Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-05-22
JAMES RIVER AND KANANHA I'M.

JAMES RIVER AND KANAWHA M
PROV EAlENT.-W have read in the Lynch
burg Nirginian series of articles urging the
completion of this worb--the greatest that
our State has ever undertaken. The writer
also discusses the best mode Of continuing the
work, apAestimates the probable expense OF it's
The whole seli IS would occupy
more space in our columns than we can spare.
But that our readers may partly see what
is proposed in relation TO this improvement.
and what its friends say for it, we will copy
an extract from the first article. The writer
supposes the Virginia works to have advanta-
ges over its nearest rival, the Baltimore and
Ohio Rail Road. These articles are being re.
published in the Kanowha Republican, which
introduces them with the following remarks ::
1--WE place III our columns, to-day, the first
OF series OF articles, that are now being pub
lished in the Lynchburg Virginian on the sub
ject of the James River and Kanawha Improve
ment. We ask our citizens to read it, 1t is
high time the people along the whole line of
tins Improvement were aroused to full sense
OF the vast and momentous importance Of its
speedy completion
elicit the constant exertion OF the power and
resources of the State7 1t is a work which
alone can establish this commonwealth on
footing of commercial equality with her sister
States; which alone can relieve her from that
sort of provincial dependence upon her neigh
bors into which she has been sinking Ii is
in fact necessary to stimulate our agriculture,
to realize our mineral treasures, to enrich our
cities with the commerce of the great West
which once we gave away, and to restore Vir-
glnia to her ancient pre-eminence of wealth,
influence and power.-It penetrates the heart
OF the State. Through itself and its tributaries
it will open avenues to market for the produc-
tons of a vast region, which would else be
shut in as by Chinese wall. BY its means
the timber and minerals of forests and noun
tains, now inaccessible, will Weld substantial
wealth TO the citizen and the State. The water
power which il absolutely creates, would SUI
flee for many Lowells, and its value can scar
cely be conjectured until the work shall be
completed, and shall be freighted with the
grain and diversified materials of Virginia her
self, and of the west and south to be manu-
featured along the line or at its eastern extre-
nifty. I'm truth, the internal resources alone
TO be- developed by this improvement, are
greater than nature has bestowed on any State
that has projected similar work In minerals.
Pennsylvania isnot the equal of Virginia.
agricultural advantages,we hay compare with
New York or Ohio. What would those States
become if their great public works were sud-
denly destroyed? Yet, with these works al
ready achieved and in operation, they have
tiourishing villages where we have only for
ests; manufactures where we have only barren
mountains and foaming torrents. They nave
all the activity of internal commerce, where
we have scarcely an ordinary intercourse a
mong our people. Nature has endowed us
with the clements of prosperity and power,
But If we yield i'll enterrrize and skill to our
active neighbors, we may at last find ourselves
mere tributaries of those whom we might
easily outstrip.
To make available the immense natural re- !
sources of the State, no work ever has been or
perhaps can be devised so we'll adapted as
the James River and Kanawha improvement.
And II to those merely internal effects, we add
the benefits of transit for tho commerce be
tween the East ana the West we may form
some idea o: the noble part which the proiec-
tors of this scheme intended it to perform for
our whole country The commerce between
the Atlantic and Valley OF the Mississippi is
yet in its infancy. 1t is probable that at no
distant day it will give profitable employment
to all the channels that have been projected for
1t. Indeed, It's extent, when the population
of that valley shall become deEse and its 70
sources be fully developed, must surpass the
grandcst conceptions Of the present hour. For
the Pronts OF inns .o.....orcs---its transit and
its exchange-other States have contended with
an energy worthy of the prize. We too have
entered the race; and il with unnagging per-
severance we go on to complete our great i'm
provement, we shall compete for that extern
slve commerce with advantages superior to
those of every rival.
OUSSTATISTICS.-Fro the Re-
ports of the leading Benevolent Societies.
whose Anniversaries have been recently held
In the New York, il appears that all of them