Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-08-07
GWhole No. lag 8.

! ITS principal branches, Is a border river,
but the Shenandoah. now imperfectly
navigabls for two hundred miles, and
the South branch Tor Que hundred, give
| 10 the Potomac, the character of Yir-
ginia river; its branches bearing towards
its stem, the relation of all the COM
mercial channels of the Com mcnwal,h,
to their great estuary, the Chesapeake.
Happily for the early Improvement of
this river, a continued canal is now in
| progress, from its tide towards the base
Of the Allegheny Mountain, so that a
contribution to the capital employed in
this enterprise. not exceeding that Of q
sister and bordering state, will fulfil, at
a cost easily provided. the correspondent
obligations of the Commonwealth TO her
| own citizens Indeed, comparison Of
The relative interest of Maryland and
Virginia in this great work, establishes,
incontes,ibly, the superior importance
to the latter of its successful and speedy
accomplishment Expedited as the pro.
gress Of this caual will be, by the pre-
sent subscription OF $4,000 to ito
| stock; the.sum proposed to be added to
that amount by the Commonwealth Of
Virginia will ensurs it's speedy compla-
tion aud render its stock Immediately
productive.
The Monongahela viii constitute to
the North as ths great Kenswha to the
South, the western termination Of these
great channels of commerce binding to-
gether DOT only the eastern and western
territory, but the two great divisions Of
the United States.
Under the general denominations Of
the preceding rivers are compreherded
such of their tributaries as can be ren-
dered navigable; but the growth Of their
branches must follow that Of their stems
The rivers of Virginia, which are not
comprised in the first GLASS, have their
origin in the Blue Ridge or the range Of
mountains running nearer the Ocean.
To some, the Commonwealth has alrea-
dy extended her patronage, and TO eth.
ers. the same spirit, enlightened by ex.
perience, will here eater dispense its be-
ne6cent influence.
From the Improvement oil the rivers
of the Commonwealth, the Convention
pass to the subject Of roads.
So numerous are these. as to suggest
rigorous restriction Of the public
wealth, to the construction OF such as
are Of prime necessity, for social, COM
msrcial and political purposes No ar
ror, in relation 10, the success Of any
system Of Internal improsemsnt would
| be more injunousas has been minated
! in an earlier part OF this memorial, than
that of dispensing It's funds, over many
miner objects. But, looking to the map
Of the territory Of this Commenwea Ith,
three leading roads are suggested; hav.
with its eastern frontier, across those
natural barriers. which, under q less
| auspicious system OF state and federal
government would threaten its sspara-
ton However strong those ties may
he knit by affection, wisdom suggests
the expediency of confirming them, by
the unceasing and steady support Of IN
| terest.
In this view. roads from the political
and commercial centre of the ,fata,
from point upon, or near her central
| line of water communication, south
westwardly, towards the county u Lee,
north wsstwardly towards the county Of
Brooke, at the opposite extreme Of the
State, and westwardly, TO some position
between them on the Ohio river, merit,
in the opinion OF the Convention, the
| early confederation. and efficient pa.
tronage sfthe General Assembly,.
In relation to one of these roads, q
sense of the Importance Of its prolonga-
ton, from its present eastern and vas.
tern extremes. Is suggested by the aid
which the Legislature has already affor-
ded to its construction, and the great
benefit derived from it. The Conven-
ton is also appraised, that while its cost
is likely TO be amply repaid, by its en-.
crsasing utility; its extension, which
will certainly and pro6tably augment,
its use may be affected at an expense
much below that shich has attended the
part of il already constructed This
consideration, alike applicable to the
two other routes here proposed, enhan-
cas- the facility aud the sxpedisncy Of
their execution.
These are objects Of immense impor-
lance to Virginia Allfeel and aoknowI-
4..kh.;. xoaoc.trda Rnt The f,,nd ia.