Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-03-06
FOR THE ARGUS.
CONCERNING THE JAMES RIVER CA,

Richmond, its general relations to the
whole state, and its influence on the COM
merce which may and ought TO be promo
ted between the Eastern and Western peo-
pie by this route in preference to any other,
renders this a question of much more
consequence, than can be believed by
those short sighted politicians who can't at
one view comprehend more space than ex-
lists between the arch and the basin.
The policy of the directors, according to
my opinion, Is now and has been wrong from
the commencement of the work to the pre-
sent day. Nothing is done right except that
which was done to their hands by Mr.. Bal
landine. He had taken the proper mea-
surcs to introduce water into his canal and
the directors had nothing to do but to pro-
coed; but they established locks, and re-
turned the water into the river, to get the
benefit of a sheet of fiat water 1t is need
less 70 dwell upon this, because the error is
now irremediable.
! The next errer was in making a canal
o. such small capacity, that supply of wa
ter for few pair of mill stones, will pre-
vent the operation of boats. Let the bed
OF the canal be as wide again and as deep
again as it is, and all the expense of do
Ing the work, will be paid by the rent OF
water thus obtained. How ought this to be
done it will be asked: the following is nv
answer.
Let sufficient number of hands be en-
ploycd at once, either to work under over
seers or Ivy particular contracts--and APP
ply their labours to different places, so as
IN one summer, to do the whole The stone
which would, by these means, be obtained,
would be equal to the demands for the
locks, which nlKst be made from the present
basin to tide water: or if the directors shall
Icontrive to persuade the legislature to re-
lieve them from that part of their contract,
or to suspend the execution from time to
thine forever then the stone may be sold
to builders. Indeed it is likely that, in some
lPiaces, the privilege of having the stone
would induce private adventurers TO widen
land deepen the canal. Many advantages
would accrue from this plan among others
1.-THE bank on the lower side of the canal
might be strengthened by the dirt and
fragments of stone, so as 10 render it more
Isecure-and to afford room for the passage
of carriages.
The invariable PROJECT OF the directors
for many years past, has been to make a
Jul and everlasting stop, according to the
plan of the present basin-and thus COM
pei all the commerce of this place to turn
upon small, contemplate pivot, instead
Iof giving equal advantages to the whole.
have nodOubt, that the directors and others,
who cooperate with them, believe that
they are in the right Indeed, there can
be no question as to their sincerity, because
they have not only written and published
book, but five gentlemen, have subscribed
their names to the contents OF the book.
Among other things, contained in this
book, is statement, which has, no doubt,
satisfied the signers, and many others
vol mn fo1 Al
it was most proper to bring every BODY and
every thing into scrambling place
where drays and dray-men, boats and boat
men, flour, tobacco, sc. are all presented
to the eve at once, i'll wild disorder, and re-
mind US of those scenes which used to hap
pen at elections. when cart loads OF ginger
dread, were cast among the croud. Blu.
Testing apart, consider the policy incul-
Gated by that book, and the general prac-
tees OF thc directors concerning the canal.
to be decidedly improper. 1t is nconsis-
tent with the public understanding when
the charter WAS granted-is repugnant
, to the general interests ofthe city of Rich
mond-to the public rights of the commu-
nifty, and to the private interests of the
! company, so far as relates to the shares of
: the canal. 1t is an open declaration of
war against commerce and common sense.
~ puts lOCk3 as lI Wefei upon the human
understanding, and is an inhibition to a free
agency upon the bounties of providence.
had almost forgotten that was about
to write short essay for a newspaper, ra-
lther to induce readers TO reflect than
to obtrude upon them arithmetiCal details
philosophical illustrations.
shall close this essay, with an extract
from the book already noticed, which is as
follows.
"Much stress has been laid on the neces-
sity for locks to facilitate the transportati-
ON OF coal from the Basin Experience has
proved that coal, water borne, cannot be
lodged at Rockets in safety without en-
countering an expense which that article
will not bear, and that it is better 10 pur-
sue the present mode in proof of this, we
refer to the subjoined affidavit of gentlemen
well conversant on this subject, and much
interested in this article. The same req
son will apply to all bulky and heavy arti-
lcies."
But admitting the locks to be erected,
will there not then be additional expense,
by loss of time in passing and repassins
them IN hand hire tounload in detention
OF the vessel and crew, If the vessel shall
be ready TO receive the load (but which
more frequently will not be the CASEY and
: If no vessel be ready, then to deposit the
r produce in insecurity from frcshes, and which
are frequently very sudden, can only be done
) by placing it in a situation very considera-
bly, elevated - Dc this, will REQUIRE mere