we are
stopped by Rockyhili and the Sandhills, the farmer a part of the
granite ridge, first appears in the south easterly part of Hunter¬
don county, passes through the westerly part of Somerset county,
permits the Millstone to pass in a northerly direction through a nar¬
row gap between Ringston and Rockyhill Proper, and terminates
in Middlesex county, near Dean's saw mill, on Lawrence's brook,
where it gives place to sand-stone, and wack, which continue to
New-Brunswick. The Sandhills are a detached mass of sand,
of greater elevation than the terminating part of Rockyhill, and
are situated about one mile to the northward of Dean's saw-mill.
The sides of the gap of Rockyhill, are of considerable elevation
with little soil« A spur or branch, of Rockyhill, hut of difierent
5
formation, extends from hence northerly for several miles on the
right of tiie Millstone, forming its second bank, and contains sand
stone and wack, also of considerable elevation. From this view
it is apparent that we cannot proceed to the northward of the ter¬
mination of Rockyhill, and that the ground near this termination
is htwer than the ground to the southward of it towards the sour¬
ces of the Millstone and South rivers, and the Assanpink and
Crosswicks creeks.
It is also to be noticed that Stonybrook, fmm its confluence with
the Millstone, to the vicinity of the great meadows (tf Law¬
rence, and the Shippetaukin, from its confluence with the
Assanpink to the same great meadows, are sluggish streams with
vei-y little perceptible fall ; and that in the time of freshes part of
the water of Stonybrook is discharged through the great meadows,
by the Shippetaukin into the Assanpink, from which it is inferred,
that those meadows are lower than the Millstone and Assanpink,
above Scudder's and John Mount's mills.
It will likewise be recollected, that a single foot of additional
height of the summit level of a canal, gives two feet additional as¬
cent and descent of boats, increasing the expense of constructing
the locks, produces greater delay and requires more labour for
the transit, is attended with a great consumption of water, and
occasions a smaller supply by placing the canal above the level of
some streams, and nearer the sources of others.
From the foregoing objections to tite old plan of using the beds
of the streams with connecting cuts and locks, and to the more
recent mode of pursuing the vallies of the streams with canals ad¬
jacent to their banks, and from a general view of the face of the
country, it was pntposed as the plan of the Delaware and Raritan
Canal that the lowest part of the ground dividing the highest
streams which would be intersected between the Delaware and the
Raritan, should be ascertained, and assumed as the point of pas¬
sage of the canal, which would be the highest part of the ground
that it would be necessary to pass between the two rivers ; that
a level should be pursued from this place and on this elevation
towards the Delaware and towards the Raritan, terminating on
a high bank on the tide water of each of the rivers, and that locks
should be constructed at such banks for the ascent and descent of
boats to and from the canal and the tide waters.
It appeared reasonable that if this level could be pursued with¬
out meeting with hills or hollows, which could not be passed with
moderate digging or embanking, and if banks could be found at
convenient places on the tide waters of the Delaware and the Rar¬
itan, and of the same elevation, or which might be made so by
moderate digging or embanking, that great advantages would result
from the adoption of this plan.
1st. The canal ci-ossing the country on the surface of the
ground, as much water as may be requisite of all the streams in-
6
terseeting it, may be turned into it by dams and feeders construc¬
ted in and from those streams, at short distances above the canal,
and the quantity of water supplied will be regulated by the gates
of the feeders, the remainder of the water will fall over the dams,
and pursue the old channels through arches or culverts under the
canal.
2d. It will not he necessary to conduct a feeder to the spot as¬
sumed as the crown level, as the whole canal will he of the same
elevation, hut the feeders may supply the requisite quantity of
water at any point or points between the Delaware and the
Raritan.
3d. The canal being on a dead level the whole distance, its
sides will not he subject to injury by the rapid flowing of the wa¬
ter, nor will the puddling he disturbed so as to occasion a loss of
water.
4th. Heavy rains or freshes will not impede the navigation
nor injure the canal, as the quantity of water running into it will
he at perfect command.
5th. There will he no difficulty in locating and constructing
reservoirs for the whole line of canal, to he filled in the time of
freshes and to he used in dry seasons, to prevent any injury to
the mills.
6th. The mills and low-lands on the streams will he benefit¬
ted by the filling of the copious reservoirs, which will tend to di¬
minish the height of the freshes, and to give a more regular sup¬
ply of water in the summer.
7th. The greatest drouglit will not prevent the continual
navigation of the whole length of the canal from lock to lock, that
is, from river to river.
8th. If by an increased intercouse, and constant ascent and
descent of large boats to and from the tide waters, there should not
he a sufficiency of water for the locks in a dry season, without
injury to the mills, modes may he adopted to transfer the freight
of part of the boats to and from the tide waters to other boats,
without any loss of water.
9th. Modes may he also adopted to lessen the consumption of
water at the locks on the tide water, by returning a part to the
canal during the descent of the boats, and to obtain a further sup¬
ply from the tide water during the descent of boats or freights, and
at other times by means of other machinery.
10th. As in the usual mode of following the vallies of streams,
the water must he drawn out of the connecting cut or summit le¬
vel canal, whenever a boat enters or departs from it ; if the level
extends only a short distance a basin for the summit locks will be
necessary ; but if the canal extends the whole distance without a
lock, it becomes itself the basin for the locks, and other basins for
that purpose will be unnecessary.
7
Util. There wiD be no delay in ascending or descending locks
at irregular distances between river and river ; but the whole
ascent or descent will be performed at one time and at one place.
12th. Only two keepers of locks with their necessary attend¬
ants will be required to superintend tlie ascent or descent of boats ;
but if there are fifteen or twenty locks at different places, as many
superintendants wUl be necessary.
13th. The locks will be built at the tide waters of the rivers,
where stone, lime, and other materials for their construction may
be brought by water, instead of being caiiicd into the country at a
great expense.
i4)th. A plan is offered for consideration, for ascending or
descending the whole height between the tide waters and the ca¬
nal by a single lock, on a construction which will save a large
proportion of the water, time and labour, which would be required
by the common mode for the same height.
15th. If the sum appropriated or subscribed for the underta¬
king should be insufficient for the whole expense, the canal may.
be completed, and used from the Delaware bank to the Raritan
bank, without locks in the first instance, and at a future period
they may be constructed for the passage of boats to and from the
tide water.
16th. Tlie towing paths, being on a dead level from river to
river, will form an excellent turnpike road for carriages of a par¬
ticular construction, during the winter season, when the navigation
of the canal will be obstructed by ice.
17th. Mills may be erected on the banks of the canal, and
the most arid part of the country may be irrigated by the surplus
water.
18th. The grand trunk canal between the Delaware and the
Raritan being assumed as the New-Jersey level, minor canals
may at a future period be constructed, branching off from it through
most of the counties of the state, creating an easy, active, safe,
cheap, and lucrative, inland commerce, by receiving the mate¬
rials for agriculture, manufactures, and domestic economy and
comforts, and by transmitting their multifarious products.
