Indiana American, Volume 5, Number 5, Brookville, Franklin County, 27 January 1837 — Page 2

1VKWS OF j THE WEEK.

UK PORT Of the Engineer of the White Water Canal. Having understood it to be the wish of the Acting Commissioner on this line, that a survey and estimate should he made on the east side of the White Water, from Brookville to a point near Harrison, with a view to a comparison with the west side which hud been followed bv the former rurvev, measures were taken immediately after the adjournment of the Board, in March last, to accomplish this object. The charge of this survey, under the direction of the Acting Co nmissiorter, w as confided to Mr. William J. Hall, with such general instructions as a previous knowledge ofthe line enabled me to furnish. From the report of Mr. Ball, it appeared that there would be a difference in cost of about the sum of 25,000 in fa voi ofthe east side, which difference by sudsequent improvement in the line, has been increased 10,000. The east side was also supposed to present the safer route for a canal, inasmuch as the bank will be less frequently exposed to the current ofthe stream. No hesitation was felt therefore, in rcccommending the adoption of the east side. The surveys rnd examinations necessary to a proper final location of this line, and its nrnaration for contract were continued unMr. Torbcrt, resident Engineer. An important question was presented at the commencement, as to the manner of crossing tho East Folk, and of passing the town o Brookville, so as to afford to that place the nrooer facilities for business, withont detri ment to the public interest. Several plans of location were proposed at this point, and surveys and comparative estimates were made. The plan of crossing the East Fork In the pool of a dam, with the lowing path bridge, was finally reccommended as combining the most advantages. Bv this arrange ment the high and hazardous embankment necessary to an acqueduct crossing is avoided, and the pool formed by the dam in the channel ofthe strenm enables the canal boats to approach the eastern side of the town, while the main line pasting along the valley of the West Fork, will extend the advantages of the canal also to the west side. This plan will cost less than an ncqueduct by about the sum of 10,000. The dam across the East Fork will he eleven feet high from low water, and S330 feet long. The great length of the d im being twice the w idth of the channel will tend to prevent a very great rise, or a strong current in the stream during freshets. In the first survey, the line was crossed from the east to the west side on an ncqueduct at Mrs. Carr's four miles below Harrison. In the subsequent survey made by Mr. Torbcrt, a line was run upon the plan of crossing by means of a dam and towing path bridge, near Harrison. By instiaiting comparison between thre lines, it was found that the latter plan wouM be the cheaper one by the sum of 2i400, and would reduce the length ot the line one mile. These advantages were deemed sufficient to give the preference to the upper crossing, notwithstanding the objections which might be urged to '.he plan of crossing by a dam, and its adoption was therefore reccommended. The dam is located about half a mile below Harrison, at the place where the state line crosses the While Water, and will be built 11 feet high from low water, and, 375 feet long. Tho pool of the dam will he occupied as the canal, with a lowing path on the well hank for the distance of 20 chains, The conditions annexed to the assent of Ohio to the construction ofthe canal through her territory, required such a location in the vicinity of the state line, as vould furnish a supply of water for a branch canal to the City of Cincinnati, and afford reasonable facilities for its construction. This requirement has been regaided in the location. The dam by which the canal crosess the White Water is so situated that it will furnish an abundant supply of wat.r for both canals. The proposed arrangement w ill not diminish the amount of water-power at Lawrenceburgh, inasmuch as the stream isst-'pposed to afford more water than can be passed through the canal after supplying the Cincinnati branch. By the letter of Mr. Forrcr before referred to, it will be seen that theassentto this location was given with the understanding that the right should be secured to Ohio, of locating and constructing the proposed branch for a short distance through our territory, if necessary to a proper junction ofthe two canals; and it will therefore be perceived that the obligation rests upon Indiana, of securing to Ohio this privelige. A proper intersection ofthe twocanals will require the Cincinnati branc h to be located through the territory of this state for the d:lance of 20 or 30 chains. The greatest obstruction presented to the construction of a canal along the White Water valley are the bluffs or w ashed banks formed by the contact ofthe river with the hills which skirt its valley. The most difficult of these is McCarly's Bluff, about 3 miles below Brookville, w here the rivtr w ashes the base of the high land for nearly the distance of a mile, leaving no other mode of constructing a canal than by forming an embankment in the river and protecting it with -done from the abrasion of a rapid cui rent. The great expense of constructing a canal through the narrow passes, induced mc to reccommend the adoption of slack-water, which will be formed by building a dam at the low er end of i the bluff and cutting a towing path on the J face of the hill. The peel formed by this dam will be occupied as the canal for a distance of 1 mile and ten chains Sc will vary in its depth from 12 to 10 feet. The great depth

