Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-01-07

Al .rru,,,r survey Of The whole distance under the
direction of I,Iea,cnsnt Saunders was commenced
In 1877 ard nj lie time oil his Report 10 The Seere-
nj War in November last. had been fully com
rlrtcd only as far dawn steubcnvle, and partially
SO from Steobenville 10 Wheeling. lie result oil
the survey thus lar. 10 shew "a the satisfaction
ofia officer. that the Sc miles OF the river between
Pft,burc and Wheeling, can oe improved so rs
never to lie under thirty inches and seldom lower
than three feet; aud such an Improvement IN his
opinion, would enable boats oi 100 tons burden, car
rying passengers 10 nj The lowest stages Of the
river. tSee Report Of the Secretary Of War, Dec p
1871
The survey having not yet embraced that pan OF
the rver between Point Pleasant aud The falls OF The
Ohio, the result cannot be anticipated with certainty
but from the statement The Report o. Lieut. pu',
ton, already quoted we'll as from oiher sources OF
information there would appear TO be good grounds
for the Expectation, that the depth OF water proposed
for the Kanawha. AT all seasons OF The year, will III
,imateIy be extended down the Ohio liver 10 its
mouth, and. perhaps, up that rWer as high as the
msuth ofthe Musknenm
There are. likewise, grounds TO believe, TIT the
line of steamboat navigation now IN OF execu
ton upon the Muskingnm river, between the towns
of Marietta and GAINESVILLE, will. in some short peri
cd OF fine, he extended 10 Lake Enc.
From, the facts here stated. j, would proba-
bic that the draft Of -ater proposed for the kanaw
ha river is fully equal TO any improved state IL the
navigation, which is likely take place between
Point Pleasant aud the mouth Of the Ohio and SUI
perior to that which is contemplated Tor the river
above aud tina, boats Of 100 bur,hen departing
from the basin the foot oil Ioup creek shoals, Will
he able either TO direct their lar up the
Ohio river as Pittsburg 10 pass by the MusknG
UNI route. across the State OF Ohio rs 10 enter
Lake Erie and cTcumnayigale the Lakes. or 10 de
scend 10 the Mississippi, aud 10 make the tour Of
that mighty river lis various continent streams which
are said TO embrace extent Of navigation OF 1000
miles.
In connection with tho subject Of = site Tor the
proposed BASIN on knawha fivef II is proper adj
veri, before closing this part OF the Annual Report
TO the comparative estimated cost Of constructing a
railroad over the 80 miles between ihst point and
the town Of Charleston, and that Of improving The
river within the same limits the estimated amount
for the railroad being 1925 500 and that The river
improvement, according 10 the plan OF the Chief
Engineer 500 ,o00-an according TO that Of Judge
Wright 81 a5 $50. The railroad would probably be al
tended also with heavy additional expense. in the
form Of damages, in consequence of the unavoidable
loo alton Of the line through the heart of the marrow
valley ofIhe salt works, aud the great value oil prop
eriy in such situations whereas, the damages result
ting from the improvement Of the river. unon the
plan OF either of the Engineers, would be compare
lively inconsiderabie To this should be added that
upon the ksnawh9 river, atter II is improved IN the
manner contemplated, the mere expense OF freight
exclusive OF tolls will probably be than one
third, At the most, one ball, OF The amount oil tho
same charge upon parallel iailtoad.
The following Is summary statement ofthe three
principal divisions OF the estimate:
81 % miles of canal from Iyncbufs to
Covngron, Se,5so,477
1880 miles OF railroad from Covingion
to the kanav la BASIN, inclusive OF Gu
rioes. tenders, &c. 2,Go2 $50
1915 miles Of improvement upon the ka
pawha river. Mt the highest OF the esti-
mates of the two Engineers. io8.o9s
Making total distance OF 81 4s, and an
aggregate sum OF 5.j9l .525