Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-01-22

The intermediate counties 60 the bridges TO be erect
"a over Jsmss riVer above Csrtefsvile-to the rOa
trom Dsnvil'e 20 Lynehburg-,o the road fcom Al
lngdon TO Salem, branching thence 10 LynehbuT
and Buch,nan-to the road from New river by a
way Of Fineastle to the town OF Buchanan = an
to the road from Union by tho way or the SWeI
springs TO the town OF CoVington.
To these may be odicd. at the western termins
ton OF the main tr1nk Of this Improvement, the roa
leading from the mouth Of Greenbrier by the wa
OF Logan Courthouse to the Northwestern eXtcemit
Of the State, and the road from the same Poin; u
New river ana interesting with the State road eRC
ing from tho mouth OF East river to the southwes
! ern extremity OF the State.
In addition 10 the existing lines which have hee
| enumerated, VIC have already had evidences Of IN
tendency OF the improvement to introduce new ri
hutary lines, or TO improve those already existing
IN the recent movements on the Rivanna, on III
WilliS',, and on the North MYERS; in the late pro
eeedinss at the Chrs,ianshurg Convention reaiye {
the Southwestern road; and IN the sudden tranSfe
OF the trade Oi the turnpike through the valley &
the coas,ing vessels plying between the northern
cities ard che eastern end of the line. These vii
soon he followed by Improvements on Crais's creek
the Cowpasture river, and the Upper Jacksons an'
Greenbrier rivers and these again in due by
numerous other tributary streams, which are sus
eepnbe ct various degrees Of Improvement, an'
| number'eSs new land routes IN addition To thos
which have already been estsbli,hcd.
Upon the New River arm, TO say nothing Of tn
branches which will coole in from the east we So,
capable 10y short portsges aud perhaps by continu
Gus water lncs) Of connection with the dlffercn
head waters OF the Clinch and BoSton rivers, dow.
ins IN corresponding v,lloys towards the hUa,t o
Tennessee. The head waters ct New river ilsel
IN like manner approximate II the head quarters o
the Carolina rivers, with which by short pottascs
other valuable combinations may hereafter lie form.
ed Extensive land routes TO all parts OF the State
OF Tennessee. and probably TO the States further
south, will add 20 the number of tributaries 10 thu.
Inc. From the end of the ina mil =,
the mouth Of Grccubrier river, 4 new road would
doubtless soon be constructed passing In westerly
direction, and reaching the eastern borders OF Ken
lucky, m less than one hundred miles, and opening
TO that portion Of thu, State an avenue Of trad,
shorter and better than any other whatsoever
Passing TO The karawha arm,we see besides oiher
tributary streams which wall doubilcss be here,ftc,
improved, the Elk river already navigsted at som,
seasons of The yoac for upwards Of 60 miles, arc
capable by very short portagcs, OF beng connectt d
with GrJenbricr river. and the Little kanawhs
river, which latter stream IS also capable Of being
connected by a very shor, portage, with the north
fork Of the Mononsahe.a river-the whole forming
a oombinauon which wall 20 doubt acd greatly "a
the welfare Ut that part OF TIE State and hereafter 10
the tonnage Of this line.
But here orr attention should be chiefly directed
10 the connection 20 be formed through this arm of
the Improvement with the towns and mouths OF
rivers on he northwestern fsonter ofour State a,
well as with the various border States and Terrific
res along the OHIO aud Mississippi rivers. Tie
steamboats, plying upon this arm OF the improve
mcBt wal embrace the trade OF the Furnishing cities
OF Nhee.ins ard Pit'Sburg. as well as OF the coun
ties lying upon the BIC Sandy, Guyandote Little
hanawha and Monous Ihel3 rivers when those
Streams shall DC hereafter adrqpate' improved; and
thus overcome tne barrier which separates those
cities and counties from the eastern portion of the
Satc- But taking a still wider range our steam
boats Wi open an nc i've Commercial, intercourse
between K chmond and the cities OF Cincnr,ti
| louisville and Louis ffI~ntt~h al.
lines no" advancing up the Musknsum. the ucck-
hooking. The Licking, Kentucky and Green rivers.
they vii penc.ra 10 fhe centre OF tue States OF
Ohio and Kentucky. At those seasons of the venr
when the water OF the Ohio shall be more tran Eve
eet deep, the canal boats OF the cast, with mere
change ot irscte power at the mouth OF Green brier
river, and without breaking bulk, will be to,yed 10
Oh The points embraced n this wide range OF west.
ern connection. Moreover, boats Of suitable Gi 70
mcnslons constructed so as TO carry the towns
horses on board, upon reaching the mouths of
the North Western Canals AZ Portsmouth,. C,n.
cnrat, and other points along the OhiO River
might resume hor-e power, and proceed through
out The vast line o. canal navigation formed
ana i1rmins % the states OF Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois, and returning with the produce Of
carsOes, would, with Ike exchange Of tr.e
tile power reach the eastern termination Of the Inc
IL Is probable, also that the state Of Ohio might lind
u practicable and advantageous 10 make q branch
-ti-as t'i.'fH-t4ti Nt'fFu termination OF
directly with the main line OF her canals. 81 as 70
prevent any interruption no the on STAGES OF water
10 The ONO rvcr. Thus the who, Of the canals i'm
Inc States Of Oaio, INDIAN and Illinois, witnou,
any contribution the part Of ths state 10 the ca
ri-al OF those works, would oe made 20 extend our
line OF inland navigation, uninterrupted by trans
shipments or porAscs, throughout the fertile and
popuous territories b1rjered by the southern shores
OF the axes and the Upper Mississippi river.
Let 70 oe rccoierte that tor nearly SIX months Of
The year no line ol trans port cldus from those dis
tan. regions 20 the Atlantic poUs could compete with
re virginia route, nasnuch he water line
through the lakes and the Northern canals. would
be blocked up with ice, 'nd any line Of railroad
communication that might oe formed a. SUBSTITUTE.
would be unavoidahly subject 20 the heavier charges
which are Inseparlbe from that species Of trans.
)ortaiion.
Let it also be recol'ec,ed, las ~as stated in IN.
TN annual report, PIP 3GO-l that IN addition TO the
'ther superior advantages possessed by the VIRGIN.
llre IA point ci distance. MI dness Of climate. and
,eniralty Of termination upon the Ohio river and
he Atlantic border, rs trade viii be protected in /
ime Of war by the cross fire at the Rip Raps and
DID Point Comfort, and whilst the Mississippi.
ne New York, and other routes might be bockaded
turing such periods, This would fnd a secure r,s
ase 20 he Ocean through OcracpcS Inlet, of which
loini no hostile a.e,s can lie.
TO BE Continued