ofthe pool will tend to remove the difficulty arising from a deposite of sand which under different circumstances might be apprehended, while the greatly enlarged cross section of thestrean will diminish the rapidity cflhe current in time of freshets. To guard against the difficulties which might arise from too near an approach to the dam, the canal has been so located that boats w ill pi.ss from the pool into the guard lock about ten chains above the dam. From these favorable c ircumstances it is believed that the evils sometimes attendant upon this species of navigation, will be greatly mitigated in respect to this. The slack-water is' estimated to cost 10,500 less than the seperate canal. The dam will be 2S5 feet long and 11 feet high from low water.

It will be perceived that the location and plans of this canal are such as to secure to it an ample supply of wr.ter, not only for navigation but also for hydraulic purposes to any extent that the country may require. From the basin in the East Fork at Brookville to the basin at Lawrenceburgh, there is a descent of 111 feet, which in the final location is overcome by 17 locks, distributed to suit the inclination of the valley. Before determining the plan of these locks, further examinations w ere mf.de in the ad joining country, with the hope of finding stone suitable lor building cut-stone locks, mil without success. The composite or combined loc k was therefore recommended for this line as being the best substitute for a perfect cut-stone lock. The culverts, aqueducts, and dam abutments on this line, mav be built of hammer-drcised masonry of a durable character. In extending the examinations above Brockville, preparatory to future lettings, various plans have been examined and compared, by the resident Engineer, and questions of importance have arisen as to the proper location, some of w hich have been submitted to me. The first of these is at the Franklin factory ridge, two miles above Brookville. This ridge is a p;rtof the high land jutting in from the east side and extending nearly across the valley, diminishing both in width and altitude as it approaches the river. In any location which can he adopted at this point the canal must be thrown considerably out of its nroncr direction. In the survey of 1831. the level was depressed just above the tidge for the purpose of receiving a feeder, which made it necessary to pass entirely around this obstruction ;cbut in the survey of the past season it w as found that by dispensing with the feeder and approaching it with a high level the ridge might be crossed farther from the river, and a material saving effected both in distance and cost. Two routes have been surveyed and estimated by the resident Engineer, one crossing the ridge by an open cut at a point where it is 40 feet above the bottom of canal nnd three and a half chains wide;, and th other passing through it at a point still farther from the river, by a tunnel 330 feet in length. The latter planis"thirty chains shorter, and is estimated to cost 0,500 more than the other. The ridge where the tunnel would be formed is composed of clay and loose stone and is SO lect above the bottom of canal. From the facts here presented, I should recommend the open cut, nolwitstanding its greater length. The formation of tunnels, unless the material be solid rock, is an opera tion liable to many contingencies, w hich cannot be fullv estimated at the commencement, and 1 am of opinion, that they should not be adopted, except in cases of strong necessity. By adopting the open cut, a saving will have been effected over the former survey of 35 chanes in distance, und about 8,000 in cost. A' the village of Milton, two lines have been examined, one upon the plan of passing the bluffat that point by means of slack water in the channel of the river for the distance of 32 chains, formed by a dam at the lower end of the bluffs 8i feet high and the other upon the plan of sustaining the level, and passing through the eastern edge of the town, near the bank of the stream, cutting about S feet for the distance of -10 chains through the plain on which the tow n stands. By the plan first described, a feeder would be received into the canal without any extra cost, while upon the other plan the feeder, if one be required, at this point would be thirty five chains long and would require a dam perhaps two feet in height. The upper or village route is three chains shorter, and including the expense of a feeder is estimated to cost 1.500 more than the slack-water plan. Should a feeder at this point be dispensed w ith, w hich is highly probable, the cost ofthe two routes would be about nqual. In this case, as here presented. I should reccommend the adoption ot the up per or village route, as the advantages of the slack water do not appear sufficient tojustify us in exposing the Canal to the hazards of a dam and to the current of (he stream. Al though slack water may ficquently be resor ted to with advantage as a means ot passing UU.UUU,...,.,,,, auu,u..v.r.. i J;I.....lf ..Mlff t-A if chtfMiM nrf irrnrnllv hp i prcfered to an independent Canal w hen these dnheullies do not occur. A vrettu Superstition. The following in nocent superstition is said to exist among the j Russian girls. On the Thui sdav previous to ; is" called "the ; hit-Sundav, they try what prophetic swimming of the bridal wreath.

