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

OF any other sail works winch can come
in competition whh those OF the kanaw-
ha: And whilst all other works depend
OH wood for fuel, which daily becomes
more scarce and costly the Kanawha
works have AN niexhausiible supply of
fuel IN bodies al coal in their immediate
vicinity. That there *, besides the en-
poriaiiOn of salt, great commerce OH
tlie kanawl,a, iii articles for the supply of
the salt works, TO wit /: Lumber. prOvi-
sions, groceries and various merchandise:
but that, when the river IS low especial
~ as II has been for MANY months past,
that commerce is greatly interrupted,
! and the persons engaged in il suffer great
loss aud Inconvenience /; which would be
completely removed by the proposed
Improvements. With "a good navigation
oil this river, il is hardly possible TO ami.
cipate the extent 10 which the commerce
on II would be carried.
A great extent Ut country upon the
head waters Of James river, aud on the
New aud Greenbrier rivers, Astounding
with line timber, iron ore, and other MI
nerals, and well fitted tor agricultural
purposes, lies almost unoccupied, because
the products of the country will not,
under existing circumstances, bear The
cost OF transportation 10 market.
The execution OF The proposed inn
provemeni, would have the effect al bring
ing the whole of this extensive country
| as near To market, I'D respect Ia The price
oil transportation, as Albrmarle county
now Is; would soon people and bring into
CULTIVATION this great extent OF territory,
| and the produce drawn from them, toge
iher with that which would be drawn 10
the canal from a greatly increased dis
lance on both sides of James river, might
Justly be expected al no distant period 10
double, treble, or quadruple the trade
on the canal. Ii, therefore, nothing were
due 10 the more enlarged political and
commercial considerations, connected
with Ibis subject, il would seem that
local considerations alone would afford
| a sufficient Involvement To the undertake
ing OF the work, if resources can be found
! Tor It's execution.
The Board Of Public Works, therefore,
| whilst they are persuaded, that nothing,
IN The power of the General Assembly,
can more largely contribute TO the in
| crease oil The population, wealth and pros
perliv OF Virginia, than the establishment
| oil The commercial communication pro
posed /; confine themselves 10 their more
appropriate province OF engurlng INTO The
praciicablity of the scneme, and of
raising the pecunlary funds necessary for
| carrying II INTO execution. To these
! objects, their attention has been specially
| devoted; and they are graiiied in be-
ievlng, that The work is moi only practi-
caDie, but that The necessary resources
can be commanded, without relying up
ON The precarlous supplies, afforded by a
subscription 10 stock, depending for lis
profit upon contingencies; without calling
IN The AID OF The pablo treasury in any
event; without depressing, but OH the
contrary, greatly benetiiIIng those who
VIII he more immediately affected BY the
payment OF tolls, aud probably with
0ut ANY aid iron The fund for inter
nal Improvement certainly with the aid
| OF thai iund 10 an extent SO limited, as
MOI 10 impair It's capacity, 10 give due
assistance To any other work OF public
utility which may present itself.
lh,s may he etiecied by applying the
annual resources which may be COM
manded, (and which will hereafter be
stated IN detail 10 the payment OF infer
est upon capital 10 be employed in the
execution of the work, rather than by
applying such annual! resources TO The
work itself. 1t is obvious thai those who
have The benefit Of any work of internal
improvement, must pay, in the shape of
Tolls, an interest upon the capital ey
ed OH III: and II those who have adj
Vanced such capital, have taken upon
themselves any risk, such risk must also
be compensated IN tolls, aud that literally.
nus, II II were proposed 10 raise funds
Tor the proposed work, by subscription
OF stock IN the usual mode, il would be
necessary, IN order 10 induce the indivi-
duais to embark their funds, That fixed
and unalterable tariff of tolls should be
established, which should afford rpa.
sonable prospect OF producing to the
stockholders profit of zen, twelve or
hteen per cent. as d compensation for
Their risk, real or supposed, as well as Tor
lile use Of their money: or 10 ensure some
hxed profit, excredng the rate of legal
interest. Ii Is therefore more beneficial
10 those who will avail themselves of The
use OF tue proposed improvement. that
The work shall be effected by capital
borrowed at six per centum per spnun:
III which case, tolls will only be required
to the extent necessary TO pay the inter
est; than by sale Of stock depending
Tor lis compensation upon led tolls. Ii
Is believed, that upon The pledge which
VIII be hereafter suggested, money NAV
be borrowed al The rate OF six per cenium
per annum, as fast as il can be expended
IN The works.
a canal from The basin at Richmond.
to CovngiOp, AT the mouth Of DunIap's
creek; a good graduated DAD from thence
TO The falls of The Kanawila, and The i'm.
prOvemeni Of the navigation of that river,
according To The suggestion Of the Engi
neers, with a provision for the final com
pleiion Of the road, when circumstances
will permit, are preferred by the Board
OF Public Works, 10 any other improve
ment on an interior scale, even as il re-
laics to The transportation OF il'e eOmmO
diiIes AMI agricultural products Of that
. | nAtt ol VIRGINIA naturaIIx ..,,.I