Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-11-29

100000; for not only will it be refused ~. :. III
excite prejudice not easily thereafter 10 bs VIII VII
moved oe ie-
By reference to the report of Col. Crozet, hen
! State Engineer to be found in the ninth annual
report OF the Board of Public Works of Virginia
it will be seen that he estimated the cost of lockS
and dams, as follows:
Below Lynchburg, $500 600.
From Lynchburg 10 the Blue Ridge, l6G 400
Above the Blue Ridge 10 Covington, $4,000
Total cos, by lock and dam, sl.752 400
When by canal it has cost, and is further 10
cost, between The same points the sum of s., 190-
lbs 50
Had the system of lock and dam been intro
duced al first, as recommended By Col Crozrt and
others, the connection would now have been COM
pleie at the amount already expended-the nav-
cation vastly better, tolls moi necessarily more
than TIN the present rates and freight less because
the navigation would have been so much superior
10 what II now Is. Nor is il now too late 10 adopt
this mode OF improvement above Lynchburg, and
it should have been so advised BY those consitu,-
ing the Lewisburg Convention, through whose
influence il is hoped something may be done 10
finish This important connection, with which the
destinies OF tie State are so seriously implicated
Every man OF common observation knows full
/
row-rocky cliffs boldly approach each other upon
the opposite sides so that the indestructible mate.
rials tor the construction ofdams are a, hand, ard
these dams need be but short. II is also we'll
known that there are bur few low grounds TO he
overtlown, by which heavy sum of damages
would be saved 10 the company
Il is said, that these dams would "fill up or ''be
injured By ireshcs." This is quite erroneous, il
aims are lroPcriy conaJncted for, By leavinga
sluice way in the centre OF them, TO he opened
when necessary, all the deposite can, al certain
seasons Of the year, be passed down the river |
would here inquire why this anticipated danger
has not more seriously shown itself with those
dams already constructed on the James River, il
such be the usual result and these dams have
no outlet by which deposilcs could a, any time be
carried of. As TO damage by ireshets, il is COM
paralively nothing TO that done 10 canals; and
this the experience Of the James River improve
menl has abundanily shown for, while hun
dreds OF breaches are continually occurring upon
the canal, the slack water navigation made By
dams, is rarely, if ever, interrupted.
1t is also said that the navigation is not so good
upon the lock and dam as in continuous canals
This is another assertion, without a particle OF
practical proof, and is untrue tor, while canals
are ever liable 10 breaches, deficient in water.
and requiring strong power 10 be navigated locks
While, then, every consideration is favorable TO
locks and dams, the reverse is the case with con-
tinuous canals in mountains; Tor, in The latter
case, numerous rocky cliffs, and high woody
bluffs, must either be cut down or iunneled: aud
when finished the canal is liable 10 be annually
overwhelmed by the torrents Of rain, and mud
and avalanches Of TIMBER that come tunbng
down the gorges OF the mountains, during rainy
and snowy seasons This has been most severe
~ fcl, on that part of the work between Lynch
burg and the North River, which is bnt partially
done.
There is another point favorable 10 locks and
dams in mountains This kind OF navigation is
rarely interrupted in these atudes by1ce, because
there is always small current, while the narrow,
shallow and confined waterin canals is very liza
bic 10 be frozen.
nigh, refer 10 the ablest reports upon the
comparative merits of lock and dam and canal
navigation, 10 bear me ont in what have said
when speaking olthe two; but 10 do this would re-
quire too much otyour time: and therefore shall
conclude by saying, that so vitality mportan, do
regard the question at issue 10 the Stale Of Vir-
GINA, that am content if shall have awakened
the enquiry Of any leading men in the coming
Legislature. BALCONY FALLS.
The canal has cost over S5,OoO,O0O