Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-06-19


ton up the Canal their ports would be
filled with vess els, and their towns
crowded with strangers, all Of whom
would add something to the support OF
our agricultural industry-Ner is this
all; once open the communication by
this Canal, with the western waters, and
all whom pleasure or business may IN
duce to pass from one great section OF
the union to the other, will naturally
take this route Lines Of boats for the
Conveyance ofpassenGers will be estab-
lished, and the Canal become an I'M
meuse thoroughfarc, the demand for
the supply of which would be consider
able, and ready market opened atour
very doors for quantities OF those little
articles which are now so much neg
Iloclei, aaI Of wLich so much is vast
ed on every farm.
before mentioned The free access 10
market, which the Canal would afford
us, at every season OF the year, as a
means of correcting that evil of a glutted
market, under which we now so severe
" suffer Cut from tbs. other benefi-
cia! consequences would flow which it is
here important TO notice. Travelling on
the Canal, were II once completed,
would be more certain and liable to
fewer casualties, than on the best con-
struoted turnpike road. 4 man would
always know within an hour the time he
would arrive at any place. Regu-
lar trading boats would soon be es-
t;tblished, which would at stated times,
arrive and depart from particular, stated
places. It weuld become business for
the owners Of these, to buy up, or sell
on commission, every article which the
convenience or luxury Of man could re-
quirc, in the capital of the union. E.
very thing, however minute, would find
a demand opened for it. Butter, eggs,
vegetables of every description, fresh
meat, poultry, in short every thing a
farmer could spare, would find as ready
cash sale, as it now does within feN
miles Of the district TO shew the inn
Intense advantage which would result
from this, let us take the enumeration
made by the commissioners of a part on
ly Of those articles of which the upper
country would be enabled to supply the
market below, and observe with how
large portion Of them, the county Of
Berkeley abounds. Coal, cordwood and
charcoal, lime, slate, marble, timber,
tanners bark, indian corn, rye, oats,
barley, salt beef, bacon, pork, cider,
fruit, vegetables, cheese, butter, tar,
t,rpentinc, sc. This list will shcw,
what an opportunity would atom be af-
fofded us, of profitable change in the di-
rection of much agricultural labor. And
tito this view we add the probability Of a
cross cut Canal to Baltimore, which
must depend upon the opening the Pc
tomac Canal, the prospect of advantage
to our country will become splendid in
deed.
Were the Canal completed the as
ccnding, would be rendered as easy and
consequently as cheap as the descend
ing navigation. A ton Of plaster there
fore, could be delivered at Williams
port for less tnan three dollars, saving
from to dollars upon every ton OF
this important article. 4 still more inn
pertant saving would be effected, in that
most necessary article Of universal con-
sumption, salt. There are say 40 bush
els of Liverpool salt Of Sc Is. to the
bushel in ton, so that the carriage
would be reduced from the presentprice
of 25 or 80 cts. to II cts. per bushel--
The average reduction in thc cost of
each bushel, may then safely be stated
at l83Cts. and when the annual consump-
ton of this article is considered, the inn
pertancc of this saving, even to Single
county, will be immense. A proper
tionate reduction must take place with
regard to al other groceries, as sugar,
nolasses, coffee, tea, wines, brandies,
rum and fish, an article from the use of
which we are now in "a considerable de-
gree precluded by the heavy cost of its
transportation.
have now mentioned few, andbut
few of the advantages which would re-
suit to US from opening this Canal, but
these may serve to suggest to the minds
of your readers, many others which the
limits of an essay cannot embrace. One
Of great Importance has been suggested,
of the truth ofSwhich am not compe-
tent to judge, but which well deserve.
examinations 1t is said that but fer in
teriering with the boat navigation, at the
point at which they re-enter the river,
from the Canal around the great falls,
the river might at small expense, be
put in a state 10 admit the passage of
fish above the falls; and if SO, the OBJ