Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-05-07
From the Enquirer.
INTER- Nal ANCp0pTA rrIoNr


From the Enquirer
INTERNAL TRANSPORTATION
There is no branch of political economy more i'm
portant 10 State or nation than that of internal
transportation Without the proper facilities for trans
portaon between different sections ola State or nation
the distant Inhabitants neither exercise the privileges
Oh socla nor the advantages of exchanging
productions peculiar to each other If any doubt ex-
lsed as TO the force with which the necessity for these
iachties operates unon communities, States and na-
nons II would be sufficient 10 look to the appropriation
OF individual and public means in every civilized conn
try, 1 ON remote ages to the present time Manv
great works Of the ancient Chinese. Romans. 81
down to those OF modern Europe might be cited: mt
our own Tree Republican States not without Jam.
pies OF remarkable merit. 1t is by the facilities of trans
portatlon that the superintendent products of the rich
ands OF an interior country may be carried TO soma
comparatively barren spot where rises -four, hing
cry-a INK IN the chain OF commerce, which connects
the producers with the distant markets of the world
and by which the necessares of one class are exchange
ed Tor the delcacles OF another and each enabled to
enjoy the productions OF ALL Thus the rich fieLJs nj
Virginia produce the tobacco the corn and the wheat
for the enjoyment and subsistence of men in distant
countries; Saxony produces the wool, and England
manufactures the cloth tor the ornament and comfort
OF our persons while the quarres of Italy furnish the
marble tor the commemoration of our our honored
dead Yet we are not without the means, in our own
broad territory, OF producing most of the necessares
and even dellcacles OF lie; and when our natural re-
sources shall be fully developed we shall have an abun
dance to spare to foreign countries.
But such has been the comparative condition of eY
pense between foreign and home transportation, that
we have sought supplies, three thousand miles across
the uackess ocean, tor articles profusey disseminated
over the whole Commonwealth. The interior sections
ofthe State have been deprived the just fruits of well
mefltsd industry, because the products of labor could
not be brought into fair competition with that OF other
countries in the general markets Ifpeope cannot trans
port TO- and from, the most advantageous places OF
production they need not and long continue to
produce! Of what avail, then, that the inferior noun
tsms OF Virginia contain iron enough to supply the
world! Plaster TO enrich her fields forever? Salt
enough TO preserve nation, and Marble to build the
pyramids OF Egypt, or commemorate our honoed dead
nough as numerous as the inhabitants OF those ancient
catacomhs,l il we cannot transport them within our
own state, to places OF use consumption, and continue
10 seek our supplies in distant lands? When thousand.
OF human beings were pershing in Ireland for bread
there was corn enough in thenerior of Virginia TO have
saved them ALL which could not be transported to the
seapoafu, even or the enormous prices then offered
And lsuch would have been the case had starvation
existed in section OF our country instead of Ireland
There was no difficulty in Transporting the grain when
once brought to the seaboard.
We have been led to these reflections bv hastv ne.
russI OF the report OF the State Engmee on the Caras
OF New York OF the 9th February asst lust published
Great as have been the advantages of the Erie Canal
10 mai State, and the whole Of the States spread over
me western waters, it appears from the report that
those advantages have only been halt attained; or in
other words, thatby the enlargement of the cana,
now more than halt executed the expense OF transpor
| tahon will be reduced so per cent? 1t has been as
cer'ained by weighing 467 canal boats that the average
laden weight is 1890 tons average light weight 90 49,
leaving iol average burden 1868 Assuming therefore,
the boats to be 80 tons, and the burden So and the
ac'1ai cost OF moving each boa, between Albany and
Buffalo TO be- for towing ID cents per mile and can
tam and crew, making rs cents exclusive of toll and
mat he cost OF moving the large boats of 24 tons load
on Inc enlarged canal, will be fraction under As cts
the engineer ascerians the actual diminnton OF ex-
| pense TO be Sc per cent.
The Engineer says, the "cos of transportation ner
ION per mile on the present canal is 81 mills and that
IL Will be on the arsed cannl precisely two mills
per ton per mile making difference of Sc per cent"
for 1888, in which they say:
r. agricultural productions now carried on the
Erie Lanai exclusive OF tolls, for nine mills per ton
per mile, and merchandise for 49, In boats lowed on
the hudson river by seam The articles first mentioned
are charged eight mills, and the latter Is mills Der ion
per mile. 1t Is believed that on the Erie Canal en-
larged as now contemplated the present expenses of
transportation exclusive of tolls can be reduced fftu
per cent" The Engineer adds Chat the cosi II
transportation will be diminished at least ty Der cent
by the enlargement when all advantages ara consid
1t is TO gain these advantages of cbean ;nternol
transportation, that the Governor OF New York and
majority OF the As7embly, have attempted to over
leap The Constitution OF the State by creating debt
(Which forbdden) to finish the enlargement before
the means already provided effect the object In
on the Improperly OF thus tampering with constu-
tlonai provision, to gain time in executing valuable
work. Or to making a little popularity, we have olraad'
spoken. N'
But we have word TO say in reference to our own
Canal, which not without encouragement 10 our neo
Pile In the particularly to those West of The
mountains We are informed that there are hoors
upon The Cana which carry ITO tons burden. and
make round trips between Richmond and Lynchbnrg
~ len days, at current expense OF eighty dollars or
n cents per mlle being small fraction over d mil
per ton per mile Thus it will be seen that the cana |
city OF our Canal for cheap transportation suneror
10 that OF Ne" York in its present condition aud will
MOI be much lnerior after the enlargement 1.-THE cur
rent charges for transportation be greater on The
James River Canal than the Erie, it is for want of ron
stant employment This is in consequence OF The want
OF an outlet.
But il will be perceived, that when we shall have
attained that oulle 10 the Southwest and 10 s,eamboa
navigation on the kanawha, the constancv Of en1 |
ployment on our canal will be almost for The entire
year. while that on the Erie is more than sever
months. mus the hoalman In New Yok must in sew
en months provide for his years support; While he in
Virginia. will seldom be interrupted in his regular b,
slness 1t may, therefore, be inferred that the arn,al
charges Tor transportation from tide waite in Virginia
10 western Steamboat navigation, may be brought win
10 those from the Hudson the Lakes afer tha Ere
canal shall re enlarged The question of tolls viii If
conse depend upon the capital invested in the work
shouo De inc pleasure OF Virginia to carry tie water
me through, 1t Is not probable that il w cost more
Inan one hall or two Thirds the amount of The New
ofk canal enlarged, and if railroad sbond ba adon
eo across tie mountain, Ahe expense of consruc ion
would probably be Still less In any event 81 nw,no
lair compensation for capital expended a, d current
e@penss IN transportation, we may assume that our line
can latly compete with that of New York for The
Trade OF the Great Western valley
Thus being able to reach bevond Virginia we can
csfsaiuy accommodate our own internal trade, :nd
make acquantances between the shin b,ll, and ovs.
ter cachers OF the East aud the farmers and hunters OF
me Wes; we may then transport our own timber
from the West, ard It be dependant upon Western
New ork, Tor ASH oak, walnut maple, or sycamore;
nor New England Tor lime and plaster; nor Liverpool
Tor salt and iron, or The IL Ian States for marble vel
may rival SaAony in the production OF wool, ana old
England, and New England in lite manufacture.