Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-12-10

lOH Vi Il 1allrOGi, WIlliSI Inc region tiuEerSeu by
II is inferior to OF the same extent, for mini
eral and agricultural resources, upon the CONT
nent OF North America. The valley of the Ten
nessee; one of the most magnificent OF all those
washed by the waters of the West the annual
commerce OF which is worth thirty-fve millions
of dollars, will find in this road an outlet for its
rich products to the Atlantic. And a cargo OF
merchandise, landed at Norfolk or Richmond,
would be safely transported to the city of Mem
pills. ready for distribution upon those mighty
waters, in less than ten days The ssVroinia
and Tennessee" railroad will effect this great OBJ
jcct when it shall be finally complated and ii
affords me great pleasure 10 say, we are war;
ranted in the belief that it will be prosecuted
with energy and despatch.
The James River and Kanawha Canal, hav-
ing for its object the connection of tide-water
with the Ohio River has for a good many years
been generously sustained by appropriations of
public money; and although il has met with
strong opposition, il still maintains itself stead
fastly in the appreciation Of well informed reflect
ing men The results to Virginia, which are to
flow from its completion; will strike the mind
upon little reflection, as really supendous |
have no doubt but that the commerce passing
through this canal will rapidly build up the
towns of Virginia, TO the magnitude Of the first
American cities and will rescue us in a great
measure from the miserable consequences of our
past apathy and naction.
The effects upon the prosperity and destiny OF
New York, produced by the completion OF the
| Erie Canal opening the commerce OF the lakes
to that city, are perfectly familiar to every one :
the daily increasing importance of it, is also
quite as we'll understood Without the Erie
canal the city of New York would have been
second still 10 Philadelphia Great as the ad-
vantages OF this work srquestionally are, those
of the James River and Kanawha Canal are I'LL
doubleday superior. 1t possesses the striking
advantage Of lying five degrees South OF the great
Northern work, and therefore free from the ice
which obsructs the navigation there for SO large
portion of the year. 1t touches the Ohio river,
far South of any water communication from the
! Atlantic whatever ]: and at point South OF
wiich there can be across the country no water
connection. 1t will after the first Of November,
command all the trade of great part OF Ohio,
Kentucky, Indiana Illinois and Missouri-and
most probably, of those regions lying Still higher
up towards the sources of the Missouri & Nlssis-
sippi for, after that period, it is unsafe to send
+ produce North, in the direction OF Boston, New
York or Philadelphia. A striking and peculiar
advantage presented by this line, is lis continu-
ity. There is no necessity whatever Tor tram
shipment. We will see canal boats laden at
the falls elSt. Anthony iorsCounci Bluff discharg
ing their cargoes at I.ynchburg, Richmond and
Norfolk The extent and fertility of the region
through whichthis work will pass, is unsurpassed
| by any accessible country within the territories
Oh. the United States. Superaaded to this, the
rfvers canals and railroads. emptying into
and resting upon the Ohio and Mississippi, will
bring from the remote interior, which in every
direction they penetrate, their contributions, to
| swell still higher the rich tide of commerce,
flowing through the heart OF Commonwealth
/ The trade in Indian corn, which has recently
sprung.up, and is increasing with such surprising
rapidity between Europe and America, 9Sill be
almost monopoized by this line, aud will OF IL
self, presently. build up and sustain great city.
Norfolk must be the point for its shipment, Tor it
can reach there and be sent away, without IN
Jury which it is sure 20 sustain from detention at
| the more Southern points Indeed, this line will
| monopolize, in q great measure the transpolta-
ton of all the principal articles OF food, which
are produced in the Mississippi valley for con-
sum ption in our Atlantic States and in Europe.
Ii is /; fact universally known, that provisions of
| every kind snffer injury from the climate du-
ring 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 N.
York-bnt the country which supplies it, sinks
| into comparative insioniGcance, when looked at
| by the side Of that have Just described. These
| are some, probably the most striking, but only
a very few of the reasons which present them
selves 10 the mind in behalf OF this great enter
prize, To elaborate tie subject would require
| volume | earnestly recommend the steady
energetic prosecution of the work to its COM
pletion.
The Southwest is already provided with
great work-lhe central line accomplishes all
that is necessary or that can be effected for the
country through which it passes. The Louisa
railroad is vending its way slowly, but most
certainly to the hanks of the Ohio. The Balt-
more and Ohio railroad, together with the Ches-
apeak and Ohio canal, provide our Northern
border with every facility Of transportation to
market.
1t has been frequently proposed and very
strongly urged, to construct railroad from some
point on this side Of the Blue Ridge to the Ohio
river at Parhelsburg. Ii would seem as if even
handed justice required from the Legislature for
that extensive, fertile and prosperous country,
between our Northern lines and the central canal
an improvement that would penetrate and pass
through ii about midway. would advise the
examination of this route by competent engi-
neers, to ascertain It's feasibility and its adyan-
tagcs II upon full information this work should
be determined upon and carried out, then four
grand lines of improvement passing from the
western limits of the State eastward across the
Blue Ridge, would pour the rich tides of that
really fine country into the tlde-Water cities;
and would mite in one common and familiar
brotherhood, the inhabitants OF all ''the grand
divisions" Of the State. In place of three divs-
ions there would be no division, and instead Of
the seilseess jealousy which now exists, one
common parentage and glory, would unite them
in a single effort for the advancement OF the COM
mon happiness and prosperity ofa1l.
Another connection between the t}de-water OF
Virginia and the Ohio river, by means OF Il rail
road has been settled on in the public mind; nor
will ii be abandoned until the work is completed
Its importance, one familiar with the results,
most likely to accrue from ii, will doubt. It's
feasibility has been demonstrated by actual sur
veys, and the only luestion still in doubt, of
material moment to the project is at what point
the Ohio river shall be reached:
In determining this, proper regard must be
had 10 the chartered rights already secured to
other companies, and care be taken to prevent
rivalry between the works, which might endan-
ger the complete success of either This great
object can be attained, in my opinion, by select