Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-11-09

destroyed during the summer by drought, while our
navigation will be seldom interrupted BY the former,
and never by the latter cause-and that the cost OF
from Lynchburg to the Falls of Kama
VIVA, or even to the mouth of Guyandottc, by land
would not exceed if it equalled that from Philadel-
Pima to Pittsgurg, or from Baltimore to Wheeing,-
ana that goods might be placed in Lynchburg from
Philadelphia or New York in six, or at most seven
Gays, anu frosl Baltimore in five at not much,
II any, exceeding that from Pittsburg Wheeling,
10 the mouth OF Guyandotte to your committee
TO warrant the expectation that they will prefer this
route To estimate The value placed upon this trade
by those best acquainted with it, it is only
sary to advert to the fact that Baltimore is eX
pending countless millions rail road, to secure
Another effect Of the introduction of steam navi-
CATION on the James river would in the opinion of
this committee, be the development of the inexhaus-
tible ores of mineral wealth now lying useless, and
comparatively vauelcss, in the mountains on the up.
per part of the riverUpon this subject it is only
ccssasary for your committee to remark, that large
portion of the United States, and even of our own
State, depends upon the Iron of Europe and the
Lime of the Northern States for their supply of those
indispensable articles; while have in the very
beart OF our country. and almost in our immediate
Deighborhood, quantity of each, sufficient for the
supply of the world and of quality, equal to any
known to exist. The reduction of the of trans
portaton conseque 1T upon steamboat navigation, and
a Judcious tariff of tolls upon James river would
enable them to enter into successful competition with
the foreign article in every market the Atlantic
coast of our country.
Nor does it appear to your committee unrea sonable
TO anticipate considerable addition the tonnage p
the river from the Coal Mines of Goochland and Ches
eerneiu ihat this coal, upon an improved navigation
can De furnished to the towns along the margin of the
river, upon such terms TO induce them to substitute
the use OF 1t as fuel, instead of wood, which must
constantly become scarcer and dearer seems to your
committee unquestionabe. Had your committee en-
tertaned any doubt upon this subject it would have
been dssipated by the fact that the coal from Mount
Carbon is now conveyed to Philadelphia distance
OF one hundred miles, along the Sclluylkill, (Which
at cost OF one million FIVE hundred thousand dollars
has been Improved for its transportation and is there
rapidly taking the place of all other fuel.
The increase OF travelling the roads leading to
the James liver, which would necessarily result from
this increase of its trade your committee to
form inconsidcrabc item i'm the ADVANTAGES that
would arise from this improvement. he travelling
along the Valley road, consequent upon the trade
from the south west to Philadelphia and Baltimore
has long furnished the principal market for much of
the produce OF that country. diversion of that
trade to James river, would produce the same effects
IN the country through which must necessarily pass
Your committee will not trespass further upon the
time of the meeting, by specification of the other
direct advantages that will arise from the succe ssuI
completion of this improvement. The effects of a
cheap SAFE and speedy of the produc,s
OF country to Market in developing its latent resour
ces, Will present themselves the mind of every man
who will bestow any thought upon the subject
Amongst ITS indirect effects, the additional value it
VIII give to lands and other property throughout the
country trading to James river is one of the most
prominent. The value of land is necessarily govern
ed by the nett value of its products the spot where
grown. In estimating this value an important item
in all beyond what is cessary for the consumption of
the grower, is the cost of its transportation to marce
H. torexamp'e. we say that farm ought produce
per centnm upon its value, and that of the hands
&C. employed upon it, 1t will follow that one prod,,
eng one thousand bushels of wheat market worth
on the farm fifty cents per bushe five hundred dol
iars would be estimated eight thousand three hun
dred and thirty three dollars and thirty three cents
1t, by an improved navigation other means RI.
OF its transportation to market could be reduced !
cents per bushel, the same crop wo Id produce Sly
hundred and fifty dollars, and the farm &C. would be
worth ten thousand eight hundred and thirty. tbre
dollars and thirty three cents. That this would be the
ebect OF this Improvement, does not the opinion of
your committee, admit of reasonable doubt. That the
increase of value would be in much greater nronor
ton than that just stated is than probable aS !,
addition to the value of the staple articles many
others now considered worthless, because thew will
not pay the of TRANSFORMATION to marker ,,o,J
become valuable.
Another indirect effect of this improvement wouIa
be to increase the population of all that portion O
the State trading TO James river. Your commttse
presume they need enter INTO an arunment r.
prove that whatever increases the r~o6ts of labor in
! any country will increase its population Your con,
mitiee can perceive no other for the constant
drain OF our population, by emigration to the new
countries of the West and Sout5 but that the ON;
grants expect their labor to be more productive r
those countries than in this. IF them by any means
you make it productive here, you PRECISELY n
that extent remove the nducenent TO emloration
which now so materially checks the increase of orr
popHation. That this increase of the populat;on
and of the value of the property and products of the
country, will produce corresponding increase in the
population and wealth of the towns seems 10 vonr
committee clear that they presume it will not be
conSoverted' Commercial towns are created by TIL
concentration of the products Of the labor ola num-
Der of individuals at given point for gae and sure
ly 1t will be conceded that they will flourish in pro-
portion to the increased operation ofthe very princi
pie of their existence
In this point of view, this Improvement becomes
subject OF crest political importance TO the State
The wealth and power of a State consist in the num-
Der OF its nhs bitans, and their ability in cases of
public exgency, to pay taxes. The latter is meas
ured by the productveness of their abor thus to
the case of the farmer before referred TO- if at the
present value OF his crop OF wheat,-say S50O,-he
Is able to pay the government $50 in taxes is it not
clear, that at the increased value Of $780, he could
as readily pay S65 for in cases of great
public exgeacy, he could pay to the government the
whole amount of his increased income and still he
able to afford himself and his family more of the com