Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-27

life, will render this disparity between the
commercial and agricultural capital still more
sensible. 1t will tend still more to retard a
population of thar sound mercantile character,
which would render some great city Oh that
majestic river, Il safe emporium Tor the western
world.
IN times OF profound peace, then, the states
oh Tue ohio Would maze sacrifices OF no iu-
considerable magnitude, by restricting their
appropriations 10 Il single river. But, in tine of
war. Iheii whole trade might be annihilated
When II Is rccoliected that the Mississippi
emptieS itself into the Cult of Florida uLlCl,
Is surrounded by foreign territory that ti,.
island OF Cuba and The coast OF last Florida
completely guard the passage from its mouth
To The ocean; that The immense commerce
lowing down Its stream, holds forth irlesisii-
bic aiiuremeHtS to cruisers (he ouniun seem.
Wen founded, that scarcely u vessel Irak Sing
tor that place could reach its poit OF GeStinsI-
ton.
II But the length of the VOYAGE up the Mis-.
siSsippi and Ohio, must he attended with delav
so mcOnveuient 20 persons engaged in com
merce, as TO render shorter r0ure though not
less expensive, moro eligible. For importation
oil many articles, there is much reason TO be-
iieve that decided preference would ALWAYS
De given to tile transportation through the
ohited states, were that transportation rem
deicu as easy ~ IL iSCapabie of being made.
ne export trade daring peace, so far MS
the articles were designed for d foreign mar.
het, would more probably pass exclusively
down The mississippi. But those articles
winch were consumed IN the United States,
as manufactures othemp, would find their
way 10 market through interior and shorter
channels.
" Ii the direct route through the Atlantic
states would, Tor many purposes, be more eli
gibie than that through tie Gulf of Florida
which mast be Otteu connected with coastiuc
voyage TO or from AN Atlantic port, then the
multiplication of those routes, if in themselves
equal, ny presenting greater cheice. and by
accommodating more territory, must be desi-
rab!e.
hut your commissioners are sanguine in
the opnion, that the communication through
the rivers they have viewed, il properly made,
VIII possess advantages over every other
WITCH cannot fail to recommend ii to a lar.c
portion Of rhe states Of Kentucky and Ohio.
ALL that part of the western country
"hich draws It's supplies and transports IT'S
produce through the river OHIO and which
lies east of Louisville and west OF the
I'cnnS! ivania line, perhaps Il part of the
state of Pennsylvania itself, could probably
use tins route more advantageonsiy than any
other unless, indeed, that through tho Pc.
towmac, connected with Monongalela. Cheat.
or fohaehena, should come INTO competition
win II, Tor the eastern part OF the country Just
mentioned.
That it would, for the Importation of arti
ces from Europe, and from the east. with
rev eXcepiions) and for the expectation of
those which are consumed in the United States,
De preferred TO the voyage through the Mis-
SISsIppi, unless the iIsguducton of steam boats
snohId essentially vary the present state of
thlngs, may safely he assumed from the fact
that "A land carriage between pittsburg AND
Philadelphia OF Baltimore, AMI carriage up
or down tile Ohio, are now used TOR the purpo-
seS uescrlhed, III preference 10 the route by
New Orleans.
he present price for the Transportation of
goods from philadelphia or BaItimore to Pitts
Dnrg, is understood 10 be from seven TO ten
dollars per hundred weight.
lie price Transportation from Richmond
up JamtS rlver, to the mouth OF DuniOp's
creek, thence across the Allegheny to Green
brier, ana down to the mouth OF the Great
hauaWha, VIII depend upon the goodness
OF the road and the degree of perfection to
which The navigation NAV be carried Your
commissioners believe that sound national
economy would dictate such improvements as
wOuin reduce the price OF freight, although
the iabor employed in making them might be
procufed by an augmentation ct toll and some
expenditure OF public money.
should The navigation of James river be
rendered as safe ami as easy may be reascll-
ably expected, and the Greenbrier and New RI
yer be improved, in such manner as the object
VIII Justify, your commissioners believe they
hazard nothing In saying that the expense of
transporting one hundred weight from Rich.
moid 10 the mouth the Great Kanavha will
not exceed half the price of transporting the
same weight from Baltimore or Philadeiphia
10 the same place.
he immense works meditatedin N York
VIII certainly, If executed, give to that state
great advantages ina competition for the trade
OF The lakes. ButifOther convenient and more
direct channels be opened, it is not probable
mat Tie commerce of the Ohio will take the
clrcutous route by The lakes.
Inc expense OF transportation from New
YORK through the canal contemplated, can on
iy be c0njectured. The character OF the rivers
which wonid be used is not well nuderst TODD
but they must possess many advantages 10 give
them preference over The directwAy fhro1oh
Virginia 10 the Ohio.
Your commissioners, however, take The IL
hFaT IN at l.oNt al
10 obtain that share of the commerce of the
west, TO which this state, from her eeogrhpi1i.
cal situation and her rivers, would seem to be
entitled, must depend entirely on the safety
aud cheapness of her navigation mode Of
transportation by water in itself insecure. or
10 laDorlonS as 10 be little less expensive than
carriage by land, will never change the chan
nelS III which this trade already flows.
The advantages TO accrue TO the U States
from opening this new channel of intercourse
between the eastern aud the western states
are those which necessarily result TO the whole
body fro' whatever benefits its members.
and lhose winch must result to the United
States, particularly from every measure which
TENDS TO cement more closely the union of the
eastern with tie western states.
In those operations, tao, which the eyioen.
cieS OF government may often reqnire, this CEN
tfal channel OF communication bV water NAV
be OF great value. For the want of IL i'm the
conrse OF the last autumn, government was re-
duced TO the necessity Of TRANSPORTING arms i'm
Wagons from Richmond 10 tile fails of the
Great kanawha. a similar necessity NAV Of
ten Tecur."
Inc committee cOncurriDg in opinion with
the commissioners as to the Importance of bind.
ing together tie members of this republic by
the strong cords Ofinterest 81 affection believe
with them, that 10 measure can so fully& eftec
tually produce that indissoluble connection
between this commonwealth and the western
states and territories, as the means of an easy
and safe communication between the Cbeass
peake aud Ohio ny the rivers of Virginia con
hected by am appropriate turnpike road In
a commercial point Of view he'mportance of