The Navigator, or the Trader's Useful Guide in Navigating the Monongahela, Allegheny, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers - Containing an Ample Account of These Much Admired Waters, From the Head of the Former to the Mouth of the Latter #226179

This river rises at the foot of the Laurel Mountain, in Virginia., thence meandering in a N. By E. Direction, passes into Pennsylvania, and receives Cheat river from the S. S. E. Thence Winding to a N. By W. Direction. Separates Fayette and Westmoreland from Washington county, and passing into Allegheny coun ty receives the Youghiogheny river from the S. S. E. And unites with the Allegheny river at Pittsburgh, fif teen miles below the mouth of the former, andby land, fifty-five below Cheat. The Monongahela is about 450 yards wide at its mouth, measuring from the top of bank to bank, and in the fall and spring freshes has water enough to carry ships of 400 tons burthen these, however, subside quickly and render the naviga tion for such vessels very precarious. One great dif ficulty attending the navigation of vessels of burden down this river arises from the almost impossibility of keeping them in the proper channel, it being in many places very narrow, and full of short turns around points of islands which are numerous. This observation will also apply to the Ohio, especially as low down as Wheel cn, ninety miles below Pittsburgh.