Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-02-01
Fom he National Mtelii.eHeer..

else where, that the impression Is becoming al
most universal, that Rail Roads for the pur-
pose Of traus por .i will aItoge spprrstde
Canals. We suppose that he impression must
prevail to a considerable extnt, or We SHOULD
pst have il found in hi. form. la whatever
for m we have Sound or may hrresfter hndIt,
we cannot bat consider il erroneous and 'a'la-
cious.
A Rail Road, for distant Il anspor'aiion, IS an
experiment wholly un,Iied in ary country and
but Ia ely begun, in the instance Of she Bali.
timore Rail Road. ! he longest Rail Road ever
constructed before, or begun TO re constructed.
il the Manchester and Liverpool Rail Road in
England The length OF winch i, IS nr a most
40 miles. Aud where is this RI Road ,itua
I'D? II is the conduit from the great and une
quaIled Manufacturing .own OF Manchester, to
The greatest Seaport of England, whence The
manufacture Of this and other towns are ex
ported 10 all The world. |. is also Connected
with the great manufac uring towns o. Sheffield,
freds, &c. and countless villages and factories
II passes over q Comparatively level ground,
through q country dotted With villages, and
redundant and prosperous population. There
is not half a mile in the whole distsnee, per-
haps, within which nigh not be found assist
ance and facilities 10 repair accidents, OF any
description, occurring 10 the cars, Wagons
and steam engines The goods to be transport
ed on j, are OF srea, value and small bulk This
Rail road. nevertheless, supported by all tht
wealth Of the Merchants and Manuiac 'urers
Of these towns, has had great diff ulIIss 10
Struggle with. The Rail road begun al Bal i
more, IN our vicSnity has 10 struggle against
obstacles from which, as we have 'een The En-
gisb Rail RoaG is comparatively free, AID il Is
TO be Ten times its length or nearly IL We know
ourselves, we nave no feeling unfrIendiy to
that undertaking. We shall be glad, indeed, to
see i, in good time, reach its destination, but
The Idea Of us successfully competing with a
Canal of,he same length, over rough and
comparatively wild country, passes The bounds
OF probability.
Canals are not experimental works. They
exist in every quarter Of the globe. We have
in our own Country finished canal, in success
ful operation, 80 long, IS 10 prove 'hsr length
constitutes no objection TO The prac,icabill'y Of
a canal.
TIE first expense Of the construction Of a
Rail Road, too, is known 10 be greater than
that Of Canal; gu, The x2ense If irsnspor-
ta,ion upon it, after it is ished, is ia, grea err
Something is gained in speed upon Railroad
for shor, distance; but IN thai !esprc' even
there will be no advantage in the long run, in
Rail Road over q Canal,
These Il W observations, which we suppose TO
contain undeniable ruth, are eIici ed by our
observation Of the error that seems to prevail
on this subject in diff rem: paris Of this country,
and which, from conliguiiy may. Tor aught
we know, effect some Of our distan, friends and
render them lOkewarm (sceptical they canro,
beg 10 respect to our own great entrrpIize, The
CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL.
Of he complexion Of This work Of ours-yes,
will Call It ours, for our CITIES deserve the
'redn Of ito the Allegsny mountain within
few years, and at no remote period 10 the
Ohio River, we have ever entertained full con-
hdencr. Recent events have placed the imme
dia,r cons rue ion OF lhr frs, division Of i, be-
yond The reach Of doubt, and the other will fol-
low IN course.
We are not in the habi, of Boosting Of the
fair prospects Of the District Of Columbia -
Hitherto, indeed, We have had little 10 boast
of. But now bright prospect opens upon US
The Canal TO Cumberland is in fact MApE-for
We have the means Of making il, and not hing
else was waning The result, Of he constitute
ton Of ii TO Cumberland. will insure the con
s'ructlon Of the residue. Our friends have
Said, all along, il is noble undertaking, If il
should succeed. Our cities have said u shaH
succeed: and it has succeeded. Every part
Of our District, uni'ed in the objecr, will
psruci pate in the advantages Of success, not
only remotely, but even meda'ely, from the
expenditure Of money employed in its construc-
ton
Let our friends elsewhere pursue their Rail.
Roads; bu, let US also mold on TO our Canal,
which is 10 be The channel Of The wealth Of the
West. aud the source Of almosr inc orc evabie
MOI TO US, perhaps, who are now on
The Stage 81 life. but Ger ainIy to tn Dis,rie' of
{ olumbia we hope, ais D., to nur sister Balli-
more, who, elhrr by her R,il Road, or by a
lateral Canal, will doubtless obtain her share Of
the vast commerce whi' b will be carried on,
in no long time 10 come. between he West
add the Easr, through the tunn'l Of he ALE.
ghany.