It being deemed expedient to ascertain the practicability of the
last mentioned plan, the commissioners in order to obtain an ac¬
curate knowledge of the country tiirougb which the canal would
pass, appointed Mc. Randel to make a map of the district on a
scale of one mile to an inch, and to lay down the hills, vailles,
swamps, roads, and streams of water, from such materials as it
was in their power to procure ; and they ap])ointed Mr. Erickson,
a skilful mill-wright, to follow the several streams within the dis¬
trict, to observe the banks andeurrents, and to ascertain the num¬
ber of mills, and the number of feet of fall at each, to be inserted on
the map by Mr. Randel.
8
By means of this information* and a toui' through the district^
in which the hills and streams, and the ascent and descent of the
country were particularly attended to, it was ascertained that the
lowest part of the ground di^Hding the streams intersected by a
line drawn from tlie Delaware to the Raritan, is near Long-bridge
farm : from this place it was supposed that a level might be run
to suitable banks on the Delaware and the Raritan, and that the
proposed plan might be carried into effect.
Mr. Randel was appointed to run the level, and a contract was
entered into with him, by which he engaged to pursue a level line
as far as was practicable from Long-bridge farm to the Delaware,
and to the Raritan, in the shortest direction that the ground would
admit, which line should be run with the greatest accuracy, and
be esteemed the base line of the work, to ascertain the angles of
elevation and depression of the surface of the earth, and the an¬
gles and distances of the courses of the line, to place monumental
stones in the base line about one mile a part, and to have the
height of every monument above the tide water accurately noted,
to give a section of the country at the distance of every half mile,
at right angles with the base line, and from forty to eighty chains
distant from the same north-westerly and south-easterly ; to sink
shafts in the base line, averaging one for every mile, and six feet
deep; to measure the quantity of water in all streams intersecting
or running near the base line by ascertaining the amount flowing
in each stream in cubic feet per hour ; to make a map containing
a section or profile of the above levelled lines, the horizontal scale
of which to be one thousand feet to an inch, and the perpendicular
scale fifty feet t»j an inch ; to make another map containing a bird's
eye view of the route of the canal, and cross sections on a scale
of one thousand feet to an inch, and to lay down on it all useful mat¬
ter to be obtained while peiforming the survey, for the distance of
one mile on each side of the base line; and to complete the general
map of the country between the Delaware and the Raritan, and
three miles north-west, and ten miles south-east of tlie Trenton
and New-Brunswick turnpike road, and to finish the whole by the
first day of October, then ensuing.
It will be observed that it was intended by this contract to es¬
tablish a base line of great accuracy, which might also perhaps be
the line of canal ; that the monumental stones denoting the exact
height of each above the tide water might at any time hereafter
be resorted to in running lines of level diverging from the base
line to ascertain the height of places requiring investigation, as it
was esteemed more proper to give scope to the professional talents
of those practical gentlemen who may be hereafter employed, than
to confine them to a particular course, being well aware of the pro¬
priety of the observation of Mr. Weston, " that it requires the ut¬
most skill of the Professional Engineer to determine on the proper
line of canal," and that the success or failure of the undertaking
9
iVequently depends on this part of the work, that the maps, profiles,
and sections, would furnisli a general knowledge of tiie district of
country, and an accurate knowledge of the elevation and depres¬
sion, topography and chorography of nearl;^ two miles in breadth, of
tiie most suitable tract for a canal ; that the shafts would ascertain
the nature of the soil, and the kind of earth to he removed ; informa¬
tion so necessary in order to form an estimate of the expense of the
work, and that a knowledge of the quantity of water which might be
procured from the different streams, would show the size of the
canal that might he constructed, and the extent to which the nav¬
igation might hereafter he conducted.
In pursuance of this agreement, Mr. Kandel commenced his
operations on the fifteenth of August last, by causing exploring
lines to be run from Long-bridge farm, in direct lines to the tide
watei-s of the Delaware and the Raritan, and shortly after began
to level the hase line from the same place towards the Delaware,
but from the late period of commencing the work, the subsequent
unfavourable weatiier and other contingencies, he did not arrive
on the banks of the Delaware, until the lOtli of October, when he
was under tlie necessity of suspending the levelling for some
weeks, on account of prior engagements with the coriioration of
the city of New-York-—he afterwards resumed the business, and
on the 29th of December completed the field work.
The commissioners have since iiad the pleasure to receive Mr.
RandePs report on the performance of his contract accompanied,
with part of the stipulated documents, and now venture briefly to
state that in their opinion, a canal may be constructed from the
banks of the Delaware or Crosswicks creek to Long-bridge farm j
and from thence to the banks of the Raritan, between New-
Brunswick and Washington, on a dead leyeJ, without the necessi¬
ty of a lock, and with verymodcratc exti a diggmg or çmbauking;
of course the only ascent or descent, will be on the banks of the
rivers, between the tide waters and the canal ; that by planning
the surface of the water in the canal about thirteen feet below the
surface of the earth, at the summit near Long-bridge farm, the
level may be pursued near the surface of tiie eartli, and the ca¬
nal may arrive at convenient banks at eacii end, about sixty-eight
feet above the medium of high and low tide water in the Dela¬
ware and Raritan ; that Lawrence's and Devil's brooks, and
Totomy's and Hixson's runs, and several other small streams,
may be admitted into the canal near tiieir sources without dams,
and that the surplus water may be discharged into their old beds,
without injury to the canal : that Cranbury bmik. Millstone
river. Bear brook, Assan pink creek, and Miry run, maybe cross¬
ed on aqueducts, leaving sufficient space for the passage of the
streams through arches under the canal ; tiiat it is at present
siqiposcd that part of the water of Cranbury brook and Bear
brook, may be brought to the canal by raising the mill dams near
the crossing places, and the mills will be benefitted Iiy the alteiv
B
10
ation ; that part of the water of Millstone river, Assanpink creek,
and Doctor's creek, may be brought to the canal by feeders, whicli
may extend from the canal on a level until they admit part of tiie
streams ; and that these feeders may be used as branch canals,
communicating with the grand trunk, and extending the benefits
of inland navigation several miles to the southward ; that it will
not be necessaiy that the canal should intersect Heatbcote's brook
though it may run very near it ; and that a part or tiie whole of
its waters may be used if expedient, by constructing a short feed¬
er ; that the loute of the canal will not deviate two miles to the
northwest or soutiieast of a straight line, and that the whole dis¬
tance, including tlie necessary curvatures, will be about twenty-
nine miles.
In the foregoing designation of the most eligible route, the
commissioners have declined stating the precise spots for the com¬
mencement and termination of the canal on tlie tide waters; tiiere
are several w iiich have advantages nearly equal ; to fix the par
ticular points will be the business of the pi-ofessional engineer, af¬
ter a careful study of the banks and rivers, and after the plan of
the locks has been finally determined on: to offer an opinion at
present would oidy give an imaginary value to places, which
would be favourable to speculation, and unfavourable to the ca¬
nal.
In estimating the probable exj'ense of a canal, the commission¬
ers are naturally led to consider its dimensions, the nature of the
soil througii which it will pass, the quantity and the price of the
land which will be requisite, the plans of work which will be ne¬
cessary for the safety and success of the enterprise, and the eleva¬
tion of the level above the tide water.