A plaited w reath of flowers is made and i returns ol any aliens on board his vessel, thrown into the stream, when, should it float with their name, rank, occupation and desupon the surface of the water, they will the ! cr'plion, under a penally of ten pounds for same vear exchange their maiden for the ! each alien so returned. Poulsons .Jdr. " 1 nuptial state. But should the wreath sink,;

thev are destined to wait still lonccr for the happy change.

ANECDOTE OF HENRY "CLAY. American Wine. At the Sw iss settlement of Vevay, Ind. the grape is extensively cultivated, and a very respectable wine called "'Jonstanlia," alter a Cape wine of that name, which it resembles in taste, is manufactured. When Vevay was in its infancy, the Honorable Henry Clay, then Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Uni

ted States, received a present of three bot tles of this "Constanlia'" wine and thereby hangs a talc, related to us the other day, by a gentleman who heard it in Kentucky. Admiring the flavor, and surprised to hear that w inc of so good a quality was raised on the banks of the Ohio, Clay, f.fter having drank two bottles, requested his wife to lay aside the third, in order that when he went to Congress he might take it with him to !iWi,!,it Madison not doubting that he would he as much surprised as him slflm.' I rr ii. :it this specimen of domestic manufacture . - - 7 4 Accordi i"! v the third bottle was carefully lcr.o;ited in the cellar, and Clay took on going to it along with i Washington, i'ir. him. In crossing the lleghanies, fearful that it would ret broken, he carried it in his hands a considerable part ofthe way,'and on more than one occasion, during the fatiguing pasage, triumphed over a strong desire to refresh himself with its contents. On his arrival at the Capitol he sent the "Constantia," w ith a sketch of its history to the President. A few clays after this a grand diplomatic dinner was given '.at the White House, and Mr. Clay nmongrf others had an invitation and attended. After the cloth was removed, the president ordered the servants to bring clean glasses, as he had a new kind of wine on w hich he wanted the opinion of his guests. The glasses were produced, filled with Mr. Clay's "ConstantSa," and passed round (he company. Clay felt as if the "death agony" was upon himhe feared the result of this comparison of his American wine with the rare European louisduors w hich sparKicu upon the table. At length after the smacking of lips had ceased, the president addressing himself to Mr. Wirt, then attorney general, said: "Come Mr. Wirt, vou are a connoisseur, what do you think ofMr. Clay's wine?" "Why, to tell the truth, Clay," said Wirt, "I don't know what kind ol wine you call this, but it tastes to me confounded strong of K.vlnchj Whiskey! Clay felt -is it he would sink to the floor with mortification; but keeping his countenance, answered: "Well I don't know but it docs so. I should rather think that it did, but we call this ex-

ccllcnt wine in Kentucky, and tnus theihnd a bill against him.) the other was louna matter passed off with some merriment. guilty, and received the very singular senOa his return to Isis family, Clay related tence of five hundred dollars fine, and six

the circumstance, when one ot the hoys spoke out, "Ah father 1 car. tell you howit happened. Tom nnd I were down the cellar one day in search of something to drink, when Tom took up the bottle mother had laid away and before knowing what it was. drank off half its contents. Fearing a discovery, we filled it up with a bottle of .... . 7 i i i whiskey which we found there, and laid it aside again."' Thus was the whiskey taste discovered by Mr. Wort, satisfactorily accounted for. Such were the incidents attending the first "bottle that found its way over the Alleghanics from (he banks of the Ohio. Urecn field Uazeite. Mutiny and Murder. The Braganza, from Purnamburo, at Trapaulin Cove, reports (says the Boston Courier of Wednesday) that the schr. Wm. Wirt, Smith, hence for Il'.o Jenerio, arrived at Purnambuco on the 27th November, having been fallen in with and carried into port by an English brig , which found the crew in possession of the vessel, alter having mutinied and killed the mate, and mortally wounded the captain. Before the brig took possession of the schooner, it was found necessary to shoot down one of the crew from the fore yard, and confine another. The caew were left at Purnambuco, in irons, on board the guard ship. The mate of ihe schooner was Mr. John Ward of, Boston. A letter from Fernambuco, November 29th, to the editor of the New Bedford Gazette, states that a short time before the schooners arrival, the crew struck off from duty, and after a severe contest with the officers, got injjposscssion of the vessel. The captain was not expected to survive more than twenty-four hours. The mate w as murdered and thrown overboard, and a Spanish sailor, who refused to join the murderers was stabbed and thrown over in the agony of ex piring. Not one of the mutineers knew enough of navigation to manage the vessel, and they rolled about several days, when they fell in with the English brig, one of the mates of which were put on board. The mutineers were in charge of (he American Consul at Purnambuco. Paulson's .Idv. By a late act of the Imperial Parliament, of Great Brillain, every alien who shall ar- ... . 1 . . . c sia rrcsent to the chic cheer ol the cinccr ol tne cus toms at the debarkation, a passport, or make a declaration to be by him reduced to writing, of the country to w hich such alien belongs, and from w hence he has came. And if any such alien shall neglect to present such passport, or refuse to tion, he shall forfeit 10. make such declaraMasters ol vtsslcs are required to make Rake Visitants. The steam boat which ianived at the port of New York n Wed-I

