The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1813-11-08
FOR THE ALEXANDRIA HERALD.
ON ROADS coMMEC7ED pITH
+ BANKS.-No. III.


II remains to take view Of the more ..
neral, and public advantages to be derived
from the connection of road with banl
STOCK. or the necessity of paved roads to
cur markets, no one can doubt who is ac
quainted with the country through which
the common highways pass. Added to a
sou extremely untavorable to roads, cue
Climate effects them in greater degree
man IL does either to the north or SOUTH
Our winters alternately wet & cold, frosty
ana SOFT contribute to render them natu-
rally impossible except in a very small de.
gree. Our products are bulky & onerous,
requiring the employment of immense
numbers Oh carriages to transport them
While they were comparatively small, the
evii was not SO much felt. A cultivator
OF tobacco who made his ten hopsheads.
which he had to bring to market, could eff
lect IL In hve loads OF his Wagon; but a
farmer, using the same capital in land and
labor, makes with as much ease two thou
sand bushels OF wheat, which requires for
'y loads to bring 1t to market. This great
encrease OF carriage, from the change of
cultivation, and which has also INCREASED
with the growth OF the country, renders il
absolutely necessary that artificial roads
should be constructed. 1t may indeed be
OBJECTED, that the connection of road with
bank stock, will not obviously have an eff
rect oehehcial to the country at large, in
relation to those roads already made; vet
II must be considered that those who have
expended inconvenient sums in obtaining.
such objects, If they now obtain reim-
Dursement, VIII be actuated by the same
spirit of liberality and desire to promote
improvements as at FIRST, and will further
contribute to their favorite objects. There
are artificial roads however in the middle
OF southern states which are completed
one only otlmportance leading to A!exan-
drla Yet although it may be that the pub
lie VIII derive no benefit from reimburse
ment to stockholders of roads already made.
distinction would have been inyidious,
and injurious IT not destructive to tho in
stltuuon, which is about to become this
hrst known to be established on this plan.
The branches however Of this road are i'm
portant; by the completion Of them the
principal one will be benefited and its
products in tolls be greatly enhanced. The
loss then to the bank, will be less, while it
would appear to be good policy also to pro-
mote the subscriptions to the completion of
the branches. Those branches are all Of
importance TO the trade of Alexandria; one
OF them appears to be of sufficient import
ance to become national object. That,
which passing through CentervilIe g. War
renton to NEWMARKET, would continue on
direct route TO the Kanhawa settlements,
and thence with continuation of the same
line OF road to the richest and most popu-
ious parts OF Kentucky. Ofthis road there
are already some of the most expensive
portions completed. The Fauquier and
Alexandria road terminates at Warrenton,
as authorized by an act OF the Virginia as
sembiy tor making that road-From thence
to Thornton's Gap in the Blue Ridge, a.
bout twenty-five miles, it is contemplated
to open and improve the way, by raising
sum of money for that purpose by lottery,
now authorized by the legislature of Virgil
MIA to be drawn, and which will probably
be soon done. From the southern side of
the Blue Ridge there is a turnpike road a.
cross the mountain, and also across the
western arm of the mountain called the
MassanuteB, to within about SIX miles os
New Market, and i'll passing, OH the pro-
posed route through the Allcgany noun
tain, there is also part of the road now
made turnpike. Serious difficulties are
already surmounted, and except OIL the
southern side of the Blue Ridge, the way
seems already opened to establish tbs di-
rect connection of the district Of Columbia
by straight line of communication with
the most fertile, popu!ous, and ccniricai
parts of the western country. 1; seems OH
iy to remain to afford now 10 ihGiyidual ex-
ertion all the aid which pubic patronage
can corstitutionally give, to accomplish
this important object Of internal improve
ment and convenience. BY the system Of
which this communication is the subject,