The Roads ought to be made good at the public charge because the People are few that live near them & it is ye only way to preserve the communication between Philada. & the Western End of the State so that otherwise ye Trade of ye Western Part of ye State must necessarily go to Baltimore, as the Inhabitants are endeavoring by the bid of their Legislature, to open a Road to Pittsburg That will be so far superior to the present Roads as to induce the People to prefer that Market. Lodged at Crossings of Juniata at Coll. Martin's & supped on a fresh Salmon.

18. Proceeded on our Journey towards Bedford, which is 14 miles distant. At seven miles distance we cross a gap of Terrace or Tusties Mountain, thro which ye Juniata runs and near Bedford we pass thro Dannins or Evits Mountain by a Gap, thro which Dennin Creek runs. But before we come to this mountain we pass thro Aleguippy Ridge, & then come to ye Bloody Run & Warriors Mountains, after which we come to Dunnins Mountain. On the East of Tusties Mountain lies the Warriors Ridge which continues up to ye Standing Stone. The Road thro which we came to ye Warior's Mountain lies thro a good Piece of Land, fit for ye cultivation of wheat & rye & corn pretty well timbered with White Oaks, Pines, Black Oaks & Hickories. John Paxton keeps ye Tavern at ye Warrior's Mn. or Bloody Run; so called from the murder of a number of People sent to escort Provisions to Mr. Buchanan who was surveying ye Roads to Bedford in ye year 1755. The road pretty good from Juniata Crossing to this Tavern excepting the Descent of ye Aliguippy Hill which is steep, long & stony. The Road from this Bedford & ye country pretty much ye same with what we passed this day. Dined at Bedford and after Dinner took two Altitudes of ye Sun by Mr. Hutchins little Quadrant for ascertaining ye Latitude when ye error of ye Instrument is ascertained. The observations are: F. M. At 4h-15'-30"

Waited that afternoon for our Waggons, but they could not reach the Town some of their Horses having strayed away on that night, the waggons did not arrive at Bedford until the next Day at noon or rather near evening.

19th. Waited this Day also for our waggons, which did not arrive till near the evening & could not proceed further. 20th. Sunday stayed at Bedford. The wagons would have proceeded as we now began to be apprehensive from ye Badress of the Roads that we should not be able to reach the Station before the storm by which we were to ascertain our Meridian would pass it in Day Light; but they were retarded by Mr. Dougherty's procuring them to be stopped.

21st. Set off very early & breakfasted at Mr. Todds, Coll. Porter having gone there before us on Saturday night. At Mr. Todds we saw the effects of a whirlwind, which extended about 80 Rods wid which broke & tore up the Trees by the Roots many of them not less than three feet in Diameter scarcely leaving a tree standing whole in its course. Mr. Todd's House & Barn were left without their Roofs and he being an eye witness of ye Catastrophe tells us that ye Limbs of ye Trees of a prodigous Size were whirled thro the air like leaves & carried to a great Distance. The effects of this whirlwind have been observed by Travellers to have begun about Crooked Creek which empties into ye Allegeny River above Fort Pitt, and to have proceeded on to Bedford marking its way with an incredible Destruction of ye Timber. This whirlwind happened about 10 days ago viz on Friday ye 11th June. We have no accounts of its proceeding farther than Wills or Evits Mountain which lies on ye West of Redford about 4 miles. After passing about 4 miles we get on the dry Ridge which extends 11 miles and after passing thro a low valley in which we find a small stream of water we begin to ascend the Allegeny Mountain at ye Distance of 17 miles from Mr. Todd's. The Land from Mr. Todd's to ye foot of ye dry Ridge is very good, well timbered & fit for ye Production of any grain the wood generally is White Oak & black oak with some Walnut & a few Locusts. The Roads free from Stones & pretty level, but cut with Waggons & without Repair. There are 3 or 4 Families living on ye Lands who seem to live plentifully. Before we come to ye Dry Ridge we passed a Brook which seems to be the Bedford Branch of ye Juniata after which we see no more water till we get off this Ridge. We crossed ye sd. Branch about a mile before we came to Mr. Todd's & again two miles after we passed his house. Wills Mountain on our left about 1 or 2 miles. The Road lies along the top of ye Ridge & pretty level, excepting 4 or 5 Descents & Ascents. It seems as if it never had been opened by an ax, and never repaired. It is so narrow that it is generally

impossible to avoid ye Ruts which in some places are deep. With a very small expense it might be made very good this Ridge is midling good Land but uninhabited because there is no Water for ye Inhabitants. There is a small spring about ye middle of ye Ridge. The Western End of ye Ridge is better Land covered with larger Timber, the Descent is pretty steep & stony. The road along ye Western End is more cut with Waggons & very narrow so that ye Ruts cannot be avoided. At ye West End there is a spring after which we pass over another Ridge called the three Lick Ridge from this number of Salt Springs or Licks found in it near to our Road. This Dry Ridge divides the Waters of ye Juniata from those of Wills Creek or ye Potowmack. The Summit of ye Ridge seems generally to be no more than 200 yards wide. We stopped 2 miles beyond ye spring where there is an Ordinary where they sell drink, but no victuals. About half a mile farther after passing along a valley in which a Branch of ye Juniata rises we began to ascend a Ridge or spur of ye Allegeny Mountain which extends Eastward about 3 miles from it. The ascent was very steep & stony for about 200 yards & afterwards gradual and easy to ye Summit & the road on ye Summit good, being neither stony nor cut with waggons. The road is nearly made and may be greatly improved by beginning ye ascent a little sooner and raising it gradually along ye side of the Hill. As this Road continues along the summit of the spur, till its Junction with the Mountain, it gives a great advantage in ascending it, as the Summit of the Allegeny is not much higher and the ascent is easy & long. There is another road, farther up the valley before mentioned, which joins with this about half a mile from ye mountain, which is now so stony, miry & cut with waggons as to be impossible. On the Eastern side of the Allegheny many streams of excellent water burst out, for the Refreshment of Travellers.

