Page:Historic highways of America (Volume 13).djvu/42

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38
THE GREAT AMERICAN CANALS

"The Ohio River embraces this Commonwealth from its Northern, almost to its Southern limits.—It is now, our western boundary.—& lyes nearly parallel to our exterior, & thickest settled Country.—

"Into this River French Creek, big bever Creek, Muskingham, Hockhocking, Scioto, and the two Miamas (in its upper Region) and many others (in the lower) pour themselves from the westward through one of the most fertile Country's of the Globe; by a long inland navigation; which, in its present state, is passable for Canoes and such other small craft as has, hitherto, been made use of for the Indian trade.—

"French Creek, down wch I have myself come to Venango, from a lake near its source, is 15 Miles from Prisque Isle on lake Erie; and the Country betwn quite level.—Both big bever creek and Muskingham, communicates very nearly with Cuyahoga; which runs into lake Erie; the portage with the latter (I mean Muskingham) as appears by the Maps, is only one mile; and by many other accts very little further; and so level between, that the Indians and Traders, as is affirmed, always drag