Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-11-17

covered about 1874 miles. In dalll nf les
frequent trips the mails were carried "a th'se
ron,es about 25. SOC, Is6 miles, Viz lb,sf1,ooo
a.,la. j., ,our horse posi- coa.hrs and Two hors
,,aoes 7.sl7 o73 miles on horseback aud IN sui
lie. COG $50 miles in steamboats,; aud 2o0,oOi
mi., in railroad cars.
r,r rivers and waters Of the United States pre-
.ea! vast field for steamboat navigation, which
i more in here than IN any other parts oi the
world. This mode OF navigation has produced
surprising changes with respect 10 facilities o ~
tercourse, especially the extensive region which
is aatcredby the Mississippi and its tributaries. In
the Western country the present century la, wit
uesstd extraordinary changes and wonderful lni-
provemenis in the arts OF civilize life and system
of internal improvement IS now IN progress ih'fe,
which, considering the recent settlement OF the
country. NAV be Justly regarded magnificent
The following account ol things seen by n young
.on of the West" originally published ~ the
4" Cineinaa, Register" Is extracted from the
Z" People. Magazine" for July l3lil, 1888
~ have seen the time when The only boat that
noated ON the surface Of the Ohio was canoe,
propelled by pole, used by Two pcrsons one IN
the bow and the othel in the stern.
&" have seen tho day whom the Introduction oil
the kcelboat, with Single roof. was hailed as
i mighty mprov ment IN the business OF the
West
II remember the day when the arrival oi a ca
madam barge (as the ST. LOUIS boats were called at
the head of the Ohio was an important event IN
the transactions of year.
8" | remember the day when n passage oil Tour
months from Natchex 10 Plttsburg Vas called
speedy Trip tot the best craft on the river, and when
t1e boatnen, a race nov cxlin,t, leaped ON shore
after the voyage, aud exhibited an air OF rs much
triumph rs did The sailors OF Columbus on theif
return from the New World.
- | remember The time when the csnor OF
white mn dared 10 be launched Oh the bosom
Of the AllccbanY.
g rem, nuer the time wrn trader 10 Nea
Ole,ll, al, vienr ed Is tie most entcrprlslng u
uonpsl even the most hardy sons ii the West: On
Ia, rrtnfa from lll, ,s months UP, lac va l'eI
II. Il traveller "hJ lad seen the world.
- ! rene nlbcr the dtY when the borders ol tie
Oaio were wilderness, and Ne" Orlea1s ""s
toto orb dirisa, literally cut of from the whole
world.
IL have lived TO see the day when the desert IS
ilourishlng the rose; when the race al boat
men has become tx met, and then memories on
~ preserved IN the traditional tales oil oar border
Frs
" have lived to see two s. lendld cities, one de-
voted To manufactures, the other 10 commerce.
spring up where, in my boYhood nothing appeared
like civilization but the hut OF the soldier vi OF the
settler.
=" have lived 10 see revolution produced by
a mechanical philosophy, equal to that elected by
the lrt OF printing. Ii has changed tho character oil
Western commerce, and almost proved that the
puctical wish Of annthaling time and space was
not altogether hyperbolical. By II Pusburg and
! New Otcans have become near nelghbofs
{" / have lived t, the day when visit to
] New Ofcau, from Cincinnati requires no moro
preparation tbana visit TO neghborlng coun-
hYu 1 ed "A
much previous arrangement al voyage to Cal
/ cuttt
" havc lived to sea vessels Of 800 tons arfl-
wing in twelve or fifteen days from New Orleans at
Cincinnati ; aud calculate to SEQ them arrive in
ten DAYS.
." | have lived to sec vessels composing n
mount of tonnage OF upwards Of 900 tons, arrive
in one week at the hdrbor Of Cincinnati
A" All these lhGes | have seen, and Yet | feel
myself To he entitled 10 be- numbered amongst the
Young sons Of the West
The steamboat Mediator la, been recently sta
ted 10 have performed the passage, IN July, 1886,
from New Orleans 10 Louisville IN days and Is
hours al the same late II would have reached
Cincinnati in about day, 80 that tine cxpecta-
,on of this "young SON of the West" is already
more Than realized
The canals in the United States, which are now
finished, comprise upwards al 1000 miles IN
length the railrold, nov under contract in pro-
grrss have teen recently estimated amount Ia
more than 5000 miles. |, may doubtless lo said,
without rNagerrAllon, that railroads now pre-
:. lrCtcd IN tins country on mule extensive scac
than IN all other parts Of the gobc. When the
; various works ol tins description which in
progress in prospect shall be completed, the
principal places in the different parts OF the coun-
Try will be brought comparatively near to eacl
other and one may travel on continuous line
raI Dads from Portland to New Orleans, and
from various other points on the Atlantic to the
Mississippi.
The spirit Of enterprise, with respect to inter
nal improvement, baS EXTENDED more OF les, to all
; the States in the Union, yet in very different de-
urrcs Some of the States inlced, do not admit
of the construction of canals railroads, except
Of comparatively small extent while others present
vast field and great ndnccmeni, or works oltho
Kind a magnificent scale.
80 go . +-o9 =
e y a q = 90 % = >
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