Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-07-24

works, Sf Inc lower canai espeCiahY, oeP'"u'
essentially on uniting them. All those VINO
commence transportation al or below the heau
Of the canal are undoubtedly hentttted oy X,
because freights are lesseDed by The ADDITION 10
cargo. But those who enter the river above,
derive no advantage from the canal below,
because thsir cargoes and their moving pow
err mus, be adapted 10 he state OF the upper ma
vigation. If the improvement stops at Its pre-
sent point, upwards of one IN illion OF dollars
are wasted We can avail ourselves OF THIS
expenditure onlyeby extending the improve
ment. From our estimates OF the advantages
and disadvantages of its extension, this item
ought not to be excluded. II 1t be taken INFO
the amount, It's influence, unless every estimate
which has been made is decep'i.e, mus' Ut
decisive in favor Of prosecuting this work
So imperfect is The navigation OF tins river a.
boye the head Of the lower canal, that In one
state Of The water, a boat cannot BRING nan
load: and in another it is liable to be wrecked
on the voyage. The vast Importance OF COM
pleting this improvement must be OBVIOUS 10
all. The river in its whole course from Cow
ington passes through ferllle country, ABOUND
ing in landing places where boats take IN their
cargoes so that every step Of improvement, on
its advance up the river, gives to an addl.loha'
tract Of country, the whole benefit OF inc lower
canal Tous Then il seems apparent that 'ne
extension Of safe navigation 10 this POM Is
recommended by the soundest policy; ana we
submit this opinion with great difference 10 Inc
| legislature of our country.
| If the real interest of the state requires that
| this part of The work should be completed, tha'
| the present expensive and dangerous na'lSa-
| ton should be rendered cheaper and saier, me
strongest motives operate agains' all avoldaole
| call0
under the difficulties which the present state OF
he river Opposes to transportation, 'hescom>
| monwe ath loses The interest oil the money al
ready expended.
1t is too worthy Of consideration that the
present cheapness of labour is peculiarly aus"
picious 10 the prosecution Of great public en-
| lerprizes.
The accomplishment, OF this important part
| of the work will enlarge the lund applicable 10
other Improvements.
| Unless the calculations submitted by those
who have been selected for their professional
skill BE- falacous, the tolls alter its navigation
shall have been improved will be sufficient 10
liberale the fund which has been appropriated
to this object from its presen, bur'hens.
Our obser, ations have been applied more par
tic uta,ly to James river, because we consider IL
as claiming eminen,Iy Tie immediate attention
| Of the legislature for several reasons.
Ii passes in its whole extent through the cen>
tresof the Stale, and accommodates greater
number of our fellow citizens than any other
river.
1t is the exclusive property OF the State and
the whole produce Of The tolls may either be
brought INTO the treasury or applied to other
improvements.
|, promises more than any other, to be aux
81, If
GINA and the west.
The improvement Oft navigation Will con-
tribute greatly TO the augmentation oil our COM
mercial capital
And lastly it will save large sum already
expeuded on that part Of the work which has
been acc omplished.
If we persist in an almost Infinite subdivision
Of our funds, nothing great will be completed.
If we apply them first 10 the most important OBJ
iects, they will be accomplished; and their ac>
complishment will enable Us to proceed with
others. 1t cannot, we think, be doubted that
by rendering each work in which we engage
nroduc,ive. we shall bt enabled 10 move on pro-
eressively until ,he wnoie stall become so.
Although then the patronage OF the egsla-
ture should be directed to james River, il does
not follow that the Improvement OF other rivers
should be out of view.
The Potomac and The Roanoke having their
sources, as we'll as the James, in the AlIegha-
nv mountains, affords facilities to the inhabi-
,anrs Of d vas, trac, of country, and the means
of intercourse between the Atlantic and the
Western states. They are all of them rivers
of the first class, and the strongest motives ex>
list for The improvement Of their navigation.
The Roanake is understood 20 contain more
water than the James, and its navigation be-
tween the falls near Halifax and the blue ridge
is not supposed to be so difficult or 30 danger
Gus. 1t is also understood that fund is OBJ
tanned for canal round the falls so as to cou.
meet The upper with the lower navigation. The
report to which reference has frequently oeen
made shows that the dismal swamp canal will
be completed this summer, alter which the
same vessel may pass in safety from the falls
of Roanoke TO Norfolk. The legislature we
think cannot be charged with neglecting the
interest Of this river il farther advances in The
improvement Of its naviga ion be postponed for
short time.
A slight attention 10 the map ofVirginio, de.