As to the dimensions, the commissioners do not dissemble that
their thoughts and w ishes are directed in the first instance to the
construction of a canal which may be applicable to national pur-
I)oses ; and w iiicii may form a link in the chain of itiland naviga¬
tion from Massachusetts to Georgia. The Secretary of the Trea¬
sury of the United States, in his report on roads and canals in the
year 1808, states that a navigation for sea vessels drawing eight
feet of water, may be effected from Massachusetts to the southern
extremity of Georgia ; and it is desirable that the proposed canal
from the Raritan to the Delaware, may be constructed in confor¬
mity with this ¡dan. The water in a canal admitting vessels of
eight feet draught, should be nine feet deep ; and the sides should
slope in the proportion of five feet to three, that is, for three feet
rise there should be five feet slope on each side, orten feet in the
whole, being equal to an angle of thirty-one degrees with the
plane of the horizon.
The sides of canals formerly were constructed w ith less slope,
but the more modern arc made, and it is supposed with good rea¬
son, with the inclination .above mentioned. If, therefore, a canal
is made twenty-six feet wide at the bottom, and nine feet
11
tleei), it will be fifty-six feet wide on the surface of the water :
this surface should be the line of the canal, and he on a
level as nearly as practicable witli the general surface of the
earth. If the line of the canal should be below the sur¬
face of the earth, an extra expense will be incurred for deep
cutting ; and if above there will be an extra lockage, an extra
leakage, through the fresh earth, and in many places an extra ex¬
pense for embanking ; the toeing paths should be raised on tlie
embankment two feet above tli'e line of the canal, and should be
formed of the excavated earth ; wdlere moderate elevations inter¬
vene in the route of the canal, which cannot be avoided by a gen¬
tle deviation of the course to the riglit or to the left, a deep cut
will be made, and where hollows or ravines, in the same manner
occur, an embankment will be raised ; where rivers or creeks are
to be crossed, aqueducts will be constructed, while culverts will be
sufficient for the transit of minor streams, which are not admitted
into the canal. The expense of the excavation will depend on the
nature of the excavated matter and on the size of the canal ; loose
sand may be removed at less cost per cubic yard than tough clay,
iiard pan or stones and gravel : and a narrow and shallow canal
may be excavated at less expense per cubic yard, than if it is broad
ami deep : the information on this subject has been very vague,
probably from the above causes. In England there are estimates
from ti)ree pence to seven pence sterling per cubic yaixl ; in this
country the commissioners on the canals of the state of Ncw-Yoi*k,
in one of their reports, have estimated the excavation at 12 1-2
cents per cubic yard, and in another report on the same canal at
25 cents.
1st. For the canal under contemplation, as the ground is un¬
commonly favourable for excavation, being generally a sandy
loam, it is concluded tbat 20 cents per cubic yard will be a suita¬
ble estimate, calculating, as if the whole line of canal was on the
surface of the earth, and including the deep cutting and embanking
where requisite : the excavation therefore of a canal of the dimen¬
sions proposed, will cost 814,*32 per mile, for 29 miles, 3*18,528
2d. The width of a canal on a level with the
towing paths will be 62,66 feet, being 6,66 feet
wider than the surface of the water in the
canal. 62,66
The breath of the towing path 2*.
The space requisite for the surplus excava¬
ted earth, and for the slope of tl»e external
sides at an angle of 45 degrees, 45,34
Total width of the land requited, 132 feet
One mile in length, and 132 feet in breadth,
will contain 16 acres, and 29 miles, w ill con-
tain 464 acres. 418,528
12
Brought forward él8,S28
It is evident, that in many places adjoining
the canal the land will become extremely val¬
uable, and that the benefits received by some
of the owners would much more than remu¬
nerate the damages sustained by others ; but
as it is desirable that the proprietors should
be perfectly satisfied with the proceedings of
the government, tlie estimate of the value of
the land may be made in the following man¬
ner :
1 mile averaging $152 per acre—$152
2 miles 100 200
■i> 80 320
6 70 420
8 60 480
8 50 400
29 miles averaging S68 per acre, 1972
464 acres averaging §68 per acre, 31,552
3d. There will also be requisite a further
quantity of land on account of high banking,
deep cutting, and short turnings, which will
require a greater widtii than 132 feet, also
for doeks basins and landing places, perhaps
equal to 1-8 of the whole quantity—58 acres
at Ses per acre. 3,944
4th. For reservoirs, dams and feeders, say
SOO acres of land at 650 per acre. 25,000
5th. Water Rights. As great care will be
taken to preserve the power of the mills, and
as very few sites will be desti-oycd or even in¬
jured, it is estimated that 68,000 w ill be a suf¬
ficient compensation for the water rights, the
ow ners reserving ttie land. 8,000
6th. Aqueducts. It is very difficult to es-
tiniate the expense of the aqueducts before
the precise spots are ascertained, where the
canal will pass the streams ; but it is suppos¬
ed that they will cost, if executed in substan¬
tial masonry, 60,000
7th. Culverts and Bridges. It is proposed
to construct culverts where practicable, for
the passage of the public higliways and the
private roads, as well as for the passage of the
small streams and where impracticable, draw¬
bridges or swivel bridges will be requisite : —
Carried forward, 587,024
la
Brought forward 587,024
3ay 50 culverts, draw-bridges & swivel-bridges. 40,000
8th. Back drains. Wiierever there is an
embankment, and wherever the surface of the
water in the canal is above the surface of the
earth, there ought to be a back-drain to pro¬
tect the owner of the adjacent land from inju¬
ry : there ought also to be drains to lead to
and from the culverts, small streams and rain¬
falls, which it would be improper to admit, or
which cannot be conveniently admitted into
the canal. 1,000
9th. Hard Matter. There may be an ex¬
tra charge for red-shell and sand stone, to be
excavated near the banks of the Rarita%
which may be estimated at 5,000
iOth. Blowing rocks. There are some
granite rocks at the termination of Rocky-
Hill, near Dean's saw-mill, on Lawrence's
brook ; but it is presumed that gl,000 will
be sufficient to remove them. 1,000
11th. Woodland and heavy Timber. The
extra charge on account of removing the
stumps and roots of trees ought not to be more
than 2,000
12th Short turns. The route will be very
free from them, and gl,000 are deemed a suf¬
ficient estimate. 1,000
13th. Lining and puddling the sides of the
embankment, and in some places the bottom
and sides of the canal. 10,000
i4th. Levelling and gravelling the towing
paths, and dressing and resoiling the external
banks. < 5,000
15th. For 20 overfalls to discharge the sur¬
plus water of the canal in case of rains, freshes
or extra admissions, in order to preserve the
dead level of the water in the canal, and to pro¬
tect the embankments ; these may be estima¬
ted at g3200 each. 4,000
16th. For S stop-gates, to prevent the wa¬
ter from flowing off in case of an accident to
an embankment, and to facilitate the repairs
of such parts of the canal, as may require it,
at gl ,200 each. 9,600
17th. Between each stop gate there should
be a sluice, to let off the water for cleaning or
repairing that part of the canal, at 150 dis. each, 1200
666,824
14
Brought forward 666,82^1
18th. For constructing reservoirs, dams,
