Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-09-19
THE CANAL.

OF the James River ana hanaWna company an
nouncing that the canal will be opened between
Lynchburg and the mouth of North River, or
and after the LIST of October next. This partla
extension of the great central water-line may
justly be regarded as an epoch in the history OF
the Internal commerce of the Stale. 1t unltes the
East with the West by a liquid chain stronger and
more lasting than iron. 1t brings the central
Valley of Virginia into closer communion with
her Eastern markets and makes certain the iu-
ture prosperity OF both.
We shall be pardoned, we trust for lndnlging
in some feiicitation at this imperfect, yet impor'
tant, realization of hopes long entertained concern
ing the chief improvement policy OF the State
When we took charge of this paper, six years ago
we speedily undertook the advocacy OF the extern
sion ofthe canal as the great measure to which
the energies OF the State should be chiefly d.
rected. Canals had, at that time, fallen into
such unpopularity, that our views were consider
ed by many little less than antediluvian. Amidst
rdcue and opposition, however, we battled ON
and, from time to time, laid before the public the
uuanswerable demonstrations, supplied by the
operation OF the New York and other canals, that
next to sail vessels, canal transportation is the
cbespest that can be secured Public senti-
mem was gradually constrained to change,
and the Legislature passed the bill appropr-
ating $1,000, 900 for the extension OF the
canal to Buchanan The work has, from vari-
GUS causes, been most vexatiously delayed, but
at last the welcome fact is announced that the
barrier of the Blue Ridge is cleared, and the VAL
ley of Virginia tapped. We congratulate the
friends of the canal, and the people of the whole
State, that this important advance towards the
great West has been accomplished. 1t remains
for the Company to complete the extension, which
they expect to do by the end of the present year,
and to push their operations beyond that point with
the partial means which the Leg islature has placed
in their hands. Coyington will be the next point
to attain, ard then the murmurs of the Greenbri-
er will be almost within hearing. The grand
question in our internal polity, when the Com
missioners of Public Works come to be elected,
under the new constitution will be whether the wa
ter line shall pierce the Aleghanies. By that time
there is good reason to hope that our true policy
will be perceived by the people; for on no one
subject has there been greater revolution OF opln
ion than on this. We believe there is no doubt
that majority of the members of the State Con-
vention became convinced that the canal ought to
be carried to the Oho--a conclusion to which
their minds were brought by the well known and
mastery exposition of the subject contained in
the eleventh and supplemental reports of President
Cabell. We have perfect confidence, that the
canal itself, when extended to Buchanan, and
fortified by the Dock Connection, the Rvanna and
North river improvements, and the South Side
communications, will demonstrate the necessity
for prosecuting it to its final destination.
The following statistics of the present trade
(kndly furnished US by the Secretary make very
satisfactory exhibit:
Amount of Tolls received the James River and
Kanawha Canal:
From LIST Jan, 1850 Isl Sept 1880 s3s $50 IS
Gain in 1851. ia 81
Tolls received at the Toll Office in Richmond
1851 &c lS5l.... Ill cal 10
Gain in 1851. ".....a;.;. 5000 Al
The decrease in the Tonnage ana Tolls at Lynch
burg is attributable to the short crop otobacco and
The reten ton of many articles Of producton awaiting
It opening OF the Canal above Lynchburg.
The following comparison OF the tonnage OF
the canal during the months of June. July and
August, in 1850 and 1851, is also interesting
Entered al Richmond.
limos. 1851. .76, 520, l2o lbs.
DO 1870. .oi,9|o,ool
Increase. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Ia, 546 ,46e
Entered al LynchbUg.
mos 1851. II 609, 769 lbs.
Do. 1880. IL, i2467 "
The decrease at Lynchburg, in August alone, was
595 1879 lbs, being than the whole decrease in he
tn &c month"; and showing the correctness OF the expla
nation given above, that produce above Lynchhurg
has been retained await the opening OF the canal.
Bots or Caskie-u To be Ga Whig) or mol to be;