Thank you all who pointed me toward info on the James River Kanawha Canal.  I got some great contacts, and found a 2009 book that had exactly the information that I wanted about the locks, the route and such.  I have started writing up a little article on our experience on the Kennet & Avon Canal as it related to the JRK Canal of 150 years ago.  But as usual, that brings up several other questions.

1-A copyright free map of the JRK Canal.  The only one that I can find is an 1863 sketch.  I have plumbed the riches of the Library of Congress and Library of Virginia and Virginia Historical Society and cannot find one.  There is a map in the Official Military Atlas of the Civil War that I would like to use, but cannot find a digital copy anywhere.  I have a BIG book with maps in it, but the book is copyright -- all rights reserved.  Google Maps is outstanding, but forget using any of those.  I thought I had a chance when I downloaded a copy of SMART DRAW, but in reading the fine print, and then following up with a question, I found out those maps are all copyrighted.  Which brings me to my second question.

2-The people's right to historical documents.  There are no doubt copies of JRK canal maps around somewhere, and I found an 1880 UK Ordanace Survey map of the K&E canal on the UK History website.  But when I asked for permission to use it, was told that a private firm held the copyright.  I do not understand how a public record can be un-publicked.  

3-Finally  -- and not trying to turn VA_Hist into a legal forum  -- what in the world is "fair use?"

Meanwhile, I continue to work on an article, making extensive use of photographs that my friend Paul took on our canal trip.  My camera fell into the canal, so it is great that he was shooting pics.  I hope to have something complete by this time next month.

Randy Cabell

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