Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-01-06

OF the last session OF Congress; and, also, Ca
mails round the falls ct The Ohio at Louisville.
and Muscle Shoals on the Tennessee river: both
which, II IS believed, can be executed at a
moderate expense With these improve ments,
The projected canal would not only unite the
three great seeh0ns-oi the country together, as
has been pointed out but would also unite, in
the most intimate manner, all q the states on
The Lakes and the Western waters among them
selves, and give complete effect TO whatever
improvement may be made by those states IN.
dfVlduaily The advantages, in fact, from the
completion OF this single work as proposed
would be so extended and ramihed throughout
these great divisions Of our country, airea,'y cop-
tanning 50 large portion Of our population, and
destined, in few generations, 10 out-number
the most populous states ofEarGpc; as 10 lea,e
IN that quarter no other work tor the execution
OF The general government, excepting any the
Xtensloa OF Cumberland road from Wheeling
to 81. Louis, which is also conceived TO be OF
Irrational importance"
The route which is deemed next in impor-
lance in national point of view, is the one ex-
tending through the entire tier of the Atlantic
states, including those on The Gulf Of Mexico.
by sdvertiDg 10 the division OF our country.
through which this route must pass, il will be
seen that there is striking difference in geo.
graphical features between the portions which
extend south ard north Of the general govern
ment, including the Chesapeake bay, with It's
various arms M the latter DIVISION. In the north
EN- part of the division, all of the great rivers
terminate 10 deep and bold pa,igable estuaries.
whilst an opposite character dslingulses the
mouths of The rivers in the her. This differ
ence gives greater adv antage to impro vemen',
by canal, in the northern, AID less in the south.
ern, division. In the former, it is conceiyed 20
be Of high national importance to unite its deep
and capacious bays a serious of canais and
the Board was accordingly instructed to eAa'
mine the routes for canals bet9 cen the Della
ware and Rarltan, between Barnstable and Buz
yards bays, and Boston hagbor and Narragan-
set bay. The execution of the very important
link in this line of communication between the
Delaware and the Chesapeake, having been al
ready commenced, was not compFehended ~
the order These orders will be executed by
the Board before the termination of the season.
fhe important results which would follow from
the completion of this chain, in commercial,
military and political point Of view, are so
striking that they need not be dwelt on, IL
/ would, at all times, in peace and war, afford a
! prompt, cheap and safe accommodation be ween
| all OF the states north of the seat of govern
| ment, and greatly facilitate their communica
| ton with the centre ci the Union. The states
| OF New Hampshire and Maine, though lying be-
| yond The point where these improvements would
/ terminate, would not, on that account, less par
| ticipate in The advantages, as they are no les
| interested than Massachusetts herself, IN avoid.
| ing the long and dang erous passage round Cape
Cod. which would be effected by the union OF
| Barnstab.e with Buzzard's bay.
| In the section lying south Of this, none Of
| these advantages for communication by canals
1 NJ Il
is true, along nearly the whole line of coasts
which il susceptible of Improvement. and may
be rendered highly serviceable, particularly 10
war. and on that account may be fairly consider
cd of national importance The Dismal
Swamp canal, from the Chesapeake bay 10 AL
bsmarle Sound. which is nearly completed. con
sltutes very important link III this navigation.
Bat it is conceived that, for the southern dlvi.
sion OF our country, the imp Tovement which
would best effect the views OF Congress. would
be durable road, extending from the seat OF
government to New Oreans,. through the At
antc states; and The Board VIII accordingly
receive instructions TO examine the route as
soon as the next season WI permit.
The completion of this work, and the line of
canals to the North, would unite the several At
lanuc states, including those on the Gull, IN
strong bond OF union, and connect the whole
has been shown, with those on the Lakes and
Tie Western waters. by the Improvement pro
Jected IN that quarter.
These three great works. then the canal TO
OHIO and Lake Erie, with the Improvement If
the navigation of The Ohio Mississippi, and the
CANA round the Muscle Shoal. the series Of
canals connecting the bays north otthe seat OF
government, and q durable road extending from
the seat OF government 10 New-orleans, uniting
the whole OF the Southern Atlantic States, are
conceived to be the most important objects
within the provisions of the act of the last SEES
sion. The beneficial effects which would fiog
from such system of Improvement would ex-
tend directly aud immediately TO every state in
the Union; and the expenditure that would be
requiledtor for its completion. would bear fair
proportion to the wealth and population OF the
several sections Of country, at least, as they
viii stand few years hence. When completed
1t would greately facilitate commerce and inter-
course among the states, while it would afford
to the government the means OF transmitting
information throughthe mail promptly to every
part, and of giving eifectual protection to
erery portion of our widely extended country.
There are several other routes which, though
not essential TO the system, are deemed ofgreat
importance in a commercial and military point
of view, and which the board will receive in.
siructIons to examine. Among these the most
prominent is the connexion, wherever it may
prove practicable, of the Eastern and Western
waters, through the principal rivers discharging
themselves into the Atlantic and the Gulf of
Mexico; for example, the Alabama and Savsn-
nah rivers with the Tennessee, James river with
the Kennawha. and the Susquehannah with the
Allegheny; which last will be more particularly
adYerted to IN subsequent psrt of the report
To these we may add. the rout e from Lake
Cham olain to the st Lawrence, and from the
,.i.ar LIZ, EI..r.Ia l,..lE