Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-03-20

charter purchased by the State; that this grand
national obJsct was the governing mo,ive Of the
Legislature, IN the execution of this scheme OF
in'eTnsl Improvement, fIem the beginning to the
end. will beg leave to read a small portion of
the report OF these distinguished commissioners
because II 10 the foundation OF the argument upon
thisbrsnch Of the subject, and ther eiore will hay.
very important bearing upon il.
These advantages would probably be extend
ed by Improving the navigation of the Gseenbrier
al.o.
Should New River he rendered safe and easv
Channel oil communication between the Ohio ard
the commercial towns James River, the sub
Jcct VIII assume mote Important aspect, and
the advantages may be estimated on a larger
scale Not only will that part Of ouI own State
which lies on The ksnawha and on the Ohio re-
ceive their supplies and send much of their pro
duce through James river, but immense tract of
fertile country, great part of the States of Ken
tu'ky and q ho, will most probably give their
commerce the same direction. A II that part of
the State Of Kentucky which lies abou, Louis
vile, and all that part of the State OF Ohio, whose
trade would pass through the river of tina, name
might reasonably be expected 10 maintain a LARGE
portion OF their commercial intercourse with the
Atlantic States, through the James or the Potow
mac. Certainly, in contest for this interesting
prize, the States through which those rivers run
have geographical advantages, the benefit of which
they can lose only by supneness in themselves. ar
oy extraordinary eNertions IN Others. Ii is far
from being impossible, that even the south ives
tern parts of Pennsylvania my look down one of
these rivers for their supplies of goods mapufsc-
tured in Europe.
6 Let the Importance attached by men best ac
cnained with The subject to the commerce of the
west, attest its value. The exertions which other
States appear 10 be making to secure it, will! pro-
haoy awaken the attention of Virginia to tina,
part of it which should naturally belong to her.
There is still another aspect in which his sub
lect deserves 10 be received. Tha: intimate ron.
nexIon which generally attends free commercial
intercourse, the strong ties which are formed he
mutual interest, and the interchange of sood off .
ces bind together individuals of different coun =
:rIes, and are well calculated 10 chersh those
friendly sentiments, those amicabe dispo,itions
which at present unite Virginia to a considerable
portion OF the western people. At all times The
cultivation OF these dispositions mus, be ,,esirab,
ou'' In the vici's'iude ct human slfars, in tha,
mysterious future, Which is in reserve and is We,
hidden from us. events may occur 10 render their
preservation too valuable 10 be estimated in del
lars and cents.
The advantages which may result TO Virginia
from opening thin communication with the western
country, VIII be shared in common with her bv
line States OF Kentucky and OHIO
considering II as medium for the introIrc
ton OF foreign articles into those States. il has
claims TO their serious attention.
MT hpeaker = have read less than two maze,
OF report containing thiriy-two pages. am ex
Hemeiy unwilling % ;respass upon the time of the
House know their impatience and will reaJ
no more documents, but content myself with re-
iefrIns to them; for IL "a, sir, | am impa,ien, nv
SELL having already consumed more time than
expected to do. pray gentlemen, however. who
wish 10 be informed on this subject, 10 read the
report referred TO (Which thew will find in the first
volume oil the proceedings of the Board of Public
w orks;) IT breathes the spirit throu,hou,
AT the succeeding session (lSI3) resolution was
adopted, directing this report to be re printed and
copy sent TO each member of the Congress of the
Limited States and 10 the Executives of the seve
raj States and Terroiies The ureau,lls IN ,bi
resolution declares, that the proposed improyenen,
would greatly promote The welfare of this Com
monwe' ith, and the pro >perity IF our sister States
and that the Legislature Of The Union as well az
The Governments OF the several States cannot bui
feel an interest IN the accomplishment OF an en-
terprizs, important 10 the arts manufacture. am,
commerce of the l.. Saes"
IN 1914, the committee of Roads and Internal
Navigation made a most lengthy end splendid re-
port, II believe Mr.. Mercer wss chai.iusn) CON
tanning this passage
THIS communi cation once made, oreps with
i"'e niiicul'y, passtSe through the Oao, Mus
kInshuIn, and Cydliosa rivers, TO Lake Erie
In 1919, Governor Nicholas in his message
says it " ,couid confer iucolcuiaJle benefits poE,
teal and commercial" The committee OF Roads
and Internal Navigation, &c made lengthy and
able report, concluding with the Oh lines of q
plan tor cre1iiDg fund.- And at the same ses-
SION, The fund Of internal Inp5oy ement was Gre
ateJ.
In 1916, the Board of Public Works mad. their
first report, in which they beg leave 10 recom
mend it to the General Assembly of Virginia. TO
'nVite The co operation Of the United States and of
,he Governments OF the States Of Kentucky and
ONO, In the accomplishment of thi. object -
Ia 1917, the Board of Public Works said. GO In.
connection between the eastern and western ~
tiers, early attracted the attention of the Leg.Ia
ture OF Virginia: Oar iIlustrious Washington was |
scarcely freed from the arduous service of the rs
yoiuIonary war, before he called the attention oil
MS native State TO this important undertaking -
ut the same session Engineer Baldwin was ii |
rected " to examine the obstructioBs 10 the Davi
gaiion OF James and Jackson's river, between the |
mouth oil 1'ooney's creek near Beals bridge and
Ounlap's creek; the obstrucions to tie Nayies
ton OF the Great Kanawha, between the Grea,
Falls to us confluence with the Ohio, and to mark
out aroad between these Great Falls and the mouth
OF Dunlap's creek
viii here call The attention Of the House In
tbe important fact, that from the commencement,
OIL ths contemplated enterpr re down to the period
al which we have now arrived in this chain of
and docnmental reports GSI7 y YOU
see no instruction to any body, TO survey, or ex
anime IN any way The whole trace of James river
from the head OF the falls at Richmond TO LYNCH
burg, or any part thereof, which Comprised nearly
the whole tobacco district The frat survey in |
loi%, which produced that splendid repott from
haishall ana others, before referred 10, conmen-
Geo al byncbhuTs, and had nothing IN view bI, The
connecting INK oil commerce between the east and