feeders and water gates. 30,000
19th. For constructing docks, basins and
landing places. 5,000
20th. For toll houses, fences and land
gates. 5,000
21st. Fur locks 136 feet, at 1,250 dollars
per foot. 170,000
Total cost of the canal, 836,824
In planning the locks, there will be an elccellent opportunity for
the display of the skill of the engineer : a spot may be selected,
where there is a ravine gently sloping to the river for the extent
of a mile ; to avoid deep cutting, the canal may descend by the
bank of the ravine, and a space of canal may be constructed be¬
tween each lock, as a basin for the supply of the adjoining lower
lock ; or the ravine itself may be converted into a canal, with
dams and locks across it, descending to the tide water j or ground
gently sloping for'a mile or two to the river may be divided into
spaces for locks, with a basin between each, for the supply of the
adjoining lower lock : or the canal may be brought to a basin on
the bold bank of the river, and to avoid deep cutting the boats
may descend by a combination of locks constructed nearly at
right angles with the canal in the bank of ¡the river, and
by the side of it to the tide water ; or a lock may be con¬
structed the whole hciglit of the ascent from the tide water to
the canal ; boats may enter from the canal through gates, or from
the tide water through a tunnel with gates, the water may be
discharged for the descending boats into ten or twelve basins of
intermediate heights, when the boat will be on a level with the
tunnel and depart ; and the water reserved in the basin will
raise the ascending boats to the level of the upper gate
Locks of the common construction have uSÂally a rise of from
five to ten feet : locks of ten feet rise may be built for a less sum
for the same total rise than those of five feet rise, as there will be
only half the number, and of course only half the preparatory
foundations, and much less time will be necessary for the ascent
or descent of the height ; but they will consume double the quan¬
tity of water, and they will be more liable to accidents and to be
out of repair ; they must be of the depth of the canal in addition
to the rise, and the lower gates must correspond with the depth of
the locks. In the present instance, it would be very difficult to
construct substantial lower gates nineteen feet in height, that is
the proposed depth of the canal with a rise of ten feet ; if one of
the locks has a greater ! ise than the rest, the consumption of
water will he the same as if they were all of that height ; thus,
one lock of ten feet rise and ten locks of five feet rise in succession,
will consume double the quantity that twelve locks of five feet rise
will consume.
15
rtie expense of the locks will depend in some measure on the
plan of tiie construction ; they have been built at the Little Falls
on the Mohawk river for 1000 dollars for every foot of the rise ;
but there excellent stone is on the spot, and the locks are only
twelve feet wide ; for the proposed canal locks have been estimated
at 1250 dollars per foot, and the expense will be more or less ac¬
cording to the plan by which tliey may be built.
As every provision should be made for the convenience and ac¬
commodation of the inhabitants of the district, it is proposed when¬
ever the ground will admit, that the culverts and the end arches
of the acqueducts should be constructed of sufficient size for the
passage of a carriage and horses, by dipping roads with a water
course below the level ; this easy mode of intercourse is also pro¬
posed for the public highways, which in some cases may be led
to them, as they will be more permanent and less expensive than
draw-bridges, or swivel bridges, and they will be attended with
no inconvenience to travellers or navigators, in the manner that
bridges frequently are.
The legislature of the state, having evinced their conviction of
the importance and utility of inland navigation, by enacting the
law under which this investigation lias been made, it is unne¬
cessary for the commissioners to animadvert on the utility of the
proposed canal ; but it may be proper for them lo enquire into
what may he termed the capacity of its utility, that is whether it
can be supplied with a sufficiency of water for an extensive, or
even a limited navigation : for want of this enquiry, canals have
been made in Europe at a great expense, and have been after¬
wards abandoned or converted into railways.
The quantity of water required for the canal will depend on
the plan of the locks and the amount of the transportation, after
making the necessary deductions for eva})oration, soakage, and
leakage. The evaporation fi'om a canal has been estimated in
Europe at one tenth of an inch of the surface per day : although
there may be a difference in the amount in the proposed line of
canal, it is safer to pi-oceed on estimates which have been hereto¬
fore made, in countries where canals have been constructed, than
to hazard an alteration without sufficient data.
The evaporation, therefore, on a canal twenty-nine miles in
ength, and fifty-six feet in breadth will at one tenth of an inch of
the surface jter day, amount to scvcnty-one thousand four hundred
and fifty-six cubic feet.
The soakage into the earth, after the parts requiring it have
been lined and puddled, may be estimated at the same amount j)er
day—seventy-one thousand, four hundred and sixty-six cubic
feet.
The leakage at the locks may be estimated at three locksful,
whether the rise of the lock is five feet or ten ; as the line of aper¬
ture in the latter is double in height, and the pressure of the wa-
16
ter at the bottom is in a quadruple proportion, ir the locks are
eighty feet long, and twenty feet widé, three lueksful of ten feetr
rise will be forty-eight thousand cubic feet ; of five feet rise,
twenty-four thousand cubic feet. There will therefore be requi¬
site one hundred and ninety thousand, nine hundred and twelve
cubic feet, with locks of ten feet rise, and one hundred and sixty-
six tliousand, nine hundred and twelve with locks of five feet rise,
for the daily evaporation, soakage, and ordinary leakage of the
canal.
A lock eighty feet long, twenty feet wide, and nine feet deep,
may admit vessels of nearly a hundred tons burthen ; it will also
admit two canal boats, seventy-five feet long, nine and a half feet
wide, and carrying fifty tons each, or four canal boats thirty-seven
feet long, nine and a half feet wide, and carrying twenty-five tons
each, or three .branch canal boats seventy-five feet long, six feet
wide, and nearly thirty inches deep, carrying twenty tons each.
Supposing fourteen locksful of water tobe used at each end of the
canal every day, or twenty-cjgiit locksfui at both ends, this may
affect the daily ascent and descent of five hundred tons eacii way
from river to river, on a compilation tliat seventy-one and a half
tons pass on an average at eacli operation of tlic locks.
It has been stated that a lock of ten feet rise will contain sixteen
thousand cubic feet, and of five feet rise eight thousand cubic feet ;
twenty-eight locksful of ten feet rise wiU contain four hundred and
forty-eight tliousand cubic feet, and of five feet rise two hundred
and tw enty-four thousand.
But there will be an extra leakage at the locks according to
the number of times the gates are opeited, which in twenty eight
times may be estimated at two loclcsful, or thirty-two thousand
cubic feet on locks of ten fçet rise, or sixteen thousand on locks of
five feet rise.
The whole daily expenditure, therefore, with locks of ten feet
rise will be six hundred and seventy thousand nine hundred and
twelve cubic feet, and with locks of Ato feet rise will be four hun¬
dred and six thousand nine hundred and twelve.
