Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-02-09
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

place between Mr.. nffE, vi rreueriCk. anu VT.
MERCER, relative to a Canal, along the Shenan-
doah, to unite with the Chesapeake and Ohio Ca
nal AS this subject is interesting. connected
town, we publish, below, Mr.. MERGERS letter to
Mr.. Hite, in which he developes the advantages
which would result from the contemplated Canal:
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5. 1881.
SIR: received your letter of the last month,
apprising me that, in conjunction with several
of YOUR friends, and neighbors," you "have
valley of the Shenandoah, to intersect the POto-
mac at Harpers Ferry" Taught, by experience,
the magnitude of the obstacles you have to en-
counter, in attempting to create, among our TEL
low-citizens in general, just sense OF the IN
portance of such an enterprise, while you have
my sympathy, need not assure you OF the graft
hcatlon il will afford me to be CT any use to you
IN so laudable an undertaking.
| scarcely know river IL the commonwealth
which could be 50 easily canaled as the Shenan-
doah-and certainly none, which regarding
canal along its banks as an independent line OF
communication, would be more likely to repay
the experse of such an Improvement. The des-
cent OF the river is gentle; its breadth consldera-
Div less than that of our great rivers rising IN the
Allegany, along which canals have already been
made or attempted to be made; Its shores abound
with uuarries of excellent limestone Tor the CON
struction Of masonry, of every description; by
,,rauic or water lime has been found and brought
into use in its immediate neighborhood, at mod
crate cost, and is doubtless to be obtained at
man, places on its banks, as 1t has been already
discovered at its mouth; noble forests are stand
ing on the adjacent mountains; and the river is
already so far navigable. from Port Republic TO
Harpers- Ferry. as to become valuable assistant
in bringing all those materials to the points at
which their use may be required, and to trans
mort. for the subsistence of the laborerS employ
ed on the canal. the provisions with which your
fertile valley, now the store house OF Virginia,
every where abouuds, the price OF which Is SO
much cheapened by the obstacles to reaching
better market, which you seek to remove You
have, above all, population capable OF sustain
ing your operations. by their persevenng en-
terprise, their habi,ual hardihood and thei:
known fidelity to their engagements.
The practical science which you need, you
can readily procure from the numerous schools
which similar public enterprises have of late
onened in all the northern and middle states east
of virginia; where sk,llful engineers and expe
rienced contractors also, will pour in apon you,
in numbers vastly exceeding your demand for
their services.
Such are among the facilities which appear to
me 10 further the commencement and prosecu-
lion If vour work. The accomplishment of its
nurnose, if limited in Port Republic at It's upper
extreme. and TO an union with the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal at the other, would extend IRON
the tide water Of the Potomac to within 90 miles
of Stanton, the geographical! centre OF Virginia,
one continued canal.
THAT such work would be profitable to its
undertakers, have not doubt. from my knowl-
EDGE of the great fertility OF the country through
which the canal would pass; its diversified re-
snnrces. mineral as we'll as agricultural; and
tho character of its free, sober aud industrious
population: ;.o,;u, -, ,.o
Let. What will be the cost per mile, OF the
chesapeake and Ohio Canal, from Georgetown
to Harpers Ferry! :,
od. Whether a canal through your valley,
of half its width, or less, would not be sufficient
for your produce. And If so, what would be ITS
Sd. When the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal is
completed as far as Harpers Ferry, what will be
the toll and freight of ton of produce from that
place to Georgetown?
4th. Will back loads pay more than those des-
cending?
9Th. Surprising that canal along the Shenan-
doah will cost one-third, or one halt as much, as
the Chesapeake anu Omo lanai oelow naiPers-
Ferry oug ht not the toll and freight to be in the
same proportions
In reply to your first query, 1t is proper to
premise, that the cost of the part OF the Chesa-
neake and Ohio Canal to which it refers, has been
AUGMENTED by many causes which will not affect
the cost of one along your river,
Among them are, first, high estimates Of da-
IMAGES, arising partly from tie absence of just
sense of the value of the canal to the owners of
the land through which it passes. and the vulgar
prejudice against all internal improvements
which tend to raise the value of lands remote
from market, "that they injure the value of
those in the vicinity of that market by Cutting
itn Montgomery county, to the owner, usually
their neighbor, for the land occupied by the ca
nal. than the whole tract of which 1t was part
with all its improvements, was worth, at a fair
valuation.