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

ieas' 81 30 in favor OF the trade; and, supposin.
also that IN the same proportion, the other half il
made TO bear an average of SO of tolls on eacl
ton' the whole amount collected would be
., 1854 .0OC
The quantity of coal that passed through tn,
locks last year was 4o0, GOO bushels the tolls upon
"n.en' al the present rate, would be 1000
winch being added TO the above sum give
SIS 600
lot Inc revenue that may be relied on from the ex
listing trade
good canal improv ement should Weld s per
cent. upon the capital expendedAthe whole Canal
from Richmond to Lynchburg, according to the
ABOVE estimate, and including the expense of the
section below Maiden S Adventure,
"iii cost S2.75O, 600
The interest which at 6 per cent is 800 600
From which deducting the above sum I5s, 900
~, Inc balance VIII be 500, 900
Which will have TO depend on the increase of trade
produced by the impro, ement.
~ am not possessed of sufficient data TO form any
exact calculation of the resources which how lie
inert, out would be set in operation by the impulse
perfect navigation would give TO the trade: such
calculations must be based on minute enquiries and
an extensive statistick knowledge, which the null
tipliciy and different direction of duties have no,
allowed me either time opportunities to Obtain
but fortunately, here are not left TO depend
ai'oSether on gra'uItous suppositions: several inn
proVemehts are either IN progress in contempla
'ioa, whose object IS to open communications with
'he trace OF James river, and from which il wlre-
eeiVe important accessions. We may soon ex-
pee. 10 see the extensive waggoning heretofore
carried on between Siaunton and Richmond. take =
new direction along the turnpike now in cons,ruc-
uon, to empty itself at the small town of Sco,ts-
vile INTO the boats of James river This Town
may perhaps ere long acquire like Lyncbburp.
considerable degree OF influence on the trade nj
James river e VI
Improvements on the Rivanna river are very
earnestly contemplated, and from the growing i'm
portance OF Charlottesville mus, be expectej soo,
10 DE carried into execution. Then the James
river trade will extend its ramifica,ions ,h,ousb
Aioemarle county, to Orange and even Rocking
nam counties, and reach farther and farther as from
these combined causes, capital increases
AT the same time that the factie saflorded bv
an improved navigation will encourage and multi
ply these lateral improvements they will likewise
greatly contribute to increase the trade 10 the west
have been credbly assured, that even in the pre-
sent state OF things, transportation from the northern
towns by way OF Richmond and Lynchburg TO the
states oil Kentucky and Tennessee is from 81 80
to So per hundred cheaper than from Baltimor.
direct along the national turnpike
May 1t not also be reasonably expected. that
when large boats can be used and horse power an
piled to them, much coal will find mar ket IN the
river and constitute valuable return trade If all
these considerations be duly eghed and estimated
can II be doubted that The augmentation of trade
will be sufficient to furnish the additional
OF So2, QUO necessary to produce competent di-
vidend on'the cost OF the improvement This SIM
is only little more than one-tbrd of that which
VIII certainly be produced by the present trade.
and would perhaps be raised, upon the mere aua-
mentaton of commerce along the margin of the
river alone.
"Mofeover, it may be recollected hat the es,i.
mate oil the cost OF the canal here presented sup.
poses 1t to be uninterrupted and that it has bet
suggested that considerable sum might be saved
by taking the head OF the pond above Maiden.
Adventure Falls Surprising, therefore, this TO be
done, the interest the saved, (SIS7 900 \ a,
the rate OF per cent would be about Sis 0eo
which ought to be deducted from the annouor 70.
quisite to pay an adequate dividend upon the c,pi
tai This suus.raction from the above balance
$62, 900
""uiu IeaVe only $4,000
to be raised upon the increase OF commerce. which
need not be quite much as one-third of the nr..
sent trade 10 secure this result.
eve may safely therefore, adopt this eoIisr,c,o
ry conclusion: that the revenue of the trade he
tween Lynchbnrg and Richmond, would soon be
more than adequate 10 pay reasonable dividend
on the cost OF the most complete kind of improve
ment, and that in few years the surplus revenue
would probably be such to allow of a reductions
OF the tolls 10 the greater encouragement of the
trade, or else it might be appropriated TO the ex
tinciion of the debt
" In all the foregoing calculations, it will appear.
L think, that ] have kept on the s.fe side In
stating the tolls So while the economy rel,in.,
from meliorated navigation was proved 10 be a.
least ~ 30, have still left saving of 81 30 nor
ton TO he trade between Lynchburg and Richmond
But the benefits which would accrue from the i'm
PToYement are not confined TO this sum: the Ger
tainty OF arrivals, which would lessen the fl0ctna-
lion OF prices: the possibility of making laroe
loads; the greater degree of responsibIity of head
ooa'men; the dimlnution OF risks; the probable re-
duction OF storage and commission, resulting from
several of these causes, are circumstances tybicL
though they cannot be readily reduced to num-
bers, will add to The profits Of the grower of prodnce
and of the merchant.
"From Lynchburg to the mouth of the North
Branch OF James river which is the mex; jnporia,t
point, the distance is 2S miles; the ground is verv
'niavorable to the making of a canal the cost of
which, including that of the work in progress
through the Blue Ridge, would not fall much short
OF one million of dollars The seven miles oe
canal at the Gap were Indispensable: but below
this point, down TO BynchbHg the fall being much
less and the ground so bad as to render the perma-
nency OF canal very difficult to secure. the oues-
ton naturally occurs, whether cheaper mode of
improvement would not be as advisable in that dis
lance.
"a great deal OF produces may be expected TO be
collected at the mouth Of the North Branch. Pat
tonsburg, which is 20 miles higher up, will also
become considerable depot; bot the ground be-
tween this town and the North Branch offers great
and 1t is doubtful whether the sepefiori-
~ OF canal navigation over one by locks and
dams would, in so short distance, compensate for
its great expense especially as above this to,gn The