It may be proper to observe, that the quantity of water is esti¬
mated by the number of times the upper lock is filled, as the wa¬
ter of that lock answers for all the locks below it in succession :
and that the above estimated daily expenditure of water will
amount to only ninety four hundredths of an inch of the depth of
the canal, with locks of ten feet rise, and fifly-seven hundi-edths
of an inch with locks of five feet rise. The advantage of the whole
canal being the basin for the locks becomes apparent by this state¬
ment, as there will be no suspension of passage in the canal on
account of an extra number of boats at the locks ; but they may
continue to pass without intermission for several days, even if there
was no addiiihnal water admitted into the canal. Two hundred
locksful, whicii .will be sulBcient to transport eight thousand tons
17
from river to river, will lower the water in the canal only five and
a half inches, while in the ordinary mode of ascending to the sum¬
mit by distant locks, if there were locks within half a mile of
each other at each end of the summit, and the same number of
tons attempted to be transported, under the same circumstances,
the canal at the summit would be drained to the bottom, before
five tiiousand tons would pass if practicable.
According to the computation of Mr. Randel all the streams
which are applicable to the supply of the canal discharge seven
millions four hundred and eleven thousand cubic feet per day at
the places where the water may be used ; but the quatitity of wa¬
fer which will be requisite for the canal, if twenty-eight tocksful are
used daily, has been stated to be four hundred and six thousand
nine hundred and twelve cubic feet with locks of live feet rise,
which is less than one eighteenth part of the water flowing daily in
the streams.
In planning a work which may continue for ages, great care
should be taken to provide against emergencies which may occur
at a future period. Although the natural streams may at present
be sufficient for the supply of the canal in the existing state of
commmerce, prudence requires us to look forward to the p<'riod,
when by the improvements of agriculture, in draining swamps and
low grounds, and by constructing and clearing water courses, the
natural summer supply of the streams will be greatly diminished,
while the commerce will he increased by the completion of other
canals and improvements, enlarging the sphere of action and in¬
tercourse, and which in time of war may be augmented in a tenfold
proportion, by unarmed vessels withdrawing fixnn the ocean with¬
in our own territories and navigating safe waters. Attention should'
also be paid to the situation of the mills and the machinery de¬
pendent on the streams. The preservation of these valuable
works is of vital importance to the inhabitants of the district, and
although the owners may be ftdly compensated if deprived of them,
still the loss to the state would be immense, and ought to be avoid¬
ed. With this view the commissioners have proposed to appro¬
priate for reservoirs four hundred acres of land, to be procured
while it may be obtained at a moderate, rate, and before the rise
in the value of the soil, which may probably take place from the
further improvement of the countiy, the erection of buildings,
and the vicinity of the canal. The reservoirs collecting the wa¬
ter which would otherwise run off in injurious freshes overflowing
the low grounds, and occasioning backwater at the mills^ will ben¬
efit the agriculturists and manufacturers, and the water escaping
from them by soakage will augment tiie springs and water cour¬
ses on a lower level, and furnish a further gradual supply to the
adjacent mills, and in some cases to the canal itself. If the re¬
servoirs make a part of the original undertaking they will be bet-
c
18
ter arranged than if introduced at a future day, as a substitute
for deficiencies ; and if judiciously planned, there will not be the
same danger of their injuring the health of the inhabitants by
miasma as there is from the overflowing of the low grounds of riv¬
ers. Reservoirs have been constructed for many of the canals
of Europe : those of the canal of Languedoc contain five hundred
and ninety five acres, and those of the Rochdale canal, cover
three hundred and eighteen acres. The canal of the Forth and
Clyde has one reservoir which covers a suiface of fifty acres,
and is twenty-four feet deep ; and another which contains seventy
acres, and is hanked up twenty-two feet at the sluice.
Some of the proposed reservoirs may include ravines and
swamps, at a distance from the canal, and if by embarkmcnts the
water covers four hundred acres of land ten feet deep on an ave¬
rage, and if the reservoirs are filled by freshes twice in a year,
there will be three hundred and forty-eight millions, four hundred
and eighty thousand cubic feet, and after deducting evaporation,
soakage and leakage, which may be estimated at two thirds of the
whole, there will still be one hundred and sixty thousand cubic
feet applicable to the canal, which with locks of five feet rise will
supply a sufiiciency of water for two hundred and eighty-five days,
a longer period than the usual season of navigation. But if it is
contemplated to have locks of ten feet rise instead of five feet,
then it will be necessary for the reservoirs to contain six hundred
and sixty acres, ten feet deep on an average, instead of four hun¬
dred, in order to supply water for two hundred and eighty five
days.
To the question whether there will be sufficient water to fill the
reservoirs ; it may be answered, that Mr. Randel appears to
have measured the water of the streams by the quantity used dai¬
ly at the mills ; and there is no estimate of the quantity which
runs off over the dams during freshes. If we estimate that the
district of country from which the water descends into the sti'cams
that may supply the canal, contains seventy-five square miles,
and if we compute that only thirty inches of rain fall annually on
an average, and that the quantity running from the surface, or
issuing from the earth, within the seventy-five miles, amounts to
three fifths of the quantity falling as rain, there will be tbree
thousand, one hundred and thirty-six millions, three hundred and
twenty thousand cubic feet that flow off in the streams annually ;
deducting from this amount two thousand seven hundred and five
millions, fifteen thousand cubic feet, and sixteen millions, one hun¬
dred, the quantity flowing in the ordinary way at the mills, accor¬
ding to Mr. Handel's mensuration, there will remain four hundred
and twenty-six millions, three hundred and five tliousand cubic
feet for the amount of the freshes, from which there will be taken
three hundred and forty eight millions four hundred and eighty
19
thousand cubic feet, for the supply of the reservoirs, leaving still
a surplus of seventy-seven' millions eight hundred and twenty-flvo
thousand cubic feet.
It will be expedient notwithstanding, that there should be ^
communication by feeders, with all the streams which may be
applicable to the canal, as it would be unsafe to rely entirely on
the reservoirs in case of emergency. Several of the feeders will
be branch canals for the immediate benefit of the district^ con¬
veying articles which without water carriage would not bear the
expense of transportation, as street and stable manure, marl,
plaster, lime, ashes, ores, potter's clay, bricks, wood, charcoal,
fossil-coal, turf, ^'c. The branch canals would diverge front the
grand trunk in various directions, and could be constructed at a
small expense for boats seventy-five feet long, six feet wide, and
nearly thirty inches deep, carrying twenty tons each.
There may be also other modes adopted for proeuring a supply
of water ; it may be advantageously raised from the Delaware or
from the Raritan,by a variety of propelling powers. Thousands
of tons of marl, of a fertilizing quality, almost equal to foreign
plaster, drawn from inexhaustible sources near the track of the
canal, which may be penetrated at a trifling expense by branch
canals, will be annually called for by the agriculturalists of the
adjacent states. This great descending weight may be made the
propelling power of two thirds the weight of water transported at
the same time to the canal, while the descent of the marl may be
efiected by a transhipment without consuming the water of the
upper level ; the same machinery will answer for several other
articles of freight, and by other machinery and by transhipping the
articles, the transportation may be extended to an immense
amount without the loss of water.
