Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-01-05
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
ron Tux FREE PRESS.


Mn. EDiroR-An article, 10 the Win
chester Virgiuian, Of the Sd December.
proposing the organization Of company.
TO construct canal along the margin VI
the Shenandoah, Ito infersect tho Poto-
mac Mt Harpers-Ferry," having failed 20
arrest the attention Of our citizens, and
she time which has elapsed siacc its publ
cation. having precluded all expectation
Of seeing the subject presented 10 your
readers by another and more Intelligent
pen. am prompted To offer my humble
aid in furiaerance Of the scheme. The
importance Of tho proposed canal. TO q
vast number Of our citizens. is great; the
facility which would thereby be afforded.
Of Transporting -four and other produce. is
incalculable. The advantage Of the con-
templAtcd canal, 10 our county. may be
estimated by the following stato:neni from
the commune alton above referred 10.
by enc Of the provisions OF the char
ter Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Company, re reco!iect rightly ] the com
paDy are permitted 10 charge no more than
2 cents per ton, per mile ioii, on all pro.
duce going to market. The distance from
Harpers- Ferry TO Georgetown, is sixty
miles; and showing 10 bids Of -four, TO
the ton. the toll on each barrel would be
about I2i cents; the freight, am conf
dent, would not exceed Ia cents more
making together % cents. as the cost Of
transporting a barrel OF flour from Har-
pers- Ferry TO Georgetown. From Berry's
& Ferry. TO tlarpers-Fcrry. the distance IS
about 80 miles; and at the same rate Of
.charSing the expense OF taking barrel OF
-four TO that place. would be IA cents
more-ssy 40 cents from Berry's Ferry to
Georgetown. Now, the hauling Of flour
10 Alexandra, over our turnpike roads.
has never. in my neishbosbood. been less
than one dollar per barrel. Thus you see,
if we had q canal. we should save at least
90 cents on every barrel sent 20 market.
which would make every bushel OF wheat
worth II cents more than u Is now. Nor
is this tue only advantage. We could then
send our flour 10 market whenever We
pleased; and all our other productions TOO
, such as corn. potatoes. aud many other
heavy and bulky articles that will not now
bear carriage.
Besides this, We should get our plaster
and salt 10 orsO cents cheaper per bushel
and these arc heavy items With farmers.
There are many gentlemen 10 this eoun-
IS, ne you web know. who seldom or never
make less than 1000 bushels OF wheat -
year all such would save 500 on every
crop, while those who make less, would
share 10 the same proportion.
Are farmers the only class OF persons
4syho would be benefited? Certainly
mot" sc.
From the above extract. IL is Obvious,
that the interest Of this eoualy is not 50
great, nor so immediately involved in the
consummaiion OF lbls work. (OuF facilities
for Transporting 60 market being somew hal
greater.) as the counties farther west buI
che advantages 90 us ~ ~ be proportions
lily equal, and in some respects superior
II would not only be beneficial in pscu
mary view II would ieBd also 10 bind and
20 connect moro closely together the re
mote parts Of our widely extended State
20 multiply the facilities of eomn,unica iios
between its different parts 10 Diminish
time. distance, and expense. IN the inter
course u its citizens with each Other q
bcget and 10 perpetnate. by n,e4ns Of sucl
iuteFcoorsc, feelings of amily. kindness
and friendship, insiead of those sections
je~ioa.,es. local prejudices. and ssll,sl
paFiial'ties. which nos east. and are OW
ing 70 wsai Of free and socisl Intercourse
and generally 10 enhance The enioynseu
and condacs 60 TIC prosperity and happi
ness OF the people of The State u Is ~
Utopian scheme. The EorInaiion Of &c
nal along the Shenandoah. was pfooouor
ed. by "a distinguished engineer. no, Ohl