[BH] In 1792 the New York legislature incorporated two companies, the Western and the Northern Inland Lock Navigation companies, which, however, did nothing of importance, the former with authority to connect the Hudson by the Mohawk with Seneca Lake and Lake Ontario, the latter to form a junction between the Hudson and Lake Champlain.
[BI] By Mr Baldwin, father of the late Loammi Baldwin, who constructed the dry docks at Charlestown and Gosport.
[BJ] The official statements of the Canal Board, Feb. 23, 1837, are here given instead of those of M. Chevalier. The statement in the text does not include the Black River Canal and the Genesee Valley Canal, begun in 1837, with a total length of 168 miles, exclusive of 40 miles of improved navigation in the Black River; estimated cost, 3,000,000 dollars.—Transl.
[BK] Michigan became a State in 1837, at which time it had a population of 175,000 souls.—Transl.
[BL] The increase of the population has since been at a still more rapid rate; from 1830 to 1835, the number of inhabitants increased from 203,000 to 270,000, or including Brooklyn, from 218,000 to 294,000.—Transl.
[BM] It is 40 feet wide on the surface and 4 feet deep; the locks are 95 feet long and 15 wide. The Languedoc Canal is 90 feet wide, and 6 1-2 feet deep, with locks 115 feet long, 36 feet wide in the centre, and 18 at each end. The English Canals are generally of about the dimensions of the Erie Canal.
[BN] The legislature incorporated the company on the express condition that they should transport only travellers and their baggage. Notwithstanding this provision, when the books were opened, seven times the amount of capital needed was subscribed; the sum required was 2,000,000 dollars; the amount of subscriptions 14,000,000.
[BO] Several links in this chain between Auburn and Utica on one side, and Rochester on the other, are already completed.—Transl.
[BP] In the session of 1836, the legislature authorised a loan of the credit of the State for the sum of 3,000,000 dollars to the company; the estimated cost of the road is 6,000,000. This road terminates at Tappan Sloat on the Hudson.
[BQ] The maximum of inclination allowed by our Administration des Ponts-et-Chaussées (board of public works) is 1/200; in the great lines executed at the expense of government, the inclination has generally been kept below 1/333, which is the maximum adopted in the fine railroad from London to Birmingham.