Undertakings are frequently objected to on account of their
novelty, and obstacles which appear insurmountable at first are
considered trifling when we become familiar with them ; fortu¬
nately no gigantic projects form the component parts of the pro¬
posed canal ; by comparing the plans of the canals of other coun¬
tries, it will be seen that the difliculties which were overcome in
Europe were of much greater magnitude. ^
The eanai of Languedoc, connecting the Mediterranean sea
with the Atlantic ocean, is one hundred and eighty miles long : the
proposed canal will be twenty nine miles long. The canal of
Holstein, connecting the Baltic sea with the German ocean, is fifty
miles long and ten feet deep ; the proposed canal will be nine
feet deep. The canal of Languedoc is one hundred and forty four
feet wide including the towing paths, and the canal of Holstein, is
fifty feet wide at the bottom ; the proposed canal will be eighty-
six feet wide including the towing paths, and twenty-six feet
wide at the bottom. The summit of the canal of Languedoc, is
20
six hundred and thirty-nine feet above the tide water j of the
Chester canal six hundred and twenty-six ; of the Leeds canal,
five hundred and twenty-five ; and of the Rochdale canal, five
hundred and twenty-one feet : the summit of the proposed canal
will be only sixty-eight feet above the tide water. The canal of
Ladoga, is obstructed by ice above six months in the year : the
proposed canal will not be obstructed by ice three months in the
year. In the Rochdale canal, part of the water of one . of the
reservoirs is raised above sixty-five feet by steam. At Hare-
castle, a canal passes through a tunnel or subterraneous passage
which is two thousand eight hundred and eighty yards in length,
and more than se-venty yards below the surface of the earth. At
Sapperton, there is a tunnel nearly two miles and a half in lengtii.
At Stratford meadows, a canal is carried on an embankment wliich
is nine hundred yards long, seventeen feet high, and one hundred
and twelve feci in breadth at the bottom. At Barton an aque¬
duct nearly fifty feet Idsh and five hundred yards long, conveys a
canal over the navigable river Iruel ; and near Bowling bay, an
aqueduct of four arches carries the canal of the Forth and t'lyde
over the river Kelvin, and a valley sixty-five feet deep, and four
hundred feet in length. In the canal of Languedoc, there are one
hundred and fourteen locks, and only miles of the ca¬
nal are on the same level ; in the proposed canal there w ill not be
more than thirteen locks at each end ; and the intermediate dis¬
tance of twenty-nine miles, will be on the same level, and without
an obstruction.
It will also be seen that great undertakings for the improve?
ment of inland navigation are not confined to Europe ; the Royal
canal of China, from Canton to Pekin, is eight hundred and twen¬
ty-five miles long, fifty feet wide, and nine feet deep.
To complete the investigation, it would be proper to examine
the probable amount of intercourse in number of boats and ton¬
nage, and the rates of tolls and receipts, and also the probable an¬
nual expenditures by salaries of superintendants and workmen, by
wear and tear and by contingencies The commissioners have
forborn to make this enquiry, as it was not made part of their duty
by the law under which they acted, and as it has heretofore been
represented to the House of Assembly , by a committee of that body
that "it is ascertained, from data tolerably correct, that during
" the late war, a sum little short of two millions of dollars, was
" paid for cartage of various kinds of produce, merchandize, and
" military stores across this state."
In the foregoing estimate, the commissioners have inserted eve¬
ry item,of expense which has occurred to them in the course of
their investigation, as applicable to the proposed undertaking ; but
as they do not profess to have any practical knowledge on the sub¬
ject they may have omitted charges which, by some persons may
be esteemed necessary, and there may be plans of work inserted
21
which an experienced engineer may alter or dispense with. It
rests with the legislature to determine whctlu r it would be most
expedient for the state to appropriate the sum requisitt by annual
instalments, and to procure iunds for the purpose by loans or solici¬
tations, or to permit individuals tosubscribe, reserving a part for the
state; or to grant the United States authority to construct the ca¬
nal, with such reservations of privileges to this state, and to the in¬
habitants in the vicinity of the canal, as it may be deemed expedient
to stipulate.
If the latter proposition should be determined on, they are of
opinion, that it ina^ tend to induce the eongi ess of the United feta! s
to promote and complete a general |ilan of inland navigation, asa
strong cement of the Unhm, an excellent pn scr\ ative (4' the lives of
voyaging citizens and mariners, a sure pmtection for dome tic com¬
merce, a ready way of transporting troops and military stores, and a
cheap and safe mode of conveying the products and fabrics of
American agriculturalists and manufacturers to American consu¬
mers.
if the design should be commenced and accomplished under the
direction of the United States, officers of the corps of engineers, with
a due proportion of privates, may be stationed at the locks and res¬
ervoirs, and the whole business conducted with science and econo¬
my.
These civil fortifications, the cheap defence of the nation, and the
silent preventative of the harm of an enemy, will then be arranged
on the same plan and for the same vessels from Massachusetts to
Georgia, and the whole voyage performed under the superintending
care ofthe general government.
The commissioners regret that the short period of time since the
completion of the field work by Mr. Kandel, prevents them from
making a more perfect investigation and report. Being aware of
the general solicitude on the subject, they have concluded to termi¬
nate their enquiries without further delay, and with all due consid¬
eration, they respectfully submit the result of their labors.
JOHN RUTHKRFURD,
JOHNN.SFMPS«?N,
GEORGE HOLGOME,
New-Brunswickj, January 22, 1817.
To the Commissioners appointed by an act of the Legislature of
the State of New-Jersey, entitled " An act for ascertaining the
most eligible route for, and probable expense of, a Canal, to con¬
nect the tide-waters of the Delaware, with those of the Raritan,*'
Passed Feb. 13,1816.
CiENTIiKMEN,
After the execution of the contract on tiie 30th of July last, I con¬
cluded that the most eligible mode of i)erforming the business in¬
trusted to my charge, would be to run exploring lines from Long-,
bridge farm, in direct lines to the White-horse tavern, on the
waters of the Delaware, and to the mile stone on the Raritan,
with a chain and compass ; and to level the same with a spirit
level, in order to obtain a general idea of the course and distance,
and oftlie elevation and depression of the country.
In pursuance of this plan, I caused the lines above mentioned,
to be measured and levelled, and was thereby enabled to form an
estimate of the position and elevation of Long-bridge farm, and to
assume certain principles on which to commence the business.
The commissioners having, at a meeting near Long-bridge farm,
on the 21st of September, agreed, in consequence of information I
communicated to them, by means of the exploring lines, that the
line of Canal might be sunk below the summit, a depth not exceed¬
ing sixteen feet ; I availed myself accordingly of this permission,
and proceeded to pursue a level line as far as practicable, thirteen
feet below the summit, near Long-bridge, by means of a brass as¬
tronomical sector, of 54 inches Radius—the telescope to which is
acromatic, 30 inches in length, and magnifies from 200, to 400
times in superficies, their cross webs subtend an angle of 2.6 sec¬
onds ; the microscopes used at the top and bottom of the hair
plumb-line (which is suspended in a brass case, with a glass front)
magnify 25 times in superficies, and by means of a microme¬
ter, the angles were observed to seconds of a degree. Three
corresponding results on each side of 0. on the instrument, in the
foresight, and backsight of each station, were produced—the ave¬
rage of these twelve observations at each station is reported on
the map. Tlie greatest angle of ascent or descent, taken at any
one station, was 0 deg. 41 min. 51 see. generally ; they did not
exceed 0 deg. 5 min. 0 sec.
