1837 Survey of Salt River and Floyd's Fork

"The Survey of Salt River and two of its branches, the Beech and Rolling Forks, was made in 1837. From the mouth of Salt river at West Point, Hardin county, to the mouth of the Rolling Fork, 11 1/2 miles, the ascent was 1.2 feet, and the river about 230 feet wide; thence to the foot of Burke's island shoal, 8.7 miles, the ascent was 11.6 feet (a little over 1.4 to the mile), and the width of the river about 150 feet; thence to the head of the Falls, at Shepherdsville, Bullitt county, the distance was nearly 3 (2.9) miles, and the ascent 24.8 (of which 14.4 was included in the Falls); on the Falls, the river was about 500 feet wide; on the next 8 miles, above the Falls, the ascent was but trifling (about 2 1/4 inches), the width of the river gradually narrowing to about 250 feet; thence to the crossing of the Louisville and Bardstown turnpike, nearly 5 3/4 (5.7) miles, the ascent was nearly 8 feet, and the average width of the river about 170 feet; thence to Taylorsville, Spencer county, 18.2 miles the ascent was 45.4 feet, and the river from 100 to 160 feet wide -- with many small islands during the last 23 miles. Four locks and dams -- about 11, 20, 21, and 23 miles from the mouth, respectively -- estimated cost, $282,533, would make Salt river navigable from small steamboats for 37 1/3 miles to the Bardstown turnpike.

"At the Falls of Salt River, at Shepherdsville, the river descends 14 4-10th feet in about 1 3-10ths miles, and in the succeeding 1 6-10ths miles, 10 4-10th feet -- making in all nearly 25 (24.8) feet, in less than 3 miles. It affords a fine site for permanent water power, at comparatively small expense. In 1837, one forge, manufacturing blooms, was in operation, and a rolling-mill in progress of construction; while an iron furnace, 3 miles distant, turned out annually 700 to 800 tons of pig metal and castings.

"On the Rolling Fork, the distance from its mouth at Salt river to the mouth of its Beech fork was 19.9 miles, the ascent 29.6 feet (about 1 1/2 feet to the mile), and the average width about 150 feet. Steamboat navigation to this point could be secured by two locks and dams, in addition to the one just below its mouth, in Salt River."