SW_JS1798_016

Banks, yet last fall they were overflown the River as I was informed rose 42 feet Perpendicular. The people here were very busy building flat bottomed Boats, they are made out of green timber, about 12 feet wide, and from 20 to 30 feet long, boarded up, on each side, 5 or 6 feet high, and roofed over more than half way, I was informed many boats of this kind was built on this River and its neighboring Waters, they are sold at the rate of 11/3 per foot, for every foot they are in length, to people who come with families to these Waters, to take their departure Westward, and Sail Southwest, to new Countries, they put on board, horse Waggon, farming Utensels, Cowkind, hosehold furniture &;c: and so great if the Spirit of emi- -gration down the Waters of the Ohio to dif- -firent places, that we were informed when at Pittsburgh by a very reputable Character that for 30 days past upon an average he thought there had been from 10 to 12 of these boats, containing from 20 to 50 persons so loaded, passing by that Town each day. they gently move down with the Current, and when they come to the mouth of the Scioto and other