Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-01-24

er boundary on the riyer-within this line, upon
us edge, various eninences present themselves to
invite the erection of redoubts. IfYori town was
sufficiently fortified the metropolis of the state
would be rendered more secure from an invading
tenemy--Richmond being more accessible through
York than james river, because the distance from
the Capes to Richmond Is much less through
York rivers becaise, i, is less intricate and me-
| anderingn its course than James river; because
y presents bold, unobstructed, open navigation
for many miles above the town, ray, l might say,
to within thirty miles OF Richmond
I .Hafsriais for 6uiia;ng Within the limits of
the town OF York vast bodies of q yellow rock are
| found, which when first dug up is sufficiently
iriable or soft to admit of being sawed pr hewn
INTO blocks, but from exposure to the atmosphere,
ana particularly 10 salt water. becomes very hard
| and hrm The walls of an old church within the
town, and those ofa windmill adjoining, are built
OF this stone, and now hard as with difficulty
to be broken or defaced by considerable force
This stone will answer we'll for all kinds Of build
| ings, md for walls for docks, locks, Sc.
Cement,-Large bodies of shells, the exrva of
oysters and other testaceous fish, are to be pro-
cured on the banks and shores of the river But
| III addition, an immense quantity of shell rock,
or rather concreton of shells, is found, not more
than mile from town, Immediately Ell the RI
yea, which from an experiment made some years
ago, by Mr.. Purdie, was found TO yield lime of
the best quality.
Iini6er.-Timber forhouse building can be had
| IN abundance, and much good timber for naval
purposes. The gsowth of the country is cleli;
pine with much oak. The timber and naval stores
which are now carried 10 Norfolk and Washing
ton, from the South, can with more facility and
expedition, and less expense, be transported to
York. The fertile counties of Gloucester, Ma
thews, Elizabeth City, &c and the lands of York
RIVER above, viii furnish large quantities of va
luable tiu,,er NIL y
distant twenty miles from Yor, town, will also
furnish workmen, and cheaper than can be had
ut Washington or Norfolk; and am informed
many of the ship-rights who have works in the
navy yards at Washington aud Gosport were en-
p!oyed from that county.
presume, sir, that in the selection of a settle
for permanent naval rendezvous and depot the
pro, ection such most could afford To the com
merce of the country will be an important consi-
deration, and where be found so advan.
tageous in this point of view as York Town -
From lis contiguity TO the Chesapeake Bay, no:
single vessel of burthen sails up the Bay bat
! IS seen or may be seen from the heights of York
The rich commerce of the Chesapeake and the
valuable ,-gCducts of the lands bordering on its
tributary streams with the exception of James
River) all pass in view of York Town. No enc
my could enter the Chesapeake and remain one
hour in it before it could be known at York
Towns and it a Beacon or Telegraph should
be erected oil the land forming the southern bank
OF the mouth ef York river (Which may be done
at little exPence) the intelligence of the arrival
CT an enemy's fleet could be communicated 10
the metropolis of the state in short period, and
me locsin of alarm sounded from the Capes of
Virginia to the City of Washington in few hours
The facility which the unobstructed channel of
the river affords to its navigation VIII make it
place OF considerable resort and protection to the
commerce of the Chesapeake, when endangered
and pursued by AN enemy The same wind which
brings vessel in the capes of Virginia, will wait
hcr safe under the guns of the town; one wind will
also take vessel from off tile towu to sea and
Il Is confidently believed, that had the United
States frgate CONSTELLATION" been in York river
rather than where she was during the late war.
an opportunity would have been afforded her
brave officers of securing one other trophy of
our naval proves, and Of gathering some Of the
laurels which adorn their brethren in arms This
ship could have frequently gone to sea, and in
stead OF " dropping down. 10 Hampton Roadsj O
await WIND, and thus informing the superior
enemy OF her design, she could have been at sea
hurting her victorious thunder on the enemies
OF Americas whose Constellation ike her
constitution" might have become the admi
ration CT the world
Shppfes-Large quantities of wheat grown
on the lands bordering York river are anH,,aIl,.
shipped down this river for Baltimore; If n d.
mand arises this wheat could be easily manufac-
tured in -four, and doubles would be, and n SIM.
ply readily furnished the place The land on
York river IS q line corn soil large sales of this
gram are annually made from this river as much
OF course IS would be demanded, would ston Of
Yorktown. The extensive marshes ofthe river
above and ITS branches; the rich low country or
Gloucester, Mathews &c and the very productive
lands ON the Rsppahannoc, viii il is believed
when demand arises satisfy that demand. Co,
beef, pork, mutton, &c. In summer. there is mo
place IN the union, that can be better furnished
with fish, have known thirty different snec;es
oil fish enumerated, which are taken in YORK RI
yer, from the large Bonnsda of ninety and an
hundred weight, to the perch of half n bound
am lately informed, that some gentlemen NJ
large farms have declared readiness 70 ct,n+ract
for the supplies for two thousand men at YORK.
Town.
have heard one objection stated TO Yort
namely that it would be difficult to sink piers
or wharyes on account ofthe hardness of The he'd
OF the river. If this objection was well founded
the dIincnlty could be easily removed by adopt,
ing The European practice Of shoeine tie ends of
the piles with Steel, as learn was done in Cher
bourg, in Frsnce-but it is not true that the bed
OF the river Is very hard it is fire ANCHORAGE
ground of sand and mud, sufficiently soft To- s,i7i.
er an anchor to bury, aid thus hsEg ell and offer
ing no diihculty IN 1seigAtng Many hurdles of
small stakes are seen in the river, forced INTO its
bed TOR the purpose of attracting by the food
which collects on them, the fish called Sheeps.
head.