Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-05-30
THE JAMES RIVER CANAL.
Avn a.
Editor Of the Wig

L.
To the Senior Editor Of the Wlig:
Sir-Your position the helm Of one Of the leading
journals OF the State and your hostility the farther ex
OF the James River Canal naturally excite some
apprehension among the friends Of the OF
work lest despite change of residence you NAV be
found active and influential opponent OF the GREAr
CENTRAL lMFROyEEST in which many interests are
involved In the only editorial 10 your former
position and future this subject which have
seen you have spoken with the manness and candor be-
coming freeman Avowing your own convictions and
freely opening your columns fair discussion of oppo
site views The State Elections being succeeded BY
OF comparative tranquility. when, it hoped the
public mind Virginia be proftaby directed 10 con-
.idersuOn Of this important State concern pro
pose by leave invite the Of your readers
examination Of the policy Of extending the Canal
into the Valley OF the State. The reasons Tor this mes
have, indeed been recently presented the Peops
OF Eastern Virginia, with such overwhelming force de
monsson BY the address OF the Rockbridge Committee
that would be work OF suPererogatOn less than OF
presumption follow the Of fact ani argument by
which they have refltaby established their usion-
Abandoning their ADLER management the general argu-
ment propose, by your leave TO your consdea
something like the AKGUMENTUM 40 HoMINUN and
for that purpose to JOIN issue with you the statements
and opinions attributed TO you in speech you delivered on
the occasion OF complimentary dinner you Lynch
burg notice Of which published Wing Of the
10th Apri last. From this speech make the following
extract:
Mr.. Toler sad He bad ever warmly supported the
Canal until the winter before ast-and then opposed
us extension, not because extension would nJurs Lynch
burg Tor he did believe would but upon broad
State gounds-because he believed would scarcely pay
the OF repairs. far less the Of consructon-and
because he believed another mode preera
Die. The uanshiPment from Rail Road a Canal will
undoubtedly benefit the place where it is made. This be-
neht Buchanan striving Tor, and yet constantly up
bradihg Lynehburg with selshness and desiring the
thing.
Mr.. Toer denied the pledge of the State to carry the
Canal any where. The State pledged her Grip
uOn and 10 nothing This pledge she had redeem
ed, and million and a half beyond it. Mr. T. said
farther that Buchanan claimed the extension OF the Canal TO
% AT least" as night based upon its subscription. That
subscription about hundred thousand dollars
The Canal cost about $3.50 a mile The subscrip.
then would have constructed less three miles of
cana-and besides than 100000 had been already
expended above LynchburR And farther the Buchanan
peope opposed all railroads when spoken Of in oonnec-
ion with the cana and yet wanted the Baltimore and
Ohio road to TO them. Mr. Toer said that the Blu
chanau interest making impression the Eastern
people, by their representations Of the tonnage
which the Valley would throw upon the Canal when extend
ed thore-some estimating the Of alone from
that source, al 100000 per annums IL I'M
necessary to show the falaciousness Of such Ss,maes
Mr.. Toler then showed by the superiority Of rail
roads over canals even for the transportation Of heay
Get articles. 4"
II IS upon this specialize surprising statements and
positions It embodies-ihat propose make my com
menary For this purpose shall take them somewhat IN
the order IN which they stand.
First As 10 your opposition the Canal extension "on
broad State grounds, and because II would scarcely pay
the cost Of repars-lar les, Of construction" &c.
| The expression Of such opinion by one 80 well
informed on the whole subject yourself creates much
surprise when that oil the facts which hes
upon the question seem trumphanty to demonstrate the
contrary Can you believe seriously that the large and
fertile agricultural districts West and South West of Bu
chanan, and which their products TO LYNCH
burg embracing, lbesdes the upper part Of Roekbndge
and the whole Of Alleghany the teeninR counties of Fo-
tetouf, Roanoke; Greenbrer and Munroc Montg omery
aud Pulaski, and the larger portion Of Little Tennessee
will continue slowly and aborousy 90 transport their
| trade u LynchburR pfoyerbisy bad roads, when
they furnished by the canal Buchanan win mode
Of conveyance which - quicker, and safer and chsape7
BY what reversal Of oil the laws Of economy Of al srgu.
mens Of interest aud eKpedsncy, the result
reached, that this already trade Lynchburg which,
tby paon Of the greater convenience Of Buchanan o.
depot and the cOnst quent facilities easy transit q, mar
ket OF every article which be- reared or the soael VI
be iourod ne present viii yield revenue sul
hcient 10 pay fhs cost Of RErARs" event
How does the stand statstcay1 The cost Of e1.
tending the canal 10 the Valley was estimated last
Of SAL $50; M round numbers, s5OOOOO. In the
clear aud able speech " Mr. Harper Rock bridge he
showed that the average annual tonnage passing through
The Blue Ridge Canal the last four years Ne existence
was 100 tons. Now, this canal ssuen rliiss long,
and naygacd By bateauN. The distance from the North
River 10 Lynchburg is probably forty miles n a canal Of
seven miles ~ route Of forty yielded 100 tons when
vgaed by small bateauH with often irresponsible boat
men, and no adequate accommodation end facilities for
the trade, what Of increase should be allowed for
continuous canaI navigation the whole line with horse
or power, and toe ampcst aui safest means Of
commodanon3 Surely louro'd would not be too much 80
THIS would givo' 10y $4,000 tons annually Al the present
rates Of y cents pof ton per mile this yields the
90 Lynchbufg $4,000 annually, which BE- exactly the legal
interest Ihe capital invested, Of 100000.
Now, aIl who know my thing Of the subject and tho
productive capacities Of the country IN question: will rsaoi-
" conoede that this placing the subject IN the saE n
y0rabs point " view for my argument and yet the result
" IN annuai Ross income Of Elk per cent II fof repairs
and expenses make the Necessary deductions there will
sul remtin enough 20 psy dividend Of per cent
Bot let Il % observed that this calculation s based
only be receipt Of tolls the line Of 40 miles shore
Lynchburg When II 10 Temombefed that this increased
tonnage over that the old Blue Ridge Canal Of three
fOurhs OF say 500 tons LINZ
sgLow LYSoHnuR0 o. say 50 miles, have fairly credit
cd 10 the branch Tie full smount from that source Of ~
cents per ton on 100 tons for $50 miles, S26625.
This sum- added 10 the previous gross amount OF $4,000
gives S56 625, or nearly ~ per the Yet
sre gayely told eya gentleman Of deseUedy high