Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-11-27
LYNCHBURG VIRGINIAN.
MONDAY MORNING. NOV. %. 1851.


tn Norfolk convention-The Guage Question
The resolutions adopted by the Norfolk Con
vention, though to carry out the views which
they embody NAV be deemed by many inexPedi-
ent-perhaps impracticable, in the present tinan-
cial condition of the country embrace we be
lieve. the grandest system of improvement TO be
found in any state of the Union. 1t i system.
too the early completion of which is demanded
by the painest principles of State economy
We would have the States energies directed TO It
If for no other purpose than 10 tap the veins OF
Western Commerce. whose rich currents turned
upon her own unfinished improvements would at
once restore value to the millions Of almost val
ueless stocks thus invested in them And even
apart from a consideration Of the effects which
would be produced on her railroads, the stocks Of
some of which. on account Of insufhcieney Of
business, are barely worth $50 or 40, the i've
or six millions of dollars which under existing
circumstance have beca wasted on the James
River Canal. would be recovered and converted
into valuable stocks. The Erie Canal with IL
immense business. requiring an enlargement 81
the work at an expense great as the original
cost Of construction. would be comparatively
valueles,. if, ike our canal it had been stopped
short Of the great avenues of Western trade
with which II connects. 80 also with the div
dend paying railroads Of Massachusetts,, New
York. Pennsylvania and the Western staies.-
They are not dependent on local business, are
now nearly all the works in Virginia, but con
nect ceuters Of trade which give them employ
ment adequate to their capacity for transPorta-
lion.
But it j. not alone BY giving value 10 invest
ment- already made in improvements in Virginia
that we believe the Ohio connections, reeommen-
ded by the Norfolk Convention to be wise aud
expedient Let u cut down the barrier Of tho
Allegheny and tap, a the nearest point to the
Atlantic Sea board the great trade arteries Of
the Mississippi Nalley-thus letting loose cast
wardly part only Of the rich tide Of commerce
which surge, along orr western border, aud "
shall at once develop and give birth 10 agencies
which will de- more in short time than al the
non-intercourse follies aud direct importation
schemes, which were ever dreamed Of, 10 elevate
the Old Dominion. commercially we'll "a, other
wise, TO the condition at great a free and an
indeyrad,ni STATE. The value Of the annual
floating trplc upon the natural channels Of the
basin of the Mississippi is now estimated at
$3.50, 0OOOoD. OF this trade there passed through
the Ne" l"'n anu IL ''o P'', -, 70 'ae
'nlue OF S''''' '''9' ai,' COW" '"' 'i's',ss'ii'
to Ne" orleans l'l'e onlY ''.'' N'.'r 'hs 10 LUZ
Ocean, 10 The N"iue 81 80 ,'',o''' VIM ''e
whole tonnage according u ne DO" = he''e"'
employed ia direct foreign trade between Laf'ie
and the waters 81 james River amounted, for the
year ending july 1T, l>5l. To only 10000 tons,
and th" value OF our f're'gn exports Tor i7'o Va.
sd4l''o'" ana 81 foreign imports 'a', s'~o'
5l9! -" what prospect is TINS u lfe'n,a.
though shc "efe /" bud a thousand shlPs Iof
COMMERCIAL c'ue7 anu foreign commerce. hhi