Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-07-25

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In accordance with promise made yesterday.
we publish day. from the Norfolk Argus, an
interesting communication relative TO the James
River aud Kanawhs Canal, the cost of its extern
sion TO the Ohio river. and the advantages of
such extension TO the trade, prosperity, aud re-
sources of the State. We invite to 1t the par
.cular attention Of our readers.
II will be observed. in the first place, that the
writer lays particular stress on the important
fact that by this route the Ohio river can be con
nected with the Chesapeake Bay at Norfolk by
a line Of communication only six hundred aud
fifteen miles in length Bat, Of this distance
over three hundred miles is already made navi
gable by nature--to wit, one hundred aud sixty
mile from Norfolk 10 Richmond, aud ono hun
bred and fifty six miles from the mouth OF the
Greenbri.r river down to the Ohio. OF the re
naming distance, one tundred and ninety six
miles lto-wit, from Richmond to Buchanan) is
already navgable by oanal-leaving. in point OF
fact. only about one handred miles OF canal to be
made TO complete a continuous water communi-
cation between the Atlantic Ocean at Norfolk
and the Ohio river at the mouth Of the Great
Kanawha. Aud of this distance, twenty miles is
already in process Of construction.
In the next place. the capacity II this line will
exceed that of any other similar line in the
United Siates-tho great Ere Canal, which con
meets Albany with the Lakes, not excepted
A according TO the estimate OF Col. Gwynn IT
would be. in fact, Of sufficient capacity to trans
port three millions Of tonnage annually. And
this is an important consideration. At first the
canal would be more than equal to all the demands
that nughtbe made upon it-bat the history of the
Erie canal in n. York, notwithstanding railroad
Runs along its bank the whole distance, shows
that capacity is an object Of supreme importance.
After working the Erie canal for several years
the demands upon il increased to such ap extent
few years ago, that the Legislature of New
York made single appropriation os ten millions
of dollars towards ITS enlargement. The canal
was actually insufficient in size for the immense
tonnage that sought transportation on its waters
and New York expended ten millions at one
dash TO make it larger.
In the next place. our writer urges a conside
ration which we have ourselves frequently urged
heretofore--pemey, the superior advantages of
a connection with the West through Virginia.
over any other point, North or South, by reason
of the climate-Nirginia being about midway
between the rigors of the Northern winter and
the deadly malaria ,f the extreme South. The
Northern lines blocked up for four OF five months
in the year by ice, and the southern transporta
ton by the Mississippi, rendered dangerous by
the summer fevers, labor under disabilities from
which Virginia, owing to her mediterranean posi-
ton, is happily free at all seasons of the year
And this consideration is. so important as to be
sufficient, of itself TO determine the result Of any
competition that may be entered into for the se-
curing Of the transportation Of the Great West.
ern valleys.
Lastly, ii is estimated that the cost of the
completion Of this water line to the Ohio would
be actually less than the cost of u railroad, by
nearly five millions of dollars. This is the esti
mate of Col. Gwynn, Of the most accomplish
ed engineers of the day.
Under these circumstances, do not think
Virginia ought to hesitate a moment as to which
of these enterprises She ought first to devote her
energies TO- \ railroad will inevitably be built
but ought not the water line 10 be at once
completed. and the tneans afforded for the tran
shipment of the products of the Mississippi Val
ley, by the nearest, NEST direct. cheapest, and
most convenient route' When it is recollecte
that transportation, particularly of articles of
bulk. is so much cheaper by water than by rail
and that the expense and delay of break of
bulk forms no inconsiderable item in the account
it will be acknowledged that no obstacle, not
absolutely insuperable, should interpose to the
earliest possible completion of this great artery
of Southern commerce..