Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-12-10

childhood to improve the condition OF 'he'r chi.
dreu. by placing them on those bish ways u
market, which enables them to enjoy irom th'
profits of their labor those benefits denied to the"
in their native land. by their distance from '"ar
ket, and in despair of achieving them y the 20
Ijcy of their government. For the want OF 'hess
improve Is, IS hole neighbOrhoods are I'D grea
measure depopul ated, and in place Of haruy
healthy, and INDUSTRIOUS citizens, we no" SET
! herds of cattle gazing about their uese''e'
homes, which stand in solitude, as monument
Of the baneful effects Of the policy Of the counl!!
| cannot refrain from bringing to your nolc'
once more, the subject OF the Improvement
the james and Kanawha rivers. ana the CON
struc ton of railroad from the Ohio 10 sui'a
BILE point on the James river. l have so oitef
presented this subject to your view ana c"ns'uer
alton, that little else can be urged than Una
heretofore has met your view. 80 TAR as al pre-
sent advised, the scheme Of accomplishing ina
gaeat work By joint stock company, which y
truly national 10 its character, has again ta'ed
which seems to enjon it upon the State TO accom-
pIish il upon ts own resources, and reap the ricf
re- ward in the receipt Of the profits OF the tolls
which. in few years. will more than equal tht
total revenue Of the Government, and will ena
bic the General Assembly to abolish every tax
The Canal Of New York yields now nearly
million of dollars annually to the states, though
for several months in the year it is wholly closed
by the ice, and incIemeacy Of the ~inter-an IN
convenience we rarely ever feel on this line; be
sides its being the shortest route to that rcf
country, to obtain the products OF which, ou'
sister States already expended sums OF money
more than sufficient to have accomplished the %
ject by our route.
The country living to the southwest is OF suci
growing importance, and the trade with the SIS
ter States in that direction OF such increasing va
lue, that rail road from some point on The IIveI
James 10 the Tennessee line is earnestly recon
mended. Though the number OF tons annually
transmitted upon this road NAV not equal that tt
the Ohio river, yet the products VII, be OF Sc
much greater value, that the commerce vi the
State will not be- less benefited
II is commerce we need. -C"mmerce will en-
rich any country, though the soil be indifferent
but when both fertility OF soil and ID brl'k com
merce is had, by timely and judiclous regulations
and improvements. the prosperity OF our citizens
is secured beyond interruption; since no outlet
to the sea frum SO extensive an exterior VIII BE-
SO short as our own. New channels of commerce
are sought only because the old do not afford the
adequate supplIes-and It is well known to the
certain the supply IN commerce. the m"re GER
tain the market-and generally afordug more
advanced price. These improvements would
enable the State to occupy the Hour markets at
an earlier period than any other OF the gram
growing States, from the early harvest; and
would also bring into culture much fine soil, well
adapted 10 the growth Of tobacco. 1t cannot
have escaped the observation Of any, that the me.
quality of the wealth If the different parts Of the
State, is the result Of contIguity to market, at.
forded by Nature, in giving the one beautiful
bays and rivers open to the sea, and suited to
vessels engaged in the trade Of the ocean; whilst
Che other contributes little, from The expense OF
senJ,ua their products to market, in the present
condition Of roads.
Nulhios can more clearly demonstrate the GER
tain results which must ensue from the compile.
ton of those works, than what Is we'll known,
from the effects which have been produced. upon
a long line of rail road, already completed by
the entrrprslns citizens Of Petersburg, from that
place to Weldon, a distance Of fifty nine miles.
That work was undertaken and finished in
shorter space oil time than almost any other, and
the whole amount of supt rscriptIon, paid up as
promptly as desired Steam cars are daily em.
poyed TO transport the products OF the country
near this road, which is now the grand railroad
of the Safe. Lands are brought into cultiva-
ton. aud fields, which heretofore have been
abandoned as worthless, are beginning to contri.
butte somethin. TO enlarge the trade and comforts
vi the people, by better system Of culture. en-
c0uraged by the facilities Of that road. From
early days, aad in the soft weather of the early
spring, a week was consumed 10 carrying their
tobacco and cotton to market, with all the CONGO.
infant expenses of hands, Horses and wagons,
which is now performed in four or five hours.
The enterprise Of Portsmouth has been awak
ened to her interest, and rail road has been de.
termned upon from that place to the same point
where the Petersburg rail road terminates; and
many miles Of road, as we are informed, are in a
state Of rapid improvement. and will doubtless
share your favor and attention.
On q former occasion. brought to the notice
Of the General Assembly, the Importance Of
road from this city to Fredericksburg, which line
has more strongly demonstrated to be necessary.
By well. constructed railroad the entire CON.
munication through the State presently by unit
ing it with the Petersburg railroad, would he
made complete, and cdn be done at small eI.
$3.50