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

PRESENTED TO TIE ROUSE or DELEGATES, JAN.
~, 1918, AND ORDERED TO BE PRINTED.
dc Committee OF Roads aud Internal Nayi-
cation have had under consideration 40 much
oi The Report OF the Board OF Public W0gAs
az relateS tn the Improvement of james aud
lNariwha Rivers, and the construc ting of
turnpike road between the highest navig gable
points oil those rivers--and have unanimous
~ agreed ~ the following REPORT:
ne Improvement al the navigation OF James
AMI Aanawha RIVERS, and the constructing of
durable tnrnpiAe roau between the highest
points 10 which those rivers may be rendered
iiatigabie, 80 earnestly recommended by The
SpGtd OF Public WORKS, TO the care and to
rae patronage u the legislature, has receives
from tlc committee HAT careful and deliberate
Investigation which so important sGblect 50
J1'tly demands. Ia This examination the poll
ucal as well rs commercial advantages that
night reasonably he expected to result to this
commonwealth from the proposed measures
necessarily presented themselves, bur as those
saqnIries are fully, justly, aud ably answered
ny lhe interesting report made 10 the leyisla-
t"re IN December ISiS by the commissioners
appointed to examine those rivers with the
intermediate country, the committee has con-
tsnted Itself witl trdGScribing thar part Of the
report.
e In presenting to the honorable the lesisIa.
tHFe TIE advantages which, in the opinion of
soar commissioners, viii probably accrue to
IN, Mate from executing the work to which
'hclr report relates, it " il! be necessary TO di-
vitie ltis snh.ect, and TO consider, separately
hiS', those which may reasonably be expected
:" r',uh from executing II i'll part; next, those
"hi' are 20 be looked Tor from executing il
IA the Whole.
Hhouid the navigation of James river be
carried up to the mouth Of Duuiop's creek,
ANA turnpike road be made ov err the Allegha-
ny mountain, although nothing further should
be done, considerable Impulse will be given
20 The agriculture, and valuable effect pro
unccu ON the wealth and population of a con.
sircia ante tact of country, IL cannot reason
aUly De doubted, that Bath, il part of Bote.
tout, and great part OF Green6rier, Monroe,
ahu perhaps even Of Giles, would find a real
interest ,n searching for market on lanes
RIVER, ior the produce OF their soil if such safe
tld cheap conveyance were afforded them AS
n'Sht be gwen by the improvements which
nnYe becn stated.
Agriculture would minele more than here.
t"tpre ~iih grazing; and Industry would -four.
ISL, when ihr reward of industry should be at.
iatnabi1. Those more western counties whose
distance might forbid the atteinpt TO trapsnort
gram manufactured into tioiT, or distilled into
sririls, 10 the markets on james river, might
s'iii ne encouraged 10 bring to those mark cts,
sdtt, sailed provisions, and various manuiac-
lures OF hemp. AA increase OF population
would result, not Ouly from the check which
this state of things would give emigration,
hut also from IT'S operation on the inhabitants,
III other respects.
Other parts of the state would derive cor
responding advantages from their intercourse
with section OF the country which would
nave more 10 sell aud more TO purchase than at
present. ~ The augmentation of the wealth
aGd population 0t a part, not only would those
belonging 10 that part be improved i'm their
circumstances, but the whole would be more
gowerflil and the -pubiic burdens being more
d.yided, might press less heavily on each iIdi.
vidmal.
These advantages would probably be ex.
tended by improving the navigation of the
GlecnbrieT also.
Should New river be rendered safe and
easy channel or communication, between the
Ohio and the commercial towns on James ri.
yer, the subject viii assume more important
.astftt hn Il y.a.Rf r.
Oh d larger scale. Not only will that part of
our own state which lies on the Kanawha and
on the OHIO, receive their suppl es and send
much of their produce to market through
james river, but an immense tract of fertile
county, IL great part of the states Of Keutncky
and Ono, viii most probably give their COM
merce the same direction. All that part of the
state of Eeuturky which lies above IouisviIle
and all That part OF the state Of Ohio whose
tIade would pass through the river OF that
name, might reasonably be expected TO main.
'ain large portion of their commercial inter
course with the Atlantic states, through the
James or the POtOwmac. Certainly in a con.
test for this interesting prize, the states
through which those Rivers run, have peOVra-
phlcai advantages, the benefit of which they
can lose only by Sdpineness in themselves, OF
10y extraordinary eXeTtiOns iH others III is far
from bein2 impossible. that even the southwcs.
tern paris of Pennsylvania may look down one
ol these rivers TOT theu supplies OF goods man
uiacmred in Europe.
Let tie importance attached by men, best
acquainted with the subject TO the commerce
OF the west, attest its value. The exertlont
which other states appear to be making to Sc
cure 1t, viii probably awaken the attention of
VIRGINIA to that part of which should natural
~ belong to her.
"'rhere is still another aspect in which this
sghJect deserves to be viewed.
That intimate connection which generally
attends free 0mmcrcialintercOprSe the strong
ties which are formed by mutual interest and
tie interchange Of good offices, bind together
individuals Of different countries, and are we'll
calculated 10 cherish those friendly sentiments
those amiedble dispositions, which at present
unite Virginia TO d considerable portion Of the
western people. AT all times the cultivation
OF theso dispositions must be desirable but in
the vicissiinde Ofhuman affairs i'm that u,vste.
rou' future, which is in reserve, and is vet
hidden from rs, events may occur to render
then preservation too valuable 10 be estimated
10 dollars and cents.
The advantages which may result TO Virgi
MA from opening this communication with Tie
western cOBntry, will be shared in common
with her by thc states of Kentucky and Ohio
" Considering IL as a medium tor the iutroduc
ton OF tOrelsn articles int0 those states, it has
ClIlus 20 their serious attention
The proposition that nation fiudsits frue
interest IN multiplying rs channels VI itnporta-
tiVn, admitting them 10 be euHaIls convenient
IS believed % De inceutrovertible. In addition
20 most arguments IN snppOrt Of tins PROPOSE
tiOu which belong 30 every case the situation
pccuitar TO themselves, aud which well deserve
their confederation
The whole OF that extensive and fertile
cOuuiry,a country increasing in wealth and
population with raPld,ty which battles caIcu.
idtiuu. nWst niake its inpportations no the Mis-
sissippi aiOne, Or through the Atlantic states
" hen we take into view the cerIain growth ~
ths country, sc can scarcely sappose il posi-