Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-12-09
Lynchburg, "a. December 9th, 1880.
->sssD0H SEess~

country to their large cities. has been the Obj
iect Of those vast expenditures, encountered by !
some Of our Sister States and were success TO
attend their efforts. that trade would be cheap
ly acquired at the cost of additional millions
the products of the labor OF three millions OF
people would then be secured, with a certainty
oS their increasing SO long as the coniederscy
existed.
The improvements pu, upon this great chan
mel 10 The West, not less important in the &C.
quirement of that commerce, than to the trade
Of the interior OF our own country, have been
constructed at en- unreasonable and unparai
Ieled expence. This is deeply TO be regretted
But, il is, nevertheless confidently believed,
that by a judicious change in the mode oil con-
Quoting this work, steamboat Anayig alton could
be accomplished TO Lynchburg, for about the
sum of sN hundred thousand dollars.
That part of the improvement which forms
the road 10 Coyington and ksnawha, was nev-
err well located, graduated or constructed, but
with the exception of few miles, which twill
be indispensably necessary to pave, no eApen'
dture will be required, other than TO keep II IN
proper repair for some time.
The road which lies between the great falls
of kanawha and Charlestown has not been I'm
shed, owing TO the failure oil the contractors TO
comply with their engagements. The near
River Company TO refrain from entering INTO
new contracts, until the subject could be tully
presented TO you.
The location ofthe residue Of ibis road from
Charlestown to Sandy, does great credit 10 the
judgment & skill of,he Principal Engineer, ~ will
be a work which the Stale may advert TO WIN
plea urr. Yetihere is in The arrangement, grow
ing out Of the erms Of the law, some defect, as
the commercial point on that frontier may De
thrown beJ oud the u isdicl'on OF the State, anu
thus lose many oil the contemplated benefits.
This can readily be rrmedied by a new legisla-
tive enactment.
The construction Of the western part oil the
Turnpike has been contracted Tor, and Is ~
progress. Messrs. Cofman, Royce ana Ihap-
pel, the undertakers, had flushed about 10
miles OF il early in October last, in manner
highly satisfactory, aud every expectation Is
confidently entertained, that they will faith
fully and punclually perform their engage
ments.
The expenditures made for the Improvement
of the kanawha river, The other branch OF ihs
channel 10 the West, have not been attended
with al the benefits which were eype cied 10
flow from them.
10 attempting 10 improve the bed OF the river
il is perfectly obvous, that all the work would
be performed whilst the river wa al ns grea esi
depression. At this stage OF the water, the
channel is often different hom that observed by
the current, when there Is but an inconsdeIa>
bic ireshet
While the Navigation III, ough shoals aud rip
nles i, benefited at this sIaie OF depression by
deepening the bed Of thu river aad ny ine con-
structiou of wing dams designed aud caicula-
ted to throwa greater column of water INTO 10
is Frequently injured al II point of greater elr
yatjon-because the natural C0anDeI ottt n
found on the one side observing ITS course nen
the Shore while the artificial channel rs most
commonly attempted in the direct line, by x
cavalions made in The ripple or natural dam.
By this means there is danger OF injurlng or
desire, ing boats on the wing dams, when
there IS an moons iderabe rise IN The water
which sometimes floats the boat upon these
dams, and compes the boa,men to tear away
the work 10 suffer the vessel to pass anu When
| there is a more considerable iresbei the WORK
| becomes useless, moreover, the swlf ness OF the
current in those sluces is often such, as 10 re-
auire many hours TO pass them with a small car
| go on board with the assistance derived nom
cords fastened to rings al liked points drawn
by u double complement Of men. Since the
| introduction oil steamboats, on mat river, /. Is
ascerIained that to pass these sIuices al one
stage OF the WAGER is so tedious aud SO ditheuii,
that the attempt Is sometimes altogether aOap-
doned. When the boat enters the channel, her
width including her VIII, els, fills up SO much oil
the way, that the whole lorms KIND vi Dam
TO the swiftly descending current, which Uses
m front and SO increases The RESISTANCE that
thu nav gators ale obliged very often to stop
To permit the wafer to now b}. Inc " hole Is d
work OF much abour.
H. then the disbursements on this river have
not conferred all The ben Ats expected 10 flow
from them, ii is owing TO The KIND OF improve.
men, which has been resolted 10. Ii rs belIev-
ed, that slHce navigation, whenever attempted,
will be found totally Inadequate to ,he at
tainment Of a0y thing permanent or impor-
tant
II fur thrr expenditures should be dteme5 eA-
pedient, II becomes matter oil earnest conslde-
ra lon,w he her dam across the Tisef beOw Liz
ohuals, " ilh d 10 ok Oh the rIght bank, would
not IN the END be the cheapest, ana /; IS Ger
lalnly the best mode oi overcoming The oiticul-
~ presented by lnat obstacle.
The communication W canal. OF raIiroad,
from james hlver ~ me Ne" hitti o. Upper
kauaNha is u subject too important not 10 oc-
cupy q prominent place IN the arrangement OF
these public wolAs.
b, the construction OF such a road, .. large
and ferule region viii ne enabled 10 SEM 10
market much produce, 10 swtll The "a ofls OF
the Slate, O. add much to the aggregate weaith
of the community.
b. The competition OF such an undertaking
the New River, " b ich Is now Utteity useless,
though large hne rIser. The longest IN the
State would become cindl contributing 10
this object the i,Ch resources OF ateg'eo aoonn-
ding ~ Ilun aud cad. AND capable OF riodue-
ing hemp, wheat aud tobacco, 10 great "a
mount.--lhe Constructions 10 ne navigation Ut
This Ilver, principally exist AT and belo" the
kanawha tails No doubt is entertained that
oal,eaux might nov be used upon II, IRON the
lead mines 10 hsi pon- eha0llne produce
to ascend or descend to Tue n'euPlaled ROAD
Thousands ot barrels OF hour, a"d pounds OF
tobacco, winch vii not otherwise exisl, would
find lbeir way 10 market through tue James hl-
yer.
LIZ shleGt all lis be- aIIngs