Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-06-15
Col. WIN. ]. LEWIS.
RIcHMoND, Jan. Is, 1916.

RIcHMoND, Jan. Is, 1916.
Genrismen-I have received your polite.
and l may say, fattering letter, in which
you request me :" TO give a general des-
cription of Roanoke river its capabity
OF navigation, aud the most eligible mode
OF transporting the marketable productions
OF this river, and its tributary streams, to
Norfolk"
The Roanoke heads in the Alleganv
mountains. opposite, and at q little dis
lance from Lite river, branch Of tn
Great kenfawa. 1t bears the name of
Roanoke until it descends through the South
Mountains, or Blu Ridge, wheu it OBJ
tains the name Of Stanton. The UDpe.
Roanoke has sufficient quantity OF water
tor useful navigation at all seasons with ju
dcious management, and within few
miles of the Ailegany Mountains. This
part OF the river, in low water, has a gen l.
current, except On the shoals, which a.
bound in Upper Roanoke though none of
them present any serious distractions to
improvem. mt.
From the Eastern side OF the Blue
Ridge to the Seven Islands, near the mouth
of the Great Falling RIVER, the S.aun!oz
presents bolder aspect IN the number
and difficulty of its falls and shoals, some
CT which, III low water, cannot now be pas
sed by loaded boats with safety, aud One is
entirely impossible but a S,.,ail add ton
to the amount already expended inits w.
provement, would r1nd l. 1t perfectly SAT
at all times. whether the river tide was
high or low.
The Staunton, after passing the Seven
Islands, having received q considerable &C
cesSion OF " alter from its northern and
southern sides, becomes deeper, more gem
tie in its current, and has lever shoals
| none, even low water, TO ohstruct the
passage OF boats with five tons weight, TO
| Its Junction with Dan river. After the uni
| on OF the Stanton and Dan, the name
Roanoke" il RESUMED, and the connec-
ton produces one OF the most beautiful
| and noble rivers on the east OF the Alleea-
| ny Mountains, until it precpitates Use If
with awful grandeur down the Grga1 Falls
into the plains bslow. Here us beauty and
the sound of Its many waters" are lost.
1t Creep on sluggishly in a narrow, crook
ed channel, through cypress swamgs, to
| the distance ct 100 mics, where it sudden
y spreads itself again into broad and
beautiful river, to meet the Chowan. form
Ing together the head OF Albemar.e Soun,,.
Ihisis but a geEcra aEd imperfe des-
cription OF this beautiful river from It's
source to its mouth, being LITTLE short Of
500 miles in length, and watering with lis
FEBRUARY streams, at least fifteen mill ms
OF acres OF IS fertile land as any on the
Atlantic waters.
The principal obstacle to the navigation
Of this river is the Great Falls in the state
Of North Carolina. They are IL miles
from head to foot, and in that distance
descend 100 feet, which is feet 4 inches
to the mile. On the south side of the river.
the distance by land would be miles, with
descent of II feet 6 inches per mile.
There are TWO or three WAYS of render
ing tue falls nav gable: by canals and
locks or 10y adhering to the bed OF the ri
ver.---Cangls, when made, are preferable.
because they can be navigated at all times
without danger or diiiiculty-but the ex-
pense OF making canals in some places
would be greater than what the foliage
ought to hastily; and ] am led to believe
that q canal round these fails would not,
IN many years, reimburse, by moderate.
foliage, the expense OF constructing it.
he cheapest aud most expeditions plan
would be to adhere to the bed oft river,
considerable portion of which CONSISTING
otsril sheets OF water, or having a gentle
current, is already navigable. This mode
woui! reduce the actual distance TO be i'm
F''' 49, - f''4t q oman DOitlDn Ol InS IL
niles The RAPID p 1T Of the falls should
have straight sluices for DIES ,ending boats,
aud for those as.en.ing, diagonal slu.ccs
crossing from the bottom to tne top Of the
falls. winch would lessen Their deciivitv.
and thereby greatly facilitate the passage
% ascending boats.
As an immediate trade down the R1an-
ohe is so much wished for by the high land
people. why not, for the prescott, have a
land carriage at The Great Fallsl II
wDsld be but 3 miles. over a finc soil for a
2 OF road, and the carriage OF produce bv
aud at that place, would be htttle more
tn 10 the foliage on canal naviga ion, where
the water must be let down 100 feet bv
10 Ks. II trading houses were established
at that place, and the produce Of the uv-
per Country could be 50 d there n fir
price, 1t would be Immediately carried
that far, but 30 farther. The bighispd
boats Will not navigate Lower Roanoke 70
the Sound, owing TO the distance benc 100
great tyr such unceas NJ bodily exertjons---
the sickness Of that climate, and AZ un-
sHiiuiness in pgope!llag boats with oafs--
# they were wiling to extend thcif voysc..
their boats are not Of tie proper structure
,--being cpen, they would not. wien load