Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-04-28

Graduation-735 l-2 miles of deg 292 81 of
) deg; and 40 81 of deg.
Population-'Yhiies 2O2 ,430; colored PIC, 2si.
Total 4l2,7II.
Distance from Washington to New Orleans,
from the summary of reconnoissance-l 100 miles
Probable distance-ll36 miles OF which SIS at
. deg. and under, 3-S at 8 deg. and above = deg.
MIDDLE ROUTE.
Extent throughout which materials can generally
Se procured, approximately 1852 miles
Extent throughout which there will be search
~ OF materials, approximatively- SD miles.
Quality OF soils traversed by the route General
growth OF timber From Washington to the Cha
tahouchie river, rich in the valleys, clsyey in the
intermediate parts. The grow tn is oak. From the
Charlottesville 10 New O.leans, rich in the valleys,
but sandy in the intermediate parts. The growth is
principally pine.
Total length of Bridges miles. 1873 yards
a." ' Of Causeway-S9 miles, 500 ya'd s
Graduatron-iii miles OF 2 deg. 1924 Of deg. !;
| and l65 Off deg.
Population Whites 262, S35; Colored l6t, 6s2
Total 526, 967
Distance from Washington to New Orleans
from the summary Of Reconnaissance 1904 miles
Probable Distance Io6 miles, of which SIS at
deg and under, s at 2deg and above dec
WESTERN ROUTE.
, Extent throughout which materials can generally
| be procured, approximately 1852 miles.
Extent throughout which there will be no mate
| rials, approximately ely SIS miles.
Quantity of soils iraversed by the route General
| growth of timber From Washington to Gaia " ba
rich in the valleys, clayey and good quality in the
intermediate parts. The oak and hickory predorc-
nate from Cahawba TO New Orleans, the valleys
anu rrairies productive: the parts Intermediary
unproductive. Pine and oak general growth
Total length OF bridge miles, S53 yards.
Total length of Causeway-24 miles, 1911
yards.
Graduation--66 Coz miles of deg; 339 of 8 deg. ;
146 IL OF 1 deg.
Populaton--W Whites 264 ,2S5; Coloured IO7 500.
Total lei
Distance from Washington TO New Orleans from
the summary OF Reconnaissance L., LAT I-2 miles
Probable Distance l ,l40 miles, of which SIS
at 2des. and under, and 3 at deg and above
2deg.
From this table we draw the following conclu-
sions with regard the comparative merit of the
three routes under consideration.
materials. The middle route and the Western
route are about equally provided with materials
In this respect they have the advantage over the
Eastern route.
Soil The soil along the Western route is gene
rally better than that along The middle route. On
the Eastern it is inferior TO that of the other
! two.
| Bridges The Western route will require less
bridging than the Eastern and middle routes these
!
| Causeways. The Western will require less
length OF causeway than the others the Eastern a
less length than the middle
! Graduation 1t VIII be obtained with less ex-
! cnse for the Eastern route than for the two others
bat it will Become more expensive for the Western
than for the other routes.
Population The Eastern and middle routes
have nearly the same amount of populations Ge5 the
counties, districts, and parishes which they ira
verse; but for the Eastern route the white popuIa-
ton Is 10 that OF color one one, and for the
middle route, The white population is TO that of
color three 10 two. As 10 the total population
OF the counties, districts and parishes on the wes
tern route, Ii is about three quarters Of that of the
other routes; but the white population is nearly to
( that OF color as two to one.
Distance. The length of the road will be less
in the direction Of the middle than in that either oil
! the Eastern or Western routes. With respect TO
time and with the same graduation, we are inclined
to give the preference to the middle route.
Expense The expense of materials for scld
and durable construction will be about the same for
the middle and Western routes, but much greater
for the Eastern.
In bridging, the expense will be much less upon
the western than upon the other two routes
! In causeways much less upon the western than
upon the other two routes, and less upon the cas-
tern than upon the middle.
| To obtain the same graduation in both routes,
the expense will be less upon the eastern than upon
the middle route; and less upon the middle route
| than upon the western route.
The price of latour will generally be the same
along the middle and western direction, though less
| Tor some sections along the latter; but it will be
higher along the EASTERN
| The board then go on to submit at large their
views of the commercial considerations accom-
mediation Of the population, political considera-
tons, military considerations, and transportation
of the mail, and sum up their views of these con-
siderations, as follows:
d" Commerce.-Thc eastern route will enjoy the
exclusive advantage of facilitating the commercial
correspondence between our inland importing and
exporting maris The middle and western will
contribute more than the eastern to the develop
ment OF internal commerce and industry.
Accommodation of Population. The eastern
and middle routes will accommodate directly more
States than the western; but, taking into view, and
by anticipation, the increase Of population perhaps
the three routes ought TO be placed on the same
footing.
Political considerations The Eastern route has
the advantage TO pass by the Seats of Government
of the Southern States 1.-The Western to cross The
chain of mountains which separates the Western
from the Southern States.
Through the Western route, greater and
more efficient assistance will be afforded in times of
emergency to the States, and Naval Establishments
upon the Gu!f, lban through the other routes.
Transportation Of the Mail.-As to time, we are
inclined to believe that the Middle Route has the
advantage over the others As to expense they
will be less upon the middle and especially upon
the Western, Than upon the Eastern Asto horses
the service of the Mail will be better, and more
cheaply secured upon the middle route, and es-
pecaily upon the Western, than upon the Eas-
tern.
Having thus investigated to the best of our