Page:A Topographical Description of the State of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana.djvu/26

20 until a stop was put to it by the embargo. Three rope walks, of nearly a thousand feet in length, were erected, and the numerous mechanic branches, connected with the highly important employment of ship-building were established. The Muskingum (which means, in the Indian language Elk's Eye) is of immense importance to this town. The current is moderate, rarely overflowing its banks, and may be navigated with keel boats and other craft, during the summer, as far as Zanesville, sixty miles from Marietta. There are falls, but happily formed for erecting water works of every description. Above the falls the river is again navigable, not only in the main stream, but many of the numerous branches which meander through a rich and level country in their way to the river. The largest branch is the Tuskarawa, which, with only a portage of seven miles and an half, communicates with the Cayahoga river, emptying into lake Erie. The immense quantity of produce which this fertile tract of country is capable of yielding for market, and the easy transportation, cannot fail of rendering Marietta a convenient place of sale or deposit, from whence, by the ships built here, it may be sent abroad. Materials for many different manufactories may be procured here with so much facility, and from the well known spirit of industry and enterprize prevailing among the people, there can be no doubt of their