Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-01-22
Whole No. lsos

inents and Of domestic economy. Tho
Allegheny mountain here is said, upon
authority altogether undoubted, to be.
based upon, bed of stone coal, that
can be delivered into boats on The canal
at an expense not exceeding three cents
per bushel, and, with the advantages
OF such navigation, reach the tide
water of the Potowmac at the price Of
fifteen cents per bushel. Your memo
iiaiis,s forbear any further details upon.
this part Of the subject and, pointing,
the attention of your honorable body to.
the extent il. which the Potowmac,
washes he shores of Virginia, and To-
the number and magnitude OF the
streams that belong to it, penetrating,
as some of them do, far into Tie interior.
otthe state, leave il to be estimated how.
far the proposed canal, considered.
merely as local or state work, Is con-
nected with its highest interests.
More extended views. however, Of
advantage tothe nation at large, and to
the states Of Virginia aid Maryland, as.
pscially, present themselves, when thu
navigation is viewed as mean Of con-.
meeting, by the bonds Of commercialin-
tercourse, the eastern and western sec-
tons OF our widely extended country.
It's ascertained, as well " the report
Of the Commonwealth engineer, m ade,
not long since, Is by examinations and
surveyscs scientific and public spirited.
inGvidnals, within the present YEAR,
that il is practicable to unite the waters
OF the Ohio with those OF the Potowmac,.
and that ut an expense that bears no
proportion to the magnitude Of tue OBJ
Ject to be attained by tie enterprise.
The result Of these examinations and
surveys is. that The highest elevation
between the waters Of Savage creek.
emptying into the Potownac, and those
of the Youghiogany, Is III feet, redu- !.
cible to about 50 feet, by means of a
dam that the distance between them
does not exceed one mile and quarter.
and that the supply Of water, at the
summit level, will he sufficient for every
possible purpose OF navigation,
Your memorialists estimate il as no
small political advantage, that the seat
Of the general government would be- I
come, by such a work, the centre Of
commerce to large district Of country: H
and that the access to it would be facili-
tated from the remote regions Of tAs Il
west. When they reflect On the great
moral influence which the population \
Immediately around the seat Of any goy-' !
eminent, must exercise overits conduct
and character, and the physical advan-
tSgcs dispensed by an extensive COM
nercial emporium 70 the territory adj
Jacent to II, they assure themselves that
Virginia will not view with indifference.
measure that proposes at once 10 e. !.
tapiisi permanently upon her borders
the capital Of the nation, and to guaran-
tee to i a high rank among the CONNER
cial cities Of the world. -
In the event of maritime war Il
would be through this channel that IN !.
atlantic states would receive. for n. !.
most part, constant and abundant sun
plies OF salt, sugar, cotton, and other
articles, the use Of which, habit has .
rendered almost indispensable, at y.
price little enhanced beyond that vl,;rh I
they bear when transported by sea. AMI
securely and cheaply send il return, liz
manufactures OF the North, now fast
advancing to the grade Of one Of the
great interests of the nation. Even ~
the present time, when the Commerce
Of the Ohio languishes so greatly dat
competition in its navigation is sca,csl,
invited, the price of freight, By steam.
boats, from New Orleans to Pittsbnry
does net exceed 5 or dollars per HIM.
dred Those who remember the pr;.es
at which, during the war of 1919. he
bulky put valuable products of Louise
ma, and the lower Mississippi, reached
the Atlantic sea board, under the char
ges and rIsques. Of land carriage of
near two hundred miles, win be Il No
loss to estimate the considerations 20
which your msnorialists can, here. on
y advert.
Your memorialists viii not detain
your honorable body by any exhibition
OF the important influences of connect
nus, by ell the means which an enlighfen-
ed policy can suggest, or the resources
which the governments Of this Union
can command, the parts Of this empire
between whsch nature has placed .
barrier, that suffered to remain. must,
sooner or later, engsnder diversity OF
interes's, feelings and views: the pre-