Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-01-27

tcu 10 tue L<RisAture Oh WV iofh On tue 1Nh
inst will afford our readers an opportunity OF
seeing what an extensive system of Internal I'm
provemen,s, in that State, is contemplated by
that great Statesman. 1T win be seen, that he
does not possess that narrow view Of feel.
ing, that, unfortunately for the state. exists
in Virginia. Had Virginia such a man as Gin
ton at the head of affairs, something more than
the wind work would be done to wards Internal
improvement. The Eas, and West would be
united by indissoluble ties, by opening Canal
Navigation from the Chesapeake to Ohio. which
in a National point of view, is all Important
The only link that must & will bind theWestern
with the Atlantic States world be completed by
the opening of that great communication Re.
mote paris Of the country cannot convey their
commodities by land to those places where, on
account OF their rarity, they are desired and
become valuable. Villages would spring up,
and industry and enterprise would be infused in
our Citizens. "The field Of operation is i'm.
mense, and the harvest of honor and profit
unbounded:"
The Erie canal (Which is the longest in the
world, and which IN conjunction with thcCham.
plan canal and the contemplated communi-
cations with lake Ontario and the minor lakes,
viii produce the most extensive and ,mpor-
tant inland navigation ever witnessed) would
have been snished last season. had II not beeu
for the intervention of unexpected impede
ments It's however So near 70 is completion
as to render il necessary to form a peImanant
system for the preservation OF the Canals, for
' the collection OF the revenue, for the extn-
| guishment of the debt, and for a yigilant super
intendence both OF their particular conc ems
and Of their general interests. A plan ought
to be adopted, combining economy with til
cheney, and having regard TO future as well as
present operations. ! consider these works.
AS but the FIRST, IN a series OF great underta.
kings, We must, however, pursue our OBJ
jects with prudence as wells as with energy in
every stage of our progress hooking for SIP.
port in the wisdom aud patriotism of the PEG
pie. And it Is a source of high feiicitation to
know that the debt may be speedily satisfied
without resorting to taxation, without dlscon-
tinuing our efforts for similar improvements,
and without staying the dispensing hand Of
government in favour OF the great departments
of education, literature and science, or the
cardinal interests Of productive industry.
A board for the promotion Of internal i'm
provemenis, composed OF well informed citi-
zens, ought to be constituted, with authority,
to consider and report on all subjects relative
to the establishment OF communication by
land and by water, by roads, railways, canals,
bridges and water courses, and with general
superiatending power over their construction
All applications and proposals on subjects
would OF course receive the full consideration
of the board before they were accepted by
the Legislature: and would be carried into exc.
cution in accordance with the exigency of the
case, the importance of the object, and the a
biiity of the state. The held of operation is
immense, aud the harvest of honor and prof
is unbounded; and II our resources are wisely
applied and fofcibly directed, all proper de-
mands for important avenus of Communication,
may be answered in due time, and in ample
extent.
The primary design of our artificial naviga-
ton is TO open a route by canals between the
Atlantic ocean and the Great Lakes. The
Erie and Champlain canals will in a great
measure accomplish this object; but it viii not
be fully realized until the waters VI Lake On
and with Lake Champlain. The importance
of this design will be duly appreciated, when it
| is understood that the lake coast, not only of
this State, but of the United States, is more
extensive than the sea-coast.
The next leading object is to unite the minor
lakes, aud the secondary rivers with the canals
to form a junction between important rivers,
l and to produce such a connection between the
BAYS on the sea coast, as will insure the safety
! of our boat navigation in time Of peace against
the tempests of the ocean, and in time Of war
] against the depredations of an enemy
/, A canal between the st. Lawrence river and
Lake Champlain, would be attended with i'm.
portant benefits. by opening a valuable market
| within our own territory, sand by affording an
| equivalent for the priyation of free use OF that
river.
The contemplated canal between that river
and Lake Champlain, would relieve the north.
ern inhabitants OF this state from the embarrass-
ments OF q foreign market. A survey OF this
route has been recently made under the author
isy of the state, and the only formidable impe-
| diment is an intervening elevation OF upwards
of nine hundred feet. This may perhaps be
surmounted by locks or inclined planes; and
, there is said to be an abundance Of water on
the summit level. Where his ridge passes IN
to the British dominions, there IS an abrupt de-
scent, and the level country below presents an
easy passage for a canal. Perhaps an adequate
portion of this territory may be obtained by ne
gociatoa, either by conceding our alleged ex-
elusive right on a. certain part ct the st. Law
renee or by making some arrangements m re-
lation TO the disputed territory ON the northeast
angle of the United States. But at all events,
and under any circumstances a communication
between the Erie canal and Lake Ontario, by
the way of Oswego, ought to receive your de-
cided countenance and TO be made as soon AS
practicable.
10 unite in the most acco mmodating man
ner the waters OF the Seneca. Cayuga and
Canandaigue lakes, and such OF the secondary