Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-08-07

rendered cheaper and safer, the siron
gest motives operate against all avoida
bic delay. While our fellow. citizens
still laboar under the difficulties which
the present state Of the river opposes to
Transportation, the commonwealth loses
the interest of the money already ex
pended.
1t is too worthy Of consideration that
the present cheapness Of ,abour is pecu-
liarly suspicious to the prosecution Of
| great public enterprises
The Accomplishment Of this important
part Of the work will enlarge the fund
applicable to ether improvements.
| Unless the calculations submitted by
those who have been selected for their
professional skill be faIlacioas, the tolls
after its navigation shall have been i'm
proved will be sufficient to libersts the
fund which has been appropriated to
this object IRON ITS present burihens
Our observations have been applied
more particularly to James river, be
cause we consider il as claiming en,i-
nently the Immediate attention of the
<
! 1t passes in its whole extent through
the centre of the Stata, and accommo-
dates a greater numb.. of our fellow
citizens than any other RIVER
It's 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
ltpromises more than any other, TO
be auxiliary to the extension af the
commerce Of Virginia and the West
The improvement Of IFS navigation
will contribute greatly to the augmenta-
ton of our commercial capital.
And lastly, il will save large sum al
ready expended on that part of the wsrk
which has been accomplished
If we persist IN an almost infinite SUBJ
division Of our funds, nothing great will
be completed. five apply them 6rst
to the most important objects, they will
be accomplished; and their accomplish
ment will enable US to praceed with 9th.
ers. II cannot, we think. be doubted
that by rendering each work in which
we engage productive, we shall be ena-
bled to move on progressively until the
whole shall become so
Although then the patronage of the
Legislature should be directed to James
River, it does not follow that the i'm
proveUent Of other rivers should be cut
of view.
The Potomac and the Roanoke hav
ling their sources, as well as the James,
in the Allegheny mountains, affords ia
lcilities to the inhabitants OF vast tract
ofcouniry, 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
exist for the improvement OF their navi-
gation.
The Roanoke is understood to contain
more water than the James, and its ma
lvigation between the falls near Halifax
and the Blue Ridge. is not supposed to
be SO difficult or so dangerous tits al
SO understood that fund is OBJ aimed
for canal round the falls SO as to cen.
meet the upper with the lower naviga.
ton. The report to which reference has
frequently been made. shows, that The
Dismal Swamp canal will be completed
this summer, after which the same ves-
sci may pass in safety from the falls of
Roanoke to Norfolk. The legislature,
we think, cannot be charged with neg
lecting the interests of this river, If far
Their advances in the Improvement OF its
navigation, be postponed for shor!
| time.
| A slight attention to the map Of Vir
ginia, demonstrates, indeed, that as the
Allegheny recedes from the Ocean, in
its extension from Nsrth TO South, the
Southern rivers which rise in that noun
tain, are heightened in their course to
the Atlantic. But increased length,
which enables river 10 accommodate
a greater extent of country, serves, in
some degree, as the measure sfthe pro
bable praductiveness of the capital ves-
ted in its improvement; and, the more
Especially, when penetrating successive
ranges of mountains, and crossing deep
vsllies, as well as elevated table lands,
| il derives additional importance from
the number and variety Of the produc
tons whichit bears to csmmoa nar.
ket. Ii thus assures a more steady
employment TO the capital of that mar
ket. as well as more stable profit up
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