Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-01-13
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.Nc1O- YORK, Jan. 5.
VIRGINIA ROADS AND CANALS. &c.

10
A committee of the Virginia House of
Delegates Certified the Committee Of
Roads and Internal Navgatlon) have
drawn up an elaborate report On this sub
Ject ; embracing view of the advantage
OF such means OF communication. and of the
revenue OF the state submitting bill 10
carry the measure into effect. by creating
fund ~ be- denominated The Fund for
Internal Improvement" to be applied ex-
cluslveiy TO the purpose Of rendering navi
gable the principal rivers, and making
reads from the eastern to the western parts
of the state.
The disposition of this money for the
proposed object, is TO be made by Board
OF Public Works, the governor being ex-
oiflcio, president of the board.
This report, winch is publ;s; cd in the
Richmond Enquirer, is, with tie excl p
ton OF too much bCaStinS) worthy OF the
spirit Of that great state.
The planter and farmer. says the COM
mittcc, realize their share OF this benefit,
(of canals and roads, in the augmented va
luc OF their lands the manufacturer and
the merchant, in the increas; d and diversi-
ned demand for their industry and CAPT.
tai"
Whether the public force is to be
spread out for defence, or combined for
attack, they alike contribute to the rapi-
dity and to the vigour Of Its operations. 4"
The Committee handle the subject with
great ability and even eloquel &C But
we have not room fer their report. They
believe in the possibility Of Connecting the
Roanoke, lanes, or Potomac river, with
the kenawha and Ohio, by cutting through
the granite ridge vi the Allegheny noun
tains, OF Course. They view the SC te of
Virginia, central between the English do
mIr,ons to the North. and the Spanish ter
ritories which touch the Uoited States, on
the south, as tue proper one for opening
an intercourse between the Atlantic and
the Western waters-and in an excusable
self-iove, describe Virginia, as the keystone
OF the Un.ou's arch so favored with
temperate climate and the common benefit
OF the great estuary of the Chesapeake
Here are their words
The United States of America, res
tr.cted by the territory Of England to the
North, and OF Spain to the South, describe
an arch on the Intervening ocean, OF which
Virginia is the centre, and should be the
keystone, sustaining tine Western states
upon It's broad and lofty summit, and bin
ding the Eastern and Southern in solid. lust
and far proportion. First in asserting the
independence OF America, this Common
wealth will net be tic last in giving to
hat independence staGi ity, by Confirming
the un Oh, upon which it rests"
They pay a deserved TT butte to the eyer
tons Of General Washington, which led
to the formation Of the James River and
Potomac Canal Companies cleared $3.50
miles of one River and 800 of another.-
The AppomattOx and Dismal Swamp Ca
nais followed those which originated in the
patrio ism of Washington--tle first open
ing a navigation OF 100 miles. the second
intended to CONTEST waters already nayica-
be Maryland contributed equally with
Virginia, TO improve the Potomac above
tile water. The actual cost Of some of
those public works, does not exceed one
third OF the expense usually attendant mp
on the structure OF turnpike roads which
in the absence OF navigation. are the only
substitute for them.
Que remark, not intended to excite irvj-
di1us competlt on. but generous emulation,
We viii briefly submit
1t Virginia can cleaye and excavate
mountains, TO JON the waters Of the Allan
&c with the rivers Of the West, (Which we
much doubD what hnders New York from
extending a vein between the Hudson ard
Lake Erie! Nature has hccuE1rly dcsig-
mated New-Xork ~ the fvorite link be-
tween the eastern < western territories ;
Tor, here alone does the tide (by the IIud-
SOM flow beyond the mountain ridge.
Md whoa the associations of memory
| carry Us back to the DAYS Of the revolution.
when we behold that iilustrious man, who
was ss bold in war as sage in peace, car
ryns on ais operations OF tho scene Of this