Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-02-09


ton of the Atlantic states. fresh and an
exhausted by the fatigue of marching o,
Inc inland frontier OF The state of New
Iork. The road commenced, by order
OF Tue executive, from Plaiisburg oSack.
etis 1arbor, is essentially connected with
hiIiiary operations on this portion of The
northern frontier. A water con,n,noica.
ion from PiilsbuTg to Lake Erie would
greatly increase our power on the unpe,
lakes. The AlIeghany river. by its mali,
branch, is said 10 be nayiyable within
seven miles of Lake Erie. and bv French
creek, within sixteen miles. Pit,sbury is
The great military depo, of the country ia
The west of The Allegheny, and, ifit were
connected by canal with lake Erie.
would furnish military supplies will, ia
ciiiyio the upper lakes, as well as To the
cnuniry watered by the Mississippi. II
10 THESE communications we add a road
rom Detroit 10 Ohio, which has already
Deen commenced, aud canal from The
Illinois river TO Lake Michigan, which lie
growing populafionof tli.- state OF Illinois
renders very important, all The facilities
wnich would he essential 80 carry on,
miiitary operations in the :ine of war.
ana Tie transportation Of The munitions
OF War Tor the defence 81 IN. western
portion OF our northeia frontier. would
be afforded.
IL only remains 10 consider tlir system.
OF roads and canals connected with The
defence OF our southern frontier. ar flat
on The Gulf of Mexico. Furile defence
oil this portion of our country. though a,
present weak of Itself, nature has done
much. The bay Of Mobile, and the en-
trance INTO The Mississippi through all of
lis channels, are highly capable of de-
fence. a military survey has been made,
ana the necessary Notifications have
been commenced, and will be in few
years completed. But the real strength
oi this frontier is the Mississippi, which
is no less The cause of its security, than
''iai oil MS commerce and wealth. lis ra
pid stream, aided by The force Of steam.
can, IN the hour of danger, concentrate
al oncean irresistible force. Made strong
by Tins noble river, little remains 10 be
done by roads and canals, for The defence
OF our southern frontier. The continual
non Of he road along HE Ailaniic coast,
from slilledgcyIlie 10. New Orleans. and
nae completion of The road which has
aireatiy been commenced from Tennessee,
river 10 The same place, will, ihr inland
navigation through The canal al Caron.
delet, lake Pouchariran, and the islands
along the coast of Mobile, covered against
The operations of a naval force, every IA
cillty required for The transportation OF
mnniiiops of war, and movements and
concentration OF troops, 10 protect this
distant aud Important frontier, would be
affor,ied.
Such are The roads and canals which
military operations in lime OF war. The
transportation OF The munitions Of var.
and The more complete defence of The u
Hiied States, require.
Many of the roads and capals which.
havr been suggested, are no dortbi OF lie
ufsi importance 10 the commerce, the
manufactures. the agriculture, and po!iii
cal prosperity of the country ; bun are
not, Tor that r9ason, less useful or npcos-
sary Tor military purposes. Ii is, i'm fact,
one ct the great advantages OF our coun-
Try, enjoying so many Others, that, " he.
Their we regard its internal improvements
III relation TO military, civil, or political
purposes, very n-arIy The same system,
IN aliits parts, is required. The road or
canal can scarcely be designated. which
is highly useful for military operations
which is not equally required for The in
dusify or political prosperity of the com
munity. Ii those roads OF canals had
been pointed oui. silirh are necessary for
military purposes only, The list would
lave been small indeed. have. there
fore, presented all, without regarding the
fact, HAT they might be employed for
other usos, which, in The event of war,
wonld be necessary to give economy,
certainty, and success 10 our military
operations; and which, il they had beei,
completed bcinre the late war, would by
Their saving in that signal contest, in men,
money, and repniaiion, more than have
unidentified the country for The expence
Of their constructors. have not pre-
pared an estimate of GxpeBccs, nor point
ed ont illc parilc ularr6iltes for The roads
or canals recommended, ~ conceive
that this can I've aUcTiaiupd with saiiSlac-
lion orr, by able and skilbiI eng,n ers.
alter careful survey and examination.
would. therefore, respectfully suggest.
as The basis nf The system, aud The first
measure IN Tie "plan fer ihc application
of such means az are in the power of
Congress" that Congress should direct
such survey and estimate 10 be made.
and the result 10 be hid before them az
soon as practicable. The expeuce would
be iucomsiderable: Tor, as The army can
furnish able military and Typographical
engineers, il would be principally coniin-
cd io the employment OF one or more
skIllmi civil engineers, TO he associated
with them. nv their combined skill. IA
efficient system OF military roads and ca
mails would be presented III daiail. arron,-
panied With sucl, estimates Of expcnrrs
as may be relied or THUS, rhll ard sa-
tlsiaciery information oGld be had aud
though some time might lie lost in the
commencement Of tie system, il would
be more than compensated by lis assured
efficiency when completed.
For the construction Of The roads and
canals, which Congress may choose TO