To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas T. Davis, 17 March 1805
From Thomas T. Davis
Jeffersonville. Indiana Territory March 17th 1805
Sir
A Company of Gentlemen from different States in the Union have formed themselves into a Company for the purpose of Cuting a Cannal around the Falls of Ohio from this side of the River—. An Object highly important to the Western World. Capt. Thair one of the Company is here and others are Hourly expected: But they will not begin this work untill the Legislature of this Territory will incorporate them. The Object therefore of this Letter is to request you to appoint the Legislative Council of This Territory as soon as possible, that the wish of the Company may be effected. I have Written this Letter at the request of Capt. Thair who manages for the Company: And I am so fully impressed with the utility & importance of this Cannal that I unite with him heartily in beging the appointments of Legislative Counsellors may be made speedily. The situation of some Landed property through which this Cannal must pass makes it essential for the Company to be incorporated. The River Ohio and the Waters West of it is much higher now than they have been for Several Years Ships have passed the Rapids without difficulty. The Quantity of Wild Pigeons in this Quarter exceed Heavier Calculation. I am Respectfully your Oblgd.
Tho. T Davis
RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received 8 Apr. and so recorded in SJL.
The Indiana Canal Company began a campaign to attract investors in 1804. Led by Benjamin Hovey, a group of interested parties petitioned Congress early in 1805, requesting they either be granted a parcel of public lands for the effort or be allowed to purchase those lands on special terms. A Senate committee reported favorably on the proposal on 28 Jan. 1805, but recommended no action be taken until the group was legally incorporated. Hovey and his associates brought a petition to the Indiana territorial legislature on 6 Aug., and on 17 Aug., the legislature passed an act incorporating the company. In addition to naming George Rogers Clark, John Brown, Jonathan Dayton, Aaron Burr, Hovey, and seven others as a board of directors, the act set potential toll rates and allowed for the sale of 20,000 shares at $50 each. Despite the act of incorporation, the effort to build the canal stalled (Lexington Kentucky Gazette, 19 Dec.; , 5:51; , Miscellaneous, 1:419; Gayle Thornbrough and Dorothy Riker, eds., Journals of the General Assembly of Indiana Territory, 1805-1815 [Indianapolis, 1950], 63-4, 78, 81, 89, 94; Francis S. Philbrick, ed., The Laws of Indiana Territory, 1801-1809 [Springfield, Ill., 1930], 154-63; History of the Ohio Falls Cities and their Counties, 2 vols. [Cleveland, 1882], 1:47).