TT . Jl, Sound. a lot ot seals. unpi. lone hmui. SODie advances toward them, w ith a view to a closer ncqunintance, but they were not pleased with his fire and smoke, and after re-ceivin"-a salute from a musket, effected their escape. When first seen they'were mounted on floating ice. The London Times of November 8. foundof its its reasoning on me opinmous American correspondent, under the signature of a "Genesee Traveller," says: We see in the late proceedings ot (he Government and People of the United States a confirmation of the suspicion long entertained in the hest informed diplomatic circles, that the arscxation of Texas to their al ready unwieldy territory is a favorite project Texas will tie the stepping sione to the neouisition of Mexico. ill such a result !,lv net a vcrv distant one. he most in jurious to Spain orlo the American Union' Meantime will Europe be content to be t quiet observer of the progress of events. Desiderate affray. We learn that mnst disasferous encounter occurred two or three days ago, on Plumb creek, Shelby county Ky. The circumstances, as we arc informed, are nearly as follows: there had been for some time a dispute between Mr. John Turnham and Mr. Greenfield Allen. two young gentlemen of wealth and respectability, both just married, in regard to Use boundary line between a couple of plantations. On Tuesday or Wednesday, they met on or near the disputed line, each attended by friends or relatives, and after some w rangling, Turnham shot Allen through the breast with a rifle, whereupon a cousin of Allen, with another rifle, shot Turnham through the head. Both died on the spot. We further learn, that John Allen, who shot John Turnham, was tried on Saturday at Shelby villc, before an examining court and acquitted. It appeared on the trial that both of the Tumhams fired before a shot was made by either ofthe Aliens. The acquittal of John Allen was hailed with leud applause. Josephus Turnham is to bo tiied !at Shclbvville tomorrow. tVc Record. The tw o individuals from Vermillion county, who were in our prison on a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill, and for the trial of whom a law passed the present legislature, authorising a special session of the Circuit Court of that county, have been tried. One of them was discharged byproclamation, (the Grand Ju.-y failing to months confinement in the county jail. The man is not worth one dollar, and cannot, consequently ever get released w ithout a remission of the fine. The other part of the sentence he is now satisfying by enduring a miserable existence, w ithout fire, in our county jail. Roclcvitlc Intelligencer. The retail dry goods merchants of Cincinnati have formed themselves into an association, with a determination to adopt certain reforms. The principles are that in sales they should always name at once the lozrcsl price, and make no reduction hut on large hills (o give nc samples to permit no gloves to be tricel on (hard on the exquisites) to receive nor pay no cents to take no goods back that require to be cut to strictly enforce the auction sales, and to put a stop to all peddling. We received through the medium of the Post Office ot this place, the following joint resolutions of both Houses of the Legislature of this State, and cheerfully give them place in our columns. Ind. Palladium. January, 1S3T. Resolved By the General assembly of the State of Indiana, that no person employ ed in the State Bank of Indiana or any of its Branches, either as President, Cashier or Director, shall be eligible (o any office, either in an Insurance Company, or Savings Institution within the State. Resolved that the acceptance by any President, Cashier, or Director, of (he State Bank or any of its Branches-, of any office in an Insurance Company, or Savings institution, within this State, shall work as a forfeiture of office in said bank on Branches This resolution to be in force from, and after its passage. The Boston Courier observes, that the citizens of Philadelphia have agreed to stand out against the high price of butter. We saw them standing out in the rain, on Saturday buy ing butter at the highest price. U. S. Gazette. An anonimous writer in the Indiana Democrat, nominates Samuel Milkoy, Esq. and Mr. Marks Crumb, as candidates for Governor and Lieut. Governorof Indiana. Both gentlemen are Van Buren politicians, yet thucditorof the Democrat says (he nomination came from Whigs! Verily, verily Mr. Democrat, that story "wont take." Maryland. A new Executive Council has been formed in this State, consisting of f II II' . I, T I ,i urwyim xiairis, m. jr. jonnson, John McKinny, N. F. Williams, and Wm. F. Ives. Mr. Harris, having received the highest uote (37) in the Legislative joint ballot, is president of the Council. The members are all Whi of course, and were elected without serious opposition. .V York.

