Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-01-25

yer. on this occasion repeat the substance Of
uch OF my observations OF last year aS appear
applicable 10 this point. which Is, that cOnsi-
Ter the plan OF Improving. or rather attempt
M TO improve The navigation OF "A stream, by
eNcavatins Channel ia the solid rock OF
which Ills bed may be composed, OF all other
plans the most expensive, aud eeUeraily COM
pletely defeats the object in view. Ii IL only
when the QuautIty OF water in the bed of the
stream is comparatively small. that AN increase
,t depth is desirable II jhen, il should hap
pen, that ID considerable reach Of tolprabie wa
Ter, (saN) about eighteen inches ia depth
should bt bounded AT the lever end By beds ut
solid rock, over which there is not more than
nine inches. Az adherence To this plan would
dictate the eNcaNating OF such a passage thro'
the rocky bottom as would give eighteen
inches OF depth there also. But when AT
great eNpence,it Is completed, ii turns out
that the depth over the rocks is improved
al the eNpence OF a much greater distance
above. The increased quaniity OF wafer dis
charged by the new slnice, draws OFF the wa
ter from above, and leaves il perhaps, but a
foot, where twas eighteen inches before ;
and thus runs greater length OF navigation
than il improved. And pursuing the same
plan, the excavation must then be continued
through the new made shallow water. The
very reverse OF this plan, believe To be the pro-
per one; that is, To adopt such measures as will
increase instead o. diminishing the quantity and
depth of wafer retained between the banks
less PNpSpce.
Il rs certainly practicable to construct locks
by the assistance OF wing walls, at several of
the most important falls, without leaving the
bed of the river, which might materi7il, aid
ascending boats, al those particular places.
With regard 10 the construction of towing
ways on the banks OF the river. will Just OBJ
serve, that the James river when low, is for a
great proportion of slpns th, shallow for some
distance from tue shore, where it is deep near
hn n i'll "A
tue shore as TO make il convenient TO use a
towing line, would he very expensive even if
ne yer, troublesome plan. of frequent cross
ing tor the purpose OF taking advantage of
the deepest water. should be adopted. That
the expense of preparing the banks for the
purpose. would he considerable; that the
towing way, would, i'll MANY places, be neces-
saiilN inconvenenily high above the boat; a.
above all, when done. it would only i'm effect,
he siuice navigation, with regard To the
depth OF water, aud consequent draft and
burden OF the boats to he used on it.
Havin. finished the description of the rivers
creeks roads, and canals that we have been
engaged in surveying and having out, during
the late season. and furnished estimates of the
expense of improving the water courses
constructing a road of communication be-
tween the eastern and western waters of the
state; aud line of canals from Dunlap's
creek to Richmond, with their appendages OF
locks, &c according 10 the best of nv know
ledge; II now remains, aSreeaby 20 the
Instructions of the board TO make some oh.
servations relative to" the advantages and
" Disadvantages and comparative value of the
- varIons kinds OF improvement" which may
be IN contemplation.
That description of Improvement must be
considered the most valuable, which furnishes
the means OF transporting specific article
d given distance, for the least money (; the con.
sideraiions of safety. despatch and oihei
circumstances being equal.
One description ct Improvement NAV en-
able the agricuIturiSt to transport a hog shead
OF tobacco. or barrel Of flour, fifty miles 10
market, for snch II sum, added 10 the cost
OF production will leave "a clear profit saw OF
twenty-five per ceUt. II will follow, that lands
of suitable quality for the production of those
articles contiguous 10 Snch an improvement,
viii have an additional value conferred on
them IN consequence thereof; hec2use il af-
forus the means OF realizing twenty five per
cent, on the cost Of production of all tho to-
bacco and flour, that can be produced on
them
But 1t at the distance of one hundred miles
from market the cost of production and of
Transportation of those articles, OH such an
Improvement, will amount to az much as they
can be sold for in market. then the agricuI-
fnrist at that distance, derives no advantage
from the improvement. as il relates to the
culture of these articles nor, is the value of
his land intrinsically greater merely from the
circumstance of It's possessing the quality of
producing them; except so far as relates TO
the supply of his own family But If by his
own eNcrtinn or, by The united exertions OF
himself and others, a better description of inn
provPmeni is etiectuated that will afford the
means OF TRANSPORTING a hOssbead of tobacco
OF barrel of flour, for sum. which added TO
the COST OF production, will leave twenty-five
per cent profit from the sales; then the effect
OF TIM superior grade of Improvement. is. 10
raise the value of the farm one hundred miles
from market, possessing the advantage of
nSlng such Improvement, 10 precisely the same,
a. the land within fifty miles of market, that
has only The advantage of using the inferior
grade, as relates TO the before mentioned pro-
duets.
Aud, IL by greater eHertion, or the judicious
application of natural powers, still better
grade of Improvement is produced, SO as 90
reduce the price of transportation Om This third
description, for two hundred miles, TO the same
as on the first for fifty miles then the land con-
isuous to the third grade two hundred from
market, will become equal in value TO the
and on the first grade fifty miles from mar
tet and the lands NJ one hundred miles on
he third grade, will become much mere valu-
lble than the lands at fifty on The first; not
,niy because the same articles will be carried
% market for a much less sum leaving the
to he carried to The amount Of clear
front; but because "a great variety of bulky,
'r heavy articles, may be transported bv The
bird grad, that would not pay the price Of
The next consideration will be- Surprising
country adapted 10 all these grades Of inn
'rovcment, when. aud under what circum-
tarces they ought to he respectively adopt
I'd. aud carried into general effect.
Generally, never until the mass of benefit.
esnliing from their use. will exceed The mass
Il injury sustained by providing the means
or eiTectiDg their completion and particular
Y as thoy affect The individuals of civilized
oCieiV. when few only are 90 be benefited,
hongll the mass of benefit may greatly ~
eed the mass of injury; yet the mauy ought
OF TO suller for the advantage of the few,
nIeNs thr -ufferings of the many are vouHta-
y or, unless these benefits and injuries can
IL indirectly made reciprocal. so that no par
y shall eventually be loser; aud it the few
nv are TO he benefited. and they Gully topto-
ide the means, the proportional expense may
e very great, aud ought never 10 be incur
ed, until a moral certainty exists that each
will he amply enumerated in the