Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-01-24


have bccn carried through the cntiTe Hne, aha
4 lRrre amount OIIrivcl attracted to Il, strong
necessity for both eannO, ctiSs'
A canal across the mountains would sAt'sty
the present demand iOr tho transportation !"
produce. but the railroad would, ~ ahI'uHh,
accommodate a large amount ot haNr'' Wy
transportation of the mail and i've s'oeA, aM'
consequently ensure speedy Hnd ample ,s-
munOratiOn for the cost OF eonstrnctOn' W.
yolyai az we are. the shortest time w''h,h
which rcnunepting revenue can bs ptoIuV1ro",
IL n pFopeT subject for considerations anu u y"
iuSupprable objection TO such o course cxist',
the imnroyem0nt by which this object can be
frat attained, should bS first cI0cntcd. bu' in
tho execution, the work should he so construct.
cd as not to nrsclude the construction oi mo
other, along or near the same limo, should u
ever be deemed e1pedient to do so.
With these general views Of the subject,
feel much confidence in recommending con-
tnuaucc Of the water line to Clifton Forge OF
to the nearest point opon the proposed linoi At
which junction can be formed with the Ccn-
tral railroad, and that the Legislature make
provision in tho most suitable manner 10 CON.
plcto the work at an early day. The report oI
tho President Of the James river aud kanawha
company, having charge Of this important I'M.
provcment, exhibits tho entire income OF all
their works, in eleven months ending the 3Oth
September last, at S25l $3.50 70, aud the die.
bursements within the same period for general
administration end repairs On the works, at
$50, ,020 81, leaving nett income Of Sl6s,53g
81 cts. They diSburSed also. for annuity TO tho
old James riTer COMPANY, S2i 1000; rsdfmp-
tioa Of post notes, SS52 IS, and interest on the
bonds guaranteed by the State, Sl96,21b 80,
making an aggregate Of seiS, ,lGS 30-bcing al
excess over the nett income Of SiS,62S 4S.-
In tho estimate Of receipts and disbursement,
for the current year, the President anticipates
n deficit Of S50,97S y. HO states that tho
second division tffom Lynchbnrg to Brchananl
will exceed the funds appropriated for the pnr.
nese, by at least one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, and the cost Of the tidewatcr, Rivanna
and S0uthsidc connections will uvcrun the ap-
preparations for those objects. Upon the third
division between Buchanan ahd C0vington)
contracts have been made for three dams and
a tunNel, but the funds appropriated TO the OBJ
ject are insufficient to complete the division,
and Il 10 the policy Of tie board to execute sue
eessivc sections and make them arIilsblH for
navigation and revenue, to the extent Of tho
means provided, In this embarrassing position
Of their AFFAIR."; the President suggests as mode
Of relief, TIM, the State should assume the qua
rantced debts, and CONVERT their amount into
stock Of the company, by which the nett ~.
come would be lot free, and could be applied
in the most appropriate manner to carry on the
work. But Il this plan should mt DO deemed
advisable BY the Legislature, hG proposes that
a loan In State bonds ofthree hundred thousand
dollars shall be asked, or that the State shall
pay the interest on the eompahy's bonds until
tho ist Of Julyj 1858. With the prospects ot
revenue, when the works in process Of eou.
struetion shall have been completed, tho Pres
ident thinks the company would be justified in
undertaking TO refund to the treasury in fve
years, the sums thus advanced. The Tespect-
ihl consideration Of the Legislature !, asked
for these propositions, with view 10 the COM
! pletjon Of the canal 10 or near Clifton Forge,
as before indicated, as It's present terminus
Il is not improbable that with proper energy
the canal can be completed to this point within
two years, when we shall have water limo Of
about $50 miles.
From this point most earnestly recommend
the construction Of railroad on State account,
to some point on the Ohio river deemed most
eligible upon full reconnaissance Of the several
routes heretofore contemplated, having In view
the valuable trade Of that river. and ultimately
4 railroad connection with the cities Of Cinein-
natl and Louisville. In connection with this
line, recommend that every proper aid should
be given for the speedy completion Of the Gem
trail railroad from Richmond to the point pro-
posed as the present terminus ofthe canal, and
that from Alexandra TO Gordonville. The rail-
road from the canal to Loup creek shoals would
not exceed $50 miles, Ito which point steam
boats are now aceessibic,) and from which To
Guyandoite, should that point be selected as
the terminus, Il would he about SO miles max
ing 2S2 miles Of railroad: The watct line By
the Kanawha would DO about SO, md strike the
Ohio 10 miles above Guyandotte-thus giving
the section Of road between Loup creek shoals
and Clifton Forge the double importance Of be-
ing connected At both ends with water and rail
road lines. The best energy the State should
therefore be turned to the speedy completion
Of this division Of the work. There is little
doubt that the Alexandria and Orange railroad
and the Blue Ridge tunnel may be completed,
and the Central railroad and the canal may be
carried to Clifton Forge BY the time the railroad
from the latter place to the Ohio river can be
finished.
These works will give line Of railroad
(ShOuld GuyandOttc. l.7 miles below the south
ern terminus ofthc Baltimore and Ohio railroad
be the point secetedl of 4is miles to Alexan.
dria, of427 to Richmond, and 800 to FredeTiekE-
burg. five include 40 miles OF plank road froE,
Gordonsyille, designed ultimately TO be lail
with rails. From the head Of steamboat navi-
CATION on the Kanawha we shall have line to.
Richmond Of $50 miles, consisting Of $50 Of
railroad and $50 Of canal. and also railroad
line Of 3i5 miles; to Fredericksburg line Of
30S miles, consisting Of 26S Of railroad and 10.
Of plank road, and to Alexandria 800 miles Of
continuous railroad. The advantages OF this
connection to the whole commonwealth, in IN
economical and financial view will be almost
incalculable. As q connection Of local works
they will confer important benefits upon half
the State. Terminating upon our western bOr.
der at GnyandOtte and Point Pleasant lthe lat
ter 81 miles below tho terminus ofthG Baltimore
and Ohio railroad and on the east at Rich.
mnnd, Fredericksburg and Aloxandfia, in aldi'
ton to tho vast amount Of local trade and v
vel which these improvements will nccoyn'
date, they will operate in wh0IeSons epthr|
ton with the Maryland and PcnnSylyps boT!
for tho business Of our northern coy
tlering on the Ohio. Mress A.
I, is clear, that while made to op-
cross The mountains eaa9sl 10 the fiji
crate nsa feeder 10 thset trade which
can be transporter upon lie rosas al-
u can aIso .aM al".M tand in which tl'
teaay e9n"fyinlrrrst,d,I . vsry n's"
S'a'e Is scssIsin.. which w ~ posi-
amount . '.'.' be ,tT.ctrd hy 'hs canal IT.
ol'lIy G--,hm giving active employ
eome the wfoIr connection. 'UIsirir't
VIZ m'ssroduc. from the loIlG alone a rrrr-
Y. ,ho, will liouidate the debts ssiilius