After exploring in various directions, and selecting tlie most eli¬
gible route, I at length crossed Miry Run, near Amos Hutchinson's
mil!, on a course towards the White-horse tavern, but finding
that the elevation of the ground near Sand-Town, and Netting-
23
ham-Square, would not permit me to continue the level in that
direction, I deviated to the right towards the Burnt Swamp, and
succeeded in crossing Pond-Run, near the. outlet of Pond-Run
swamp, which I found to be the most eligible place, as the ground
to the right near the Assanpink, and to the left in the swamp was
too low for the requisite elevation ; from hence I proceeded nearly
in a direct line to Lamberton, and found the line of Canal, sixty-
six feet and eighty six hundredths of a foot above the medium of
high and low tide water in the Delaware.
From the place of beginning near Aaron Dean's saw-mill, I pur¬
sued this level to the banks of the Raritan, near the mile stone,
and found the line of Canal to be sixty-eight feet and ninety-one
hundredths of a foot, above the medium of high and low tide water.
I have agreeably to the contract, sunk shafts, six feet deep, near
the following stations, and find the ground in eacli, as follows :
34th station south westerly from Aaron Dean's saw-mill, first
five feet red sand, then fine black gravel.
33d
do
6 feet fine white sand.
31st
do
do
29th
do
4 feet sand, then clay and sand 2 feet.
27th
do
6 feet yellow sand.
25th
do
6 feet red sand.
24th
do
do
22d
do
2 feet sand, then hard gravel 4 feet.
2ist
do
6 feet red gravel and white pebbles.
19th
do
6 feet sand.
17th
do
3 feet fine red sand, then 1 foot sand.
16th
do
3 feet loam, then 3 feet small pebbles mixed
with sand.
15th
do
3 feet loam, then 3 feet fine red sand.
13th
do
2 feet black loam, then 4 feet white gravel.
11th
do
3 feet sand, clay and gravel, 2 feet white sand,
1 foot red sand.
10th
do
5 to 6 feet miry bog, then 3 or 4 feet fine sand
with some pebbles.
9th
do
do
^ 8th
do
do
7th
do
do
6th
do
do
Foot of ■) 3d do large stones on the surface, sand and gravel
Focky Hill. J below.
. , ■) Jñar Aaron Dean's l , , ,
X Saw-MU j gravel and white pebbles.
Between 2 and 3 north easterly of do. very coai-se gravel.
4th do coarse wliite gravel at the surface, and then finer
each foot till the bottom.
5th do 3 feet coarse, then 3 feet fine gravel.
24
6th do 5 feet coarse gravel, then coarse sand.
8th do 6 feet white sand.
9th do 2 feet gravel, 4 feet sand,
loth do 3 feet sand, and then 3 feet coarse gravel.
11th do 6 feet compact coarse gravel and pebbles.
Near a ravine, 12th do sand then red shell.
15th do do
1 liave-also measured the water flowing daily at the mills on the
several streams near the line of Canal, and have found the quan'
tity as follow cth :
Cubic feet,
Lawrence's brook, measured at Aaron Dean's saw-mill, 390,576
Devil's brook, between i3tii and 14th stations, 299,000
Cranberry brook, at E. Stockton's mill, 570,480
Millstone river, near the base line, 2,434,704
Bear brook, at R. Thomas's mill, 397.552
Assanpink river, at John M nint's mills, 343,640
Miry Run, at Amo^ Hutchinson's mill, 360,840
Doctor's creek, at Allentown, 1,614.208
Making an averaged daily supply of Cubic feet, 7,4il.Q00
As the monumental stones were not provided on the ground in
due season, agreeably to contract, I have been unable to place
them while levelling.
I have the pleasure herew ith to present to the Commissioners,
a map, containing a section or profile of the leveled or base line ;
and also of the route of the Canal, which appeared most eligible
while levelling the base line, tlie horizontal scale of which is 1000
feet tb an inch, and the perpendicular scale, 50 feet to an inch.
There are on this map, sections of the probable route of Canal, in
the vicinity of 52 regular stations of the instrument, and also in
the vicinity of 81 intermediate positions on the base line, which
were taken for the sake of greater accuracy in represefrting the
section ; also, a map annexed to the foregoing, and on a scale of
1000 feet to an inch, (iontaining a bird's eye view of the route, be¬
tween the Delaware and the Raritan. on which the leveled or base
line is marked with yellow ; the probable route of the Canal, with
red, and other lines requiringinvestigation, but not yet explored,
with green—Also, a general map of the district on a scale of one
mile to an inch ; 3 miles north west, and 10 miles south east of
the Trenton and New-Brunswick turnpike road.
It is presumed that the map, and section of the probable route
of the Canal, will be accepted in lieu of the proposed cross sections,
as conveying much more satisfactory information.
I am very respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
JOHN KANDEL, Jmi
Mew-Fork, ibth Jan. 1817".
To the Comtnissioners appointed by an act of the Legislature ot the State oi New-Jerscyj entitled An Act for
ascertaining the most eligible route for, and probable expense ofy a Canalj to connect the tide-waters of the Delà
ware with those of the Raritan," Passed 13th Feb. 1816.
Gentlemen,
Pursuant to instructions from your honorable board, I liave placed the 35 brort n monumental stones, furnished me for that pur¬
pose, at the following stations on the leveled or base line ; tlieir positions and elevations occupying the places, and corresponding
with tlie positions and elevations of the posts, placed originally at those stations. I have annexed thereunto, the elevations and
depressions of the tops of the monumental stones and station posts, above or below the top of the Canal, together with the angles
and distances of the lines connecting the several stations on the hase line.
^lonument.
Station
.\'o.
Diuiensions of monu¬
ments in inches
Length
'I'op
Eleviiuoii or
(lepivssion of
each station, a-
bove or below
the top of tlie
Canal, in feet
and decimals.
Situation of stations for a partie
ular description. See accompany¬
ing maps.
Angles and distances from station to station, on the base line.
Direction of each
line from the pre-
ceeding station.
1 placed at
15
32
1-2
6 by 7
1-2
t 2.49
•
* «
14
• • •
t 38.37
2
du
13
32
1-2
8 by 8
t 5.01
3
du
12
37
7 by 7
t 0.21
4
do
11
36
1-2
8 by 6
3-4
t 27.85
5
do
10
35
1-2
7 by 7
1-2
§ 0.17
6
do
9
35
6 l-2by 8
t 24.93
-
do
8
a a a
a
t 31.23
--
do
7
a
a
a a •
a
§ 0.84
7
do
6
35
7 1-2 by 8
t 10.98
8
do
5
35
1-2
7 3-4 by 8 1-2
t 19.25
I
do
4
38
7 3-4 by 6
1-2
t 15.54
lO
do
3
37
7 by 7
t 9.44
—
do
2
.
.
• • •
a
t 7.07
11
do
1
38
1-2
7 by 7
t 10.00
12
do
2
42
7 by 7
t 5.22
—
do
3
.
