Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1846-03-16

From lac Richmond Uhig, Marcia 4.
THE ROANOKE VALLEY.
MIR. TUNSTAII.

MIR. TUNSrAII
We solicit the attention OF the people Of Virpinia Il
Tue snG aud conclusive array II facts aud figures 81,
iaflh IN the address ii Nf lnnsa, the cchulders
Phlsyl'ana, which will be ionnd IN 10 DAVIS paper
We must he allowed 10 express our ptufnnd feput N
The determination oppressed by Mr. Tunsta to te,it,
lh'n the public service II Is rarely any constituent
represented with superior ability zeal aud i,uhlulness
Ia That which The talented delegate from Putsyivan.a
has exhibited. But his were all It would b, bu,
feeble tribute 10 his valuable character aud
Mr. Tunstall's legislative eonfse Lss been ,mnrltl y
characterized by Large comprehensive and palru c pol>
ley. which embraced all sections vi The Commonwealth
aud sought The general rather than local aud limited adj
vantage We ihrIeiura The mnfe regret that u measure
wise and good IN Itself as. hesond all dispute is his bill
ur the IN rwVement oil The Roanoke and Dan Rivers by
lock and dam TT steamboat navigation should la w
alled Of success Cerlanl, If ability and zeal II arnu-
aud reason, could ensure the triumph of any mra
sure, that bill wUuld Ne now law
1t Is an undenabe duty ni this and ui every Common.
wealth, to provide lie people With avenue to market
or The productions ul Their soil and ahout In 50 doing
the State contributes not ohlv 10 local and individual
wealth aud happiness, bui 10 her strength aud pros
pefly. Such have been the admitted policy and actual
practice even of monatchlal governments which more
mnnliiceni 10 their children than Republican Virginia
have established Railroads and Cansls at every point
where they were necessary ar the full deyeupnc NJ Of
their Such has been he course of the North
efn aud Western States OF our cuurderacy and the
result has been seen IN lhelr vast rapid and steady In
crease OF power aud population Virginia the mother
III States. has been Jastled aside by youngsters WIN
were but yesterday at the knee, aud she nav stands in
her decrepude gazing a, the young giants Of the North
and West, and ordering by hat mag ic process they
attained their towering stature and llercuean srenct
And yet. when the secret ii their growth is revealed
she ies'lniey refuses 10 adopt similar policy Sho
permits the elements OF wealth ana greatness IL, remain
Embedded IN her mountains aud yales and refuse, To
speak the life giving wofd which shall cause their TO-
surrrcljon.
We presume that few Of the people Of Virginia are ac-
qhhnIed with the bpnndless fertility aud resources Of
the Emnoke valley ur certainly Their representatives
could not hesitate IN hestowing the trlng sum which
Is necessary 10 give them sale and speedy outlet TO
market. The Virginia counties alone, upon the Rua
n"ke River, VIZ brunswick. Mrcklenbutg. Halifax
pn'sylvan'a. llenry. Patrick. Franklin aud Charlotte,
AS appears by Mr. Ianstas statistics, have popula
lion Of l334l5. produce 55 900 bushels Of wheat.
5ll5OOO bushels Of cufn aud raise q $40 900 lbs Of
Tobacco. Add u these the Roanoke counties of North
tarlna. aud we have grand total from The Ruanok.
Valley, in population, OF 235 Gl5 producing SIG 500 |
bushels Of wheat 6,5i9 500 bushels Of corn aud 40,
Ib7 600 lbs of o5acco. he only means of peitinp 10
market which this lmmenstly ertile region which pos
sesses. is by hatleaux and wagons.
II seems most strange that the Two States Of Virginia
and North Coolina, should loup ago have provided
for the improvement of The River which nuws through
This Incompatible country. II ran be done Mt a small
expense, many parts OF II being already navgnbe FIR
nsIderabe Distances but YET in consequence of occa.
s saP d5Sis %Espehdt the construction of hicks and
dams would be sufficient In render the Roanoke and
Dan navigabe by steamboats,. and enhance beyond
all calculation The prosperity of the Roanoke Valley
Il cannot be denied that this secilun Of country has
contributed its full pmpofimn to The bnrhens OF the
State aud therefore entitled itself 10 return Of leg
Isaiive buuay hr Tunsiall, in his carefully pnpar
ed liable of statistics shows that while the Roanoke
counties contribute almost as lnrge to the revenue
Of the State any oher ei9i counties thin It's lin
ils, and much larger than the revenue generally from