Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-07-20
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

III gives us pleasure to lay before our read
efs the following account of the improvements
made IN the navigation of Wiliss ,frer:
PREVIOUS to the year 1918, we could only carry
our produce TO market Ivy water, during the rinter
"'o"'AS consequently, lost the errfy market for
our wheat, which was then, gcncraly, the best
"'s 'i'ouceu us TO attempt the Improvement of our
'"''sat'on' and law was accordingly passed, in
cooperating the Wiliss Company" authoris;,a
'hch 10 raise 20,oOO, and allowing them the james
'er 'oiis, as soon as they improved the run that
ooa'S drawing one foot of water might navigate the
sumo III dTy seasons. The time was E,vorable-mo.
ncy was plcnty-we at once got s 1900 subscribed
we purchaseda parcel Of negro men, went TO work;
anu III less than three years, by the means Of
S''ce "aS' and chaueiag the bed of the creek (Cor
SO we call ny we have improved the down p,v;o,,or
Tor fEty-tye miles to such a deurec that :, .; oI .
James river and it is fact tina, dur;pg tho Ia, 49,,
ter last fall, boats loaded ut Cara (t5 r,;,os f.,
James river) were obliged to store a part of their
loads at Gainesville before they could nrocaod
DurlnS the Unprecedented low wafer las, aur,,r
commissioners appointed by the legislature. viewed
our river, and the improvements we had made and
reported to the county court of Cumberland "rbot
The company had complied with their charter and
eie eh''ueo 10 'ois--On their passage down they
iohnd The natural current insufficient to float AN emn
"o'' wen' with the aid OF sluicc dams, boats load
y" "''' io'ty-h'e barrels OF flour, and drawing II
,nche' OF water, passed with and expedition'-
ormeriys freight was Is cd. per hundred for tobac
co, and Is cd per barrel for nour4-now il is % nor
barrel Tor flour, and Is. for tobacco: of which yo
nave sent oct 1865 hhds. from the LIST December II,
The LIST June and have declared a dividend of f,,r
dollars per share--on which, & 10 only have bce,
called for. We have, in fact, succeeded bey.od or
most sangume expectations. 90 to market when
we please, at one half the former charge, and get
good per cent on our money expended"
Ihus are the great advantages OF internal
improvement developing themselves to tbe
pubic mind. May we not hope that the ne
ROD Is not distant when an union of sentiment
and exertlon among the people, shall extend
those advantages TO every section of our coun-
try which needs them?
The premium which the agrcuIturalist of
me middle andUpper country pays for getting
ms proeucet TO market, exceeds the taxes which
ne pays TO the government, and absorbs an
undue proportion OF the profits of his labour.
II Is the great object of internal improvements
to lessen this burthen, and to bind together
more closely, the distant parts of thcstate and
OF the union. Passing over the political and
social advantages which it confers. the sayinr
VI expense which II occasions, is, of itself suf
ilcIent to recommend it TO the Jealous patron
age of aH intelligent community.
The lively interest which Virginia has taken
IN tins sub|ect-her Fund for Internal Inn.
provcmcnt-her Board of Public Works. and
her liberal appropriations, are strong pledges
Iof sher disposition TO avail herself of those
striking advantages which nature has so libe
rally bestowed apon her. But is there M
ground to fear that thisfne spirit of enfernrise
WIZ subsldc into apathy and Indifference before
It shall have accomplished the great obiects
which called it into existence? and before the
praclIcability and advantages of the schemes
winch nave been projected are made sufficient
" apparent to ensure their success?
The Improvement of the James and K,.
nawba rivers, and their connection bv a turn
pike, are objects which have already received
Il share of public attention. CORRESPONDING with
their magnitude and importance. The meo-
sures which nave been adopted I'm relation
thereto are fully known But have steps been
taken To carry them into effect with sufficient
Prompu'udc and energy? We wish TO see
tne James luver Company successful in their
atehPls 10 borrow the money authorised to
De borrowed by the last Legislature, and ac-
- - ,p'5'. III 'VihdtuDp lOr ana causing
the work to- be executed. We arc informed
that the first two miles of the canal are in n
state of fOrwardness, and will be completed
within the time contemplated. Other cont
tracts, to the extent Of the means of the com
pany, commenced and prosecuted with SIM
liaT spirit, cannot fail TO animate the hores OF
those friendly TO the enterprise, and AZ the
same time dispcl the fears of such as are
doubtful of its ultimate surccss
Inc Roanoke Navigation Company, IL APP
pears are progressing 2calously and success
lUy olher companies are also on the alert