The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-12-31

on the table. 80 $50 ,
The committee of roads and internal navi-
CATION, have had these subjects under consi-
derat on, and beg leaveto make the following
general Report: .r
ne State OF Virginia, possessing an une-
qusl surface. ought to be Considered in three
distinct points of view. relative TO roads /:
The first commencing on the sea-board and
extendii Swest, to the head of tide water !;
The second, from these points, to the noun
tains The third, Including the mountains
and all that rough country extending to the
Ohio river, and southwestern boundary of the
state.-The soil in the first division is sandy
and level, requ,ing but little from art and
labor, to make god roads; ditching and
bridging being nearly ali that is requisite
The second division contains a variety of
Soils and suriace--Sand, gravel and clay.
are its component parts---More' art and
greater eXpence will be required in this aivi
sion--paved roads in many places will be
indispensable. The third division, although
rough and mountainous, will require more art
in the direction of roads, bat less cxpence in
structure being dug out of the sides of
hills and mountains, their base will be dry,
solid and permanent. Bridges in this divi-
sion win constitute 4 considerable item OF ex-
pence. NJ
IF a SYSTEMATIC plan Of Improvement is a.
dopted by the Legislature, in addition to the
goodness of roads. will be added curtail-
mcDt of distancc--Private interest which
has hitherto Enlightened many of our high
ways, will then Weld tn public benefit more
direct track, for reasonable compensation.
In all places where paved roads are necessa-
~, the materials of stone, gravel and timber
proper for their construction, are abundant,
and generally convenient
On internal navigation, YOUR committee
would observe, that this state is channelied
ont by multitude of rivers some of Which
are large and noble; commencing On our
southern border, and running nearly paral-
lei with each other in southeastern direc-
ton until they fall into the Chesapeake bay
and AbeTarle sound. All these rivers have
a Underwater navigation up to the foot of the
billy Country more or less so, according to
their depth. Above tide-warer, nature has
lett them less navigable, but has given to
each, sucf structure and direction, as to ex-
cite the hopes, the genius and industry of the
highland people-The upper parts of az our
rivers, present nearly similar. obstacles to ma
vigation-Falls and shoals are the difficulties
to be overcome, and although nature herself
added these, her provision was wise, as they
check the rapidty of currents and thus
form Still deep sheets of water, above and be-
low the falls and shoals, thereby combining the
worksof art to the objects of obstruction alone
he Roanoke, James, Rappahannock and
Potomac rivers, with their branches, pass
through larger extent of fertile country east
OF the. Allegheny mountain than any of our o.
ther rivers SO 10 the Great and Little IA
nawhas with the rpper branches of the Mo
mongolia To - West, and part OF Tennes-
see, to the Southwest. These rivers consti-
tute the greatest navigable interest Of the
state but Elizabeth, Appomattox and York
rivers, with their branches, are not less inter-
esfing IL proportion to tl.eir lebgtt and mag
nitude.
There are three modes of improving the
Navigation OF rivers; FIRST by canals; second,
by slopes or channels cut through their fills
and shoals third, by checking the rapidsty ct
the currents on the fails and Shuais Canals,
where the ground Will admit their structure,
although the most expensive mode, is per-
haps preferable, because their use is never IN
terrupted either by high or low water, and
their passage is attended with less lahour
and danger Slopes viii answer for down
ward. but not upward navigation. The
checks given to the current by nature, being
destroyed, the velocity OF the water will be
Increased in proportion to the height of food
consequently an ascending navig ,tion, must
often De impractlcaDle. The third mode of
reducing the c-rrenss on falls & shoals to still
water, would be less expensive than the two
ormer, IN as much as the labor and e>tDence
would be confined to the objects of obstruction
alone, the balance OF the rivers Being sutIici-
emily navigable.
Your comn,,,tee regret, that thew had not
time to make a detailed report Of these i'm
portant subjects, but they view with much
pleasure, AN ardent desire arising in the Lee
glsiature to open these great sources of natl
onal wealth, which have been hitherto, in a
measure, locked up from the good people OF
this state.
Nature has, indeed, done every thing for
Virginia, she could do consistently with her
general arrangements, and although She has
lett unfinished tine upper navigation of our ri
vers, she has wound them down from the
SUBMITS OF our mountains to the plains below,
as gently as the decllvity would admit. and
mas moreover, checked their currents at in
terVals with lodges of rocks, thereby pointing
out the proper mode OF rendering them most
subservient to our wants and necessities In
a national point OF view, the connecting the
waters OF James, and Great Kanawha rivers
is an object of such magnitude, your Commit
tee hope the Legislature will never lose
SIGHT OF 1t until its completion. The Com
nilssioners appointed 81 EXAMINE tiuse rivers,
reported the practicahility of rendering them
usetuliy nayig ible with an interview ny Lortage
OF Twenty eight miles but subsequent infSr-
nation makes it probable, that the portage
can be reduced to less than one mile, if the
waters will not unite. This communication