Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-08-25
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS


INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
REPORT or THE PRINCIPAL ENGINEER.
The subject of Internal improvement has for
many years, attracted much public attention in
the u. States. AS the means OF developing the
latent resources OF the country, and placing them
within the reach OF enterprise and industry the le
gislatures of many of the States have taken il,
up. The measures adopted by them, have been.
in some degree, proportional 10 the wants of each
State, TO the difficulties TO be encountered, and TO
the eXen, of information they respectively posses
sed on the subject OF civil engineering. /, is
not our purpose to trace the progress of each, by
an examination oil their several schemes but TO adj
veft 10 the recent OF Virginia, so strongly
marked In its commencement by ardent zeal, and
In its progress by increasing lises>nsss and inde-
renee We have never considered as entirely un-
just, the description given by foreigners Of par
iicular trait in the Virginian character. Ii we
cast our eyes about, and contemplate he many pub
lie and private undertakings that have been begun
with zeal, and that are now either abandoned alto
sether, or suffered TO anguish ir an unfinished and
almost useless conditions will be difficult for any
candid man among US to deny that appearances
would indicate an instability OF purpose or tickle
ness OF disposition. Why is it that so many acsde
mics have been projected into existence, and the
buildings begun but never finished; or ii finished
have been sustained but few years? Why is il
That so many turnpike roads, 90 many towns ard
corporations for useful public purposes have exis-
tence only within the lids OF our statute books, ,
Why IS il that, the estates of private citizens
we find so many unfinished houses and half exc
cued schemes Of Improvement? We did no, take
up our pen to 90 into the metaphysical enorirv
whether this be the result of actual sceGLness of
character, or an e.rcess Of energy and restless
enterprise. Let the enquing mind that NAV
undertake The investigation of this proposition look
INTO the history OF the " Ancient Dominion from,
the landing of ancestors at James Town. and i,
will be found TO abound in testimony in favour of
the latter opinion.
AT all periods, & among all civilized people of the
world, the importance ofroads, canals bridges, &c
has claimed full share of the attention of GOV
ernmen's and OF individuals. In the u States the
subject has excited Increasing interest for many
years Virginia, from the moment of the adcDtion
OF lie Federal Constitution, was convinced that
that instrument conferred on the Federal Govern
ment no power over the subject; a.d she soon felt
The necessity OF acting upon it herself. After he
close OF the late war spirit seemed to Der
wade our people; and under its influence the magni-
ficent scheme OF uniting the eastern and western
I; waters by the Improvement and connection of the
waters OF the James and Kanawha Rivers, which
had previously occupied the attention of some of
our statesmen, was resumed with fresh ardour -.
Heavy expenses were incurred for the purpose Of
procuring estimates, plans, sc. No practical infor-
nation on such subjects existed among us yet the e-
gslaure IN the tervour of their zeal were temnted
to embark in the execution of the work The i'm
provement of the Kanhawa river, and The lurnpjke
road have been completed. The scheme of an in
dependent canal has also been executed up TO Mai
denis Adventure Falls, about thirty mile, above
Richmond. The expense of this worl, so far ev
ceeded the eslimates of he first engineers that at
the Session of 1875, the legislature became A.
larmed at the magnitude OF the work they had un
az Oh 4 IL
The isrdiness with hch it progressed induced
many OF The advocates OF the scheme TO abandon il
entirely Heavy complaints were made by them
OF the erroneous estimates of MessTs Moore and
Briggs, by which they had been governed Others
not yet disposed 10 surrender an enterprise which
promised such advantages 10 the State, insisted on
the Propriety of completing the contracts already
entered into which would take the canal to Maiden's
Adventure Falls, and of having new survey and
new estimates made by the present Engineer of the
Board of Public Works. Thi- cou Sc was adopted;
and by resolution OF December 1924, the Board
directed Capt. CTOzet TO report an estimate of
the cost OF continuing the canal from Maiden. Adj
venture Falls to the mouth of Dunap's Creek upon
the scale contemplated by the several acts of sse
bly,, with such other information upon that imp,
ment as his journey during the summer will enable
him TO impart.''
In the execution Of this duty, Cant. Crozet sub
mitted the Board on the lst July his report and
estimates. The report has been printed. and occu-
pies 40 pages. IT il exceedingly well written
1t is not only perspcuous in style; but bold, com
prehensive and we think, convincing in the matter
of it. The doubts and diiicultie3 which have so
much perplexeh ;he public mind in relation 10 this
interesting subject, seem to be removed by the la
borious Investigations of this intelligent officer
Accompanying the report, he has deposicd in the
Office OF the Board 10 beautifully executed maps
of the sections Of the canal, and voluminous
book, containing the data upon which he proceed
ed, and the detailed calculations by which he had
arrived at his results In former estimates and re-
ports the absence Of these elements made it impos
sible for an individual 10 form any opinion, either
of the cost or praciicabilily OF the scheme.
The Report contains brief notice OF the manner
in which the survey was made; md topoeraphl-
cal view of the whole route, with remarks on the
tributary streams feeders, truce Of The canal.
dimensions, PttddiiHg, locks ayueducfs and e,sf-
0crts, Ioasts, pairing, Mailing, fencing SC a
synopsis IS given of the cost OF each secon show
ing the gross amount Of each description of work.
manship to be executed, leaving the details of cal
culation by which they are obtained 10 be referred
to-, in the manuscript book.
That the reader may better understand what fol-
lows, it may be proper in this place to inform him
that the Engineer recommends an abandonment oil
the scheme OF an Independent canal; and proposes
10 substitute IN Us place lock and dam improve
meat BY his estimates ard calculations lie show