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HISTORY OF

nel for this gentle current in a workman-like manner. At the Shenan-doah, where the river breaks through the Blue Ridge Mountains,though a prodigious quantity of labour has been bestowed, yet muchis still to be done before the passage will be completed. Such a progresshas been made, however, that it was expected, if the summer had notproved uncommonly rainy, and the river uncommonly high, an avenuefor a partial navigation would have been opened by the first of January,1789, from Fort Cumberland to the great falls, which are within ninemiles of a stopping port.

As soon as the proprietors shall begin to receive toll, they will doubt-less find an ample compensation for their pecuniary advances. By anestimate made many years ago, it was calculated that the amount, in thecommencement, would be at the rate of 11,875!. Virginia currency,per annum. The toll must every year become more productive, as thequantity of articles for exportation will be augmented in a rapid propor-tion with the increase of population and the extension of settlements. Inthe mean time the effect will be immediately seen in the agriculture ofthe interior country ; for the multitude of horses now employed in car-rying its produce to market, will then be used for the purposes of tillage.But in order to form just conceptions of the utility of this inland navi-gation, it will be requisite to notice the long rivers which fall into thePatomak, and even the geographical position of the western waters.

The Shenandoah, which disembogues just above the Blue Moun-tains, may, according to report, be made navigable, at a trifling expence,more than a hundred and fifty miles from its confluence with the Pato-mak, and will receive and convey the produce of the richest part of thestate. The south branch, still higher, is navigable in its present condi-tion nearly, or quite, one hundred miles, through extremely fertile lands.Between these, on the Virginia side, are several small rivers, that maywith facility be improved, so as to afford a passage for boats. On the

Maryland