Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-11-28
To The Editor Of the Wig;

upon system Of Internal every thing de-
pends the policy which she may adopt II her Legs
atcrs yield to local feelings and sectional interests
railroads and canals may indeed in DO
but the of the State will be wasted without pro-
durns valuable results. Much less will be- done,
State IN spirit unworthy Of her position should seem
be actuaied rather by desire cripple the prosperity
other States, than molly into generous and liberal
competition for the trade OF the West That Virgins
1t she would retain the semb.ancc of life, soon
yield TO the Of circumstances, and open
nication from her tide the Western Valley seems
To be admitted all hands, by intelligent men; and the
only difficulty Is, to determine the best mode Of accom-
plishnen Three plans already before the public
LIST. The completion of the James River g. Kanawha In
provemont . A continuous Railroad from Richmond via
the Louisa Railroad through Stanton Guy,adoe the
Ohio river. And the 81. A continuous Railroad from
Richmond Guy sndoie by direct the SPRING.
called the GrcIt Central Railroad. One Of these routes
will probably be adopted; and there i'm
Por,ant question presented for Virginia decide than
which OF them she viii adopt Thai there is great dis
parity OF views upon this important SUBJECT the public psesV
furnishes the strongest proof and is a-deny be
wished that the real which elicing
zach enquiry aud discussion upon this matter will enable
the people of yirsiu {" come TO right conclusion and
adopt that plan winch will most redounu - n- honor, well
fare ana glory OF the State. Some able and discreet
are ndNocsng tho hs pan aad doubt aciuatsd
high sense Of public duty in doing. With such
reasons will avail, and they can be convinced that bet
mode can &c adopted, will doubt with equal real
and ability, urge its adoption.
II has been assumed by the advocates of the fret plan
that the honor O State pledged Cor s completion
and that It's abandonment would involve the State
honor.
Ii the State be pledged to construct any particular work.
surely no hghmiGded patriotic statesman would call for
The redemption oi hIt podge-uness the true Interests
the State required IL The point, them is not, should
not be, what pledges expectations have heretofore
he'd gwen! what should now done to advance
III tie best the wealth and prosperity the Conn.,
nonwean. The question shotd be whether the j. K.
" h Improvement has been virtually adopted by ioTaer
egsston'-bui whether that the best ter the State.
The superiority of Railroads Canals for the trans
portation OF Kinds OF produce for merchandise and
aI tSse!. Is 10 longer an Dozen question and sill
coGclusiyey, Pcslre hasn't been settled by experience,
that line composed 81 slack navigation, Rail
road end Canal i inferior continuous ne Of either
Railroad or Cass!. TraIshPnen from mode TO the
Otner aHsys attended with ceay and expense, and
should always POSSIBLE bs avoided. II should be bvruc
N mind IN the present tina, in each Of pro
posed plans the central and rugged and expensive
portion o the route As BY RAILROAD. SO that IN s0 IN IN
siitGng comparison OF the Kind OF improvement be
adopted IN the plans proposed have only consider
The extremes Oi the different routes.
The is plan p.cn=Sss q steamboat communication from
Point Pleasant. the Great Falls Of ksnawha. Now, 1t
is well known oi oH; .ipe every year. boats Of
very small class, ascend with difficulty Charleston End
hc Salnes, and that is wholly nPracncabo TO render
the ryeI accessible for considerable portion Of the
year, Tor steamboats, any description the Great Falls
But, suppose Ihsi he could by sluces locks and
dame admit small burts the Great Falls At nil seasons
II will not be pretended hat this class of boats would n.vi
the Ohio end avoid the dey and expense OF snbip-
men a, Point Pleasant. But, admitting That class
OF boats sufficiently large ply the Ohio could ascend
the practical RESULT choice offered PUNT
Pleasant 10 the traveller the merchant, wheh
he would embark q sns inconvenient and crowded
steamboat and tug at the slow OF miles per hour
against The current for seventy i've miles himself
IN cushioned Rs cas-, and carried almost upon the
wings IT tho wind he gazing upon the Aeghanes in the
distant West, at the very moment when the
uting and blowing amid the cliffs OF the Greai Kanawha1
Such would indeed be the practical result but s gresIer
Tho contrast IN the East. Suppose traveller who has
s pfadebvs 10 prefer the Rail car should regae himself
If hirt
fortunate fellow traveller on the steamer, had oyeftsken
him and should then leave him MAKE has way Rich
mond By the sluggish Canal. wtie traveller continued
his journey by Railroad 10 the same place; the latter would
have ample time visit New York aud return 10 Rich
mond and there await the arrival Of his companion. There
is no fancy in this picture. Every business knows
that such would be the results AID is such tedious
the fret plan proposed the channel 10 be opened
by the great State Of Virginia, through which she
draw the trade md travel Of the West TO Rcmoid1 Ii
may indeed by its circuity, benefit msny sectional in.
ercss the others, but u will the Of
The great Wet. curved line for beauty, but straight
line Tor business 10 axiom OF business, we'll of
taste; and On axiom perfectly settled by the onward
spirit OF the age. Time "a more than money In 30.
! cofdsnce with this maxim, Virginia must not only
have the beet route; the shortest and d.
route from the Western Valley her tide waers;
she the let Of successful competition for
the prize OF the Western trade which IL within her reach,
gness by III timed and policy she drive IL
from her, should she determine upon this dst plan, Viz
gina would virtually say the enterpnzing merchants and
farmers Of the West-tTue this channel at trade which
have opened, may not beet accommodate you, 1t
which ianced aud by patience and you
N five days from The Ohio 10 Richmond. Will the
advocates Of this plan for momen, indulge the idea that
Richmond, under such ouspcos will hold suicent IN.
ducements TO travellers and merchants undertake for her
special benefit tedous pgriusgo II five days, when In
the Same time Baltimore, PhiaJelphio, New York. and
even Boston, may be foached1 Aeody have tho great
currents Of trade been diverted from Richmond, aid let not
the Statesmen Of Yrg oduge tic iJo dream that the
completion Of the James River g. Klnuwha improvement
will ever arrest this diversion.
In future letters, propose 10 examine add com
pare the other plans. MARSHALL
earn