Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-12-22

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a work which the State may advert e
with Pleasure-yet there is in the ar.
rsngement, growing out Of tho term.
OF the law, some defect, as the CONNER.
c'ai point on that frontier may be throw
beyond the jurisdiction Of the State.
and thus lose many OF the con,emp.s
ted benefits. This can readily be
remedied by new legislative enact.
,nent.
Inc construction Of the western
part OF the Turnpike has been contract
ed for aud is in progress. ..Alcssr..
C"!tman. Royce and Chappell, the
undertakers, had finished about six
teen miles Of it early in October last.
IN manner highly satisfactory, and
every expectation is confidently en-.
tcrtaincd, that they will faithfully and
punctualiy perform their engagements.
The expenditures made for the i'm
provcment Of the kcnawha River, the
other branch Of this channel to the
west, have not been attended with all
the benefits which were expected TO
flow from them.
In attempting To- improve the bed of
the river. II is perfectly obvious. that
all the work would be performed whilst
the river was at its greatest depression.
At this stage Of the water, the channel
is often different from that observed
by the current when there is but an
uncomfortable frcshet.
Whilst the navigation throug h shoals
and ripples Is benefited at this state
OF depression by deepening the bed of
the river; and by the construction of
wing dams, designed and calculated
to throw a greater column of water
into It. il is frequently injured at a
point Vt greater observation-disclosures the
natural channel is often found on the
one side observing its course near the
shore, while the artificial channel is m ost
commonly attempted in the direct
line, by excavations made in the rim
pie OF natural dam.
BY this mcans, there is danger Of in
Juring or destroying boats OH the wing
dams. when there is an inc0nsidcrable
rise IN the water, which sometimes
Heats the boats upon these dams, and
Compels the boatmen TO tear away the
work tn suffer the vessel Ia pass; and
when there is more considerable
freshet, the work becomes useless /;
moreover, the swiitness of the current
10 those slu;ces is often such, as to re-
quirc many hours TO pass them, with a
small cargo on board, with the assis.
lance derived from cords fastened 20
rings at fixed points drawn by dol.
Bile complement of men. Since the In.
PRODUCTION Of steamboats, on that ii, err.
It IS asccrtained that to pass these
siuices at one stage Of the water is SO
tedious and difficult. that the attempt
is sometimes altogether abandoned. -
When the boat enters the channel, her
width. including her wheels. fills up SO
much OF the way, that the whole forms
a kind Of dam TO the swiftly descend.
ing current, which rises in front. and
so increases the resistance that the ma
SigatOrs are obliged very often tn stop
to permit the water To flow by-the
whole is a work Of much labor.
IL then, the disbursements on this
river have not conferred all the ben efits
expected 10 flow from them. il is ow-
ing 10 the kind of Improvement which
has been resoried tn. IL is believed
that sluice navigation, whenever at.
tempted, will be found totally made
quate to the attainment Of any thing
permanent or important.
IL further expenditures should he
deemed expedien', il becomes a mat
ter Of earnest consideration, whether
dam across the river below Elk
Shoals, with lock on the right bank.
would not in the end be the cheapest;
and 10 is certainly the best mode oi
overcoming the difficulty presented
by that obstacle.
The communication by canal or raj
road from James River 10 tho New ri.
yer or Upper Kanawha. is a subject too
important not 10 occupy a prominch
place IN the arrangement Of these pub
lie works.
by the construction Of such n roa,
a large and fertile region will he ena
bled Ia send to market much produc
TO swell the exports Of the State. an,
add much 60 the aggregate wealth o
the community.
BY the completion Of such IN under
taking, the New River, which j. no,
utterly useless, though large fine 81
yer, the longest ~ the State, wuul
become canal Contributing 20 this "
; ject tie rich resources st a region a
bounding ia iron ard lead. and cspa
; bic Of producing hemp, wheat and u
I baceo 10 a great amount. The obstru'
= tI0ns To tie navigation of this riV,
: principally exist AZ and below Ricl
! mond's falls--no doubt - cBtertainC
? that bltteaUx nigh, now be used upo
b u from thc lead mines 70 that pom
thus enabling produce 10 ascend or d