American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-09-17
Morgontown, (va) Friday, September Hs, 1s5s.

throughout, since the greatest part of
the line, in fact nearly all of it might
I be, and in reality is, slack water navi.
cation, capable of Improvement to any
extent, and of carrying steam tugs
equal, or even superior, to those on the
Erie Canal, the expense of completing
which would, if .cnergetically carried
through, be much less than the cost of
the New York and Erie. At Rich
mond it crosses splendid coal forma.
ton, where fuel can be had at less than
half its cost on the New York canals.
In Botetourt county, on entering the
mountains, it would again find a supply
of cheap fuel, and, in its route through
the Kanawha, it would be in and
through the greatest coalregion known
to the world, and where fuel can be
had for less than the third part Of the
price paid in New York. But, after
all, it is not actually necessary that we
should be confined to the James River
and Kanawha line, since the waters
of the New River offer line still moro
favorable for the use Of steam, since
that stream can be navigable for the
same steamboats, that now float on the
Western waters. Without unloading,
the ordinary boats of the Ohio and
other tributaries of the Mississippi,
might ascend to the Virginia and Ten
,ncssec Railroad at Central" and
from thence portage is now built to
Lynchburg, where it again meet the
watcr,which ight be made, from thence
to Norfolk, unbrokcn for steam barecs.
Or, the connection might be made at
the head of the prcsant canal at Bucha
nan, since the distance from Buford's
Gap or Bonsack $, on the Virginia,
and Tennessee line, to this place, is
but short, and the total portage, in this
case, would be short of seventy miles,
with favorable grades except for short
distance, in ascending from the New
River at Central" 4" sa.r
If Virginia would prosper, she must
take hold of the golden opportunities
offered, Providence only helps those
who would help themselves. In vain
are our coal fields and our mountains
OF ore in vain our rivers flow and our
waters roll, if they are made to answer
no purpose, and bless no people, or
serve no cause. The advantages we
possess are valueless, and yainly we
boast of them, if we make no endcayor
to profit by them.
The adventurous sons of cold and in
hospitable Canada build their ship
canals over the frozen mountains of the
North, ,and the Industrious and energetic
citizens of New York brought the
waters of Lake Erie to their feet, over
barristers that seemed almost insur-
mountable, with tho bountiful wealth
OF the abundant West; and this they
did when they were young and weak
in physical powers, though strong in
faith and determination. Philadelphia
bdilt her avenues to her mountains of
coal while yet i'll her infancy, and ever
since, has compelled the Union to pay
her tribute on her investment of $780,
100000, to reach that coal alone
Baltimore, enterprising and worthy
sister city-the Monumental city of
the Bay-has also poured out her
treasures like water to bring the coal
of the mountains and the trade of the
mighty West to her hourthing marts.
And how she thrives, ask our merchants,
who 60 there to buy her bacon and the
staples OF the West, which we might
now be selling to her, instead of buy
ing from her, if we had not buried our
talent and neglected our opportuni-
ties. Are we always to be last to per.
ceive and last to profit. Richmond
Enquirer.
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