Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-12-03
For THE ESouIRER.

Tie Euicnsio,l Of Tie james R,rcr and KamHwha
Iaproucnlent-A Rcd"ettoa NJ I@Hs-1Hc pro-
Dey susicm 10 be adopcd-Ths t0he 81 0AowtHg
tie Linz to BE- discoaiiaHcd-IHcm odc al getting
Tic means 20 comptete Il IL tie N@tt R'rr.
The general proposition in regard 10 all i'm
provemenis, is that if you extend line of i'm
provemenls ycu increase lis revenue in dupli-
cate ratio; and it follows, oil course, that the ex
tension oithe James River improvement beyond.
Lynchburg, would increase the revenue Of the line
below The country through which this i'm
proyement advances, for the first thirty miles, is
unproductive; but on req hing the North River
different state ofthngs prevails, and in place OF
an unproductivc country, you are al once thrown
into productive one and, besides yon pass one
OF the most fearful barriers along the whole River,
and in It's present condition an almost impossible
one Ifyou, therefore, allow for this deficiency
in the produciivencss OF the country, ii may
safely be affirmed that one-fifth would be
added 10 the receipts of the line below Lynch
burg which, allowing that the improvement be-
yond Lynchbure only paid expenses, would be 4
consideration sufficient 10 induce the aPpropria-
ton OF the necessary means to complete the line
10 the North River al once, exclusive OF any al
lowance Tor the increase IL the travel that would
necessarily follow A reduction of tolls on line
line below Lynchburs is necessary; for the rates
charged are so high, that (ahough The enormous
sum that has been expended, being nearly seven
millions for the whole linc,) VIC cond have every
description Of produce sent mp and brought down
me river by The small boats quite as cheap, ii not
cheancr. than by the canal; and, besides the COM
nunication. whenever ;heIc are breakaeeS, (Which,
by the way. are too frequent, for on the New York
Canal. there are. thirI. about ! 900 registered
boats ard break about every Six months here,
we have onv about $50 boats, and we are break
in. almost every month the whole coinmnnlca-
ton is cut off because Of the distractions IN the
way of the snali boats. There is however, no
way OF reducing the tolls materially, unless the
tonnage oi the Canal is increased, without the
improvement be rendered Inproductive in every
way-an extension OF the line is, therefore, the
only certain plan by which the tolls are TO DC re-
duccd. The proper plan 10 be adopted is a rail-
road and not The lock and dam system, or a canal.
This is apparent, for the following reasons: II
does not cost more than one half as much as a
canal and is much more expcditious ana certain
than either OF The other modes Of improvement
The distance between Lynchburs and the North
River could be performed III one hour and
half bv 7 railroad car, and By neither oil the
CHER modes could the distance be made in less
than six 10 seven hours. In IT, inter no delay
would arise from ice or snow Tor more than
single day or two 10 a ilIoad-whereas obslrnc-
tons to any kind Of water communication would
be or wcers, and sometimes months The cost
of transportation would re fully as cheap. il no,
cheaper, BY d railroad than BY a canal or any
other node OF improvement. Three and hal!
cents per ion per mile lor carriage by railroad
for any kind OF tonnage, is a liberal allowance
and with The present tonnage below Lynch5nr9.
and the present tolls il costs mCch more than that
by the canal For two hundred thousand dollars a
railroad car be made from Lynchburs 10 the North
River, inasnuch as the rail could be laid down
along the level already had torlne canal alta cost
of - $50 per nile, and The ground could be pre-
pared .or al equal sum, ard the whole could be
put into operation in single year and we could al
once begin 10 receive the products NJ Rockbrdge,
Boetourl ami a part 81 Augusa-which, fear
unless the difficulties Of passing the mountains
are removed will take the direction 10 Baltimore.
So far, not a single hid. Of tobacco nor barrel OF
flour has been added 10 the trade ofRichmond. and
this is not 10 be wondered ct, for not single new
avenue has been opened 10 US; and unless we do
extend The line beyond Lyrchburg, there never
will be any material addition to our trade, either
here or in Lynchburg. A railroad should be the
connecting link between the eastern and western
waters-and SO far as 10 the point al which this
connection should be made, Lynchburg is far pre-
ferable 10 any other point, inasmuch as the whole
operation Of transferring the freight OF the line
would be done by skilul hands, and at poin,
which, besides Richmond, has contributed more
than any other TO this improvement. The State
is not able to continue canal, under any state Of
affairs for it is too cosy and besides, it is not p
plcahle 10 the wants OF the country end If the