Literary notes about Navigable (AI summary)
The word "navigable" has been employed in literature to describe not only the physical condition of waterways but also their practical and economic potential. In many of the accounts by Lewis and Clark ([1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11]), the term is used with precise detail to indicate whether a river or stream could accommodate canoes, boats, rafts, or even steamers, emphasizing aspects like width, depth, current, and obstacles such as rapids. In other historical texts and documents—including those by Livy ([12]), Strabo ([13], [14]), and various political treatises ([15], [16], [17], [18])—"navigable" similarly underscores the economic and strategic significance of waterways, suggesting that their usability could influence trade, transport, and even military logistics. Additionally, its usage by authors like E.M. Forster ([19]) hints at metaphorical and playful connotations, extending the idea of navigation to structured or harmonious progress. Thus, across a range of contexts, "navigable" serves as a key descriptor, linking natural conditions to broader human endeavors.
- this stream is much divided by islands and it's current rapid and much as that of the missouri where we are and is navigable.- H2 anchor
— from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis - The Cow e lis kee river is 150 yards wide, is deep and from Indian information navigable a very considerable distance for canoes.
— from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis - I have no doubt but it is navigable for boats perogues and canoes, for the latter probably a great distance.
— from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis - neither of those streams are navigable in consequence of the rapids and shoals which obstruct their currents.
— from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis - the Clarkamas river is navigable for canoes a great distance, from the Indian account almost to the foot of mount, Jefferson.
— from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis - Tongue river is also navigable for canoes a considerable distance.
— from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis - the stream appears navigable, but from the circumstance of their being no sammon in it I believe that there must be a considerable fall in it below.
— from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis - the Current of the river is rapid and near the mouth contains Several islands, it is navigable for Canoes.
— from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis - Coweliskee is 150 yards wide, is deep and from indian Information navigable a very considerable distance for canoes.
— from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis - that about the center of this plain a large river passed from S. E. to N. W. which was navigable but afforded neither Salmon nor timber.
— from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis - it appears to be navigable for canoes; it is deep and has a bold current.
— from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis - This year was remarkable for a cold and snowy winter, so that the roads were impassable, and the Tiber not navigable.
— from The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08 by Livy - The [Pg 147] Euphrates also is navigable up to Babylon, a distance of more than 3000 stadia.
— from The Geography of Strabo, Volume 3 (of 3) by Strabo - The Tigris is navigable upwards from its mouth to Opis, 494 and to the present Seleuceia.
— from The Geography of Strabo, Volume 3 (of 3) by Strabo - Profile of a navigable canal.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - It is intersected throughout by broad and deep navigable rivers.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - Conditions of a navigable river.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - Navigable locks.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - banks, and another for the navigable canal, and the exit into the Baltic is in C sharp major, pianissimo.”
— from Howards End by E. M. Forster