Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-06-12
RICHMOND DAILY WING.
THURSDAY MORNING. JUNE ,s, is4s.
james Rirr and Kanarha Canal.


River and Kanawha Canal, induced by first
trip through the whole line as far as completed,
to Lynchburg, we expressed the opinion that the
Lock and Dam navigation, admitting the intro.
duction Of steam navigation, had been far prefer.
able, and regret that il had not been prefer
red, both for the reason Of its superior cheapness
IN execution and the superiority Of steam to horse
power. Our opinion, Us simply our opinion, was
entitled, we were aware, TO no weight for we
neither knew or pretended TO know, anything
OF subjects to which we had never extended any
other attention than that of a citizen. We built
iirst upon popular impression, no better entitled
TO weight, because no better instructed than our
own: I'd, upon the Report in favor of that mode
of Improvement made by Col. Crozet many years
ago, but afterwards (which we did not remember
at the time partially or wholly retracted by him:
Sd, and probably chiefly, upon the wish to see our
noble parent river adorned by steamboats,, its rich
productions transferred to market rapidly, and
those who navigate it, flying over its native sur
face, rather than lazily meandering their way at
the foot of the hills, now having 10 stoop low to
escape being Drained by the nnumerable bridges,
now arrested altogether by the almost as n,rmer.
Gus locks. This however, we believe, is not the
prevailing taste. The soft and almost insensible
motion Of the James River packets, their entire
| safety, and even their monotony, recommend
them to many over every other mode of travel,
while their well furnished tables, good accommo
their captains, Harrington, and Strong,
go as far as it is possible TO overcome the tedium
with which it Expresses others.)
The wish was patriotic wish, but the opinion
that the Lock and Dam ought TO have been pre-.
ferred, probably. as we have been led to believe
since, upon closer examination, altogether err.
roneous. We present two brief views which we
think will be conclusive to prove it so:
/. Between Richmond and Covington 1872
dams 1--WE believe that the cstimaie) would
have been required. The rupture of any one of
these dams would have suspended the entire navi.
CATION above it, until it could be repaired, work
probably OF weeks, if not of months. Had a dam
near to Richmond given way, the intercourse of
that city with the whole upper country must have
been suspended for repairs
2. good foundation for dam in the bed of
the river, is indispensable to its permanently and
stability. In the comparatively few dams which
have been erected, and in the choice for the sites
Of which, as TO distances, there was some latitude
OF selection, il was still found difficult to obtain
good foundations. Were the whole line to be
damned, and the discretion of selection taken a.
way by the imperious necessity OF erecting anoth.
er dam where the slack water caused by the one
below terminated it is obvious that the dams must
in many instances, where such a multitude was
to be constructed, be placed upon infirm founda.
tons, exposing them to casualties, and the navga
ton to Interruption, frequent, expensive in repairs
and ruinous TO the commerce of the river.
These two views, while many others hardly
less cogent might be presented, seem to us so
conclusive as to terminate the question. Steam.
boat navigation on the upper James River has
been rendered imPraeticable By nature, and we
must thank Der for having done so much for that
charming region, with its fertile bottoms, its so
ping hills, its endless variety ofh and dale. and
Its picturesque scenery, rather than complain that
she has not done more.
LYNcHBURG AND CONVICTION.
The Improvement between these two points on
the water line, now in state of suspense, but
which we observe is beginning to attract attention
again, or at least between Lynchburg and Blu
chanan, is Of so much importance that we avail
ourselves Of information we have Obtained through
friend, to throw what light we can upon the best
system Of the two, which their respective friends
have put in competition. /. Locks and Dams,
or ID, Canal with occasional slack water.
The observations We have already made upon
the Lock and Dam system, il well founded would
be yet more conclusive above Lynchburg than
below; for as the fall of the river within the same
distance is greater above Lynchburg than below.
so the necessity for Dams would be increased and
with that the danger to navigation from accidents
and breaks:
But there are other views which will strike the
reader with much force.
Let us look first at the probable cost of The
Lock and Dam System between Lynchburg and
Covington.
|. The fall in the River between Lybchburp
and Coyingion is 707 feet. This would require
the construction Of II Dams, ~ feet high, (al-
lowing . feet for the foundation) Such Dam
would cost $4,000.
2. AT each Dam there must be n Guard and
Lift Lock, corresponding with the height of the
Dam-and to place the lock beyond the reach of
freshets, and for other indispensable PURPOSES
the gate ought to be Ia feet above the comb Of
the Dam.
Such lock would cost, according to the safest
estimate which can be formed sls, 200.
Total cost Of one Lock and Dam, $40 900.
Multiply $4,000 by ~, the number Of Dams,
and the product is s2,7s3 200. The land damag.
es, over and above the land damages on the plan
suggested by the company, would probably be
$4,000.
But exclude this last sum and the EXCESS Of cost
Of the Lock and Dam plan over that of the Com,
pany would be s32i,514.
Comparative CoH 10y eSfuafe Of counsel Of irSnspsra-
ton b,fss,n Lynehburg and COs'astoa, by Steam and
CgHaI-he distance ITO mills
Steamboat time for making the run and return.
ing, 45 hours.
All the expenses Of the trip estimated at 500,
5ic.: Or sos cents per ton per mile.
By the cIxIL
Time for making the run backward and forward
Il. z a