Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-01-27

s,!e loans, ard certain TO increase as the
work advances.
The competition with other States of
the Union, SO honorable and useful
when confined 10 such objects, is encour-
aged, and supported, by The cOnsidera-
ton OF the peculiarly advantageous cir
cumstances which more happy climate,
and more favorable approach from The
sea, manifesily afford 10 Virginia. The
inland navigation contemplated, will be
suspended by ice, the only possible OBJ
struction, not every year; and then one
fourth of The time only which must be
experienced every year, by our less for
,unate rival; besides the searisk upon
The tempestuous lakes which her com
merce must pass, before IL can meet ours
in the markets of lie western States.
The passage from Europe TO the Chesa-
peake, now as safe, as constant aud
an certain in time, as any wide ferry
with The security 10 merchandise, aud
.perishable products afforded by decked
boats moving OH a still caual, are advan-
1ages 10 which the trade ofNew Orleans,
having always te encounter dangerous
navigation from the entrance OF the Gulf
stream 20 that of the Mississippi, and
afterwards TO overcome The resistance OF
a rapid aud steady current, not affording
depth enough all The year for vessels of
buriheu, must ultimately yield.
The subject is now mature for The de-
cision OF the Legislature and upon that
depends what Virginia shall be twenty
years hence: Whether as now; or with
great aud flourishing commerce, popu-
logs and wealthy cities, re-occupied
plains on The east, aud pruP!cd noun
Nl..., Il
on mutual interests, with the great popu-
laiion OF The western states, for The most
part driven originally by want OF protila-
bile employment, from her own territory
and The mighty influence such advania-
ges cannot fail TO create, for the preserva.
lion of order, free principles, aud union
III the coBfederacy.
have The honor to be, with great res.
peci, yours, &c. &c.
TIL: NJ. RANDOLPH,
Prest Of the Board Of p. Works.
REPORT.
The President and Directors of the
Board OF Public Works. in obedience TO
abe resolution of the General Assembly
oi the Goth OF February lasi requesting
them " TO report 10 The Chem next Gene
raj Assembly, the best practicable COM
municatlon, tor iie purposes of trade
Between the waters of James river and
those of the great Kanawha /; together
with an estimate OF The probable expense
OF such plan or plans as they may sug-
gest," having caused surveys of those
water courses and The intermediate coun-
Try; and estimates of the expense of
Inaking a communication between the
Basin at Richmond aud the Ohio, which
might be convenient for the purposes of
commerce 10 be carefully made by their
Principal Engineer and Isaac Briggs, as
suggested IN the last Annual Report and
having received lie report OF The former
on the l4t! day Of This month, and of
the latter on The 10Th instant, now sub
nit those reports 10 The consideration Of
the General Assembly together with The
result OF their reflections and deIibera-
tions lhereupon.
II is deened supertluons 10 insist i'm
detail, upon lhe many weighiy political,
Commercial aud local considerations,
which ought 10 Influence the public coun-
cils OF The Commonwealth, ia giving eve
~ practicable iacIlfi, 10 the accomplish
menl ~ this grca, internal Improvement :
Those details clay be found, III part, in
the Report OF John Marshall aud his as
sociate commissioners made 10 the Legis-
lature Of Virginia IN the year 1912; in
the several reports OF the Board OF Public
Works heretofore made TO the General
Assembly III the report of Samuel
Blackburn made 10 The present Assem-
bly, and III the reports of the Engineers
accompanying this. To all which the
General Assembly are respectfully refer
red. The Board of Public Works howe
yer, IN looking as they oo 10 the profits
winch will speedily accrue upon the pro.
posed works as they progress, as the
means, aud II they are mol greatly mSta-
ken, ample means of completing by far
the greater portion of those works are
necessarily led 10 The examination of the
present state Of The agricultural ana mine
raj products ofihai part of Virginia which
Is naturally aud necessarily connected
with the proposed Improvement aud
the probable effects. OF such Improve
ment. on those subjects The coal trade
oil James river labours under great disad.
Vantages, for The want of cheap mode
OF conveyance, Which the present state
OF Tie navigation of James river does not
afford; the coal comes into the market,
mol o0ly charged with the burlhen OF I25
Gents per bnslltl for carriage, but in con.
sequence OF the mode of transporting
II, is greatly deieriOratcda and disfgured
Tie effect OF which is, that the Englsh
coal although charged with heavy ex-
port duty III England heavy import
duty IA America and freight across
the Atlantic, comes advautageously into
competition with The James river coal, il,
the principal Atlantic sea port towns III
the United States, and even in Norfolk
so as III great MEASURE To exclude the
James rivercoal. The proposed improve.
ment would not only release ihe coal o
James river from lwO thirds OF the charges
Transportation 10 Rockets, Qor il would
have right To pass through The smaller
locks OF ibe Dock company without
toll \ Il, l.