Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-08-01

There can be four great avenues for Trans
,bortation to Norfolk, besides the grea
Contemplated canal from the falls Of Ro
lanoke TO Meherfin, Bennett's Greek
Lake Drummsnd and the Dismal Swans
leanal which route does not toIch thu
Sound
/ First-A middle route az the Pasquo
tank, the Dismal Swamp Canal and dowr
1.-The Elizabeth river, already III use. Sc
cond- From Albemarle Sound through
ICurrituck Sound, the North River, ane
down Elizabeth river. On this route 9
canal Of only s miles in length will have
to be cut between the navigable waters
ton each side, through fine plain. moi
Exceeding four feet 10 its greatest eleva'
Ition. Third. From Albemarle sound
Iup the Chowan River, Benefits Greek
lake DrammoNd and the Dismal swamf
Canal. On this route only short canal
Twill be required in addition to the present
one. Fourth From the Chowan com.
Imunication may be had also with Nanse'
mond River, and thence to Norfolk.
Where so many good communications
ARE presented for selection it is difficult
for the mind to give a preference II
must nat confine itself to the present
state of the Roanoke and the Sound, nor
that of the extensive country watered BY
their tributary streams; but ii must look
forward to that peried, when the whole
of these waters shall become navlgable
land when that rev spring of industry
shall excite in the human heart an addl'
sional thirst Tor gain exhibitedi In a more
general and Ingenious cultivation OF the
isall, the, management Of fisheries, OF tar.
OF turpenine, and lumber of all descrip-
ITEMS. vi these articles YOU export from
the Sound annually to the amount of
9 50O.G00 dtlars; but what wi be the
,exports n!.en that fire country shall nave
arrived It's Creates, population--when
impro. ements in Experimentation the
very nils aud msaHtans shall be EN-
/ oSeiiest. aad thejr metals aud mine
L ais are nnmncred among the principal
articles u export: Fos this trade Norfolk
Stands almost without 0oMpeti-
tier. communication diyec3y from Al.
Iboma,le sound with the sea, IS attended
! vita seyiogs, if not insurnloUntabte ,liili
|cu!ties the sha!lowncss Of thai sea eoast
xhere the sctipr Of tie waves is constant
" ShittiUS the sand froit,, place to place.
Nil! poraafs o9kpp any chanpel that
i,n4y be mad@ iut tie pas ,ase OF sea vea-
els OF heavy bui thep, and thus as Nof.
FOLK has tie cap;tal and a fllie seaport she
Innst enjoy the trade. would therefore
I;ecommenl tie immediate opening o.
| the Dismal Swamp Canal, SO as to give
Iit sufficient width and depth 10 answer
tiis rr!e |
az sorry gentlemen, that my knew
iedge Of these subjects IS SO limited.
With great respect, &c
w. j. LEWIS.
"a. Cock ard Niles King, Esqajres.
sFrom North Landing to Kemps-
Iyil! a
I An act was passed by the Legislature
ief Virginia. subsequent to this correspon-
Iience. authorizing these improvements to
he made. The canal is authorized to be
made 40 feet wide, and sufficiently deep
for TIE passage o. feaseis drawing FIVE
feet waler. For the completion Of this
Traditional work, the stocNhoide % tie
Dismal Swamp Canal Company are re
!qairea to advance $4,000 dollars on their
present caEiiai STICK, being 20 per
cent. each e'.,s,e. If this sum shoold
be insufficient. the law authorizes the
Icrcatiol Of the new stock, TO an amount
hot exceediAa $1,000 dollaFs-We re-
sret to add, that tIrr~e is no prospect at
present Of any thing being done TO for' ard
ne Improvement contemplated ov the law
,ict Is the singular inattention ct he CT
zeuS of Norfolk to their best interests
Editors HerrDld.