Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-11-19
THE ADVOCATE.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10.

objects for which this Company has been es-
tahlishcd mnst strike every rejecting mind
with peculiar forcs. There is, perhaps, no
improvement contemplated in Virginia, more
entirely practicable by the means employed,
and the effects Of which will be moro deci-
svey beneficial. The solicitudc which has
been so long manifested by that extensive
district ofcountry interested in the Rivanna
trade, for its permanent improvement, indu-
ses the hope that the people are already de.
termined to accomplish an object which
justly deserves their attention. II is a re-
ceived axiom, that whatever tends to facili-
tate transportation TO market, enhances the
productive value If labor and capital. The
farmer, the merchant. the mechanic, indeed
every man whose interests are identified with
the prosperity Of the country, needs only TO
calculate the immediate advantages which
he will.derive from an improvement of our
navigation, to satisfy him, that it is an object
slike interesting and important to all. The
sotusl iossos which have been sustained by
many individuals in consequence of the pre-
sent bad navigation, would more than meet
the quotas which it would be necessary that
We should contribute TO accomplish cheap,
certain and speedy navigation. On the other
hand, the actual gain which we shall derive
from well improved navigation, will in a
rery short time repay US ali that we may
contribute TO this end. Besides the STAPLE ar
ticles Of wheat, -four, tobacco, &c. which we
- Lot wi
CATION would DO the means of opening new
channels oftrads and of bringing vast ac-
ccssion to :he agricultural and other pro-
ducts which we now raise for market Ma
ny articles of great bulk, and others which
are now esteemed not of sufficient value to
be raised by our farmers for market, would
Immediately become worth our care, and
would amply remunerate our attention. We
would cite the articles of Hay-Hemp-Ci-
-Apples-Potatoes, and even Onions,
&c. &c. which are now brought from the
Eastern States and sold above tide water in
Virginia. Why is this ? Not, surely, be-
cause we cannot raise them rs cheaply and
as good as they are raised elsewhere in the
United States, but because We cannot carry
them any distance u market. II, then, the
cost of transportatroa is diminished, it follows
that our means OF wealth will be augmented
in proportion as we save on what we now
send to market, and are enabled TO bring now
subjects Of trade into action. The time is
come, too, when We must turn our attention
to these things in Virginia. The deprecia-
&c II, IA
that we should buy as low and as little as We
Gan and sell an high and wnch posslb le
These, however, are general considera-
tons, which have doubtless had their weight
with those who have already slept forward
with SO much public spirit to effect tho inn
provement OF the Rivanna. 1t is not the ge-
nerous ardor of public spirit, however, which
We would invoke On this subject. 1t address
ses itself TO the interest of the most selfish,
aud must awaken a desire OF private gain
with those who calculate most scrupulously.
Besides the advantages of this Improvement
to our community, by rendering every mau
richer who sells or buys, it will be source of
productive wealth to the Stockholders We
do not advance this opinion without frankly
stating our reasons. The most sceptical will
admit, that this is to some extent, a una tier
Of fair calculation. We will then furnish the
data whence we derive our conclusions.
We will assume as fair basis for the es
Inmates which we make, the amount o.. pro-
duce, merchandise, &c. sc. which sought
market through the channel Of this river last
vsav or which mac 1ro1onaJ d ,,orLo, .lo,,~
its banks for want ola sufficient navigation.
We haze been informed by gentleman of
very accurate observation, that there were
ground in the season Of 1929 at the Palmyra
Mills $4,000 bushels of wheat--at the Union
Mills 22,000--at the Buck Island Mills
$4,000 land at Shadwell 220O0 making in
the aggregate 900 bushels ground at four
Mills below Charlottesville.
At the Park, Hydraulic, Dukes, Rodes',
Divers, McCu!loch's, Harper's, Tulochs
and other Mills, an aggregate Of 60, 900 hush
els ground above Charlottesville hch add
cd to the number Of bushels ground below,
makes $4,000 bushels; from which 81 400
barrels of -four were produced, which would
yield toll Of S3I40 at the rates of ten cents
per barrel. It'll supposed that 600 hogsheads
Of tobacco were shipped on the Rivanna du-
ring the year 1929, which at a toll Of Is cents
per hogshead would yieid$450. We suppose
that the ascending navigation would yield a
proportion of one fifth of the descending, &C.
cording to the estimates of the Board of
Public Works as to the trade Of James Riv
err. We have been informed that about 20 900
barrels of -four were received at Scottsville
during the year 1929, 1t is known that a
portion Of this was carried through this town,
When we iecollect that much Of it also was
carried from points nearer the Rivanna than
TO Scottsyile, and that a turnpike commune
cation now connects the Rivanna with Rock
Fish Gap, we think it probable that consi-
dorable portion Of the -four trade of James
river will be diverted TO the RivaDna. Much
Of the tobacco, wheat and flour raised in the
northern and northwestern parts of Abe
marie have heretofore been carried to market
in wagons. We must presume that this will
be carried by water whom the Rivanna is inn
proved. We must also presume that there