Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1833-12-19

u 49, OoaaaA
| cannot refrain from bringing I,
your notice once more, the subject o
the improvement Of the James and Ka
nawha rivers; and the construction o
railroad from the Ohio to a suitable
point on the James river. have SC
often presented this subject to your
view and consideration, that little else
can be urged than what heretofore has
met your view. So far as at present
advised, the scheme Of accomplishing
that great work by joint stock com.
] pany, which is truly national in its
character, has again failed; which
seems to enjoin it upon the State to ac-
complish it upon its own resources,
and reap the rich reward in the receipt
of the profits of the tolls, which, in a
few years, will more than equal the
total revenue Of the Government, and
will enable the General Assembly, TO
abolish every tax.
The Canal Of New York yields
now nearly million Of dollars annual
ly to the State, though for several
months in the year it is wholly closed
by the ice, and inclemency of the win.
ter--an Inconvenience we rarely ever
feel on this line; besides its being the
shortest route to that rich country, TO
obtain the products of which, our sis
ter States already expended sums of
money, more than sufficient to have
accomplished the object by our route.
The country lying to the South.
west is of such growing importance,
and the trade with the sister States in
that direction ofsuch increasing value,
that railroad from some point on the
river James to the Tennessee line is
earnestly recommended. Though the
number Of tons annually transmitted
upon this road may not equal that to
the Ohio river, yet the products will be
Of so much greater value, that the
commerce Of the State will not be less
benefited.
1t is commerce we nced.-Com-
mercc will enrich any country, though
the soil be indifferent; but when, both
fertility Of soil and brisk commerce
is had, by timely and judicious regula-
tons and improvements, the prosperity
of our citizens is secured beyond inter-
ruption; since no outlet to the sea from
so extensive an interior will be so short
as our own. New channels Of COM
merce are sought only because the old
do not afford the adequate supplies
and it is well known to the mercantile
world, that more abundant and certain
the supply in commerce, the more GER
tain the market-and generally afford
ing a more advance price. These i'm
provements would enable the State to
occupy the -four markets at an earlier
period than any other Of the grain
growing States, from the early harvest;
and would also bring into culture much
fine soil, well adapted to the growth OF
tobacco. 1t cannot have escaped the
observation Of any, that the inequality
of the wealth of the different parts OF
the State, is the result of contiguity
to market, afforded by Nature, in CIV
ing the one beautiful bays and rivers
open to the sea, and suited to vessels
engaged in the trade of the ocean,
whilst the other contributes little, from
the expense of sending their products
to market, in the present condition Of
roads.
Nothing can more clearly demon
strate the certain results which must
ensue from the completion of those
works, than what is well known, from
the effects which have been produced,
upon the long line Of railroad, already
completed by the enterprising citizens
of Petersburg, from that place to Wei
don, a distance of fifty.nine miles.
That work was undertaken and finish
ed in shorter space of time than al.
most any other, and the whole amount
of subscription, paid up as promptly
as desired. Steam-cars are daily en-
ployed to transport the products of the
country near this road, which is now
the grand railroad of the State. Lands
are brought into cultivation, and fields
which heretofore have been abandoned
as worthless, are beginning to contri.
butte something to enlarge the trade
and comforts OF the people, by bet.
ter system of culture, encouraged by
the facilities fthat road. From early
days, and in the soft weather Of the
early spring, week was consumed in
| carrying their tobacco and cotton to
market, with all the concomitant ex.
penses of hands, horses and wagons
which is now performed in four or frt
hours.
| The enterprise of Portsmouth has
been awakened TO her interest, and q
railroad has been determined upor
/ from that Mace to the same noinf WHERE