Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-02-19

aTmo-t PORTION
OF the people Of the Safe, west OF he Allegheny would
avail themsevss OF this communication, to hnd
ket in tho Atlantic towns for the products Of their SOIL
aud for puvcba sing their mel chandize. This would
greatly increase the ascending aud descending trade,
and add Ave told to tho value Of the improveme uts
The extent OF these advantages may be jusy es,ima
ted, when take into the account the extent OF
ritory, the fertility If sell the rapid ncrea Of popu-
lasn and consump,ioa in that part Of tho State Ad.
dsd to tis there IL kind Of doubt that much OF a. e
trade tn Oo, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and
North Caroline would take This dire con, for the obvi-
reason that the markets which il would afford tn IN
is nsarer and nanspo' taton would be cheaper This
fact may be clearly ascertained by comparing the iii
from the contiguous parts OF those States 10 the
other atlantic towns Of the United States. great por-
ton OF the trade down the Oslo aud Tennessee rivers
would be diverted to this channel thereby adding,
only 10 Thu value Of resources, but creating
ion OF interest aud OF feeling with nrghborng sis
ter atts, which would add much to our moral iDhu
ence and Ply ical strength.
Added to these considerations, this would soon be-
come the channel OF trade between the south western
parts OF Virginia aud East Tennessee and the grea,
dmpoiu ms OF the Nor,h from whence their merchan
eze il may be seen by ssim o, the
expenses oftransportaon this route, and the Pits
burg route. which is now taken in consequence Of the
bad state Of the James river navig alton.
From Philadelphia to PITS urf, by wagon,
| which Is the mode of transportation, per
hundred pounds, S2,62l.2
From New York to Pittsburg. the expense greater.
BY Richmond
from New York or Philadelphia to Rich
r. m S9; Is eeu''.
1
From Covngton to Falls OF Kanawha, rs
Receiving aud forwarding at Richmond, Co.
ving,on and kanawha, 25
Contingent expenses, 20
Making SITS
The statement Of the costs from Philadelphia Pitts
bnrg accurate, the oher conf ectura but your
n,it;eo believe sufficiently high. So that the whole
cost from those points, through tho Jane, river Route
would no, equal the cost to Pt,sburg alone that
route. The distance being shorter, aud the expense
less il necessarily follows that the James liver
wsud be preferred.
In order effect this valuable aud important object
OF facilitating the ercourSe between those sections
country, by the James improvements, your com
mites have deemed il ec-ssary Examine tn routes
sy which this connection ,hould be made. The
suit OF their examination at once pointed ou, the
vines Of the Gfcenhrier aud New rivers. The i'm
OF tn riv. rs to their highest points OF
good navigation, would extend the lines OF
muncs ton each eide to nearer points AMI reduce
the poithg'. Your commit ee therefore earnestly re
sonme nd the immediate Improvement OF ons or both
OF these rivers Your committee have ascerlained from
sources of information entitled to the highest degree
OF credit, that the New river, by slucing and with the
aid OF wo locks and dams, would be made capable Of
cafe baueaux navigation from The falls of the Great
Kanawha to Bowyers try, and would add very much
~ the convenience OF the people OF tbs counties lying
it, waters. In relation to the Green5rsr, your
COMMITTEES are not in pose sion OF accurate information
do they deem necessary to eAamins this subject
in de ALL the want of Irate information would
render survey necessary bs.ore aYy expsndiur e
could rs judicously made.
AS the most successful and profitable mode of form
ing the desired connection between the eastern and
western waters, your committee are satisfied, that a
railway from some point on the James river TO the Ka
nawha, is preferable TO any other. The devel
opements in England and the United States, of the
pdity and value of transportation railroads. have
asonished the ardent and jealous friends of in
ternal improvement, and seem TO not prcc-
plate any measure, until the value Of this systc shall
be further tested by actual experiment Your com
muec however, believe that rail-r roads never can
cessluy compete with supplant good safe ma
vigation. They will no doubt succeed, and highly
important, for the purpose OF connecting commercial
points by direct route where there is no safe nayiga-
ton capable of floating vessels OF heavy tonnage; but
the costs OF construction, and liability to be put of
order by heavy rains and other causes where they
located rolling ground deny them the nent
advantages of safe water navigation. Your committee
do not recommend appropriation for railroad
connect these waters, because the present on
the river will not demand il until the improvements be
completed; and its profits would not justify it,
Your committee deem it highly necessary TO complete
the navigation OF James river as to afford some pro-
basle ground upon which to base the estimates of the
capacity Of the trade TO encounter the expense of
sIruc'iDs the railroad, hariDg in view the principle
heretofore advanced by your committee, that the i'm
provoment shall pay The interest the fund appro-
paied 10 J.. Your committee, however, recommend
ssrvey OF route with view ultimately TO the COG
struc Of railway, as TO ascertain the nearest
practicable, aud best route, and the prob able
pense of its construction. Your committee would re-
commsud the citation Of two gentlemen acquainted
with the localities of hs country through which il |
would be likely pass with the Engineer brs cal
cu'asd to furnish the Information necessary with tbs
greatesi accuracy. Your committee deem this course
expsdien because they do not doubt, if ,hs improve
mt he carried ami completed, that the great iu-
crease of trade WILL demand such road. The present
road will not and satisfy the demands Of speedy
aud economical Importation Of extensive OF
country, abouDding in minsa, and capable OF such d.
bundabt vegetable productions. That this will be the
result your committee beg Lave to refer extract
frsD the Engineers report Of 1926. The truth OF this
estimate may be relied up for it has been than
realized by the increase OF the trade for the last five
years
In order give perfection and v.lus to the great
OF the James ard 'nawha river improvements il is
necessary to connect with them improvements WI h
will give facility OF access to them from all par of tn
country which will seek This channel of iatior
because much OF the benefit of tbe improvement would
be lost il il inaccessible to mot of The country
The trade of which IL is wished &c bring it, With this
view, your conmiiee would DeStly recommend the
construction Of road from Salem, in the county of Boe
to the Tennessee line running through Mont
gor cry Wythe and Washin gton. Ills road would at
bring into action the OF the whole of the
southwest oil Virginia. country abounding in minerals
and with soil Of great fertility, and would invite he
trade OF East Tennessee. Your committee satisfied
lh. the State would sustain loss by such invest
menl. For the advantages to be derived ION The
stfucon of such roId, your committee can only re-
Ter to the extent Of country, fertility oil coil aud album
dance OF minerals, which would be thrown into market
by IL. The continuance Of ibis road down the Vallsy
to Haper's Ferry would be Of infinite importance TO
the people OF that fertile REGION both travelling and
cial road. IL would be the nearest route To
Washington City, Georgetown and Alexandria, and
would open 10 The people OF the Valley TO the
navigation Of The Potomac, their natural channel. The
rapid increase OF popuat on and agricultural produc-