Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-01-10

number, Richm
Enquirer Of Dec. Goth, has fallen into nv hands -
which fud suue further communications firm, tio
Farmer, annexed to Which be has given letters
from young Wig inian now in Europe, prove what
he had previously advanced, that that the inIepenCnt
canal system heretofore pursued in The james river inn
provement onght 20 be changed for the old exploded
s. stem of lock and dam, ana dam nj stlicn navira
ton rs TO the best mode OF i.Aprpvag the navigation
of James river. citizen of Virginia. 1 am not in
different, though uhahtant III the Potomac section
because aGl anxious Ia nay State keep pace
III The march oi Improvement with her sister States
around her, aud that she may not lose that rank and
Importance in the Union 10 which she is Justly entitled
and which is only 10 be maintained by tnprovin, those
natural advantages which possess. whi,, are cor
my very great ana are superior To those of some
other states which arc rapidly advancing upon her
and would therefore observe hat IN is great darr,r
always TO he unprecedented from versatility and frequent
changes OF plan IN works of such magnitude moreover
that do not trk The suggestions OF The yodne Vi.-i-
man ought 10 hayc so much Weight, because ii is evil
dent That his proposed plan OF a railway along tle ro
vineo Howard's creek, Crcpnbrier river Now river
and to the falls Of the great kanhaya is entirely vsi
onary and inpraciicable, and must destroy all cont
tence IN other parts Of his new system prnrosol fr M
James r'yer, Notwithstanding TIC oinon OF Bernard
certain Tencn engineer which he has given in favor
oil Tie dam AND sluice nav iration against a narv f
the best engineers of our day The said road nr,nosoJ
Is quite al wal % The Topography statistics and rnaons
OF oar country, as may hereafter slog Bat il MT
my purpose to enter into controversy as 10 what is or
s nor me best system o. civil eHgiuccFlr. All IuonLi
ask OF the Farmer IS, thai while he is iops tn .Ito
'he system % The James river Improvements he would
not make Il a necessary coacQnant TO syseep the rr,
posed improvement oi the POtcInac out Of existence
,hat Wniie he about 10 make alteration in his on
house he would not think necessary or proner in ,,u
down hss neighbours house aijaninr or lnet-o, nv
seize upon tiie materials which his nerabor had .oy
ecleh I" Gu'id with We Of the Potomac section do
protest against IFS being nscrci 3a Ter nf ,re
a' nearly the whole fund OF the state for internal i'm,
proVements or sum larger Than the Whole OF it. shonII
oe appropriated exclusively to the i,rrovsnent oe H.
irStb heir,
as foreign colony or province only Ia be taxed "a.
tributaries for The benefit Of some other po,t NJ ,
t"e-S"c' Vassaiage as IT seems the Farmer would
lin upon US. Anj when the war oC state rights is 10 ne
Vaged with which ciani upon the fund for ir ~,
MAJ Improvement has nothing to do, protest apa;ost
oeing dragged into the battle, dat through US the chan,
ptons on one side may strike their enemies am. air M
victory by oar destruction; rather ao-apst suc, .
contest being made prefer. cause for opr ;niur,
In all that beautiful fertile and interesting mart Of th
section cmphacaly called the Valley in Vrrini5 o,4
which may be indeed considered the car,3c, O., ~ 49,,
state, and from thence to the foot of The Aeaa1v no.
one dollar OF the fund for internal ;rnprovenenJ i
eyer yet oeen expended have already shown that
Inc whole population of s section exceeds tha of i,
Janes river by nearly $4,000, and nn,y add that /.
more Vlr'uous, enlightened and industrious ycnnonrv
Cann" be found IN the Stale than here s and Virrini
docs moi number aEcnng her any .at = 70 ,ora M
voted to flrr, ready TO SIZED their hlo,,d j., -
cause, as they have proved; nciller does any oinr
equal number contribute larger share of her revenue
How then will ii appear in the eyes of the world Tho.
while Virginia stands forward ontenI;no. G,r iI;
can principles in their strict construction that those
principles should be much overlooked as the difeot
regard paid 10 the interests of The James river and Po
tomac sections erIoce. / do wish to see the Ion,os
r're improved iii The best practical manner TO The biol
est POINT mn the question of connecting with if tLe
,f"'e OF ne Ono and IT'S waters, have considered as
long settled and given up BY The ?st sansuine on tho
snolect. But II seems have new eiiticn P
that visionary scheme by rail road from the month Of
DnnIaps creek down Howafd's creek Crerpb,ier p:
yer ana New river to he falls Of the ereat Earau.Io
= tina
course OF this mcanderng ami circuitous rail ,oad
route, ana lie VIII find by moderate estimate ife yIoI
- cannot DC less ihan 50 miles, perhaps more to
'aVei from the mouth OF Dun!cp's creek 10 Tie falls
OF ne great kanaWia. which is 90 miles as tie reed
no" runs i'll he Farmer say that this is less visi-
olaTN ana costly ihan he makes tie locks tunnel g.,
OF tie Ohio and Chesapeake canal from the month of
Savage 10 the mouth of Bear creek a distance orl,
10 mIes! Surely he could But il this rail rooj
vas made, can II he imagined that the trade of fo
Ohio would take that dire cIior-pO nm the Kana,..I
son ~ mics aud then 80 miles on this circular roi
road; then $50 down the James river 10 Rich,nonI
and t;en by SloOp navigation 100 miles mar, I'm TIC
nearest sea port With all ihe delays incident TO atn
!0fiAVofaoic winds IN narrow whiting channel of tlaf
length do not wish 90 make invidous cop,nar;s,,,e
or to say any lrg to the dsparar cement of Richmond
1t certainly Is very avorahIy situated for commerce
and manufactures to large extent If its friends ,voi
he content with what nature has bestowed unoa il,
without grasPing 1t what nature has denied it. Eulit
Is In yam 10 keep the truth Of sight OF 10 slut our
el c5 against IT. IN comparison cf ie James river and
- - " ~ VI |0i'i'"NiiCadoh between the
east and the west " must in this decidedly give the
preference TO the Potomac. That and uat OIL -
the avenue pointed ont 10y Daturc. Because eu fam
the month OF The great kanawha to the civ or Wash
ihgton and TO Aie&andra, which sea.porls .slere
thebarilces al once be sioped for FOREIGN
the distance /, LEES than forn tie same point IN tie c
OF Redmond And on the Potomac route we have for
SO great part OF the way tl superior navigation Of e
Ohio river TO isburc Besides which I'll tto t,r,;i,
sons on each side Of the ONO above the !tanaba
are still by so mnch nearer tie Pooinac sea ports.
And II even there tnust be Carving place on the
route can with The greatest aeiiy be rrilyccd 10
- mics only, w. from Cumberland 10 SfouhGcId
along which distance there is made the best turn
PIKE road IN The u. States made by the General Gov
eminent to say nothing tho facility With which
ran road may be made on tic bed-wlle tho
shortest carrying place on the Richmond route is o0
mics CT unPaYcd mountainous road aud for which if
railroad IS substituted il must be $50 miles onp-
And here we must leave the question, question it
ever could oe' completely determined By its own cir