Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-10-21
DAILY VIRGINIAN.
SATURDAY MORNING. OCT. 81, ISL.
Canals VS.. Railroads.

Canals VS. Railroads
Mr.. MeAlpine states that "the freghting eu-
siness of the New York canals exceeds the com
bined business of all the CANADIAN aud fehhsyi-
wanna canals. and the New \ ork and Pehnst IVA
MIA and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroads by Tor
ty per cent and that the Western business dane
by the New York canals is three times as great
as the aggregate business Of all the oihef inns
and also that the chief part ot the business aehe
bv these lines i local traffic of the country
through which they pass. The cost OF transport
by these routes. stated IN the last report nm
its the extent of their competition tor the tfade
of the West and hence the rivalry for this trade
is between the water lines leading t" Ne" York
and those leading to New Orleans. When the
enlargement of the Eric Canal l. completed, the
cost of transport will bc 80 much reduced fhat
the products Of the West can be brought /" the
New York market from a far a. the confluence
of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers cheaper than
to New Orleans. Whenever this l. done, 1t will
add to the business of the New York canals the
trade of one fourth + the States Of Ohio Indiana
and Kentucky, of one-half Of the states OF Hi.
nos and Wisconsin, and of the whole 81 the
Western Mississippi Valley above the mouth Of
the Ohio iibany Argus.
The fact stated by Mr.. McAlpine should ar
rest the attention Of the Improvement men Of
Virginia The operations of the New York ca
nals railroads, here reported, are eoneIu-
sve of the greater capacity OF canals for the gen
eral business af transpar The man element
of this advantage i their acknowledged adapted
ness To cheaper rate. Of transportation. Bat1s the
conclusion OF Mr.. McAlpine based on correct
hypothesis when he SAYS that the enlarge
ment If the Erie canal when completed will add
to the business Of the New York. canals the
trade Of one fourth Of the states OF Ohio In Ian
ma and kontoekY. Of one half of the states ot
Illinois aud Wisconsin. and Of the whole Of the
western Mississippi Valley above the IN ,uth Of
the Ohio l. there no other possible avenue
for "a water connection between the Mississippi
Valley aud The Atlantic, than through the Delias
of the Mississippi, or the artificial channels OF
Ohio and New York - 50 Mr.. McAlpne seems
to consider. Perhaps he is justified in th, con-
cus'on by The profound apathy with which Nir
ginia regards her great natural advantages over
New York. or any other state TO open direct
water line eastwardlv between the Mississippi
and Ohio valleys and the Ocean. As by the
touch of u mn eic wand, she can will it aud the
waters Of the greet west, with their fleets Of
boundess wealth,are turned through her borders
into the Atlantic. And il can aud will be done.
We look To the lines Of railroad now rapidly APP
preaching the internnllin lines of western commerce
rs Tire pioneers which will surely develop the ne
cessity Tor tkis great work, Icy illustrating thr
truth Of tl,ir avn in,oticicncy to accommodate
the vast accumulation Of business which they will
encounter.
Produce now seeks New York from Cincinnati
through the improvements of Ohio, the i.akrs
u. " - NJ,
part of the year. During the remainder ct the
year the winter months is stationary, locked
up,uutil the opening Of canal navigation, in seme
of the Lake por's. With equal aud more dirce,
facilities through Virginia to the ocean from
the Ohio River, why i, il that tonnage from the
Lakes would not return hy the same channels
through this outlet, especially during the winter
months
Would il lac unreasonable to suppose that
a thousand barrels of flour in Chicago or even
Cleveland, designed for Liverpool, would, during
the winter months. be forwarded to the Ohio
through thu same channels through which pro-
duce from the OHIO passes Northwardi in the sum
mer And would not a water connection be-
tween Norfolk and the Ohio offer as cheap or
cheaper facilities for shipments 10 l.iverpoof from
the waters Of that riyor,as now exist between the
Lakes and New \ ork We know no reason 10
the contrary. But we have no design to disc ISIS
this question at the present time. Admit the
practicabhtr of IA water line to the Ohio. and
every one must confess the importance of It's
ultimate construction and without n word of dis.
sent, either, to the grand policy of an immediate
railway connection. There will be business
enough for both.