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"As our frontier settlements, freed from apprehensions of danger, are rapidly increasing, and must soon yield extensive resources for profitable commerce, this consideration forcibly recommends the policy of continuing to facilitate the means of communication with them, as well to strengthen the bands of society, as to prevent the produce of these fertile districts passing to other markets." On this part of the speech a joint committee of both houses was appointed "to examine what obstructions in the Hudson and Mohawk rivers will be proper to be removed; and to report thereon, with their opinion of the most eligible mode of effecting and defraying the expense thereof." - Shortly afterwards the committee reported it as their opinion, "That the commissioners of the land office should be authorized to make and offer proposals to such persons, or associations of persons, as will contract to open a water communication between the Mohawk River and Wood Creek; with power to grant such person or persons an exclusive right to the profits of a reasonable toll on the canal, when so opened, for a limited term of years." {See Journals of the Legislature.} Pursuant to the report, a bill entitled "An act for opening communications between Wood Creek and the Mohawk River, and between Lake Champlain and Hudson's River, and for removing obstructions in the Hudson and Mohawk rivers, was brought into the House of Assembly; and it became a law in March 1791, under the title of "An act concerning roads and inland navigation, and for other purposes." By the third section of this law the commissioners of the land office were authorised "to cause to be explored, and the necessary survey made, between the Mohawk River, at or near Fort Stanwix, and the Wood Creek, in the county of Herkimer; and also, between the Hudson River, and the Wood Creek in the county of Washington; and to cause an estimate to be made of the probable expense that would attend the making of canals sufficient for loaded boats to pass, and to report the same to the legislature at their next meeting:" and the section likewise authorized the treasurer to pay the commissioners a sum not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars, for defraying the expense of the service.

By this faithful narrative of legislative proceedings, it is demonstrated that the policy of the state, which aimed to improve internal navigation in the western district prior to 1792, was limited to the removal of obstructions in the Mohawk River, and to the junction of that river with Wood Creek. - Strange as it may appear, it is nevertheless true, that the eye of the legislature is not perceived {With the exception of the measures already noticed in 1784, 1785 and 1786, upon the motion of Christopher Colles, with the subsequent bill brought in by Jeffrey Smith. - D.H.} to have cast a glance at the interesting country between the head of Wood Creek and the western lakes; nor its mind to have bestowed a thought on the practicability of intersecting that country by a canal, which would mix the waters of the lakes and Hudson's River in a common stream, destined to waft to our proud emporium the vast productions of a large portion of our western world!

Governor Clinton, in his speech made two days afterwards, submitted the report to the deliberations of the legislature, in terms of earnest recommendation. The speech stated that "the legislature, at their last meeting, impressed with the importance, not only to the agriculture and commerce of the state, but even to the influence of the laws, of improving the means of communication, directed the commissioners of the land office to cause the ground between the Mohawk River and the Wood Creek in the county of Herkimer, and also between the Hudson River and the Wood Creek in the county of Washington, to be explored and surveyed, and estimates to be formed of the expense of joining those waters by canals. I now submit to you their report, which ascertains the practicability of effecting this object at a very moderate expense; and I trust that a measure, so interesting to the community, will continue to command the attention due to its importance." {See Journals of the Legislature.}

General Williams of the senate, and also of the joint committee, on the 7^th February, moved the senate in behalf of the committee, for leave to bring in a bill entitled, "An act for constructing and opening a canal and lock navigation, in the northern and western parts of this state." Leave was granted, and the General accordingly brought in the bill. {Ibid.}

The bill brought in by General Williams, after labouring its progress for several weeks in the senate, was forced to yield to a new bill, entitled, "An act for establishing and opening lock navigations within this state;" the declared intent of which was to open "a lock navigation from the navigable part of Hudson's River, to be extended to the Seneca Lake, and to Lake Ontario." - To this bill various amendments were made by the house: some of which were accepted, and others disagreed to by the senate. From the amendments disagreed to, the house promptly receded; and the bill finally passed both houses on the 24^th, and the council of revision of the 30^th March, 1792, in the form appearing in our statute book. {See Journals of the Legislature.}

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