Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-05-30

The difference in cost be ing estimated $50 to
| |; though the usual estimate has been 20 to
|: besides, the construction of the canal Gas in
Newly ork,) would more than double the guam
tity of trade and commerce; thus the whole cost
of the canal would be saved to the country in a
few years, yielding, at the slime time, on the
stock invested, profit of 6 or per cent to the
government, more than the amount OF interest
accruing on the national debt, which the ma
tional creditors are anxious should be paid, and
also returning to the people portion OF the
money paid by them into the treasury, to pro-
mote and cherish industry, trade, commerce,
and manufactures, and these profits and advan-
tages, of course, increasing with the increasing
growth and population Of the country.
Sd. lis advantages 10 ogriculture.--These con-
sist not so much in the saving in the cost OF
transportation, as in the powerful stimulus it
would afford to agricultural industry in the in
terror, and the increased value 1t would give to
agricultural produce, and of course to the ge-
neral wealth Of the country. The difficulties
under which the interior at present labors for
want of facilities Transportation to the proper
markets, are indescribable. Immense districts
of the finest land in the world lay waste and UNI
cultivated, because the produce will not bear
transportation unless converted into spirit to
brutaize mankind; forests Of the finest timber,
which might be sources of wealth, but encum-
Der the ground; and often that which IS in the
greatest demand in one portion of the country,
lies neglected and useless in another.
To illustrate the importance OF this work to
the interests Of agriculture, the Committee beg
leave to add one other statement. BY the cen
sus taken in 1910, sixteen years ago, 1t appears
that there was manufactured in that year, In
few of the western counties OF Pennsylvania,
37l,436 barrels of -four, and 1922 of whiskey,
making together, 4lo,l58 barrels, amounting
to 62,26l tons, which transported on the canal,
at cents per ton per mile, would cost S43o,846
q; but if it had been transported i'll wagons to
Atlantic markets at that time, it would have
cost upwards of five millions Of dollars, and
would at present cost more than $500 900; thus
it appears, that saving of more than live mil
lions of dollars might have been produced by
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal on the trans
portation to the Atlantic markets, OF the Hour
and whiskey alone, manufactured in 1910, IN a
few counties in the western part OF Pennsylva-
MIA!
What then would be the saving on the Infinite
variety of agricultural, mineral, and manufac.
mred products, not only Of the Western part OF
Pennsylvania, but also Of West Virginia, Ken
lucky, Ohio, Indiana, and, in short all the inte'
rior and Western portions oil the Union, Dor
dering upon the Ohio and its tributary streams!
To which might be added an equal saving on
the back loading Of merchandise, transported
on the canal, for consumption in the West.
4th. rs advantages as 10 Mines 81 Ore, Coal,
and Qmarries Of Stone.-Thc fact is too notori-
Gus to require repetition, that the mountains
and interior portions Of our country, and espe-
caI, the region through which the Chesa.
peake and Ohio Canal is located, abounds with
inexhaustibIe mines Of the richest ore, and the
finest coal in the world, which lie hidden and
useless in the bowels Of the earth, for want OF
the means of transportation, and which might
be made sources Of unbounded profit and &C
commodation, adding millions annually TO the
National resources, giving profitable employ
ment to labor, stimulating industry, increasing
general wealth, supplying our country with
means alike necessary in peace and war, and Tor
which We are now dependent on foreign coun-
tries, and annually paving them heavy tribute.
Millions are annually sent abroad to feed aud
employ foreign l;nbour, manufacturing and ag'
TicuIlural, to the neglect and injury of our OWE,
10 procure what abounds in the utmost profu-
sion at home buried and dormant in the bow
els of the Earth, and requiring nothing but the
plastic and vivifyng influence Of, these facilities
Of transportation to spring at once into usetul
and prosperous activity, yielding not Only an a.
bundant domestic supply, but surplus Tor ex-
portalioT
5,h IFS advantages in reference 10 Pihages,
1omns, Water PoDer, and Manu( aciwes.-These
are objects not unworthy Of consideration -
The facility and inducements offered through
out the whole extent Of this canal for the build
ing up Of villages and towns, and erecting all
almost infinite variety Of mills, furnaces, forg.
es, and other water works, thus creating, as II
by magic, busy scenes Of active industry, hur-
rying commerce and prosperous trade, where
shortly before was bowling wilderness and
gloomy desert. This is no picture Of fancy,
but matter of fact, to which every one who has
passed along the New-York Canal. can bear
ample testimony. And who can for moment
doubt, that equal, if not greater results would
be produced on the Chesapeake and Ohio Ca
nal, especially when they consider its decided
superiority over that of New.York, in the i'm
mense inland navigation which il connects and
opens. touching in lis extent from the Chesa-
peake to New-Orieans nearly half the States in
the Union, throwing into this common channel
their surplus produce, and receiving through
il their supplies Of merchandise in return; TO
which may be added its superiority in refer
ence TO climate, central position, and the mex.
haustibe mountain supplies OF coal, ore, and
timber.