Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-07-21

tween Cumberland and Smythfeld,) to
avoid the delay attending the passage Of
the numerous locks on the Mohawk,
between schenectady and Albany.
There is steam boat navigation from
the north part of Alabama to Wheeling,
and to Pittsbnrg, by tie river Tennes-
see.
That river. and the Ohio. embraces
Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana,
Ohio, and part of Virginia and Pennsyl-
vania.
The Mississippi Rivers unite with tire
Ohio on the western borders Of Ken
lucky.
The inhabitants of the countries,
through which these kinds Of rivers
flow, all look to the Atlantic States, even
in time of peace, for market for a large
portion OF their rich products: What
would be the case in time of war, whe n
the port ofNewO Orleans mightbe blocked
or besiegeds
Having Canal, they can always re-
ly on finding a market ard obtaining
their supplies from the Atlantic State $.
The Atlantic States can always depend
on supply ofthe raw material, which
would be manufactured and returned
in time of war. In peace, it can be
manufactured and shipped abroad.
Oh, what a desirable event! How
every member in this wide spread land
should exert himself to bring about so
desirable state of things! We should
have our whole minds bent on its ac-
complishment. We should bury all Sec
tional interests, all private views. There
is abundance for US all to share. The
benefits will not be limited to single
city, to a single State, to few States:
but all-all will participate in, and feel
the happy effects of this water commu'
nicaton to the Western Country. The
one on the Susquehanna will be improved
by an increase of trade on the Potomac
the same as the interests on the Poto-
mac, and every other section of the
country would be benefited by an i'm
provement on the Susquehannah: The
market will be increased, and the de-
mand for every article of produce will
be multiplied, in proportion to the ne
cessary increase of capital.
Let us reflect, then, and ponder these
things! They are all truths-and, to
us, interesting truths!
TIE SusquehaDnah route is about
100 miles longert than the Potomac route
and it is utterly Impracticable, short of a
continuous Canal, es have attempted to
shew by essay, No. Q; and even then, it
is very doubtful ifa sufficiency of wa
ter can be had at the summit level,
where the Allega ny was found by the
Pennsylvania Commissioners to bee, 5s5
feet high at the spot where the profile
was taken, and that it could not be pas
sed with shorter tunnel than miles in
length. The small streams, too, to the
west of the mountain, and emptying in
to the Allegany river, generally dry up
in summer.
The Potomac route is the only one
which offers any thing like probabili-
ty of being accomplished. Our State
has appointed Commissioners to re-
ceive subscriptions for stock Nirgi-
MIA and the District have done the same.
The Engineers are completing their
labors. Let US then apply to our LIE
gislature to have survey made from
Baltimore to the Potomac, and let our
Candidates for Assembly and City
Council be required to state, unsquiro-
cally, if they intend to promote this
great work of Internal Improvement,
before we give to any one of them our
snffrages at the approaching Elections
The question is now, Are.we to have
a Canal or no Canal?
Who is there among us, who is not a
friend to INTERNAL IMPROVE
MENT?
have been at great pains and con.
siderable expense in informing myself
thoroughly on this subject My time
and thoughts have been wholly occupi-
ed on it, for the last eighteen months
| have seen and conversed with thou
sands ofpeople who live and trade on the
Potomac and Susquehannah, noting
down every information obtained, and
every observation made.
have done all this for no electioneer-
ing purposes: it has been done solely
and purely for the benefit of the Peo-
pie Of this State, where all my interests
and affections are centered. | am not
wantingly sporting with the community,
for | stand pledged, and on all occasions
shall be in readiness, to PROVE all the
facts which have been stated BY me on
this subject.
WILLIAM HOLLlNS.