waste-weirs, 24 road and 24 farm bridges. Estimated cost of construction $536,767.14.

The Nunda valley route presents greater facilities for the distribution of locks, and as will be seen by reference to the profiles, (folio 26-27); allows a distance of 14 miles to attain the elevation effected on the other line in 3 miles; but the extra distance, several expesive ravines, and the deep cut (45 feet) through Nunda hill at Williams' render this route the most expensive.

It is 15 miles long, and will cost $559,733.73; $202,391.46 more than the river line.

Several intelligent gentlemen were of opinion that a more favorable route might be found down Dish Mill creek to its confluence with the Genesee, and thence under the perpendicular river bank, partly in the bed of the stream, to Mount Morris dam. On passing over the ground, however, it was evident that the necessary protection required where the canal must be exposed to the river, would swell the cost far above that of either of the other routes, and as there would be no improvement in the location of the locks, the survey was abandoned.

MOUNT MORRIS TO ROCHESTER.

In making a cursory examination of this valley, the facilities for the construction of a canal appeared so nearly equal on each side of the river, that it was judged expedient to survey and locate two lines.

The estimates for both have been carefully made out, and the cost is herewith presented.

This portion of the Genesee valley has some peculiar features, which may be worthy of remark. The flats, which exceed in fertility and beauty any to be met with in this State, lie upon a bed of quicksand about 20 feet below the surface, and are generally from one to two miles wide, descending towards Rochester with great uniformity at the rate of two feet to the mile. Through these flats the Genesee river takes a circuitous course, frequently mingling its waters with the quicksands below, and occasionally cutting the base of the hills which skirt the valley on either side.

West side.

The route upon the west side of the river crosses the Genesee near Mount Morris dam by an aqueduct of 234 feet in length. Immediately below the mill dam the rock disappears and is not again seen until we arrive at the rapids near Rochester.

An aqueduct constructed at the point proposed must rest upon gravel, and probably quicksand, in which case piles will be neces sary for the security of the foundation. Thence over the Moscow flats to Tracy's store house, 4 miles the line is very nearly straight with the requisite cuttings, and of easy excavation.

Here the river washes the base of the hill; but by some extra cutting the canal may pass without requiring protection from the

river.

From this point to Rochester the location is, with a few exceptions, on the flats near the upland slopes, and sufficiently elevated to be out of danger from the floods..

The base of the hill is washed by the river at 6 points, together measuring 17 miles, 40 chains of which will require extra protection, which is provided for in the estimates.

Slide banks occur at two points; near Gardner's store-house 9 chains, and below Fowlerville bridge, 36 chains 45 chains.

=

To guard against these slides will be difficult and expensive; though for the most part they may be secured by driving piles. Another mode (by which the principal slides would be avoided,) is to cut down the hill and pass into a ravine, as seen on sec. 81 of folio 21 in atlas. This will increase the expense, but add to the security of the work.

Dumplin hill is a high sandy point coming out to the river's bank near Tone's tavern, 7 miles from Rochester. The first or river line encounters this hill. On further examination, however, a very favorable pass was discovered to the west of the ridge, through which the line may run, and avoid the river without increasing the distance.

On this side we pass Beard's, White, Dungan's, Allen's, Big and Little Black creeks. Allen's creek sends forth 3,386.40 cubic feet of water per minute, and is the only stream on which we can depend for a feeder. It may be received into the canal at Scottsville with facility, and is 121 miles from Rochester.

Connected with the Mount Morris dam (see fo. 18 of Atlas,) is a canal about 3 miles long, running to the village and thence across the flats to the Canascraga, a little to the right of the Geneseo road. This work was constructed by John R. Murray, of New-York, for hydraulic purposes; upon it are erected 1 sawmill, 1 hemp factory and a flour-mill with 4 run of stones.

The line from Olean and the Dansville side-cut come together at the foot of the hill under the village, and intersect the Mount Morris canal at the flour-mill about 1 mile from the dam. In the event of continuing the route to Rochester on either side of the river, it may be necessary to make use of a portion of the mill canal for the purposes of a feeder, or as part of a main trunk; and in that case public security would demand that the State should assume the control of the water.

