Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-02-12
North River Improve ncnt.

sfacles which seem TO he presented to the
formation here of town, so large and
prosperous as Lynchburg, naturally elicit
inquiry into the advantages it possesses in
position and capacity TO command the
trade Of the adjacent country. We have
just finished an inquiry ofthis kind, in rela-
ton to the country South Of us, and offer
ed such suggestions as seemed to us cal
culatcd to build up improved and more
profitable communication in that direction.
The completion and opening of the
James River and Kanawha Canal TO the
Valley, has impaired new spirit of i'm
provcmert 10 a section Of country, which,
although it has, by facilities inferior and
far behind the times, kept up TO a cunside
rable amount, valuable trade with Lynch
burg, in agricultural products and iron,
yet we think. it can be satisfactorily de-
monslrated that valuable as it is now, the
into an importance, that will more than re-
pay the labor and cost of the improved
construction along the North River, by
sack water and Canal, with Locks to
admit the same sized boats, that are used IN
transportation on the James River and
kanawha Canal
1t is not our purpose to enter into any
argument Of the propriety Of giving one
kind of improvement a preference over
the other, but to promote, 10y whatever
facts We can call to our aid the mode which
those most interested have declared
shall be the character Of work. From the
mouth of the North River to its sources,
and all along the little tributaries that flow
into (which embraces one Of the love
lest portions of the Valley-from the ridge
on the North, which separates the Waters
from the Blue Ridge TO the Allegheny
Mountains, through the upper part Of Au-
as naturally tributary TO the improvement
up the North River, nearly the entire
counties Of Rockbridge. Bath, Pocahontas
and Highland and a portion Of Augusta,
remarkable for its immense quantities OF
fine forests that could be turned into
lumber ofthe most valuable kind-are TO
be found soils as genial ard productive
as any in the long tract fcountry, which
sweeps from the lower waters Of the Pc
tomac to the Tennessee line.
The work from the mouth of the River
TO Lexington, is, we believe. under contract;
but like al'the Improvements in Virginia,
it has lis difficulties; some from out-righ,
opposition, others from sectional feelings
and interests. The amount of capital
required y the charter has been subscrib
ed for, in various ways-by the State, by
individuals and by the town Of Lexington
and county of Rockbridge, in their corpo
rate capacities.
We have before us an interesting exhibit
ofthe products ofihc four counties alluded
to, but it is imperfect in one branch of in
dustry, destined to become its chief pro
duct; we mean Iron. We have nothing
before US upon which we can rely with
accuracy, as to the annual amount Of that
branch Of productive industry; but we
hesitate not to say that with this improve
ment completed, and with that legislation
by Congress, which is SO just and SO ne
cessary, not only for its development, but
for the true interest Of ouS country, it
will exceed very far any amount which
has been transported from that section
heretofore. We are under the impression,
that there cannot now be less than ten or
fifteen establishments for the manufacture
ofpig and bar iron, ploughs, hollow ware,
mill gearing &c, which can have no other
outlet, than the one afforded by this i'm
provcment; and we leave it with prudent
and sagacious enterprise TO say what il Will
be in the future, with the advantage of this
improvement and that Legislation which
we have spoken OF as just, and sooner or
later 10 be expected. There is no back
wardness with the proprictors Of the land
in which the ores are found They have
constantly cxcrted themselves, since an APP
plica,ion of labor forts development pre-
scented any remuncrating reward. The ore
may lie imbedded there in depth after
depth, but unless communication to mar.
kets is offered, it will still lie in unused
wealih-a lasting reproach to the enter
prise and public spirit ofthe State.
When the James River and Kanawha
Canal Company shall have reduced their
tolls to proper standard, and this branch
improvement is continued into the very
heart ofthe Iron ore beds. why shall we
not expect TO see the amount Of annual
production ouadrupleli If by no other
than INSTRUMENTATION, through the DIFF
hcnlt and dangerous passes OF Inc noun
tain, this interest has not wancd in its
energy or its hoPes-what shall we not
not expect. now, that a cheap and safe
line Of navigation, is seen winding its way
around the fatal rapids, SO destructive to
life and property We leave this branch
Of our subject, with the request that our
Lexington contemporaries will furnish
statistics ofthe Iron interest, in that section
Of country, and with the promise that we
will advert to it again. when more infor-
nation is obtained
Before extracting so much from the
tables before us as is desirable, and which
relates chiefly to those products connected
with agriculture, we will allude to one
r.