From the Ordinary on the East Side to Mr. Black's Tavern in the glades is about 10 miles, to the Summit of ye mountain about 4, across ye summit about 2 miles, the Descent on ye Western Side about one & from thence, to Black's three mi. Near the summit there is a deep pond of stagnant water, and about half a mile to ye Westward of it, ye waters divide which flow to the Ohio & ye Chesapeak. The Descent on the Western Side is by a very Stony & Road which continues to be very bad until we enter ye great glades. about two miles from Block's Tavern. The soil on ye mountain is rich & fertile but so very stony that it can easily be cultivated. In

the evening we came to Block Tavern two miles in ye glades, and lodged there.

22d. Waited at Mr. Block's for ye Waggons till their arrival in ye evening, which occasioned our tarrying all night.

23d. Set off from Mr. Black's & proceeded to ye Foot of ye Laurel Hill 16 miles, viz, 3 miles to Gilmore's, 5 to Augony's & 3 to Cooper's where we dined. The road thro the glades was very level & excepting in a few places very good, which might be easily mended & with a very small expense. In some places ye Land exceeding poor & in others tolerably good, a few Places are well timbered with white oaks, Black Oaks & chestnut. From Cooper's to Cairn's across ye Laurel Hill is 9 miles of which 8 miles lie across ye Mn. to Indian Creek or Salt Creek & one mile farther to Cairn's. From Cairn's to Cherry's Mill 8 miles. The Land on this Hill is a rich deep soil abounding with chestnut, Oaks, Poplars, there are some Locust & Papaw Bushes. The stones on this gap are all Freestone fit for Grindstones & Building. Altho in other Parts of ye Mn. are found Stones for Milstones. On ye Summit of ye mountain it is too stony to admit of cultivation, yet on each side ye Land is rich & arable & well timbered and most fertile Land lies on ye West side of it. The Road across this Part of ye Mountain is pretty good, ye ascent & descent very easy & not much obstructed with stones. With a small expense it may be made ye best way to cross ye mountain. The Road across here divides ye counties of Fyette & Westmoreland. From Indian creek to Jacob's Creek ye road lies across ye chestnut Ridges where ye Land is thin & stoney, abounding with chestnut & Wh. Ok.

Lodged at Mr. Cherry's this night.

24th. Waited for ye arrival of our waggons, which by mistake we supposed had taken a Road to ye Right of ours, & crossed at William's gap. The waggons did not arrive in the evening.

25th. Waited for the waggons and at 3 o'clock heard nothing from ther. At Mr. Cherry's Mill we are about thirty miles north of ye Line.

26. Heard that ye waggons had not taken ye other Road but had been delayed by being broken on ye Laurel Hill, upon which we took our horses and returned to look for them, & found them about 2 o'clock & not quite repaired. Returned again in ye evening with ye Light Waggon & the waggon that carried our Instruments to Mr. Cherry.

27th. Being Sunday rested at Mr. Cherry's & ye wagons arriv'd.

28th. Set off from Mr. Cherry's accompanied by Mr. Cherry & Mr. Bradly 5 miles. On Sunday Evening our Express returned from Besen's Tavern with a letter from Dr. Madison requesting an interview at Mrs. Crawford's at Stewart's crossings about 2 miles above ye broad Ford on the Yohiageny. This occasioned an alteration in our Rout and the Waggons were ordered to proceed to Besen's Town. We met Dr. Madison at Mrs. Crawford's attended by Coll. McClean & Major Douglas of that town. From Mr. Cherry's to ye crossings is 10 miles pretty good Road being mostly ye Road opened by Genl. Braddock.

The land along ye Road is rich & fertile pretty level well timbered & watered abounding chiefly with White Oaks, and the crops exceedingly luxuriant. Dined at Mrs. Crawford's the widow of Coll, Crawford, who was murdered by the Indians and after Dinner proceeded to Beson's Tavern 12 miles farther that Evening where we lodged at Mr. Hasten's Tavern. In the afternoon we passed thro richer Land than in the morning, where the Improvements were larger, and ye crops more luxuriant. About half way between Mrs. Crawford's & Beson's Town we passed thro Giusts Tract of a thousand Acres, which was the best & largest Plot of Land we had seen on this Side of ye Mountains. The Laurel Hill ran nearly parellel to our Road. The general Direction of the Mountain is S 15 W. but our Road nearly South. At Beson's Town we crossed Redstone Creek where ye water is brought thro ye Town to Turn a Saw mill. There are near 30 Houses in this Place, which is now made the County Town of Fiatt.

At half a mile from Mrs. Crawford's there is a most beauti ful cascade in Harrison's Run where the water falls perpendicularly over a broad Limestone Rock about 20 feet. This Rock in Front is hollowed into a regular semicircle about 150 yards in circumference and is about 8 or 10 inches thick. It projects about 10 or 12 feet over 15 or 20 strata of Stones of different Thicknesses regularly disposed, whose Front is also hollowed in a regular curve of a concentric circle, making a perpendicular curved wall under the projecting thin Rock, as if it had been formed of hewn stones, whose Ranges are of different Thicknesses & laid by the Hand of a Mason; the stones in each of these Ranges are nearly of the same thickness from one end of ye arch to ye other but the upper Plate over which ye water falls is one continued stone, under which