The dam appears to be well built; it is founded on rock, and by some additional protection at the ends, and enlargement of the embankment along the canal, and a new guard lock and pier at the pond, it may be used to advantage for the feeder, or as part of the main canal, in case it should be deemed advisable to cross the river in the pond, which, however, (unless there be peculiar circumstances connected with it calculated to recommend the plan,) should always be avoided. The rise here from extreme low to high water mark, is 6 feet; and the pond is favorably situated for this mode of crossing.

A company have made arrangements for constructing a bridge over the Genesee river at a convenient point, for the connection of

a towing path; and that you may be able to form a just comparison of the merits of the two lines, I have made an estimate of both, and I find the cost of this to be $8,598.03 less than the other.

East side Genesee.

The route upon this side of the river crosses the Canascraga near Col. Fitzhugh's, and by some extra cutting to avoid the river and a few deep ravines which occur, passes on to the end of section 78, three miles below Geneseo, principally over grounds gentły sloping towards the river, and in a very direct and favorable line. Here high lands intervene, and force us off to the left, over broken grounds, in a circuitous direction round by the river's bank, encountering the steep side-hills above Fowlerville bridge, and requiring protection from the stream.

After passing the bridge we leave the river's bank and run on to Avon Springs, with a more favorable line, avoiding several serious slides by keeping up the level over the high grounds.

Gentlemen residing on the line were of opinion that a much shorter and cheaper route might be obtained, by running across the ridge past Hogmier's, on the uplands to Black creek, avoiding all the slides on the river above Fowlerville bridge. A survey was made; but finding the cutting would be 65 feet in the summit the project was abandoned.

From Avon Springs to Rochester the location is less upon the upland slope, and with the exception of two points near Markham's, two below Scottsville road in Rush, one in Henritta, and that near the feeder dam at Rochester, a not unfavorable line is obtained upon and near the river flats.

After passing the Canascraga, the canal crosses Fall brook, Jacock's run, Black creek, Conesus outlet, Honeyoye, Massauga and Red creeks, all inconsiderable streams, except the Conesus and Honeyoye. These are the outlets of Conesus, Hemlock, Scaneitice and Honeyoye lakes, and together send forward in the driest season 3,311.65 cubic feet of water in a minute.

These streams may be received into the canal as feeders, and their capacity may be very much increased by damming the lakes and reserving the surplus waters for the dry season.

This plan to some extent, and for a limited period, was adopted some years since, with a view of supplying a portion of the Erie canal with water.

Ninety chains of slide banks occur on this line. They are very similar in character to those on the west side of the river, and require the like protection.

The Genesee river runs along the foot of the hill at fifteen pla ces, together measuring three miles, one and a quarter miles of which requires docking to protect the canal.

Dams and short feeders necessary to receive the Conesus and Honeyoye into the canal are provided for in the estimate.

The descent to the Erie canal is 72 feet, having 9 lift locks, 3 aqueducts, 21 culverts, 7 waste-weirs, and 14 road and 59 farm bridges.

The distance from Mount Morris to Rochester, on the east sideof the river, is 38 miles, and the canal is estimated to cost $406,607.67.

The west side is 37,7 miles long, having the same descent, with 9 locks, 3 aqueducts, 26 culverts, 11 waste-weirs, 28 road and 36 farm bridges: estimated cost $305,087.85.

DANSVILLE SIDE CUT.

The Canascraga valley, in which this canal is located, has all the characteristics of that of the Genesee below Mount Morris, and may be considered a continution of it. The flats average about one and a half miles in width, and extend to the village of Dansville, 45 miles from Rochester, by the road, and 52,3 miles, by the contemplated canal.

Opposite this place, and above McWhorter's mill, is the confluence of Great and Little Mill creeks with the Canascraga. I gauged these streams in October last, during a severe drought. Great Mill creek then furnished 887 cubic feet, and the Canaseraga, below its junction with the above streams, 2,458 cubic feet, in a minute. They have a rapid descent to this point, affording valuable water privileges. In the vicinity of the village are four establishments for the manufacture of paper, each having a double engine; also 4 or 5 grist mills, 1 clover mill, 1 blast furnace, 2 trip hammers and several tanneries.

