Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-12-12

OF we'll informed refleCttg men. The results Id
Virginia, which are To flow from its completion will
strike the mind, upon little reflection, really
supehd6us. have doubt but that the commerce
passing through this canal will rapidly build up the
towns OF Virginia, to the magnitude oR the first A
merican cities, and will rescue as in great meas
from the miserable consequences Of our past Np-
athy and nactiOn.
The effects upon the prosperity and destiny Of N.
York, produced by the completion vf the Erie canal
opening The commerce of the lakes to that city, are
perfectly familiar to every one (; the daily increas-
ing Importance of it, is also quite well understood.
Without the Erie canal, the city " New York
would have been second still to Philadelphia
Great as the advantages of this work unquestiona-
bly, are, those of the James river and Kanawha ca
nal are undoubtedly superior 1t possesses the strk
ling advantage oflying five degrees south of the
great northern work, and therefore free from the ice
which districts The navigation there, for SO large
proportion OF the year. II touches The Ohio river,
Alr south Of any water Communication from the At
| !aatic whatever; and at point, south of which
there can be across the country water connection.
1t will after the first of November, command all the
trade ola great part Of Ohio Kentucky, Indiana, IL
linUs and Missour-and most probably, Of those
regions lying still higher up towards the sources Ut
the Missouri and Mississippi for, after that period
it is unsafe to send produce nOrth IN the direction
of Boston, New York or Philadelphia. A striking
ard peculiar advantage presented by this line is its
continuity. There is no necessity whatever for
lranshipnent. We will see canal boats, laden at
the falls of ST. Anthony or Council Bluff dischaFg
ing theircargoes at Lyhchburg, Richmond and Nor
folk. The and fertility of the region through
which this work will pass, is unsurpassed by any
accessible country within the territories of tile U.
Siales. Superadded to this, the river, canals, and
railroads, emp,ying into and resting upon the Ohio
and Mississippi, will bring from tie remote Interior
which in every direction they penetrate, their con-
tributions to swell still higher the rich tide ofcom
merce, flowing through the heart of the common
wealth. The trade in Indian corn, which has re-
Gently sprung up, aud is increasing with such sur
prising rapidily between Europe and America, will
be almost monopolized by this line and will oft
self, presently, build up and sustain great city,
Norfolk must be the point for its shpmentf for tcan
reach there and be sent away, without the injury
which it is TO sustain from detention at the
more southern points. Indeed, this line will mo-
nopolze, in great measure, the transportation of
all The principle articles of food, which produc-
ed in the Mississippi valley for consumption in our
Atlantic States and in Europe. Ii is fact univer-
sally known. that provisions fevery kind suffer in
jury from the climate during their transit by New
Orleans and through the Gulf.
| We have seen what the commerce Of the lakes
has done for The states of Massachusetts and New
York; but the country which supplies it sink into
comparative insignllicance, when looked at by the
side of that have just described. These some,
probably the most striking, but only very few of
the reasons which present themselves TO the mind
in behalf OF this great enterprise To elaborate the
subject would require a volume. earnestly recom-
mend the steady, energetic prosecution of the work
70 lbs complexion.
| The Sou,h-we is already provided with great
work-the central line accomp!Ishes all that is nee
essary tina be effected for the country through
which it passes. The Louise railroad is vending
| It's way slowly but most certainly to the banks of
the Ohio. The Baltimore and Ohio railroad, to-
-gether with the Chesapeake and Ohio canal provide
northern border with every facility of transporta
| tiOa To market.
1t has been frequently proposed and very strongly
urged, 10 construct railroad from point this
side of the Blue Ridge TO TO the Ohio river at Par
kersburg. Ii would seem if even handed justice
required from the legislature for that extensive, fer
tile and prosperous country, between our northern
line and the central canal, an Improvement which
would penetrate and pass through it about midway.
! would advise the examination OF this route by
competent engineers, TO ascertain its feasibility and
its advantages. fupon full information this work
should be determined upon and carried out, then,
four grand lines of improvement passing froth the
western limits of the Stale eastward across tie Blue
Ridge, would pour the rich tides of that reall- fine
country into the tide water cities, and would unite
in one common and familiar brotherhood, the nhab-
tants Of all ''the grand divisions" Of The state. In
place of three divisions there would be no division
and Instead Of the senseess jealousy which now ex-
and glory, would unite them in a single effort for
the advancement Of the common happiness and pros
periiy of all.
Another connection between the tide-water of
Virginia and the Ohio River, by means of rail-
road, has been settled in the public mind nor
will II be abandoned until the work is completed.
lis importance, no familiar with the results most
likely TO accree from it will doubt. Its feasibility
has been demonstrated by actual surveys, and the
only question still in doubt of material mGment to
the project, is, at what point the Ohio river shall
be reached
In determining this, proper regard must be had
to the chartered rights already Secured 10 other
panIes, and care ne taken TO prevent rivalry be-
tween the works, which might endanger the com
plete success of either. This great object can be
attained, In my opinion, by selecting Louisville, Ill
Kentucky, the western terminus for the road
and u is Of no moment whether this road be branch
of the Virginia and Tennessee railroad. The Louisa
road or branch Of the Alexandra and GUrdOnsvie
road, crossing through Manassas gap, and passing
thence westward TO the proposed point The route
is accessible to each, and will, in my opinion, am
ply remunerate the patrons Of each, although all OF
them should unite in the work, and depend for their
profit upon the respective branches connecting with
the main trunk, which would extend from Coving-
ton 10 Louisville. The construction Of railroad
from Underwater to Louisville, upon this route, has
been favorite idea with me for many years, and
am is one which will challenge the approba-
ton Of all rejecting men who will take the trouble
TO investigate the subject
The surveys Of Competent engineers have shewn
that COvlngton is of easy access from tide water.
From thence to Louisville, although no engineer
has surveyed il, venture the oplniUn is route oil
more easy accomplishment than any other pro.
posed, lying between the northern boundary Of New
York and the valley Of Tennessee. The great bar
rer Of the Allegheny is, Upon this line, in the coun
ty of Monroe depressed into gentle ascent, scarce
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