Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-08-20
THE NEW RIVER BELOW CENTRAL

"A. B. c." in the "Dispatch," has given US some
interesting letters from the New river, down which
he "padded his own canoe" We are also on voy.
age of discovery and felt deep interest in the late
of fellow traveller amongst these adventurous
scenes. MIR. e. has opened out splendid mine for
investigation and future development. Our trip to
the Kanawha this time will poet upon the natter
but since il is one to which had devoted the com
ing months, we will follow up Mr.. C's letters with
few hints which may awaken some interest In this
almost unknown river.
The New river, from Central TO the mouth of Green.
brier, is rapid, and the fall lie comparatively great
But an advantage lies in the fact that the tails are
confined TO localities; and DAMS therefore, will only
be required to overcome those falls more than for
the purpose of back-water, sirce large portion OF
the river is at present deep enough for navigation.
with small seambOats, and only require the removal
of f.w lodges and boulders. 1t is estimated thar
81, 900 QUO would prepare New river from the mouth
of the Greenbri.r to Central distance OF 81 miles,
for such boats generally navigate the upper waters
Of the Ohio or between Parkersburg and PIttsburg.
The channel is generally narrow, and consequently
the water is deeper than may be expected in wider
rivers, even with more water But there is nothing,
we ara told, which may induce to make this river
navigable. That the produce will not go down
and that the region through which the river passes is
not productive enough TO guarantee the expenditure
of one.tenth of million. But We can easily show
whence the produce, whence the freight, and the
traffic ia to come from. Only make such navigation
as will admit of the steamboats, Of the Ohio, or the
lesser rivers Of the West, and the same trade will
up this river to Central that we anticipate for
The James river and Kanswha canal, or the Coving-
ton and Ohio road. From the month of the Green
brier to Central liz about eighty miles, and from Cen
trail to Lynch5urg it only nneiy-seven miles, ma
king total distance Of one hundred and seventy
miles, Of which eighty is by river navigation
the cheapest mode OF inland transportation except on
lakes, and only requiring mllion of dollars to pul
it into navigabe order.
BY the Covngtou and Ohio road it will be one
hundred and thirtysi miles to Covington, and from
thence one hundred miles or more to Lynchburg-so
in any case this IL the best and shortest route that
BIZ found from The waters of the West to the Atlantic
and after all complete water line, would be our
choice, since it lie not only nearer but it would be in
fntely less expensive, for instead OF fifteen million
one million of dollars would do. This is within
our reach, and this we Can accomplish. and unless
greater Efforts are made TO push forward the Contra
water line to the Kanawha, and that at once, that m
provement will be numbered with those that have
died suicidal deah-sef sacrificed and abandoned.
The portage from Central 10 the canal at Buchanan
would not be- more than seveDy-6ve miles, nor more
than ninety seven TO Lynchburg. This matter is
worthy the attention Of people, for re must get 10
he West, and If We cannot 20 one way we will go
another,