University of Virginia Library

1109. CANAL, Big Beaver.—[further continued].

Another vast object, and
of much less difficulty, is to add, also, all the
country on the Lakes and their waters. This
would enlarge our [Virginia's] field immensely,
and would certainly be effected by an union of
the Ohio and Lake Erie. The Big Beaver and
Cayohoga offer the most direct line. * * * The States of Maryland and Virginia should
make a common object of it. The navigation,
again, between Elizabeth River and the Sound,
is of vast importance, and in my opinion, it is
much better that these should be done at public
than private expense.—
To General Washington. Washington ed. iii, 30. Ford ed., v, 93.
(P. 1789)