Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-01-08
Internal Ilnprovcmcnt.
JAMES RIVER and KANAwHA IMPRoyEMENr-ds IL
may affect Lo,oer Yrginin


Extract Of a Letter from gentleman in The countyu
f TO a member Of the Legislature.
MY DEAR SIR:-I have lately made visit to the
ower country and am and more strengthened in the
opinion have long entertained, that there is no country
oil me ssme extent in America that equal take IL ali
an all TO Virginia from head OF tide water 10 the ocean
HE fertile lands, lying Immediately the rivers and
creeks, were formerly 1--WE may almost say for
nPerpe'ua cultivation in and tobacco; and for many
years past IN corn and wheat with little rest and al.
most entirely without the aid Of manure other mprov-
ing culture; and yet few countries exhibit as uxuri
ant heds OF corn better prospect of wheat than saw
sueh Is the natural recuperatve quality OF the
SOIL that little is wanting TO restore it original feri-
W, out reasonable rest, and good ploughing.
On these rivers and creeks every man has landing on
ms farm, from which he send its produce TO Norfolk
Richmond, Petersburg Fredericksburg, Alexandrin or
Baltimore, as he may have the prospect of good market:
whist hs crabs oysters, and wild fowl in their proper
season. and OF the best kind the command OF every
one on moderate terms, whether he lives Immediately on
the water courses, or in the intermediate country These
eT, nkew,se' occupy genial and lively soil, which,
anyJumcr-tke operation is at seem and well
tne industrious owner, who has also some landing
MN, from which, with little expense trouble, he can
send his crops TO market To these too nature has been
Otherwise supremacy bounl in those numerous beds OF
mari, which abundant here than Immediately ON
the rivers and which destined put these lands per-
maps on par GALL things taken tOgeher with the aluya
lands OF the rivers aud creeks
How sit that such country as this SURPRISING also in
beauty, should be measuTably desertcd?
don't mean TO answer this question: (altho' think |
could do without atrbuting entirely the great num-
per OF black a5ouer my present object being rather
inquire how such state things removed so ne
10 nuke S part OF our State what by nature il really is
'he SdeR spot OF our country, If not of the world
am not deeply read-indeed, not re ad at ALL (hav-
ing read nohing) in political economy but according TO
my crude notions they mistaken, who suppose the
are promoting their interest Just much by selling
the produce OF their farms in distant market as in one
near them, provided it brings them much money.
can argue this point better perhaps than by putting
| example: 20
Suppose that Virginia, by the united exertions OF East
ana West, could raise up large and wealthy Emporium
at Norfolk Suppose in short, that there accumu-
lalion OF wealth ut that place. equal that of New York
or PhadeIphia even Of Baltimore, what would be the
eHect on the price OF real property Virginia. would
render even that in the parts more valuable what
would be its effect that in this immediate vicinity;
Look at all large cities and see what is the value of
The surrounding lands Now is the time for lower Virgil.
MA TO move The West, the North, and the South are
anxlously waiting 10 pour their wealth-their countless
toedh INTO your bosom, that it may find market hroug
this channel; and certainly this shall take place SO
certainly must that place be its depot and distiibuee
What would New Orleans be- but for that bounlIess
wealth which TO all time, seek that place as its EN-
porium: Wealth and enterprise natura ly flow to such
place, whether il Scky marsh, healthy sand baI;-
whether its inhabitants, the time such accumulation
taxes place. are poor or wealthy as the river flows to the
| To say that the people of lower Virginia because
they have now such facilities of trade are before
mentioned have no interest in producing this result
say tlat The effect above stated, would follow the
cause.-lhis' in sct is said by many, and it gave
great concern TO find to be the opinion of too mann
NOT, indeed, that The effect would not hare foIO,ced
me cause, had we begun in me-hat is too plain to be
denied; but ii is too late Trdde has taken its
course. New York, Philadelphia aud Baltimore have got
the start and of the tCcaIh and Virginia can
only down and patiently reap the fruits of her
lay and folly
think this is neither harsh sentence on the Old Do
lmion and not warranted by due reflection sound
Judgment We have certainly by this delay perhaps
postponed our prosperity too much and may aud pro.
naoy VIII go on to delay s'l' iurheT but such
queSfi0ned super l0rtg and advantages, that unless we
permit the whole Tide OF trade, after it has entered the
State to pass through bOTders instead OF pursuing
its natural channel, through centre no lapse Of time
4 ueSfTOg aiulV
that which has already taken place. do no injury -
less he by exciting doubts and fears 10 put end our
eNefuohs AS wen may you say that q crclitous route
WIZ TO all time, prevail the shorter because il has
been trst opened and used. Oar western brethren,
though, will take the northern route if they can get no
0euer ana then what becomes of eastern Virginia?
hesitate not TO say, at the people be0tO The Ridge are
more deePy interested IN communication between our
rae UdteFS ana the ONO, than the people above They
can be rTy 'cei, though IceH accommodated by
passing the trade through the Valley to the tide waters
OF the northern But let this policy prevail and
ioloer VTgna is gone; neither Virginia nor even the
ichoe SOUTH will be able rescue our merchants
from their condition OF mere factors of northern capitalists
nor the produce OF your rms from the buten of such
Jdcfordge and OF double freight and insurance. on the
contrary, so Of chants become althv
enough 10 SCI mp Jor themselves if they wish further to
increase her capital they will transfer and employ it in
The more lucrative business OF 1ourshing northern
seaport, and have their agencies here.
In my humble opinion, there is no point where the
tDhoie south meet and resist this overwhelming ten.
dency OF affairs but at Norolk there think it can be
met SucceSSftuIy
j
and ds proof OF ibis must in the first place. be permitted
TO state, undeniable that if Virginia and MARYLAND do
theIr duty, (and Maryland is manuy doing hers
great portion OF the trade, export and import of Sus-
quehanna, all that Of Potomac, Rappahannock York,
James and Roanoke, and their tributaries must seek the
ocean, or pass to the interior by through Norfolk TO
say nothing Of such of the trade Of North Carolina and
even oil South Carolina, might prefer the outlet
by means OF inland navigation the coast not only for
safety and cheapness OF freight but the of bet
ter market.
SO much for the east side of the eghany; Beyond
hat, we caH reach TO the South and 10 the
est and with unriUded facilities take more of the raJe
OF the Tennessee Cumberland and Ohio and their buta-
res Than can be taken by any Of rivals this side Of
view orleans including the fur and such other tyade Of
e missouri and other great western rivers, which may be
Obliged TO avoid the hot climate Of the Gulf
Am to be told, that in this ncpcnt stage Of the i'm
nehsc trade OF this hemisphere that tie cupdity
tefpnse OF mercantile capital will take the course
which the experience OF past ages will be usual
ioE That capital tcW not go To that place. where, from
such natural the greatest variety aud quantity
export articles can be accumulated at the least risk and
expense; where they be bad Of the cheap
est terms, and with the least delay; and where also ii
WIN be most convenient 10 exchange for other than those
articles OF import and manufactures, which extensive
an agricultural country must always want3These posi-.
tons, think inCOntroveribe: and think almost equal.
w plain that can't successfully compete with ~ York
except at Norfolk
Suppose select Baltimore, and try 10 concentrate all
thc trade above mentioned AZ that place? II is evident
that in addition TO The superiority Of harbour and the ices
Chesapeake passing by through Norfolk (Which in
deed, will be the first depot of considerable part n O
and must again repass a place its way he ocean
or into the Interior The may be- This double
pense risk might ultimately hwar and defeat our in.
tentons in favor Of Baltimore or 30 divide the busnoss
I.af IA LII.