Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-27
COM NICATION Ms t.
THE CANAL.

Mr Editor-Having seen several letters in your
paper concerning the injury sustained by the Ca
nal during the late freshet which were calculated
to injure the character Of the work, and increase
the excitement produced from the suspension OF its
navigation, deem II necessary TO lay a few facts
before your readers respecting this important i'm
provemsnt. At intervals OF about 10 years. extra.
ordinary rises have occurred in James Riyer-in
1891, in 1914 and in isiseach time the water rose
higher than the banks Of the Canal in many PLACES,
and when such freshe,s take place. consequent in.
jury must eusue to the work, but not such injury,
experience now proves, as would Justify higher
/ location OF the Canal. To have preserved a uni.
form level Of feet above the present location
would have been attended with an expense OF half
million OF dollars between this and I. nehburg
and such additional expense would have been in
CURED IN eneountering rock the hill sides in tho
ereatsr height al embankmeni around Bluffs where
Is iftquehuy hau'ed half mile. and the increased
height oi the dam, culyerts and Squeducts Under
these c:'cumstances. II must be apparent To every
one, that II II infinitely better that the Comnapv
should pay at intervals Of 30 years. SIS 600 for tho
repairing Of their Canal, even with the temporarv
suspension OF the uade, than an annual interest
upon half million for n higher location attended
with no other advantage.
IL Is most strange that those person, mos, ,..,
Iarly indebted TO this Company for tho facilities nf-
lorded them IN carrying on their business and thc
many 10 whom has afforded the menrs of subsis,-
enee' should he the hrs blindy complain Mt what
I was the will Oi God which human means could not
/ avert. envy not the man who can see unmoved
the Increased energy Of the inhabitants along this
line Of Improvement few years since danger.
Gus and precatous navga on of the river nm upfuv
and bolsierovs stream, afforded them the meaps of
conveying their produce 10 market, now succeeded
by large canal passing 10y their doors and through
Their intms, giving them n safe, easy and economi.
ca Navigation, bringing IN return the means Of ems
fichins their lands: a,ehouses sprineine up a'one
Of fhe rtv tk,, a A
the towns OF Gainesville Columbia, New Canton.
Seo,ts'ille. Bent Creek and Lynchburg, notwi,b
standing the depression of the times speaks volumes
IN iaror of the improvement, and tho necessity of
carrying through what has begun so well. | would
say much more IN setting forth the advantages that
TINS improvement possesses above those, having in
view similar object, the communication of IN,
Eastern and Western VOTERS but will return to The
injury Of the Canal. | learn, from an authentic
source, that the cost TO repair the Canal will not
exceed SIS, 600. and will be rc-open.d. to I've
river, distance Of 10 miles, by the 10Th of An,
gust, followed speedily by the completion of tina
remainder. with the exception of the 10 miles from
Lynehburg to Joshua Falls dam. Owing to a Gull
vert, injured some time since, having given way by
The recent flood, will take, probably to the LIST of
september To repair IL, IN the meantime large boats
will proceed within ten miles OF Lynchburg and
loading will be brought to this point by means OF
olIleauN. The friends Of the Canal have occasion
to rejoice at the stability OF the work--it has been
July tested and has more than justified the opinion
OF travellers familiar with other works Of similar
character, being, in ALL the best constructed Canal
IN the United States, and ms each successive yenr
but adds 10 its strength long, trust may il be ere
u suffers such another calamity. g