Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-12-11

li'proVehlents ny locks and dams. | lay out OF
view the improvement by ~sluices from the flI
conviction that in such a stream, il would Offer
but very lnconsiderable advantages which would
be seriously counteracted by its disadyantapes
By opening s%luices of sufficient depth the dif
%hcuities OF ascending it would be greatly in.
creased, and on the occurrence of a slight fresh.
ct might be found TO be entirely invincible ev.
cept by the application of steam power. Nor
could II be reasonably calculated, that ,b.,
power would ever be introduced, since il could
not probably be applied to the transporting Of
boats with little or no load, which alone wouI5
be employed on the ascending navigation: and
since laden boats would float with sufficient ye,
locity in descending by the mere force of tho
current without the aid of any new DOVER
Besides, the navigation would be attended will
manifest danger both on the ascent and descen,
Ihe force Of the current in either case wouJ
often be sufficient to battle the skill of the mos,
experienced boatmen, and subject him to Ger.
tain wreck. The improvement by c~analliue
has heretofore been considered as possessed If
decided advantages over any other mode. bp,
considering the immense expense attendant
thereon in comparison to the improvement by
locks and dams, it becomes a matter WORTHY Of
the most serious deliberation, whether it would
not be advisable to adopt the latter without de.
lay, and to prosecute 1t 10 its final completion.
The advantages Of the first mode Of improve.
ment consist principally in the fact that Won
have at all times a still water and Of course
secure navigation, and enjoy The decided adyan-
tage OF substituting the power of men by the
power Of horses. These are great advantages;
but is no: the first n early attained by the ponds
formed by dams? Through the greater portion
OF the year, the slight current which would
agitate them would be advantageous, since il
would assist in the descent with the loaded
boat; and when we consider the rapid advances
which science is every day making, and has
already made in the structure Of the steam
boat, do l hazard any thing in saying that steam
might and would be introduced, and thus fur.
nish as cheap, If not cheaper moving power
than would be found on a canal. Under all
circumstances, in times even of great freshets,
the steam boat would control the current, and
transport in safety its attendant boats. This
upon such occasions would be its principal Of.
fee.
In deciding upon the merits Of this mode Of
improvement, we should not hastily reject it;
because of the disappointments which have
sometimes attended it. These disappointment
may be traced more 10 the imperfeclions CON
nected with its execution, than to any other
cause. If the dams be constructed with care,
with due regard 10 permanency, and in such
manner as to admit of being readily repaired in
the event of that decay, to which all the works
Of man are more Or less subject, no appreben.
sions need be entertained. Canals are also liza
bic to sustain serious damage, and time too of.
ten betrays the little care bestowed in their orr.
ginal structure. But, admitting that the Canal
would be superior to the locks and dams in
some respects, yet, it should not be overlooked
that in regard to the James river the State &C.
cupies the footing o. a chartered Company,
and it should not fail to look to a return of pro
fit in the execution Of the work. Having an eye
to this result, while it is a matter ofgreat doubt
whether any profit could be expected upon so
large an expenditure as a continued canal
would require, yet that uncertainty wholly van.
ishes in reference to the other scheme. These
considerations, then, induce me 10 recommend
to your adoptioe this latter mode Of improve
ment. When this desirable work shall be
completed, a new era will be opened on the
country wate:ed by this noble stream and its
tributaries. AT present with what great hazard
and expense is its navigation attended? How
great is the loss which society ~sustains in the
subduction of so much Of its labor and Of so
much time. Let this improvement be effected,
and new relations will Immediately spring up
between the merchant and the farmer TO their
mutual benefit. A country now so far removed
from market as scarcely TO contribute any
thing TO the national wealth, in comparison
with its actual and intrinsic capacity, will be
awakened into life, and be made TO develope all
its resources. An extensive portion Of the
State, in a measure alien in feeling from the
tide-water country, will be brought into closer
union with the latter, and admitted 10 a parti.
cipation in advantages to which it is now al.
most a stranger. These are the high conside'
%rations which should operate on the LegisIa.
ture to complete this Improvement; but there
are others Of great force and Of immense
weight.
The General Assembly, in the exercise c fits
legitimate authority in the yearl7S4,granted the
exclusive right of improving the James River
to a company composed of individuals, WHO'LL
pursuance of their charter, proceeded 10 the ac.
complishment of their work by cutting a canal
of short extent, and by partially improving the
bed Of the river as far as Lynchburg. The
improvement thus effected, vas justIyconslre''
ed unequal to the wants of a large portion OF the
State; and the State itself, in the year eighteen
hundred and twenty, purchased from the Com
- 49, mr.