Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-12-16


North OF Hampton Roads lies at a greater lonpi-
tudlual distance from either of these points by
several degrees, and at greater direct distance
by many miles, than Norfolk. These ports are
approached from the West, moreover, by routes
over which, III competition with ours, the cost
OF steam transportation must be greater in the
ratio of their superior distance, and the cost of
water transportation greater, not only in proper
ton to their distance, but also in ratio vastly
augmented by the obstacles which Northern
irosts and SHOWS must continue to nterpose.-
Ii the results to follow the connection of tide
water with Tennessee by means of the Virginia
and Tennessee railroad, and with Ohio by the
James River and Kanawha canal and the Cen
trail railroad, were at all problematical there
would besome reason for hesitation in prosecut.
ing these enterprises; but we are happily en-
gagged III works. about the success of which
there Is no shadow of doubt, and the profits GER
talnly to accrue from which, warrant the largest
expenditure IN their construction We have now
something more than vague conjecture and spec
ulatlve reasoning to point out the results Of such
enterprises. The test Of experience has been
fully applied elsewhere, and the wisdom of a ju-
dlclons system OF Improvements been establish
ed beyond all dispute.
The three great lines of improvement, looking
to communication with the West, are the James
river and Kanawla canal, the Virginia and Ten
nessee, and the Central railroads. In my last
annual message urged upon the Legislature the
pollcy ct completing the James River and Kama
VIVA canal 10 the Ohio river. | have seen moth.
Ing since to change that opinion, but a great deal
to strengthen and confirm it. The point at
which this work is proposed to touch the Ohio,
ls the bsst one to be found from its sources to its
mouth, FOR water communication with the At
lantc seaboard. This improvement will afford
Southern water line of transportation for the
heavy products of the West, which must be, for
a long period OF the year, without competitor
OWING to the ice In the waters North of it. Such
articles otcommerce as would pass upon canal
IN preference to a railroad, would prefer this
Tor the reason that it would lead to the nearest
Atlantic harbor, and consequently the cost upon
1t would be the least for internal Or domestic
transportation. A canal boat, at Columbus, O.
hio, laden with pork, hemp, tobacco or iron,
would greatly prefer going to Norfolk on this
canal, to passing through the lakes and the Z.
RE canal to New York, if the market was as
good at the one place as the other, for the sim
pie reason that the distance would be greatly
shorter and the navigation much safer from in
:erru2tlon by ice and from the dangers of the
lake. The market would be as good at Norfolk
as New York, because the trade would be in
tended Tor foreign nations, and Of conrse the for
elgn price would regulate that at the port at
which 1t would be purchased for transportation
A common standard would regulate the price at
both ports, and would of course render it uni
form. 1t is plain, therefore, that such trade as
would prefer water carriage, and as now reach
es New York from the heart OF Ohio, would find
its way to the ocean through Virginia, by means
of her canal. But the trade of Ohio and the
West, is not by any means the only induce
ment offered for the completion of this work.
will baza I'd tho hot tbo ,bor of
forests bordering upon the line of the canal and
accessible to it by way of the upper Kana"fa.
or New river and its tributaries, viii in few
years produce to Virginia alarges sum OF money
than the whole amount required Tor completing
the canal. doubt, il i'll America, there are to
be found s1c'. forests for ship-huilding as those
growing IN the section of country referred to-
The completion of this work would also open
thoroughfare for the transportation of coal from
the prolific mines of the Kanawha, Coal and
Guyandotte Rivers to Norfolk, which would
make that city the depot whence the whole
steam-marine of the Atlantic would be supplied
with faei The discovery of camel coal in that
quarter OF the state, in large quantities, of the
most superior quality, establishes beyond doubt
the TACT that, with cheap mode of transporta-
ton, the best fuel in the world for steam would
be supplied at Norfolk cheaper than at any &C.
cessibie point on the Atlantic border. The coal
and timber trade from the Western part of our
own state uldalone make the stock in this
cana productive.
During the coming year the canal will be
completed to Buchanan, distance of 1874 miles;
which will leave TIA miles 10 be constructed in
order to carry it to the Great falls of the Kama
wha. ! am of opinion, that the general inter-
ests of the state would be promoted by continu.
ing it at once to 'Covington, and so improving
the navigation of the Kanawha as to allow steam
boats to ascend the river to the Great falls. The
construction, then, as temporary measure, of a
plank road between those two points, distance
OF some one hundred miles, would give to this
work almost monopoly of the transportation
between New York and Cincinnati for the five
months during which the Northern cities are
cosedby ice, as well as a considerable share of
it throughout the year because it would then
present the cheapest line of transportation be-
tween the Atlantic sea board and Cincinnati, that
through the Erie canal only being excepted
The portage between Covington and the Kama
wha falls is already tolerably well graded, and
will require comparatively, little further ea pense
to mt 1t Tor plank supersructure. Thepresent
grading is known to be far superior to that of
the national road, over which such large quanti-
ties of produce are supplied to the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad. The completion of the water
line to Covlngton, the construction of such a
ROAD; ana Inc reduction OF tolls upon the cana,
would, IN my opinion, Immediately put the rev.
enues and credit Of the company in such a con-
dition as would secure the speedy completion of
the entire water line.
There are many who doubt the expediency of
continuing the canal, and who consider rail
road extension of this line of improvement more
expedient and practicable. Without intending
to dlsrarage this latter species of public work, or
10 oppose the completion ofthe Central railroad
as distinct enterprise think it my duty TIC
cite the experience Of other States, that have en-
barhed largely in canals, in opposition to these
views This duty is the more imperative, as En-
roneous opinions prevail extensively upon the
subject in Virginia, a sentiment of ahtagonism
and hostility seems to exist towards the canal a.
mong the friends of other improvements Tho
rough Information upon this subject would re-
move this prejudice and unite the friends of
these works in support of the canal as an i'm
provenent destined TO furnish never~failing Gem
merce and prosperity to them all.
| 1t the experience of similar works iii other