Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 1 of 2]Weld, Isaac
History
Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 1 of 2]
Weld, Isaac
Canada -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; United States -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
By means of Cheat and Monongahela rivers it has been shewn, that an
opening may be obtained to Pittsburgh. This will be a route of about
four hundred and fifty miles from Washington, and in it there will be
one portage, from the Patowmac to Cheat River, of thirty-seven miles,
and perhaps two or three others; but these will be all very small. It
has been ascertained beyond doubt, that the Pittsburgh merchant can have
his goods conveyed from New York, by means of the Hudson and Mohawk
rivers, to Oswego, and from thence by the lakes Ontario and Erie, and
the Alleghany River, to Pittsburgh, for one third of the sum which it
costs him to transport them by land from Philadelphia. He prefers
getting them by land, because the route from New York, is uncertain; his
goods may be lost, or damaged, or delayed months beyond the time he
expects them. From Hudson River to the Mohawk is a portage of ten miles,
or thereabouts; and before they can get to Oswego are two or three more.
At Oswego the goods must be shipped on board a vessel suitable for
navigating the lakes, where they are exposed to tempests and contrary
winds. At the Falls of Niagara is a portage of nine miles more; the
goods must here be shipped again on board a vessel on Lake Erie, and
after arriving at Presqu’ Isle must be conveyed over another portage
preparatory to their being laden in a boat upon the Alleghany River. The
whole of this route, from New York to Pittsburgh, is about eight hundred
miles; that from the federal city not much more than half the distance;
if therefore the merchant at Pittsburgh can get his goods conveyed from
New York for one third of what he pays for the carriage of them by land
from Philadelphia, he ought not to pay more than one sixth of the sum
for their carriage from the federal city; it is to be concluded,
therefore, that he will avail himself of the latter route, as there will
be no objection to it on account of any uncertainty in the mode of
conveyance, arising from storms and contrary winds.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account