Communication from his Excellency Governor Clinton, relative to the Morris and Delaware Canal.

Governor Clinton has been so good as to visit, with the president of the company and the canal committee, the inclined planes at Rockaway, and to inspect the eastern division of the canal from the summit level to the Hudson, at the city of Jersey.

The inclined plane was put in operation while he was there, and he with the committee and a large number of persons, in all not less than forty, passed on the inclined plane, in a large and heavy scow, loaded with a quantity of stones, from the upper to the lower level, and from thence back into the upper level. The transit from one level to the other, a difference in height of fifty-two feet, was made in eight minutes.

The following is the communication to the president of the company from Governor Clinton, which expresses his opinion of the inclined plane, his views of the progress of the work, and of the practicability and advantages of the canal.

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NEW-YORK, May 19^th, 1827.

SIR,

On the 23^d of April, 1823, the legislature of this state, under the most favourable impressions of the benefits that would result to New-York as well as to New-Jersey, from a navigable connexion between the rivers Hudson and Delaware, by the contemplated route of the Morris Canal, directed the canal commissioners to cause a survey and estimate to be made by one of our experienced engineers, with a view to facilitate a measure considered so important. The canal board instructed their chief engineer, Mr. Benjamin Wright, to perform this duty, and as president of that board, I accepted an invitation to attend at the same time. After having viewed the whole line, we submitted our opinions on the 24^th of October of that year, to the commissioners of New-Jersey. They are of the most favourable character with respect to the practicability and importance of the project, and they are now referred to as comprising our views in extenso.

It appears that this canal has been since undertaken under the auspices of an incorporated association, of which you are the president. And having recently in company with you, visited the eastern section of this work, I can certainly have no hesitation in giving my opinion of its present state and future prospects.

It is ascertained that the summit level is 890 feet above the eastern termination of this canal, and 840 above the western, making an aggregate ascent and descent to be overcome, of 1730 feet. The great number of locks that would be requisite for this purpose, the expense that would attend their erection, and the delay that would result from the passage, render it necessary that some substitute should be adopted, and inclined planes have been proposed as the most advisable. The only doubt that can possibly be raised in reference to the completion of this canal, is as to the feasibility of this project.

In England and France, inclined planes have been successfully adopted on a limited scale, and there is no reason why they may not be introduced on the Morris Canal, unless it may be, that a load of twenty-five tons may render that impracticable, which has been found easy for vessels of eight or ten tons. There is nothing in the objection that can be considered of a formidable nature: but the best demonstration in this as in all other cases, is actual experiment, and this has been exhibited at Rockaway; an inclined plane of fifty-two feet has been erected, and a vessel of large dimensions has been tried on it, without any inconvenience and with great rapidity. Having participated in a passage up and down it, I can speak with confidence on the subject. The work may be greatly improved, and in its present state, if affords unequivocal testimony in favour of the utility, the practicability and the economy of the erection, and completely silences all cavils and objections.

I was not a little surprised to observe the progress made in the work in general; and I consider it quite easy to accomplish the whole, and to render it operative in July 1828. The funds have been applied with exemplary economy; what has been done, has been done well. The prospects of abundant remuneration to the stockholders are very encouraging. The most productive sources of revenue will be furnished by this conveyance; viz. coal, iron, lime, copper, zinc, manganese, copperas, plumbago, turpentine, marble, lumber, manures of various kinds, the products of agriculture, and the fabrics of manufactures.

I should regret exceedingly if this important work should be lost to the public, for the want of three or four hundred thousand dollars. It is manifestly the interest of the stockholders to complete it, and co-operators may confidently calculate upon certain and ample returns for their advances. The estimate of the engineer has been verified by the prosperous progress of the works, and there is not a shadow of doubt as to the resulting advantages to individuals, and as to the immense benefits to the community.

DE WITT CLINTON.

Hon. C.D. Colden,

President of the Morris Canal Company.

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Transcribed from the original text and html prepared by Bill Carr, last updated 5/22/99.