Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-08-27
tCorrespondence ofihe Richmond Enquirer
a Tour Through Virginia and the south
LOCOMOTIVE SKETCHE5-NO. XIX.

Correspondence Of The Richmond Enquirer
a Tour Through Virginia and the South.
LOCOMOTIVE sKETCHE5-No. xix.
The Mem RtVcr.
The immense resources of this river ARE stu un
known, for few, indeed, even in Virgins have any
idea of the msgnfc-nce OF its mineral deposits, The
richness of ITS soils and the varied and beautiful cha
rscter of lie scenery it's value as great highway
From its junction with the Notwithstanding the
great Kanawha-it passes through mineral region,
ascending until it enters the Alleghanes proper, in
Giles Here are the bodest and the widest scenes,
and splendid forests, of the most gigantic growfh'ca
pabe of producing timber for the navy yard at Nor
folk or tor the wants OF Virginia for centuries TO come
But bursting from this wild and mountain region,
We emerge through The Bushy and the Walker noun
tains, into the splendid valley Of the South West.
which lies in Montgomery, Pulaski Wythe Smylh
and Washington in Virginia, and extends far down
into Tennessee. From this point the river extends
I'D into the mountains Of Carroll aud Grayson after
trayersng tina beautiful counties of Pulaski and
Wy,he and loses itself in the highlands of North Ca
rollna where the towering White Tops" stand as
eternal pillars between the thres sovereign States
of Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina.
whose peu bstEsys the able and energetic proprietor
himself gives splendid description of the river, be
low the Virginia and Tennessee Rail Road, and opens
out magnificent visas for this undevelaped region
The river is bold and rapid, generally, but Pariicu-
lc.ly so through ihs mountain gorges and dehes OF
the AEeahanies. Yet this is not matter 10 regret,
since il oeers advantages which naturally navge'
BILE stream do not offer. We have the immense pow
ar of its mighty current subaerv,eDt to our villa
slave to turn rhrel-. Work our turuGCcgr mHnu.
facture our timber, and carry our produce. But ihe
sceur TO which We wish 10 direct attention is not in
this 4usrier, this part of the river; compared 10
that which es above the mountains of Mercer, Mon
roe aud Giles they -nt, 81: the present, into nslg.
ni6cance attractive and worthy =. t.;-y may be- OF
attention and enterprise. The great region,
taly opened out TO the enterprise OF ALL ia he c0af
lr2n. l,ad aud copper region Of the New River, and
ths lies in the counties OF Montgomery, PuInrki,
Wythe, Floyd. Carroll aud Grayson. 1t is empha,i'
caly the mineral region CT Virginia par ercelence.
Into this great EIdorado, We have already effected
an entrance and enterprise worthy Of imitation.
and which should not stop here. has laid the iron
baadc of steam, from the heart of this prolific inland
valley tG tGe cities Of the East and the tides oil
the Atlantic. Central il the point OF attraction on
the New River; for here al het is up the river
must concentrate, and much, too, ihst Leg down
the river from this point, must aacend to ";
and unless the Covingon and Ohio road b.
sOon made to move, or thei James River and
Ksnawhs Canal pushed forward to this point must
the produce of the yest the only alternative
for Virginia This river lan ne msde navigaole Tor
ordinary river boats at comparatively cHhll cost
for oneteuth of The cost OF completing thos. great
improvements; and were THE once accompl. I'D, Ne
should sse STEAMBOATS, Of the Missouri, the Mlssssipp'
and the Ohio ,eamng up to Central, and feeding our
great South Westsra line with the traffic, that would
be at this moment incredible t., en- conceptions. II
will cost twenty millions OF dollars to snsh he grent
Centra lines or ten millions to complete either the
lanes River and Kanawha canal, or the Covngton
and Ohio road. But to accomplish the same purpose,
and m.Le ths waters of lhs New River navigabr, one
million of dollars .udiciousy expended, would be sni-
acien, and would sdTit ordinary etealnboats to a--
cend to tbis point where our rail soa. rrady built,
aud where the freight is required We mast adInj,
that We would much prefer HI entire p0fer line, but
since we cannot have that give US the next best re
NEEDY; and one, too. that requires no means Out what
we csu rpise; and which, when completed would ~
least partially eject the purpose tor whieh we nave
been 20 long struggtiaG- end would make, at Ieast'
three ar four OF our great haeo o. public Improve
ment profitable and enaGe lis to reap soae 81 me ad-
vantages of trade with the great West.
The New River al Central is equal IN volume, or
nearly TO- to the james at Lynchburg. slack
wafer navigation could be easily and cheapy built,
unaf gtap HtE Ilyl
from three To fosr feet OF wafer all The year round
We do mol wish to divert attention from the Cehtrai's
improvements, 10 which the sts,s bss 60 much Mt
stake, but unless thoss who have that nstfsr /. hand
exert Themselves, those improvements Will never be
Finished tor il ia certain that they will neither gro'c
nor erect themselves. The distance from Central 10
the mouth of Greenbrer, is about 81 miles by river;
from thence to Lynchburg " miles by ran; and by
the Covington routs, l3b by rail from me hshAwa
10 CovingtOn, and one hundred by wafer 10 Lynch.
burg. giving differences in favor "f New EVER ana
the Virginia and Tenn1sses Hsllrnad OF ~ mites
Now. if a portage railroad must he maze between
the waters of the Kanawha and ihs J"mes. does not
the latter seem the best way Of the twof Iha rail
road is built. and nothing remains now out 10 I'm
prove one of Natures great highways NJ compare
lively trihing cost. On the other route, we sl want
$40, 600, $50 10 build a railroad, and s9"oo hO0 10
complete the caual to meet that road, ana after The
money il raised and the work done. II "'uih No the
iouget route by So miles! We said The region about
and abovo Central immensely noIe valuable
than that below the river. But the river lsef ID
worth lie size in silvsr, above or below we VIII re.
fer 10 this again. OE BOW.
MIssoDRI.-A st. Louis paper says we have
reason TO believe the Democracy have swept Inc IN
tire State of Missouri ss hurricane, scattering and
destroying the sma that. vampire like, were sucking
up tbs heart blood of its body polite. Missouri
stands i'll The old column, solid phaaoh q the brave
old legion of Democracy, q i1ed fact Democrat,
slave State"
DIED.
Or the cath Of July ls:e a, his residence IN Nelson