Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-12-20

tolls and cheaper tho costs of carriage in proper
ton. So much for the expense of carriase Ever,
thing else would be greatly in our favor The tim,
occupied in voyage would not be much more thar
i-Sd, the risk and uncertainty would, of course, be
mrch less, and our line would be open nine or ten
months In the year, instead of six. These con-
illusions and opinions will probably surprise you
Ihey hdce surprised me. When I left Virginia
did believe II idle ever to anticipate any thing from
the west; aad thought with you, sluice navisa-
ton with occasional locks and dams fully ADEQUATE
t1 the trade OF James river. The important i'm
provements OF one OF our countrymen in the steam
engine, and IN It's application to canal boats--the
late improvements in railways, and the important
uses to which 1t Is she~n they may be made sub
servient, have given to our Virginia projects diff
ferent bearing. L now believe I'VE ought TO make
a strong effort before the trade of the Ohio river
has received II direction through the Ohio and New
ORR Canals--that we ought TO blend this object
with our own home interests, and whilst execuIiny
an Improvement which will far more extensively
ditfuse Its benefits than canal and turnpike road
do so In time TO secure for our markets ON James
river an important trade, and for the state nj large
| an important revenue. This line of commrnica
ton being opened, we may At leisure execute
o'her improvements oil a subordinate nature. Though
the character OF the New river below the Green
brlcr, would forever forbid any improyemcnt o6 ia
stream. Many OF it's branches are said even nov
TO lie navigable. moderate expenditure yvould
probably BRING the trade of this country to tie
mouth OF the Greenbrier, and thence by the rail-
way 10 Richmond. Perhaps we might conn.r,
this river with the Holsten, which admits At pre
sent OF boats OF neatly the tonnage with those
on the OHIO. We might successfully as il seemed
| 10 be an object improve any of the branches of
jane River; and al this by The n,turai system of
improving natural advantages. without any vexa-
'ion TO Farmers, any bridgi- and fencing, any an
'iclpations OF havoc 10 our works by inuntations
and freshe,s
f" believe you will readily agree with me that
the Trade oil The Ohio river and its tributary streams
may be, In this manner, more easily brought to
Richmo,d than 10 New York. IL will he no rea-
son. however, you may say, to engage in an ex-
pensive and unpreduclve project, that Ohio ha.
embarked or Is about to embark in one e0uallv ex-
pensive and unproducuye. Certainly if she has
not seen her way clearly, shoald see ours, and
before embarking in this Improvement, an accurate
esu'ha'e should be made OF IT'S cost and its advan-
| tages.
$4,000 per mile would, I should think he
sufficient Tor double railway. The road way would
wan the exception OF twenty miles on New river
De easily made every where, and the costs of Iron
bars would no, be much more than l-2 the amount
amount allows suppoSing 1870 miles OF railway,
we should have Tor this item an expenditure of
| pa
silly and surely made.
For an independent canal i, minht be reasona
BILE to doubt OF any estimate. Difficulties greatly
increase as we ascend the river, and il might fairly
De supposed, ont OF the power OF any Engineer 10
determine the ratio, with exact precision. lido not
think my disposition sanguine, and iIust am no,
too much so IN submitting these views TO YOUR
consideration In one respect they have present
bearing which is important. Ii it is probable The
/ improvements have 10 ~
Anderson should by all means, construct his locks
! OF the same size with those between Richmond and
/ Maiden's Adventure.
| IS would apologize for the length of this COM
municaon, bat kaow that you sympathize with
me IN my anxiety that The internal improvements OF
l Hn stale should receive proper direction, find
| this greater and greater every day that remain in
this country, where much has been effected by a
iJudicious expenditure of capital Lime and chalk
| transported as a manure inIo every part OF the
country--buIlding materials oi Aberdeen, CT Corn
! wall, and OF Portland, the Goals of Coventry and
New Castle, dispersed over the realm The fuller.
earth dug out OF the conals distributed to the yari-
os cloth manufactures; and their very spoil banks
manufactured into bricks TO increase the size OF the
metropolis, and build up other cities in this flour
ishing country. All this is very exciting, but i.
perhaps only reason for more caution in guarding
against n.isapplication OF analogies.
i have, as you will observe by the date of this
proceeded as lar west as can 90 in my tour o.
English canals Much of this journey have per-
formed on foot, sending on my baggage and walk
ing on the towing paths. propose travelling over
in the same way, the canal of the Duke of Bridge
water, which connects this port with Manchester
alter which shall make journey into Wales, &c
visit the railways and canals of that province III,
CAS- Iron Aquedlct of Ponteysylte and the st,spen
son bridge of .Menai. Should find my time suf
hcieni, shall make circuit in returning 10 Par
through Holland and the Netherlands. | wish
however 10 be in Paris by the first of November
and shall take more direct route if find my Tim
limited gave YOU, belieTe, in my last my adj
dcess In Paris. shall retain the same during m,
stay in Europe