Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-11-16

The Water Line to tho Ohio


An article appears in the editorial columns of
the Gfeenbter Era, of the I'd instant, in which
certain structures are nude upon the course of
this paper in reference 10 the construction Of Il
caual from the James 10 the kannwha River
The statement of lacis, relied upon by the writer,
is characterized by the same accuracy which was
displayed IN The estimates of the comparative nd
yanthpes OF The Grcenbrier aud Monroe routes,
for the Coyingtnn and Ohio Rarond and give
evidence Of the sumo spirit which ondcmorcd to
convince the Legislature TINT the joint location Of
the Canal aud Railroad from Coyngton, would in
crease the cost of the latter ~ ,oOO,000.
Recent surveys hive demonstrated that the Joint
location can he effected without increasing tie
cost of either the Railroad or the Canal one dol
lar.
We do not propose entering upon the question
OF the comparative advantages of Railroads and
Canals AT present. W. are fully persuaded that
the interests Of the Stnte require the construction
OF both, aud we have 10 doubt of The Feasibility
of the continuous watcr line.
We intend at this time merely 10 notice some
of the statements and calculations of The writer
of the Era, with view To- their correction.
|. Ii Is stated thai the "Grocubrier River Mt
that point, whereof has been proposed 10 arrest its
N"'rf ior the supply, has been known to afford
bit a ddbblc, scarcely sufficient for saw ri. -
he IL -u Of n careful examination ~ Autho-
nS.eCteoS, ono If the tributaries of the Green
hu'r RIVER above the poist Indicated hns been
gi,cn m the pobis,ed report OF Mr. Ior-
rune. lie ent e, the annual discharge of this
cre'k ~ u,526, 95j cubic wards of winter. There
hre 9suer tributary streams, whose united volume
a. stated by Mr. Lorraine ~ about one third of
Anthony Greek There are then available for
the supply ot tia summit level without rrsorting
10 The ruins from heaven 100000 of cubic
yords OF water. The Era can perhaps determine
how many "saN mills this would supply.
:, he tolls will be oppressive, because Of the
great umoant at loekagc, there being 3,5OO feet
hetweont the termlul OF the Canal, 10 be overcome:
and the number of lock keepers to be employed
being very great DC.
Surprising the elevation Ia be IA, stated, there
would be about $50 locks ON cach side of the sum
mil loved. This will gtye,on the largest estimate,
aoO lock keepers, who, at Sl5O each, would cost
the sum of Sloj,0O0. Should the tolls on this
Can'd ever approximate those at present received
ON the Erie tanal, say S3,0o0,0O0, il is fair 10
assume that a charge of lO5,OoD for pa, Of lock
keepers, would not render the tolls oppressive
Tins amount would be about onc-thrticth of the
tolls received, and il the tolls on tonnage be only
a hall cent per ton pcrmlr on the Erie Canul, the
eharge for tending the locks could only add a.
bout ene-siAtletll part OF a cent per ton, which
would scarcely be considered oppressive hv the
advocates Of roadtransportution.
= "Aireight tran on Railroad if need re
quire,eun he dispatched every teuminutcsor 2iO
perday each containing 100 tons"
Imagine 2l0 freight trains, ench carving 400
tons,or 10000 in the aggregate, passing over the
Central Railroad in one dav-more than was
transported during the whole of the past year.
/ hen conceive, II YOU have fancy for the hor-
rhe, what would he the consequence of the de
tention Of the front train Tor more than 10 min
ates. There wouldindeed he renliaed, the wreck
OF matter and the crush of worlds"
About minutes is necessary to pass a boat
through lock Thus 2t0hoats, with, perhaps,
100 tons each, would be the capacity of the Ia
nal.'
We admit that 24O boats, with,perhaps, 100 ton.
each would be the capacity of the Canal for ii
hours. This would give fer each day $4,000 tons,
which, multiplied by 365, would give S,760,000
tons. Quite sufficient tor all purposes.
One million OF tons transported through tho
line at halt cent. per ton per mile for about 500
miles, would give S2,50O,0O0 or and amount sui
hcient 10 pay II per cent. 500 900. 600 the en-
tire cost of the water line when completed, and
all charges for the maintenance of the same
" This claim for right of way, which can
never be exercised may interfere with the chance
Ion tar decision on the question of route for tine
Railroad g"
1t has been asceriained that the fright of
way for the canal will not interfere with the To-
cation OF the Covmgton and Ohio Railroad. The
surveys now IN progress will furnish reiiable data
by which the Legislature can determine fliriy
the best route for Railroad from Covington to
OHIO. We doubt not that the report of the ae-
conpllshed engineer, now engaged in these sur
Neys, VIII set at rest the question of route for the
Railroad and diyest the biect of extraneous CON
siderations which have been blended with il. We
have no desire but to promote the best interests
OF the Commonwealth, and we shall feariessly ad-
vocate that policy which will. in our opinion,most
/ certainly accomplish that end
The intimation of the writer of the article in the
! Era that the advocacy of continuous water line
to the Ohio is "A new thing with the Dispatch, IS
! about as near the mark as his other statements.
! The Dispatch has always upheld this policy and
will never cease 10 advocate IT, as more important
to the prosperity of Virginia than any and all the
| other Improvements of the State. If the Erie
Canal, Notwithstanding the circutous route bv
! which produce reaches it from the South and
| West; Notwithstanding II transhipment at Ceve-
land, another transhpment ut Buffalo and ano-
/ ther transhipment Mt Albany; notwths standing
the obstruction Of its navigation by ice for four
months in the year; if, under all these disadsan.
tages, the Erie Canal stands coniessodly the
most important and the most profitable of all the
! public works OF the Empire State, what may we