The paper mills employ 84 persons, manufacturing about 80,000 dollars worth of paper annually. The clover mill has prepared for market 1,500 bushels of clover seed in one season.

South of the village the land abounds with pine timber, of a quality not inferior to any in this section of the country, and within the circle of a few miles there are 55 saw mills, making large quantities of lumber, the principal part of which would be conveyed to market by this canal. The soil in the vicinity of the village is alluvial flats and superior bottom lands. The principal part of the valley, as well as the uplands, is fine quality wheat land. Sparta, (in which the village is located,) is the largest town in the county. In 1830 the population was 3,777: it is now estimated to contain 4,500.

In terminating at the village, the supply of water for 2 miles of the canal, in which are 11 locks, must necessarily be drawn wholly from Mill creek at Dr. Faulkner's dam, which will divert the water from his paper factory, diminish the supply at McWhorter's grist-mill, and at the mills belonging to John Wood & Co.

The line crosses the Canascraga by an aqueduct near the dam and head-race conducting the water to Wood's mills, and thence on to Mount Morris, upon the west side of the creek, over grounds unusually favorable for the construction of a canal. John Wood & Co., have in operation one carding and fulling-mill, one sawmill and a grist-mill, with 2 run of stones, designed for 4.

ble stone for the mechanical work is found near these mills, and in the vicinity of Dansville.

The total descent from the village is 126 feet, and the distance from the head of the feeder at Faulkner's dam to Mount-Morris, 15 miles. It is divided into 15 sections, in which are 15 locks, 1 aqueduct, 7 culverts, 4 waste-wiers, 8 road and 23 farm bridges, making a total cost of $156,604.25.

In the above estimate, I have provided for a dam and feeder immediately below Wood's mills.

By adopting this plan, we shall be able to take the requisite quantity of water to supply the loss occasioned by filtration and evaporation of 12 miles of the canal below all the mills of much value on the stream, which will materially reduce the damages that would otherwise be sustained.

I have also made an estimate for a termination at McWhorter's mill, about one mile from the village of Dansville. This will reduce the whole distance 1 mile; the lockage 46 feet, and diminish the expense $30,079.73.

In computing these estimates, frequent reference was had to the copious field-notes and observations made on the ground, and while on the one hand I have been careful not to swell the amount to an extravagant degree, so on the other hand, I have endeavored to make it amply sufficient for the construction of the work in a permanent manner.

I will add also, that the line has been carefully located, and to shew the character of the excavation, shafts were frequently sunk, and particularly at points where there were any indications of a change.

The soil generally, is easy to excavate, and I think better calculated for the retention of water than any other hundred miles of canal I have ever examined.

With few exceptions, the embankments may be rendered sufficiently impervious to water by a careful assortment of the materials, keeping the firmer and more tenacious in the front of the work: yet the scarcity of water on the summit, and the unavoidable expense of procuring the requisite supply, have induced me to make provisions for guarding against waste by leakage, in all cases where the soil exhibited indications of a porous character. Liberal allowance has accordingly been made in the estimates for lining, as will be seen by the annexed reports, containing a detailed description of the character and amount of the different kinds of work.

The estimates for excavation and embankments are made upon the plan of allowing the banks a slope of two feet horizontal base, to one foot vertical on the inside of the canal, and one and a half feet horizontal to one foot vertical on the outside; the towing-path bank to be 12 and the berm bank 8 feet wide on top, and 7 feet high; the canal to be 26 feet wide on bottom, and 42 feet at the surface, with four feet depth of water. The side-cut to Dansville, the Ischua creek, and the Genesee river feeders at Ketchum's and at Mt. Morris, and also Allen's creek feeder at Scottsville, have the same dimensions as the main canal, being designed for the purposes of navigation. All the other channels intended for supplying the canal with water, to be 16 feet wide, with banks of the