Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-12-22

niSitss ass perfectly william eur power, and
TO neglect or f,il % accomplish that which
our constituents so mech need. and 80 s,rcar
" demand, wouli be hazsrding much. and
mourning fearful Responsibility. Fer tire
wants of these facilities. tie wealth Of our
mountains IS doomed 70 reuain ieaciise and
ankaewh. contributing nothing 10 the com.
! tort or improvement OF oAr commerce
When formerly the Improvement Of the
James River was undertaken, we were with
cut skill or esfericrce, and consequently
paid Isoie than ought "a havn heen ,.ishurscd
Tor such work Nevertheless. the benefit
conferred upon that river. Ivy that work, has
made II now among the 1eAt saiu8bie stock
OF Tie couatry, aud no doubt is entertained,
That IN few years. il will be considered
cheap, as stock. NJ tie price OF ITS original
construction. HE necessity Of confirming
line oil improved communication to Coving
ton, Is daily hlaaiiesitng itself mare strongly,
/ and demands the most serious attention. Il
such seems TO have been the impression of
| your predecessors. when they passed The act
81 the seventh oil April last, which required
an associate engineer 10 bc appointed, who,
with the principal engineer OF this state,
should consider the suoiect. aud report upon
the best mooe OF continuing the improvement
In eadearoF;ng 10 carry into effect III. preyi.
sions OF tins act, lonnd great ditisuny IN
obtaining the Services OF an engineer. whose
/ talents and Clearwater were seci, as To inspire
confidence and satisfy public expectation in
so int resting and important subject. Az
ter the season was somewhat advanced, I was
enabled to procure the services Of Benjamin
Wright, Esq of New York, whose eminent
ability and great experience, fully warranted
the belief that so Ear as time and circnmstan.
ces would permit, the subject would receive
the fullest attention; the result will be seen by
his report, which, IS herewith submitted.
The great Improvement to the west, when
viewed IN all It's bearings. ass,,nes SO high
and imposing 40 attitude. that few ATE found
to question It's claim 10 pre- eminence -and
though Messts. Crozet and Wright, Beth
justly considered amongst the mosl talented
0f their profession. may differ Al 10 the part
cuIar mode % improvement, all concur.n the
beiicf, that either plan ought 10 Ne adopted;
in justice TO the suffering interests OF our PEG
pie
Whilst the canal is recommended by one
on aeesent a. It's known usefulness the 9th
CT, As it regards navigation. is induced 10 sus
tain that by lock and dam: hut as genera
hne Of communication, | understand from
him, considers the rail road befier Calcutta ted
to sustain the great interest Of The state :.
The rai'i6iiy OF transportation, the adSanta
gpS OF continued line of communication oil
the same kind, and the developments daily
taking place in relation 10 the superior advar.
tages oil rail road, renders Il mates OF
great consideration, whether this should no,
be ,.f@.seTTcd
The oh;e.. next in Importance, 10 the Jamc:
and kenawhs Improvement is, the commlni
cation to tie southwest, portion OF the
country ios whom, az yet. the commonwealth
has done nothing; though it is less in extent
than the west, II is nevertheless equal IN fer
fifty, and much richer mits productions. Ia
reap doe portion 81 the benefits winch ma,
be derived from participation IN that trade
II viii be necessary 10 continue the rail r6AS
undertaken =. the Lynchbfirg railroad com
pany, from its termination on tbs Upper Re
nawha, TO the Boat Yard in tennessee Tn,
Typographical situation OF the country is high
iy favorable To such an Improvement Their,
are several planes by which such road couls
be conducted 10 the head oil Hotsfen, whenei
by pursuing tie descending plane Of thai ri
yer. It would arrive al the confidence Of III,
ts.@ principal branci.e. Of 1t, or at Knox vile
witt little labor add nronsiderahic ex ,,ense
This read would bring Us Iaany valuable pro
ducts. such as Lead salt, iron and gypsum -
winch, without II, must forever renlsin use.
less IN the earth. where ,hey have been burr
ed by the hand OF nature. 1hs points pro
posed for the western termination OF TIL,
work, are beyond our juri.diption IL is true =
but lie known lbeFality Of the state OF Zen
nessee3 together with The deep interest hei
citizens have III common with Our own in III.
construction Of Ills rail road. give little room
to doubt their undertaking that portion which
lies within their jurisdiction. Were ever
that hope disappointed, ii would be hard.,
less valuable TO Virginia, confined to her oy,
limits
The great commercial advantages. which
the state would derive from these in,jeoy
ments, are IN themselves saiFicicht to induce
the undertaking; bat there is another which
no prudent state ought ever to disregard = lis
defence IN war, and IS ability to use lis pow
er IN the most speedy and efficient manner
In looking TO .his i,!al,ch OK the subject, the
difficulty of giving aia to one region Of the
STATE ~ drawing suecour from distance, ull
der existing circumstances, must be apparent
10 every observer. Iany days must elapse
before an adequate force could assemble a
the point desired, aid in case an, sudden oi
serious iutas,on, upon Every principle OF mil
ltars calculation OF time and distance, an APP
palling interval would intervene before tbs
troops could be assembled, on the casters
irontierj from the western marches.
Were these rail roads completed with Z
view TO admit locomotive engines, an ordcl
from this city could b. conveyed to most die
iant points at the rate OF fifteen miles a.,
hour. If necessary. and an adequate force re
turn carfAtuty II tho fifptuisIad snaaJ nr A.,