Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-08-29

tage OF being Tour hundred feet lower than
that by Deep creek, and about % miles nearer; II Is
nevertheless added, that, should IL be found neces
sary, the whole supply OF the Deep creek summit
might be transferred TO the new summit by fee
der.
' From the foregoing account it will appeal,
that the surveys of the first year did not disclose
the most advantageous and important circumstan-
ces OF this route; yet three parties or brigddes oil
Engineers were employed in the operation two OF
these consisted of sixteen officers, the third was
composed OF one Civil Engineer and five assistants,
in all twenty-five Engineers or Surveyors.
a. Had the Allegheny Mountains in Virginia,
been searched for two successive years, with the
same persevering diligence, and by party as
numerous, the result might perhaps have been as
different from what Is nov known, as the survey
made by the u. S. Engineers the second year,
was from their first examination. In Virginia,
only two Chief Engineers and four assistants were
employed; and, in one season, they located road
OF 81 miles in length they surveyed Craig creek,
Sinking creek, DLnlsp's creek, Ogley's creek,
Howard's creek, Greenbrier river, New river, the
kanawha and James river. Such extent of
surveys must have left them but litle leisure to
explore thoroughly the mountains between James
river and the kanawha, to gauge creeks and sour
ces the of feeders, the size of
reservoirs the probable length OF tunnels
and in one word, perform all those necessary and
minute operations from which alone decisive
formed. II does I.o appear, therefore, that the
examination winch has been made can be entirely
sasfac,ory,t and ! should be inclined TO think
| that judgment premature, which should pronounce
the route by the kanawha and James river imprac-
ticsbie have, indeed, heard 1t affirmed, that
there was much lover place through the Allie
ghany mountain, than that lhrol gh " hich The
vey conducted, and that suiiciency of wa
ter may be had.
"Shoud be confirmed, by an actual survey, hat
such a low place exists, and that II could be -up
piled with water, the conneXon of James river
and the Kanawha, In point of practicability, would
not yield to the projec'e ed Ohio and Chesapeake
canal for, the difficulties OF the ground would,
most probably be rather less than greater here; and
the length OF the canal could not differ much on
either route.
e Having submitted the foregoing observations
Oh the practcabllity OF the two lines oil connex-
ion between the and eastern waters, will
now proceed to examine the question relative to
the policy and importance of both routes. AL
though | conceive it my duty to present every
consideration which, IN my opinion, may have a
bearing on the expediency OF the scheme which Is
the object of this :epot. but feel consi-
derable degree OF dItfdence, when have discuss
subject fraught with so much importance, and out
OF the sphere OF my profession pursuits. Imper
feet as my knowledge OF the mutual interests of
the different States Of the Union, would not pre-
sumo 10 give opinion in this l only
wish to call the attention of more competent men
TO Nv observations and enquiries relative 10 this
subject, which cannot be better iroduced than by
extracts OF The able report of the Secretary
of War, in date of the Sd December, 1924, which
explains the views of the General Government in
regard to the internal improvements which, tor tw
years past, have occupied the attention oil the u
s. Board of Engineers. The Secretary OF War ex
presses himself as follows: 1t became necessary
in giving orders 10 tine Board under the act, TO de-
termne what routes for roads and canals were
of national importance in the views contem-
plated by the act; Is such only as the President
might deem to be of that description, were au-
thoIsed TO be examined and surveyed. In deciding
this point 1t became necessary TO advert TO our
political system IN It's distribution OF powers and
duties between The General and State Govern.
ments. In thus regarding our system, ii was con-
ceived that all OF those routes OF roads and Canals
which might be fairly considered falling within
the province OF any particular Stale, how ever
useful they might be in CONNER cial or political
point OF view, TO he transportation OF the
mail, excluded from the provisions of The act
In projecting The surveys in this view of the
subject, the whole Union must be considered as
one, and the atteution directed 10 those roads
and canals which may facilitate intercourse be-
tween parts OF the State, but those which
may bind all of tie parts together, and the whole
with the centres thereby facilitating commerce
and intercourse among the States, and enabling
the Government to disseminate promptly through
the mail, information TO every part, and to ex-
tend protection 10 the whole. BY extending those
principles to the line of communication by roads
and canals through the States, the General Co
nnent, instead of interfering with the State
Governments, within their proper spheres of ac-
ton, will afford particularly to those States sit
uated in the ineror) the Only means of perlectinz
Improvements OF similar description, which pro-
perly belong to them.
These principles being fixed it only remained
to apply them to 3ur actual geographical position
to determine what particular routes were Of ma
tionaI Importance
the route for canal extending from the Seat of
1 Government by the Potomack 10 the Ohio river,
and thence to Lake Erie.
There several other routes which though
/ notessental TO the system, deemed of great
4 importance in a commercial and military point of
1 { view and which the Board will receive nstruc-
Il tons to examine: among these, the most promi -
nent is the connection wherever 1t may prove praci-
cable, of the and western waters, through
4 the principal rivers dischargng themselves into
4 the Atlantic and the Gulph Of Mexico; for ex-
4 ample, the Alabama and Savannah rivers with
4 the Tennessee; james river and the Kanawha;
1 and the Susquehanna wi h the Allegheny; which
last will be more particularly adverted to in a
3 subsequent part OF the report.
The Board have, besides those already men
toned, examined, IN conjunction with Pennsyl l.
4 vania Commissioners, a route fer a canal from
9 the Allegheny to the Susquehsnns. In addition
10 the importance of this route to a large portion
of the west and the State Of Pennsy vsnia it W as
thought to possess other and strong claims on the
I'D he 10 olfa -,