Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-15

ascrsbed, Ia great degree, TO her manufacturing
pun SUITS, which conld not be carried on without that
coal that abounds ~ that country. Our forests
falling rapidly before the progress of setcmen and
Il scarcity oi wood for fuel ship and house building,
ana other useful purposes, is already felt in the in
crcasing prices of that Indispensable article No sys-
tenn oi plantation for the production of tees, and no
system oi economy for their preservation ha. been
adopted, and probably will he, until severe pri-
,Hi"ns are experienced. In some parts of Long Is
land, and in the vicinity of the great cann in several
OF the western counties, extensive beds of turf peat
have been found, and have been rcsortcd To for do
nestle accommodation. But coal is of primary i'm
poftance m many oOur most important Inanutactu-
ries and the discovery OF sufficient quantity, with
IN ii reasonable distance of any of our n,ysale WA
tiers, would he more cilcacious in quickenng the
operations oi creative Industry, administering 30 the
comforts oil me- ana promoting the substantial wealth
OF the country, than the productive mines the
precious metals. The geological confirmation of the
west clearly demonstrates the presence OF this fossil
ana AM confident that liberal encouragement the
part OF the state would produce the cfectli ACCOM-
plislment OF our most sanguine anticipations.
Ii Is an unluestsnable truth that all the great inter-
ests oi society must rely for their support and encou
ragcment on The dourshing condition ii internal
trade, which can exist without facility of com-
munication. And under this impression we cannot
too highly appreciate the Importance of the artificial
navigation nov IN a train Of rapid and successful
completion. Almost all the line of the Western or
Erie canal, from the ToRawanta creek, which flows
into Lake Erie to Hutsons river is under contract
The section from the Seneca To the Gencsee river
comprising adistance of sxty-hrcc miles, is nearly
na'igablc state, and the whole of il would have
been finished the last had it not been for the
sickness which interrupted the progress of the work
men M The Seneca marshes, and the necessity OF al
iordiDg lime for the consolidation of the great en-
iihhments III the lronotiuol. Upwards OF twenty
seven miles OF the eastern division from Utica TO the
Little Fails, has already hecn navgaied and great
progress has been matte towards the completion of
those parts of the canal that lie west of the enessee
river aud east of the Little Falls The Northern or
Champian Canal is also in state of rapid advance
m M ftauf... fill
oil the whole operation, We may confidently pro-
nouncc, that before the Termination OF the wear 1928
there VIII be a complete ard uninterrupted navga-
'9h from the naylgabe waters of the Hudson river 10
lakes Erie and Chanplan mprehendIng an extent
OF upwards oil 425 miles, and all of which will be ac-
complishet since the 4ih day of July, 1917 Cousi-
deriOe uiihculiies and embarr;ssments have been
encountered with respect 10 the proper esiynl-
IONS Tor Tie commencement and termination of the
western canal and im intervening places there
mas been great diversity of views with regard the
most eligible 'ou,es. The canal board have trust,
never Deen led asray by local considerations aud
ephemciIai cxpedicnts, and WILL hope, he enabled
Notwithstanding the emharassments which NUT me-
cessariiy ARISE om conflicting opinions and ciashng
INTERESTS To combine the accommodation of flourish
ing villages and cities with the promotion of the
neral convenience and welfare
During the last autumn the sodty and stability of
our works have been brought the test by the heavy
rams ana uncommon ooils IN the streams and rivers
connected with the canals, and the general result has
correspondent with wishes, and has fortified our
confidence.
am happy TO perceive the continuance of contcm-
por'neous efforts the part of two of The western
states 10 initiate and an artificial navigation
between The hivci Illinois and Lake Michigan, and
also Oetween Tie Ohio River and Lake Erie When
ever eithef oil these projects is executed, there will
exist on The completion of the western canal "a water
communication as well on the side of the great lakes
as oil me Atlantic ocean, between the Hudson and tic
hiissisSipi'i, between View DIRK and New Orleans
ana lie vast and populnIls regions connected will
them. Considering that the patriotic states which
contemplate iese important works, are, con,para-
lively speaking in The infancy of their settlement and
nave 10 struggle with the embarrassncnis which must
uecesSar! arise from the peculiarly of their Doston
and taking into view the benefits which must result TO
me nation at large from the completion of these COM
muhicauons, II IS right and proper that the national
government should dispense lis munificen aid and
do not hesitate TO recommend favorable cxprcs sion
oil the sense of the legislature on this subject ClaiA
ing no assistance in the prosecution OF our own one
ration we can with the more force advocate the Jus,
views and promote the launbie objects of our sister
states.
IL is certainly expediemt for the legislature on all
great occasions, but especially in relation TO future
Internal improvements, cherish prospective spirit
and 10 provide IN season for the eXgcncies of future
times. The creation of general board for public
Improvement, 10 commence its operations after the
completion OF the present undertakings, would be n
Wise and patriotic arrangement. This board select
Ell from our most enlightened and public spirited
ieiow-citzens, and invested with power To establish,
anu facilitate all useful channels of communication
and all eligible modes OF improvements would he
enabled by judicious application of the public re-
sources, 10 conduct TO elevation of unparalleled
prosperity.
Fiom June, 1917 TO October, 1921. inclusive ,,vo
millions eight hundred and niney-hree thousand five
hundred dollars have been borrowed for making the
canal, and the lenders have advanced TO the state
VI ,2US 5O-lOU in premiums, for the benefit arisnG
from these investments Of capital. Ofthe aggregate
borrowed, . 100000 were obtained at an inter
est OF five per cent and the remainder al six per
cent and 3 100000 have been received by the
IN lIS<inu from, Il. l.
18th December last. The yearly interest of all the
canal loans amounts To l5y, $50.
The commissioners of the canal fund were autho.
rIzed TO borrow in 1921 and 1922, sum which with
tie existing revenue will amount TO 500 900 dollars
each year provided, however, that the interest on
the whole SUN borrowed shall moi exceed the in-
come OF the canal fund for The time being Under
this power, y 100000 borrowed i'm the ycar
ending the Goth November last The canal fund is
nj present estimated 20 produce 100000 annually
IL has actually produced TO the SOlh Nov incudi,Io
22OO received for tolls, 1G7,767 23-I00 to which
IL we add the communication for the steam boat tax
paId the 9Th December, the amount will he 4 I72 767
23-lOO, independently of other tolls during the wear
the aggregate OF which is unknown, and exclusive al
SO OF The duties on salt for the quarter ending IN No.
vember, which have not yet been received at the
treasury. The ayails from these sources, added TO
tie before mentioned sum Of l72,767 23l00, will
probably make the income of the canal fund amount
AT least 10 S2UO,OOO.--Ihis sum, though more than
adequate to pay the annual interest on the existing
debt, Will not he sufficient TO autIOrise the commits.
soners Of the canal fund to borrow the additional
sum 81 l,4OO,OOO Tor the next sedsUn aud il i,
therefore requisite, that further legislative provision
he made for the purpose especially us it is impossi-
bic TO estimate with any precision the income for tolls
during the ensuing year.
he annual surplus of the canal fund after ,,avino
tl,e interest of the debt now existing and TO be here
alter incurred that account, ought be appropr.
ated TO the extingushment ofihe principal and n,
tins excess will increase with the progress of time
tie accumulation Of population, the augmentation Of
wealth, and the extension Of inland trade there can
not be doubt not only 10 ttc rapid discharge oil
the debt, but as to the creation OF an immense reyc-
nue., applicable TO all the purposes Of beneficial i'm
proyement, and all the objects Of good government.
Ihe public debt. besides The cnnal hehf cnnsisfs ~