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


.-of which the country lying on the Lakes will bs
firmly united to that on the western waters, ant
j both with the Atlantic States. and the whole in
tima'ely connected with the centre
" The northern States considered as firmly
united by the New York canal; the national turn
pike is deemed an imperfect tie and it is purposed
TO strengthen it 10y canal on nearly the same track
and if this should prove impraciicable, it is re-
commended TO seek for another connexion of the
eastern and western waters by the Snsquehsana
and the Allegheny rivers, betwixt those two al.
| ready established communications.
" But, would not many commercial facilities
accumulated in The northeru States be injury to
! each other? Would not a canal between the Sus
quehanna and Allegheny approach too near the
New York canal to he undertaking sufficiently
profitable and advantageous to Justify an expend-
lure of perhaps $50 0O0,0 900? Would there not
he much nducement Tor a boat passing before the
mouth OF Big Beaver, "a little below Pittsburgh to
| go up this river and along the canal which, as
| part of the grand scheme, Is purposed to connect
Big Beaver with Lake Erie; and thence to seek
| the New York market, instead OF ascending the
| Monongaa and passing over the high summit of
the Aileghany mountain to reach the Susque
HANNAH
% But 20 farther; would not the case be near
ly the same as regards the Ohio and Chesapeake
canal? Let us conceive that boat loaded with
produce has reached the mouth of Big Beaver; two
routes would lay OeIOTe II, One leading 10 New
York, the o,her passing by Pittsburg over hleh
mountain and leading down the Potomack to WASH
ingtop City and thence the mouth OF the Chesa.
ieake: which OF these two courses would most
commonly be selected? Let US cas-, glance at
the Map, and ii l am not much mistaken, the
question will be answered without hesitation.
- Ii my recollection Is correct, when the route
OF the Onlo and Chesapeake canal first survey
ed, step had been taken in Inc state OF Ouio
towards the of U,, sLo
constructing one between the Scioto and the Lakes,
which viii bind her interest and that of the adnin
Ing States 10 New York, by commercial ties this
canal passes through the very centre OF her terri
| tory. Does not this Improvement give a new as
pect to the view which previously taken Of
the connection between the Ohio and the Atantic9
Is II TO be presumed, when this canal is completed
that the trade will de-cend the ScIoo, ascend the
Ohio 10 Pittsburg, and thence cross the ALLEGHENY
| to descend into The Potomaci , Ii il does not
the trade oil the greater part OF the Sta of Ohio
will be lost to the Ohio and Chesapeake canal
While the Map is before us, let us follow the
course of the Ohio, and this enquiry will
be naturally made whether there would not
be much inducement for the trade of the middle
States to follow the course and reach the
Lakes and New York by way OF he Scloto in
stead OF continuing 10 ascend the Ohio towards
Pttsburg, thence to overcome the immense lockage
OF the y leghany mountain and descend into he
Chesapeake Should this take place, and should
| also the connexon of the Ohio by Big Beaver witt,
| he Lakes divert from the Ohio and Chesapeake
canal, the trade of the country lying on the Ohio
north of the mouth of the ScIoto, the country
bordering on the Poiomack and its tributaries
would be left to contribute alone towards d. frayng
| the expense OF a s,upendous work, hlch j. esti
mated at not less than twenty millions OF dollars
| (See the report of Mr. S = Fart, OF The committee
on Roads and Canals, May 22d, Is26.)
he tendency OF the trade will always be to-
wards the greatest quantity of capital; and, in this
respect, the New York market will prol,ab, n,
ever preponderaIe. Bat, will admit, that from
some cause which have not duly appreciated
preference would be given to the OHIO and Ches
apeake canal, over The other water communication
leading to the Lakes; and il may still be question
| ed, whether canal from The Kanawha 10 Jane.
river would not Intercept the greater part of the
| trade of the valley OF the Ohio.
| g Let Us suppose that a canal has been made
from Pit'sbirg to the Chesapeake, and that there
| rs also canal between the Great Kana,vha and
James river u we imagine boat ascending The
| Ohio, would it PASS the mouth of tie noble Ka
nawha unheeded And, would the produce lie
carried the whole way up the Ohio TO Ptsbure
and thence pass over the Allegheny mountain to
! the Po,omack, 10 find itself ultimately at the err
| trance OF the Chesapeake, opposite the very mouth
OF James river, having travelled an additional dis.
lance OF about 250 miles OF ascending navigation
on the Ohio, when at least this distance NIGH, BE-
saveI by taking The kanawha and James river route
| The trade OF the States OF Tennessee and
Kentucky, and also of the southern part of Ohio.
would most probably seek this shorter channel
which opens nearly opposite the mouth of the
Scioio and even OF the produce of the
| upper part OF the Ohio river would be floated
down the stream towards the Great Kanawha, ia
/ preference to ascending towards Pittsburg and
| the attraction of the Lakes and New York wouI,f
very likely not be felt to that distance, because
! here would be much shorter route, and also less
/ liability TO interruption from ice than on northern
| canals.
! . In a commercial point Of view, therefore,
/ cannot help thinking that the connection of James
and Kanawha river would prove more useful and
profitable than the union of the waters of the Ohio
an the Potomack, and that its beneficial results
| would be more dsianty felt and diffused II would
promote the commercial interest of the middle and
! western States and bind them together, and also
with the country lying on the Lakes, by its imme-
date proximity TO the Scioio and the Muskin
gum.
Considered in a military point of view it may
! likewise be asked whether James river is not as
important as the Potomac or the Susquebanna /?
Its entrance will be effec'ually defended by the
cross fires OF the two formidable forts at Old
Point Comfort and the Rip-raps, which will afford
| complete protection TO the codsting trade As an
interior line or base of operations, the central sit
uation of safe water communication between
James river and the Ohio, would, | think offer in
calcuable advantages
/ " II the considerations have presented here are
correct, il is to be regretted that no complete ex-
animation has been made of the dividing SUBMITS
between the James and Kanawha rivers a
well conducted survey to ascertain in a conclusive
1 he IF - al