Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-01-27
Vol. IU.-No. /.

the coal 10 the city of New York from that region in
ekhausbly rich in this mineral forming the dividing
TioSc between the waters OF the Susquehanna and the
Deiawate This canal communicates with the tIud-
SON. IN the neighborood of Kingston, in Gle county of
Ulster, one hundred miles above the city, aud taking
south western direction along the valley of the Rondout
TO the summit level N Aarnahating between the Hud
son and Delaware thence down TIE valley of a branch
oil tue NeTcrsink. and the Neversnlz the Delaware
ten pursuing the course of the Delaware for seven
teen miles along of tie rapid parts of IFS chan
nc up 10 the mouth of the LaCsawaxc and then along
The low grounds OF The Lackawaxen nearly to the head
OF That water in the immediate vicinity of the
coal mines.
! This line of canal in its whole length one hundred
and sixteen mileswth upwards six hundred feet az
iockage Is now under contracts through all that part
oil from the Hudson 10 the DelawaIc-and in course
OF speedy execution.
This great enterprise is the result of nr;v,te c.;,,
and confidently expected 10 be accomplished ia two
years from the time of lis commencement las, sumrne.
ana "en done the work Is executed the estimates
And SO far ,e actual cost has fallen below them viii;
deliver coal OF sppesor quality the Richmond coal
Tor CRATES at The city OF YORK; for small fraction
less than fourteen cents busel With this prospect
before us, will conclude this branch of the subject.
with verbum sat.
WILL however, trespass still farther TO add that the
WORK OF forming the communication between the upper
anu lower navigation can now probably be executed for
one hall oil The sum- il would have cost the state lille
WINE ago-and IN way equally permanent though not
us sghty as Tie cut sionc range work of the new locks
lately executed.
The contractors upod The Hudson and Delaware Ca
na' are now executing permanent locks of hammered
stone, groutcd walls with cut stone hollow ouo;ne ,n
coprg-ihc walls one hundred feet long and to average
seven icet thick, including buttrcssesand seveptrsi
ieet between the gates; The chamber to be nine feet
VIDE in the clear, AT the following prices lock of the
ABOVE description of eight feet lift costs four hundred
ana twenty dollars; OF ten feet t three hundred and
ninety; and OF eleven feet li three hundred and cirb
~, a loot hi; which makes the whole cost of lock IF
ten iee lift $500 If then, undcrtakers can no f,n
VINO WIN work within % per cent of these prices il is
cear tat double series of locks for ascending ami
desce nding boats at the same time NAV now be cSecn
Tea or nearly e same SUN expended upon the late im
perfect communication, of perisable already
gone TO ruin.
lfowever Engineers may differ as to the details of
ei!ectnG particular object the important and ead;no
questions connected with the thermal ,nproyeant f
country are Tor the most part, within the range of the
eo'ihoh sense ol tnahkEd and when divested of all
s'efy ana undue influences, will be correctly decid-
cd upon nine times out of ten by a coInmuniir nc we'll
informed as the people OF Virginia 1t REQUIRES M on
gncering science decide that the products of The
per county, III seeking market through the upper
and lower navigation Of James River must be more
Or less taxed IN getting dam the way The
question then 10 the OF removing the dam
ana giving safe and easy passage in lis place. IF the
're"ng statements can he relied upon, sixty or seven
t"haui dollars will accomplish the object in the cast.
oe'oIe u.s. ihe golfers alone, will pay a tax 10 the
carriers TO RocketIs and in lie loss of value upon their
aic'e' amounting 10 this sum, in few wears if kent
damned up IN the Basin.
As To the cxi;rsou OF the ,Drove.,e,, ~, n, .;
There are many good reasons WHY this diicult oncson
NAV be more safely decided in future
The resources of the state applicable In tho r}
JcctS on the James River, are probably moi ,,rs 49,,
adequate to accomplishing the mountain section anil tI
communication between tile Basin and tide water boil,
|" winch may be llnlsied with proper eXerons in the,
course OF inns year. In the mean time nuch light W IN
oc she" utun tho question: the best mode of ox
tending the WORK upwards. The improve ments ms,
gone INTO operation fortunately combine both the ioclc
anu Dam system and the independent canal. The
Hoods oil This winter and spring will probably mite
majority OF lie state IN favor Of one the other of these
modes or possibly, think set both aside II j.
10 DE oPcd 100 as we have arrived at the crisis
when something dchnitive be done The denIora
Die apathy winch has hitherto prevailed among our pub
tic characters in relation to this important subject will
give way TO The cxgencies of the OCCASION and we shall
zee INC uhc'ohars OF the stale leading, and not wait
ing 10 he prompted by public opinion. 1t is spccies of
eachery 10 ourselves 10 blink The question of relative
standing with sister states as to the means deve
ahu IN progress tor developing respective internal
resources cannot conceal from ourselves The hu.
initiating TACT that we far behind our northern sig
'cFS' o"t 'he progress we can make may be great in
our oSt ground; aud the means will not be among the
most Inconslderabe, 10 be found in the
81 CHIEF magistrate who would think it &c disparage
ment, to follow an ustrous example of cotenuorarv
renown in identifying his name with thc mncr;sbabIe
monuments OF his COUntry's blessings.
w may aueur well Of the direction the public mind
Is already taking from the frequency and length ith
winch the subject of improvement has been Iatolv dis
cusSed IN the public prints. Aud here will take
sion TO express my individual thanks to The author of M
elaborate essay signed "a Fancrn recognize m i
The operations of mastery mind, upon subject of
great public interest matShaiug pow erful array of
arguments IN support Of his conclusions Far he IL
from me- because cannot yield my assent TO these CON
cusons, either to dePrcciate the arguments or regret
their appearance. Discussion elicits r,Itl-and Far
Der' Know as myself trust equally in quest of it.
tor the present. as TO the views of a Farmer upon
that branch of The subject Of his essay relating to the
continued canal up James river will only add thai
his ch'ei objection TO this mode of Improvement lo
w liability to destruction from foundations, is not con
S 'nsuPcrabie by The first practical Engineer in
America and that the few facts in point which have
occurred since tic construction of canals along
the ravines Of rivers in our country at least afo,J
no rentatloD Of his theory But be ibis as it nav BY
the authorities quoted by Farmer 'no theory of eur.
f rents can be formed prori;n Let US not then decide
THIS GmesInn 70