Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-03-25


Whoever will cast his eyes upon map of the u
,ited States, will perceive that Virginia, and not Now
York Peunsy lvaDiu, is the great barrier between
he western states and the Atiuntlc and that across
Ter territory lies the direct and natural line TO the
EASTERN cities. Nor has providence failed to SUD.
'y the facilities of such an intercourse. The waters
If the James River and the Roanske both interIock
With those of the Kanawha, and WOO each other TO n i
luon. THAT connection between tn IN is entirely /.
has been demonstrated more than once
he reports of your own Engineers time after time
urnish the most ample assurances upon this subject.
ADDITION to these you have the evidence of Others
whose scIence and accuracy cannot be questioned
however much the purposes of their examinations
nay have been adverse to the wishes and sentiments
IF Virginia. a survey and location of the route of
4 Canal from both tho Roanoke and the James Ever
was made IN 1897, IN pursuance of an order(- the
War Depart hlent; and The report of Captain MNeil,
under whom the surveys we're had, furnishes satls
factory view of the practcabty of uniting each by
a Canal, with the waters of the Ohio. The recon
noisances of the Engineers employed by the Bati-
more and Ohio Ral Road Company siow the faclll-
ties Of connection by Rail Way.
But what are the present Inducements to such all
Improvement, and where are he pledges that the
Commonwealth would be enumerated for the neces-
sary expenditure? Without looking beyond the IL
mits Of our own state, and With no other end in
view than to develope our own resources and to
open channel for the productions of our own soil,
we are furnished with abundant perfect this
intercourse. 1t is unnecessary 70 speak Of the char
acter, productions Of that portion of the Common
wealth lying between the Blue Ridge and the falls of
our rivers those of the Great Valley between the
Blue Ridge and the Allegheny The codntry stretch
ing westward, from the Allegheny to the ONO al.
though mountainous, is interspersed with the richest
valleys; and It's agricultural resources, when IN
vigorated by proper system of Improvement
will be found to supply large surplus for export
alton. The mountains themselves clothed with
verdure to their submits, susce ptibe of being
converted into extensive grazing and cattle farms
No part of the habitabe globe IS better suited the
growing Ct sheep; and the day is not distant when
Western Virginia will furnish small portion of the
wool necessary in the manufacture of American cloths
Nor is it chmerlcal to anticipate the period when
culture OF the vine and the olive, shall become part
OF the husbandry OF that Counry. Tie climate of A
large portion of 1t is congenal tn their growth
than that of the Pyrenees; and by actual experience
the soil is admirably adapted - the perfection Of the
first.
The mineral treasures Of that part of the state are
unsurpassed in any Country. 1t is true, we have no
gold mines to boast Of 10 brethren farther SOUTH
has been given the pleasure and the PAIN Of seeking
the "yellow dirt" But in the more certain, perna.
nent, and may add, the useful articles OF ron
lead, salt, 81 psum and fossil COAL nature has been pc
eui!arly bounttui to US Upper Virginia the ma-
terrell for furnishing this whole continent with IRON
The lead mines upon New River, unused because
OF the want of access to them. During the last war,
necessity brought them into action and they were adj
employed. In the county which have
the honor TO represent manufactured annually
one million bushels of salt, quantity only limited by
the demands of the western markets. With proper
amount could be enlarged almost any gwen extent
the brine from which it is made is, apparently. ex.
haustlcss No dmiEuton in the supply, or deteriora
ton IN quality, has been noticed ifs earliest dis
covery. The multiplication OF wells produces no
effect upon tue general Quantity. Coal for its evapu
ratQn 10 found III every hill aud ravine. AS the pop
nahon OF the western states contin 20 increase the
SAT- operations OF the ksnawha Valley, must be enlar
Bed IN relative ratIU aud Why should Virgil MA
or large portion Of her citizens, be supplied with
this essential article, from her nutactories?--
4
nlsh even the adjacent counties which lie east of us
In other countries, mountains would be tunneed, and
rivers drained, TO oprn communication with mines
as valuable those Of the Kanawha; but to a Iarpe
share of the people Of Virginia, it IS even uu..noWn
that we possess, within territory; the means
OF manufacturing annually, ten millions Of bushels of
SALT or quantity larger than was consumed by the
whole population of the United States, durins the
year 1926.
But, in contemplating the value of this connections
and in examining the sources Of commercial wealth
which it will open up, Virginia statesman should not
bound his views by the Ohio River. On the contrary
he is invited TO look far beyond IT. the great lakes
OF the north, and 10 that Immense valley watered by
the "fsther OF rivers"
When the venerated Washint ton pronosed this i'm
it was TO secure the trade of handful Of
settlers scattered over an almost unbruken wilder.
ness Forty years ago, that country which now cm-
stutes the faTesf portion of this Republic and which
viii soon WELD its desrtnies was mostly in the Dos
session of its original owners. a few adventurous
pioneers Tad made gUoi their footing in what was then
the northwestern territory; but with some small e-
captions, their settlements formed mere spots in an
endless forest. How changed is the scene now pre-
ssnted, IN that prosperous region? 4 country fresh
and uncutiVaed, it from the hands OF its Gre.
ator, has been carved out into sovereign states and
they admitted equals into this great family of na
tons The ordinary progress of national growth and
prosperity, is the work of time. and urty rs USUALLY
attained only m the lapse of ages. But the rapidly
with which tile western states have increased in popn
iaton has set ut defiance the calculations of philosophy
and their present condition seems rather the work
of encrantent than sober example of political i'm
pFovement, The state of Ohio has nearly doubled her
numbers in the last ten years. and presents pop
iation OF 957,o79 Other states acen to her, have
progressed in equal ratio. That whole country DOS
sssses soil unrvaled in fertility, and abouuds in all
the sources of individual and national prosperity The
present extent of its commerce may be estimated in
part by the growth OF tha cities and towns which have
sprung up within the last few years Pittsburg Justly
termed the birmingham of America" together with
It's enyirons, has population of more than % 600:
Wheeling, heretofore inconsiderable village
through the influence of the manufacturing industry
and capital employed there, is swelling into impoT
lance, and threatens by the of 1870 10 eclipse
IN numbers at least, the honogs of the metropolis Gin
clsnat tie great emporium of the west short tins
since the site ut frontier fort is the seventh ctv
IN the Union, and presents population Of k6,5l3
All the busting activity, the wealth and enterprise,
taste and refinement of great city, are now to be
N " GFf