nesday from New naven, saw, hi

Indianapolis Jan. 18. In the Senate to-day quite an animated debate took place on the passage of tlse , providing for a survey of a canal route nlor.T the east branch of White-Water. The (.in provides for a survey of the route during ensuing summer, if tho Engineers shall hnvp sufficient (line to make it. The bill ws seme days ago referred to the c ommittee on canals nnd internal improvements. MrClark, chairman of that committee, reported

it hacu wuii a rerrnmmenuaiioi! that it indefinitely postponed. The report was t)e not concurred in iv u e senate, ihe question then came up en its final passage, when an animated debate took dace, in which Messrs. (Mark, Thompson of Lawrence, Morgan Plummer, Dunning, Walker, Vawter, Colerick, Trask, Bell and others partieipatcd The passage of the bill was zealously opposed by Messrs. Clark, Thompson, and Kennedy, net on account of their opposition to tho isolated proposition, (the reasonableness of which if the system is to be extended the-admitted.) but as they regarded it as an entering wedge which would endanger the whole system; and that if this innovation should he made it would be the openingdoor for other measures, making the system so extensive as to prostrate it. Most of the other gentleman supported Ihe bill on (lie ground, among other things, that it would subject the state to no expense, that it asked for nothing but a survey, that the measure in itself was reasonable, that the system of last year whs not so perfect that no innovations should be made upon it, &e. &c. The bill passed by a vote of 31 to 11. The bill to provide for the loaning of t'ue surplus revenue came up again this afternoon. The committee of the whole was discharged from the further consideration of the subject, and consequently no question w as taken on c oncurring in the amendments made in committee. On amotion tostrike out that part of the first section of the bill which provided that each county should have an equal amount and amend it so as to distribute it according to population, considerable debate took place, and ihomitinniosirike out ana insert prevailed by a vote of 21 to 23. Mr. Colerick proposed an amendment providing (hat the money should be vested in bank stock. Mr. Ewing moved to amend the amendment by establishing four additional branches. Mr. Collins moved to re-commit the bill to a select committee with instructions (o strike it cut and insert a substitute providing for vesting the revenue in Bank stoc k, and giving liberty for the establishment of four additional branches, appropriating the interest (o the payment of the interest nnd principal ofthe internal improvement loan. Mr. Morgan moved to amend the instructions so as to appropriate one half (o education, and one half to internal improvement purposes, pending w hich the Senate adjourned. Ind. Jour. Indianap M, Jan, 18. Mr. PnorxiT, from (he select committee of fourteen to w hom was referred the subject f the surplus revenue, with instruc tion to report a bill, reported accordingly. This bill in its general features much resembles the bill which has been before the senate for some time. It provides for funding the surplus revenue in all (he organized coundes in proportion to (hctaxable polls. An agent is to be appointed in (he several counties lo receive and loan (he money. The loans are to bff made by the several agents, and are required to nett 8 per cent. 1 hey are to be made in morfgaging real estate in double the amount borrowed, or by bond with tw o freeholders as security, (he bonds are (o be made payable in one year after date, but the money may be collected at any time in ninety days after demand. Not more than five hundred dollars can be loaned (o any one individual. All the interest for ten y ears is to be applied to the interest of the payment uf the State Bonds, after (hat time to purposes of common schools. The bill was read tw ice a-nd committed to a committee ofthe whole House. 710". Jour. Indianapolis. Jan. 20. During this week, (lie Legislature have made a decision upon almost all the bills suplemental to the general improvement bill of last winter. These separate bills were all contained, in the bill introduced in the early part of the session and known as the "Calf!" That bill was lost, and also the hills subsequently introduced on the same subject. Resolutions have been introduced, declaring it expedient to expend a million and a haif of dollars, for an extension of the general system of internal improvements, and also declaring it inexpedient to extend (he system any further, .ind lost. If any opinion can be formed, it would be, that this Legislature will not make any additional appropriations for works of internal improvement. A bill classifying the works, has been introduced in the Senate and lost bv a considerable rnv jority, and on yesterday the same bill w-as introduced in the House and re-jectcd. The disposition of the surplus revenue lias been discussed in both Houses No deciion as yet has been made by either branch. In the House the bill reorganizing the militia system has passed. Lid. Dcmocrrt. We lately heard of a case, in which a lady was cured of a protracted illness by violent thunder. English paper. How did she lake it? Lov. Jour. Small Business. Paring a musquilos toenails. AE. Galaxy.