Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-05-04


points the frontiers, liable to be assaled Good COM
municaons increases the military sru in due pro-
portion TO the population and resources OF nation or
country. On a single day, (sooDer laer) in the ar.
rival OF troops intelligence, may altogether depend
the fate OF the most mpoi ant places in the country
This road TO Buffalo, presents advantages peculiarly
national in In character IL opens country aoouho
ing in iron fuel, and water power and in the event OF
our ioundres and armories the sea-board belbg ue
stroyed by enemy. it would afford the means OF eb
fishing others in the interior, secure from attack where
cannon, shot, small arms SIC. might be manufacturers
which, by OF this road, and other oil trans
portafion, could be ken TO any point, wherever the
natien should require. II would also open to the sea-
board well as 10 the lakes, extensive and iere
country increasing in population, and in the production
OF provisions OF every description, and which could be
made available at either extremity OF the road
The proposed road would derive additional Importance
in military view, from the character Of the population
oil the country. through which it will pass In the
mountain regions il il said, that there is scarcely an
individual, who is not well acquainted with bre arms
and expert in horsemanshp; the whole population in
the mountain regions Gas well as in the plain country
are distinguished for their physical energies which VIII
always render them among the best materials ior tary
purposes In time OF peace, cannon and munitions war
might be conveyed by sea, on the New-fork canals
10 the frontiers the Lakes But, in time oil war, the
maritime power OF the enemy, would render this com
muncaon too uncertain, and in winter tme the canal
would be frozen (Here Mr.. Hemphill read the report
OF Doctor Howard, one Of the United States Eugi-
neers
" The importance of such a road as that pro-
posed in military point of view ia strongly mark
ed that will he necessary dwell them in detail,
but merely 10 point them out. Ii will afford ready
communication TO the northern frontier from the cen.
trail part OF Pennsylvania, from Maryland and from the
Eastern part of the State of Virginia. giving facilities
Tor the transportation not only OF but aso OF ma
ny OF the supplies and munitions of which are The
production of these three States During the last war;
the route by the Painted Post, found necessary
fer This purpose, that il extensively used and not
whstanding the badness of the roads, supplies OF all
kinds were carried it, at expense which, II is
satisfactorily estimated, ,oOud hare BEEN sufficient Tin
single campagn,) to hare betrayed the cost Of the
trOrk
L" In the present situation of things, the citizens of
the Western part of New-York, almost ss efectu
ally separated from their neighhors'o Pennsylvania,
as an impossible barrier were intsrposed between
them"
Mr. Chairman, the highway proposed in the hill, will
oren lucrative communications between these interest
ing sect OF country The location OF the road
from Washington 10 Buffalo, left TO The di'creoA OF
the Commissioners the Committee could not sai'ac
tOLily to themselves, designate the route.
The Committee have deemed il sufficient TO have the
road located, graduated, and briaged and form the
bed of the road Eastern turnpike exceptin such
cases where il will be indpen fable to use gravel On
examination OF the estimates Of the Engineers. for max
ing turnpike roads the several routes from Washing
ton 10 New Orleans, in which they state much for
location, so much for graduation and bridges ard so
muct for turnpking with stone, the Committee, by de-
Quoting the latter, and taking the hest pains they could
upon the subject TO the conclusion, that $500 per
mile would make an excellent co",non road graduated
at an elevation Uf three degrees in the mile.
From this city TO Buffalo, considerable distance il
tnrnpked and whenever that is the case, it is not to
he affected by this bill The whole road TO be made
VIII be, as near as the Committee could Judge, about
800 miles, which will 50 $50 600 to be drawn in
ln'taments OF not more in year than abou, $780,
ooo; which sum the country will scarcely feel and il
VIII DE distributed along the whole line among archi-
tecs, the owners Of The adjacent lands for materials
and to the poor and industrious laborers.
The great national advantages of a road from the
Sea- of Government 10 New Orleans, will scarcely G
should snppose be denied by any one Soon after the
acquisition oil Louisiana, Mr. Jefferson, las have
derstood )had reconnaissance Of a road New Orleans
taken at his private expense. 1t has been deemed Of
such magnitude by the General Government that three
general routes have been surveyed under the act of
3Oh April 1924. Many of the assigned in fa-
vor OF the Buffalo part Of the road, will equally apply
to this part Its importance in time of war cannot be
over-raed. The difficulty of Transporting men and
arms to this exposed point during the last war; s we'll
known to us all | will not descend 10 particular;
apneal TO the recollection OF this honorable Committee
The routes SURVEYED are an Eastern, Middle, and
a Western route. The Committee, after a careful eS-
animation Of the Report Of the Engineers Of Sth April
1876, selected the Western route. Tho Committee on
Roads and Canals, at the last Session of Congress did
me same; and am persuaded. the Committee Of the
Whole House will he Of opinion that ii is upon The
"ho'e the most eligible route-each have their advafi
tee4 and Disadvantages The report says. hist The
Eastern and Middle Routes will accommodate, directly
more States than The Western but by anticipating the
increase OF the population the Western Route, that
'he hree, IN this respect, ought TO be placed the
same 'o'ting. In comparing the Western Route with
the Eastern Route, we find that on The Eastern Route
the SOIL IL interior, the bridges and causeways will be
greater The advantages TO internal commerce. will be
es' and that This route would be useful in war;
that the carrying OF the mail, and the expense OF gene.
raj travelling would he greater-and, the whole IL
will he costly. Its advantages over the Western
Route, are, that the graduation would be less; ihatit
would, in greater degree facilitate correspondence
between our inland importing and exporting marts and
aso difiuse political information between the General
Government and the Capos Of the South a. this route
would pass through many Of them In comparing the
western with the Middle Route, find the materials
Tor road about the same. The soil the Western
Route is the best the causeways will he less and the
Praduatons greater. The bridges on the Western
Route will be in length only three miles and 953 yards
On the Middle Route. the length Of the bridge will he
six miles and 1889 yards The distance OF the Mid
die Route, is eleven hundred and forty miles. On
course Of the Western Route the distance s exactly
the same but Smokers Gap route, II is eleven hun.
dred and sixty.three miles The expense Of labor
rather Iess on The Western Route. For carrying the
mail The Report gives preference to the Middle Route;
but, al the time, remarks, that time il does
not suffice that II should be travelled over in The short
est time, and at the least possible expense; hut il must
also accommodate sally to its direction the greatest
extent possible Of territory. In this point Of vew IL s
said, II The Western Route is not as central az the
others, in relation 10 the States fraversrs II has the
advantages Of icing more central, in relation TO The
states, taken together, and compreheaded between the
Atlantic the East, and the Ohio and the Mississippi
on the west
But. Mr. Chairman. in relation 10 such road AZ thi.
will be, extending from the Seat Of Government, 10
two exposed and extreme frontiers Of the country and
which IL calculates to remain great highway, Tor ages
lde difference in expense distance, ought not 10
he viewed as of much importance.