Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-05

fem Of internal improvement which the state "ou'u
doubtless hereafter find her interest TO provide
what i'll remain TO be done IN addition 10 lie water .
If The James River aud kanawha Company, upon Inc
plan when such line shall have been pro-
v;l,d. Nothing but the union of the waters at the
mss If the alleahany and the extension OF morse
mower imuroyement up the New River, 10 the Noit"
Carolina line Happily the task OF breaking down tue
Allegheny barrier though difficult and expensive can
"a Ion,rr he objected to as physically mpractIcabie
r,c nave already been developed in the Of the
,ev noy IN proyress that part Of the line, winch
i,ry ,h belief that sufficient supply OF water can
l. hrougt uuon tn snmlt level, without recourse 10
eder Of such great length and cost a. that proposed
hy tho cnrineers of the United States III the year Ic2'
and without the use Of machinery to throw up the wa
tor IF Grenbrier River, was suggested by the COM
n,nvs ENGINEERS in lS.SS. And It will be seen by re-
rence 10 the report Of MIR. Gill, which has been com
municated that the cost oil removing TINS barrier 70
Inc union nf the waters, whenever undertaken, WI!
fall short of two millions oil dollars more co"'-
nIrte BODY Of evidence upon this subject, may
J.. eynccted upon the coming IN Of Mr. ellis report,
oiviu e results OF the survey al the pass OF the Ale
,ohnv The extra charges under the heads OF trans
Shipment and freight due TO the NJ Adatnzed portage
over and above the charges upon water line sups''
tued therefor would, upon every l0OOOO tons OF pro-
duce passnu over the portage be more than double le
neres, nj The capta which would be requisite 10 CON-
nletc the union OF the waters So clearly am satis
fed Of the perfect truth OF this propositon that were
il not for The difficulty which the company might eS'
ueriencc in raising such additional capital would not
hesitate TO recommend TO the stockholders 70 assume 'oe
obligation 10 make the connection
The New river above the mouth OIL ureehptler'
ormno no part Of the company lne no regular sur
vey has been made will be ordered by The company
in order test The exact nature and extent oil tue am
culles be encountered III the extension oil morse
power improvement towards the North Carolina me,
Bat from the facts disclosed IN the survey executed
hy Nlessrs Moore and Briggs, in the year 1879, as
well as those derived from other sources oil inlor;na
llon there woud seem 10 be no obstacle to the easy
and economical introduction Of this system Of improve
ment. Those gentlemen examined, lrveiled ana sur
vcycd the river from the mouth Of Gr"cnhr'r 70 Inc
mouth Of Sinking creek distance Of - miles. They
also made an estimate Of the cost Of making within
those limits good sluce navigation two feet III depth
al all ul the scar, amounting only " TIE sum
OF Sl1,IOO Mr.. Moore, IN his report, says Inns =
truly noble RIVER. Notwithstanding 1t was represent
ed 10 being remarkably low, yet afforded 81,
perabuudancc of water for every purpose ot internal
navigation The fall this part Of the river, consider
iug the mountainous country passes through, IS com.
paravely moderate. And agaln-"WhilSt engaged
in this survey great pans was taken 10 collect ihior-
nation relative the character Of the river and lie ad
iacent country between the mouth Of Sinking creek anu
the Carolina line This information has been corrobo-
rated by all have received on The SUBJECT ana
goes to establish the fact in my mind that the section
alluded above the termination Of our survey ("hicn
measures about leo miles by waer) IS more siScep-
ble Of Improvement than the section between the SINK
ing creek and Gseentrer, the falls being lever ~ mum
bcr and Of them difficult TO improve as some
We nave described
II is proper to remark that Tie information derived
from tins report Of Mr. Moore, appears 10 be fully sup
ported b, all subsequent observation upon the caarac
Ter Of this stream This arm Of the improvement, rs
well the Allegheny portage, from the magnitude Of
the work aud The attendant expense, are peculiarly III
subjects for the patronage of the Stale and II carried
out 10 completion WILL together with the amended plan
now proposed for adoption by the James River and IA.
nawha company, form grand system OF trans Ale
ghany connection which, when executed, VIII place
the prosperity 81 this State upon basis firm and du-
rable, The mountains over which our works VIII be
Tie question now presents itself, will the capital 10
he invested in carrying out this great outline Of inland
communication, yield adequate return; Let II be
promised that although il appears cmnenily desirable
that The State should lend her high sanction TO all lie
parts of the enlarged system proposed and give token
OF her determination ultimately 10 execute i, nasmnch
as such sanction on her part might have beneficial m
iluencc upon The lines Of improvement in the neigh.
boring States, yet in doing SO, she could reserve 10
herself The selection Of the period for executing those
parts which have been designated I'll subjects for
her exclusive action. In regard 10 the New river
branch, careful survey and estimate having been
made with a view to this question, no reply
ment might possibly not yield full dividend in the
first wears of lis existence But when viewed
senta part of perfect and entire scheme OF Western
nothing could be injudclous than 10
test the proprety OF its adoption the part OF the
State by the mere standard Of the profitable character of
the investment II is not denied tina, this consideration
should have its just influence with the State, especially
Mt period Of embarrassment like the present But with
enlightened statesmen, other considerations will in
iluence The fueslon-such as its tendency as the COM
pnnent part of the great system proposed, to add almost
incalcuaby 10 the commerce and wealth Of the State
To augment its population, to check emigration, to
unite more closely the Eastern and Western portions
of the Commonwealth, 10 form closer ties Of connec
ton with sister States in the West and 10 advance
the rank and influence Of the Stale But i'll regard to
the other parts Of the system, the question might be
answered with greater degree Of confidence. Set,
ting aside Tor moment the enterprise of ciiectng
union OF the waters the pass Of the Alleghanv the
great Of evidence laid before the Stockholders in
the fourth annGal report, TO prove the ultimate proa
BILE character OF the companys stock, applies with
force the amended plan which is proposed, and
beg leaTc 10 refer TO that evidence, and 10 make II
available for the purposes Of the present recommends
ton. beg also 10 refer particularly 10 The valuable
information upon The subject TO be found in the
report Of Mr.. Gill, which has been communicated.
Perhaps i; may be asked, whether Tie ultimate cha
racer Of The stock, although otherwise approved might
not BIZ inrriousy affected by the addition Of sufficient
capital u compete ol waters u
Allegheny ridge. II Is true that the dividends would
be struck upon larger amount Of capital bu; 1t Is
believed ,Ia their dimnuton in rate would
be more than made up by the from the increased
tonnage which the completion Of this link would BRING
upon The work.
Let us suppose the water line 10 be complete from
Richmond 10 The mouth Of the Kanasha, and ardcd only
by slulce navigation the New above the mouth
Of Greenbrler in the manner proposed By essrs Aoo:e
and Briggs in the year 1919 II is Impossible in the
prcscn, state Of information the subject, 10 estimate
with any degree Of correctness the amount Of tonnage
which would pass upon the me- But III order TO exh.
Ill IFS power and efficiency, may 10 mode Of
illustration made If in the fourth annual report, BY
4 statement Of supposed amounts Of tonnage for lis
different PORTIONS which no person well acquainted
with the subject will pronounce 10 be improbable; and
applying to them The average rate of toll levied upon
the portion Of the canal now in operation, namely,
IL cent. per ton per mile-a rate only objected to
rs being too low-premising that it the tonnage
should not be actually thus apportoned, equivalent
tonnage viii be found TO exist upon the whole ine aud
that should lie rate of toll be diminished with view
Ia distant trade The deficiency Inns