Page:Notes on the State of Virginia (1853).djvu/28

12 Hockhocking is 80 yards wide at its mouth, and yields navigation for loaded batteaux to the Press Place, 60 miles above its mouth.

The Little Kanhaway is 150 yards Tvide at the mouth. It yields a navigation of 10 miles only. Perhaps its Northern branch, called Junius's Creek, which interlocks with the Western of Monongahela, may one day admit a shorter passage from the latter into the Ohio.

The Muskingum is 280 yards wide at its mouth, and 200 yards at the lower Indian towns, 150 miles upwards. It is navigable for small batteaux to within one mile of a navigable part of Cayahoga River, which runs into Lake Erie.

At Fort Pitt the River Ohio loses its name, branching into the Monongahela and Alleghaney.

The Monongahela is 400 yards wide at its mouth. From thence is 12 or 15 miles to the mouth of Yohoganey, where it is 300 yards wide. Thence to Red Stone by water is 50 miles, by land 30. Then to the mouth of Cheat River by water 40 miles, by land 28, the width continuing at 300 yards, and the navigation good for boats. Thence the width is about 200 yards to the Western Fork, 50 miles higher, and the navigation frequently interrupted by rapids; which, however, with a swell of 2 or 3 feet become very passable for boats. It then admits light boats, except in dry seasons, 65 miles further to the head of Tygart's Valley, presenting only some small rapids and falls of 1 or 2 feet perpendicular, and lessening in its width to 20 yards. The Western Fork is navigable in the Winter 10 or 15 miles towards the Northern of the Little Kanhaway, and will admit a good wagon road to it. The Yohoganey is the principal branch of this river. It passes through the Laurel Mountain, about 30 miles from its mouth; is so far from 300 to 150 yards wide, and the navigation much obstructed in dry weather by rapids and shoals. In its passage through the mountain it makes very great falls, admitting no navigation for 10 miles to the Turkey Foot. Thence to the great crossing, about 20 miles, it is again navigable, except in dry seasons, and at this place is 200 yards wide. The sources of this river are