•
t 9.67
13
do
4
39
7 1-2 by 7
1-2
t 7.67
14
do
5
39
7 by 7
t 7.93
15
do
6
36
7 3-4 by 8
t 9.59
do
7
a
a
a a a
a
t 10.85
16
do
8
38
1-2
7 by 8
t 14.12
17
do
9
35
7 l-2by 9
t 14.45
—
do
10
a a •
a
t 13.06
18
do
11
37
1-2
9 1-2 by 7
t 13.06
do
12
. . .
•
t 8.57
19
do
13
38
1-2
7 1-4 by 8
1-2
t 1.69
do
14
t 1.51
20
do
15
38
9 by 7 1-2
t 13.52
_
do
16
a
a
• • •
a
t 16.92
21
do
17
42
7 by 7
§ 1.66
22
do
18
43
7 1-2 by 7
t 0.29
23
do
19
38
1-2
10 by 8
3-4
t 9.27
24
do
20
38
6 1-2 by 8
1-2
t 21.70
—
do
21
• • •
a
t 16.56
25
do
22
38
1-2
9 by 8
3-4
t 15.60
26
do
23
38
8 1-2 by 7
§ 0.98
27
do
24
43
9 l-2by 8
t 27.36
28
do
25
42
6 1-2 by 7
1-2
t 10.58
—
do
26
a
• • •
.
§ 3.04
29
do
27
42
1-2
7 by 8
t 15.47
SO
do
28
43
6 3-4 by 8
t 17.02
31
do
29
41
1-2
7 1-2 by 7
1-2
§ 6.49
—-
do
30
a
a a •
a
t 13.60
32
do
31
42
1-2
8 1-4 by 7
1-2
t 11.74
33
do
32
41
8 by 7
1-4
§ 7.80
34
do
33
44
9 by 9
1-2
§ 4.18
35
do
34
• • •
.
§ 9.44
—
do
35
46
•
§ 19.51
—
do
36
•
• •
• • ■
•
§ 34.86
—
do
37
.
. .
. .
.
§ 62.15
■ 16 feet south oi' road over Sow-
¡ inan'^ hill, and 200 feet wes¬
terly from the Raritaii river,
N. Simpson's field,
ibm. Potts* woods.
Distal,ces be
tween cm
plete stations
in feet.
-\llgles of base
line,at each sta¬
tion take'ii with
aTlieoiloIiti*
Skle of the hase
line on which
die angles are
made.
, Hunt's field.
Provost's field.
Ü. Van Pelt's field.
field.
field.
N. side - f A. Dean's Mill-Pond.
fames Stewart's woods.
< woods,
¿ foot of Rocky-hill.
do. -
Ç Bog meadow on Long Bridge 1
¿Farm. S
Ç Bo.stedo's field, on Long )
¿ Bridge Farm. 5
In Burnet's swamp.
Wetherill's meadow.
Summit in Burnet's swamp.
edge of Burnet's swamp.
T. Grigg's field.
In a field and 33 feet N. E. of 7
an old mill-dam. S
In Mesliong's meadow, ncar~|
the junction of Skelton, tim-
J her swamp, muddy and drink-
] ing brooks, after which tli»
I stream is called Devil'
l_brook.
Edge of T. Bound's woods
Ç 3 feet N. of a fence near Black
¿ Peter's house.
field
f In woods on the S. bank of the
¿ Cranbury brook.
S In woods near the west bank /
¿ of Bear Brook. i
woods
wooils'd
J
thence S SO ileg. E
S Easterly
S Easterly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S VVesleriy
S Westerly
S W esteriy
S Westeriy
N Westerly
S Westerly
S Easterly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
xim- I
rink* 1
tiie (
ivil's I
J
L't Gravel Hill.
Fs. Wstly. edge of
< woods, and 15 ft. N. K. of
¿Conovcr's fence. '
\Vm. Conover's field.
Dr Clark's woods.
Kirkie's field.
Labau's field.
r field oif
\_East side of Quaker Road. ^
East side of Quaker Road.
do.
West side of Quaker Road.
wood:
woods.
field
field
Ç garden A
< 85 ft. we.st of street C
¿in Lamherton. j
FEast side of streefl
Lin lAmberton. J
F l op of an iron bolt in S. W.'J
-< corner of dock, on C
¿Déla river at Lamherton. \
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Wester
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S 22 cleg. 10 m. W
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
S Westerly
2299.6
2117.2
1823.5
4364.9
5051.3
5016.4
3016.5
4371.4
3117.6
4114.6
3470.6
2793.4
2349.3
1942.1
2894.3
1774.5
946.1
1075
2739.5
2109.8
2444.1
2939.1
2745
2075.4
2409-2
3771.9
2640.1
1415.2
3337-4
3520-5
2651-7
2215-1
2541
2711-1
4759
3500
3143.7
4631.8
3769
1764
2868.9
3789-4
2672-2
1821-4
5822-3
3245-5
8003
3596
768-5
311
Uegs.
m ins
166
145
130
139
145
178
143
bo
32
42
52
10
03
33
156 30
174 42
162 25
156
157
140
123
145
179
29
55
45—
57
07
35
135
118
54
34
120 05
153
130
171
176
0
169
25
14
50
10
0
17
Westerly
Westerly
N W
S
N
N
S
N
N
S
N
S
l-N-
S
N
S
E
\V
W
E
W
W
E
W
E
AW
N
S
S E
E
W
E
W
E
160 32
G
0
0
166
0
0
0
0
0
0
40
0
0
0
N
N
S
N
W
W
E
W
N W
S E
0 0
0
145
0
50
163 05
154 05
179 42
0
157
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
166 46
128 06
N W
S
S
s
N
S
E
E
E
W
E
N W
N W
S E
Note. Those marked thus f are above j and those thus § below the top of the Canal.
The elevation of the station posts have probably been affected by the frost of the two last winters ; they were driven down from
one to one and a half inches, before the monumental stones were placed, nevertheless, as the ground at some of the stations was
miry, it is possible some of the posts may have been altered two or three inches in their elevation.
The high and low tides in the Raritan and Delaware rivers, from w liieh the medium tides in a former Report were taken, were
observed on the 26tli December, 1816, after a calm of 3 or 4 days, when the difference between high and low tides in the Raritan
was found to he 3.39 feet, and in the Delaware river 3.32 feet. Mr. Key worth, of New-Briiiiswick, says, the common tides in the
Raritan, are tliree feet above, and one foot below this observation ; and Mr. T. Ashmore, of Lamherton, says, the common differ¬
ence between liigh and low tide-water in the Delaware river, is five feet.
I have the pleasure herewith to present to the Commissioners, a map containing a section of the ground, half a mile north-west
and south-east of each station, on the leveled or base line, the horizontal scale of which is 1000 feet to an inch, and the perpen¬
dicular scale, 50 feet to an inch, on which the blue lines represent the top of the Canal, and the bed lines the surface of the
ground nearly at right angles to the base line.
I am very respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
V . , « "ÏOHN R.ANDEL, jun.
New-York, 27th Oct. 1818.