Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-25

OH the voyage. The vast Importance of co,nplet-
ing Uis Improvement must be obvious TO all. The
river IN its whole course from Covington passes
thro fertile country Astounding in landing places,
where boats take in their cargocs; that every
step oil improvement, its advance up the river,
gives 10 an additional tract Of country, the whole
benefit oil the lower canal. To us, then, it seems
apparent, that the extension of a safe navigation
10 tiis point, Is recommended by the sountest pol
icy; and we submit this opinion with great dcie-
renee to the Legislature of our country. :
~ the real interest Of the State requires that
this part OF the work should be completed, that
The present extensive apd dangerous navigation
should be rendered cheaper and safer, the strong
sst motives operate against all avoidabie delay.
~ bile our fellow citizens still labour under the
difficulties which the present state of the river
opposes to transportation, the Commonwealth loses
the interest oil the money already expended.
Is, too. worthy OF consideration that the present
cheapness of iabour is peculiarly suspicious To the
prosecution OF great public enterprises.
The accomplishment of this important part of
The work will enlarge the fund appplicab to other
an improvements.
have been selected for their professional sk.lI be
iallacious, the tolls after its navigation shall have
been improved, will be sufficient to libcrate the
fund which has been appropriated to this object,
from its present burthens.
Our observations hav. been applied more par
ficularly to James River, because we consider it
MS claiming eminenty the immediate attention OF
the legislature for several reasons.
1t passes in its whole extent through the centre
Of the State, and accommodates greater number
oiour fellow citizens than any other river.
IL 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 improve
ments.
1t promises more than any other to be auxiliary
10 the extension OF the commerce OF Virginia and
the West.
onie greatly TO the augmentation of our CONNER
cial capital.
And lastly, it will save large sum already ex-
pen ed ON that part OF the work which has been
accomplished.
Ii we persist in an almost infinite subdivision of
our funds, nothing great will be completed. IL
we apply them first to the most important objects
they will be accomplished; and their ACCOM- dish
ihent VIII enable us TO proceed with others. IL
cannot, we think be doubted that by rendering
each work in which We engage productive, we
Siia be enabled to move on progressively until the
whole shall become So
Although then the patronage of the legislature
should be directed to James river, il does not fol-
low that the improvement of other rivers should be
out of view.
The Potomac and the Roanoke having their
sources ,aS well the James, in the Allegany noun
'ains, affords facilities TO the inhabitants of vast
tract oil country, and the means OF intercourse be-
tween the Atlantic and the Western States. They
are all OF them rivers OF the first class and the strong
est motives exist tor the improvement of their navi
CATION.
The Roanoke is understood to contain more wa
Ter than the James, and its navigation between the
Tails near Halifax and the Blue Ridge is not SUI ppos-
ed to be so difficult dangerous 1t is also I'M
derstood that fund is obtained for a canal round
thc Tails so as TO connect the upper with the lower
Navigation The report TO which reference has fire.
aiuently been made shows, that the Dismal Swamp
Canal will be completed this summer, after which
the same vessels may pass safety from the falls of
Roanoke to Norfolk. The legislature, we think,
cannot be charged with negecting the Interests OF
this river, if further advances in the improve
VI he npaH fora slo
time.
slight attention to the map of Virginia, demon
sraes, indeed, that the Aileg ySre cedes from
the Ocean, in it's extension from north 10 SOUTH the
southern rivers which rise IN that mountain, are
heightened in their to the Atlantic But in
creased length, which enables river to acconmo-
GATE a greater extent Of country, serves in some
degree, the measure of the probable productive
ness of the capital vested in its einent; and
The more especially, when penetrating successive !
ranges 81 mountains, and crossing deep valles, as
Wen as elevated table lands, ii derives addition
al Importance from the number and variety of the
productions which il bears to a common market. IT
mus assures more steady employment to the capt.
tai oil that market, we'll more stable profit !
upon its own navigation.
Among the great rivers OF Va. new interest !
mas been recently impaired TO the Roanoke, by the
discovery OF the praccabiity OF uniting its waters
with those OF James River, and both rivers with
the waters oil Greenbrier and New River, and by |
their instrumentaty, with those of the great Kan
awha. West of the AlIegany, this river and the |
Monongdhela occupy the first rank, and il is furu-
nate Tor the union OF the resources OF the Common
wealth, IN promoting their inproy enent, hat it |
connects itself with that OF the three great rivers of
the Atlantic.
The Potomac, considered apart from its principal !
branches, is u border river, but the Shenandoah |
now ifnpertectly navgabe for two hundred miles, !
aud the South branch for hundred, give to the !
Potomac the character of Virginia river; its BRAN
ches bearing towards its stem, the relation OF all
The commercial channels of the Commonwealth to |
their great estuary, the Chesapeake.
Happily for the early improvement Of this river, |
aconunued canal Is now in progress, from its tide |
towards the base the Allegany Mountain SO that
contributionto the capital employed in this enter
prise, not exceeding that OF sister and bordering
state, VIII fulfil, at cost easily provided, the
respondent obligations OF the Commonwealth to her
own citizens Indeed, comparison Of the relative |
interest OF Maryland & Virginia in this great work |
establishes, incontestibly, the superior importance
70 the latter OF its successful and speedy accomplish
nent Expedited az the progress OF this canal will
be, by the present subscription OF So 600 900 to its
stock; the sum proposed to be added that amount
by the Commonwealth Of Virginia, will ensure It's
speedy completion and render its stock immed |
aely productive.
The Monongahela will constitute TO the |
North as the great KaDawha TO the South, the |
western termination Of these great channelscf com
Tnerce, binding together, not only the eastern and
western territory Of Va, but the two great dvis-
ions Of the u. States
Under the general denominations of the proceed !!
ing rivers are comprehended such Of their tributa-
fies as can be rendered Dayigable; but the growth
OF their branches must follow that Of their STEMS
The rivers OF Virginia, which not comprised |
IN the hrst class, have their origin in the Blue |
tWus. r