Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-03-25
%hc Constitutional gNIgtG.

providing n Loan for the purpose OF intsrnal I'M
proycmcnt, in tho House of Delegates Of Virginia
tCoNcLCpID
What nre tho difficulties sof turning tho tide OF
west Elm trade Though the Commonwealth of Vir-
gina. and concentrating II upon the shores OF the
Chesapeake And what tho facilities and induce
ments which we can offer, in comparison with those
OF orr great rivals'
Whether YOU AXE the distances on the map or as
oscerancd BY actual admeasurement, 1t Will be found
that from the centre OF the state OF Ono It Is nearer
to the town of Norfolk than to Phadelphia, New
York, or New Orleans. The whole country betoir
is, consequently, nearer Ia us than to lc two north
ern cities From the city of Richmond to the mouth
Of the great Kama wha, is $50 miles, from that point,
across the country TO the Ohio Canal passing IN the
valley Of the Sciou is so miles; by descending tho
Ohio River, from the Kanawha to the mouth OF the
Canal nj Portsmouth 1t Is some 20 miles 10 the
prnduce then, of the interior of Ohio, up nearly to
CleavsIand, the distance is shorter TO Norfolk than
TO New York. AT any point upon the Ohio River
below Portsmouth. 1t would be nearer to US than TO
New York. by The whole length Of the Ohio Canal.
At the mouth Of kanawha. produce would also be
nearer to us than to Philadelphia From Point Plea
can't to Pitsburg, is 200 miles; from that place to
PHILADELPHIA, 800 The navigation of the Ohio
river is but little impedrd below the great Kanawha
with the exception of the falls al Louisville around
which canal is nov in progress. The difficulties
occur above what would be the western termination
If our Improvement, and between it and Pi,tsburg
From this point downward there is also but little Oh
Slruction from ice, in the winter This part Of the
and when so, rarely remains in that situation three
weeks: so that from Point Pleasant to the Mssissip
Pr the Ohio river, the great highway of the west,
will open to us tho resources of that astonishing
country, and constantly bear upon bosom rich
and varied productions.
On arriving at Portsmouth, would the steam boat
be exchanged for tho packet, and goods there cons
mcnce the long and tedious voyage 70 New York; or
passing that place and continuing to Point Pleasant,
would they choose still further 10 encounter The as
cendng navigation cf the Ohio, to Pi,tsburg thence
10 be carried to Philadelphia: would they there
enter tho Kanawha, and by a Rail Road from
Charleston the falls, be borne te the James
Rivor, and thence by Canal descend 10 Richmond
The advantages which Norfolk has the
northern cities, arc not confined to those Of distance
and consequent chcapncss bu, To be found also
IN The consistency and regularity with which she may
he reached aud the superior facilities for exporta
ton which she affords. The general southern direc
ton which this line of communication would pursue,
frees it from the objections a,tcndns those leading
10 the north; while at the time IL unembar-
rassed by any of character belonging To inter
course with Orleans. The Kanawha River is sell
dom closed more than two weeks iE the winter;
while contains sufficient quantity Of water, with
proper Improvement, to be navigated by steam boats
throughout the summer. The Canal down the James
River would be still less affected with icc If at all;
and the connecting link between them, which have
no doubt ought 10 be by Rail Road, could be con-
stantiy and without interruption, employed. On ar
living Norfolk. you nave port OFT utmost con.
vcnicncc and safety; protected by nature from The
NTH
the assaults OF an en"my. From this point produce
can be waited 20 p'ia.i.,r Of the rlobc and NJ
every season. The rosts of The north are here IN
known--thc outward navigation is perfectly snoo. h..
On this Inc too is furnished, what in CONNIE cal
transactions, constitutes the greatest dcsideratum-
choice OF market. Richmond, situated al the falls
ut James River is said to possess manufacturing nd
'antases, superior to any place in this Unon-she
has water power, capable Of moving the most en-
tended machinery, and susceptible of the easiest ap-
Piicntion These advantages are now unemployed;
but with this Improvement they would not long re-
main so. Impulse would be given TO enterprise and
me metropolis OF Virginia, would become MAJ
ket oil no minor importance. Norfolk. Baltimore
Washington, Alexandria md Georgetown, would
cifar to the adven,urer their respective inducements
Let it not be said, that the greater cap,,a of the
North would enable these markets to retain their
ascendsncy over TIE. Never was there moro f,,ln-
cious argument. Whatever direction you nive :,
c'mHlorcc, capital will invariably be found 10 mec,
II -Vatr does not more naturally seek ito Icvor
'Ean does capital the proper place for its emplsy-
mcnt. f"'
Bat the boncii's of this improvement, would not DC
confined to n trade from the West to the East I,
would also become the gseat highway from tho s.,
!lntlc tothe interior The immense quantity Of oooIs
supplied from New York and Philadelpbia n
ihe Western States, could be furnished from IN.
seoports ct the South cheaper, and consequently
more yantngeoug}y. Even now, with our nyeson,
imperfect means of communications goods NAV b.,
brought from the city of Pniadelphia, by way Of
Richmond, To the Falls Of Kann VIVA cfnopeY tb,n
ley can DO carried !ron Pbiladcl phia TO Pttsburp
From mercantile friend, ! understand tina, the nc
tDal expense of transportation
From Philadelphia TO Richmond ~
- per iOD itS. 10 els.
From Richmond to Covns,un, 40
From CovinSion TO the falls Of Konawh -
81 80 c's.
The estimate of the cost from Rlchmond 10 Gov
ngten, ~ predlcaied upon the suppostion, TINT the
James and Jackson Rivers afbrded the srme facili-
ties only. from Psttonsburg to Covington as the
average facility east Of Pattonsburc
Through letter, from a lnrge commission house
IN Pt'sburg learn that the avera ge price of Trans
por'aion from Philadelphia 10 Pittsburg for the last
three years,
. Has been, q 62l cts. per 100 lbs.
so
81 393 s"excrss.
10 this be tho cdse now, how much hrper must ne
The balance IN our favour, when the connection pro-
posed shall have been completed, whatever CORES
pondlng Improvement may be made By Penrsy vanla