Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-02-09

luucESe
of the west aud OF the south in inverse
thaindicated by the Of the great rivers The,
force merchandise TO ascend these rivers from far dowi
and accumulate northward despite the empes:s and ice
and then dsperse themselves throughout the world
through the medium OF the markets of the north.
The struggle has been gigantic.
In Virginia il is only necessary to draw short
STRAIGHT line from the Atlantic towards the west between
the north and the south of the Union under climate
mild and emp rate and the result and must reach
beyond that attained by the Erie Canal according the
opinion OF competent men.
since the James River and Kanawha Canal is not yet
finished in spite of the facilities and advantages pro
dgally bestowed by nature, the cessty must be ad
it,ed of employing no! only foreign capi al but farther
and above all practical activity the perseyering energy
ofa new aud somewhat regeneratye company. Ii would
be necessary 10 have tha strength Of al
cep,iopal combination the head of which would be
found men with large oi money and credit with
speciI taens capacity, serious minds comprehe ndine
the necessity of finishing what is begun. in order 10
achieve the greatest results from this gand undertaking
CAPACITIES Tfg ERIE CANAL AND or THE JAMES RIVER
AND SASAwHA CANAL.
The capacity Of the T. is canal s five millions OF tons,
and will be seven millions after the projected improve.
ments according TO report Of Mr. alpine chief
gineer of the state OF New York.
This canal is 80 On and 20 feet wGe-avtrage 90 feet
Its depth is ) q and feet
It's locks are 10 feet long by II wide.
The capacity of the james liver aud Ksnashl cansl,
according TO the new scheme will be, the least -
millions Of tons.
It's breadth is and w,ll be every where 30 feet aud its
minimum depth, every where slsc I feet.
Its locks are 20 feet long by 20 wde and upon
than two.6fhs OF the length Of the works. they will be
200 feet BY 40.
NORFOLK
touch now upon one of the most important points of
the question know nothing better to DO Monsieur le
Mnistrs for giving an exact idea of what the port Of
kn-rnll naturally 10 and the ADVANTAGES he lraw
from t. than to cite the opinion of Commander Maury
Of the United States navy chief Of the national obser
yatory at Washington, and whose name belongs TO the
scientific world In very Interesting work published
in lS5i under the form OF letters 10 his son. Command
er Marry describes the commercial advantages of Nor
folk in these WoI,S:
As to the natural advantages OF position, depth OF
water and accessibility by land aud sea- Norfolk has
competitor among the seaport towns ot the Atlantic
'AdWay The Atlantic coast lite TO the United States,
Norfolk il the mos, convenient because the central
point where the produce Of the interior may be collect
ed aud wheuce may be distributed, North and South
right and left among tbs markets Oi the seaboard.
ats climate is delightful is exactly of that happy
middle temperature where the iross OF tie North bite
not and rhr The pesnee oi the South walkeh not Its
4Ibor is commod0us aud safe be. II is
blocked up with ice, AID ~ 10 thl cgres and irgress
between il aui the SEA- possesses al the acltit that
the rsfaer Lin ef coad desire. Il has the double ad
vantage OF outer and inner harbor The inner harbor
smooth auy mill pond IN 1t vessels lie with the
most perfect security where every Ia;ural facility i'm
aginable il ci red for he landing aud unloading Be-
ing ready fo. sea- the outward bound trader dropping
down from his snug moor,ug, aud approaching the sea-
finds storm raging from outside. The outer harbor
then affords shelter until the fury OF the gale spent
when the Wh.ttwinged messenger trips her sncher, trims
tee breeze, aud goes forth, rejoicing her way TO
the haven where she would be-
Moreover the prevailing winds in the parallel Of Nor
folk ase westerly winds, which fair for coasDg,
for going seward in any direction. little to the Souh
o. that parallel YOU fad the Northeast trades which
fair winds fer The Gwsrd-bcund Norfolk vessel.
Then there is the Gulf Str am-that mighty river in
the occan-upou the verge Of which Norfolk stands
flows Up with current which N,houthe help Of sweeps,
sals or steam will carry the European bound vessel
of Norfolk the rate OF nearly one hundred miles day,
directly on her course.
Then at the sde' of this and counter to it. are eddes
which favor the vessel her return TO Norfolk
These hase her along and shorten her voyage by many
a mile.
Such ere the natural advantages of Norfolk seaward
Let US look ashore and consider them andward. You
viii batter appreciate these by studying them in contrast.
Therefore will compare them With the natural inland
advantages Of New York.
a bay or hsrbor which is cou7cn,nty acces.
,i5le to the il supposed to oIer natural advan-
tagcs for commercial city in proportion 10 the
fertility and extent of tie back country that is
tributary to it. The back country that is naturally
tributary TO the city OF New York, is confined to the
counties that drained by the Hudson, washed by
the waters of lie sound And il there were no such
things as intern8 mprovemens-no way in the interior
by which produce and merchandise could be transported
from water shed to another-the people for whom
New York would export asd import would be those who
live in the valley o. the Hudson who nhabt the shores
of Long Island sound.
Now contrast the fertility aud extent Of this country
with the back country that is tributary TO Norfolk. Both
shores Of Chesapeake bay are tributary TO and this
magnificent sheet Of water il the natural recptace ao
Of the drainage and surplus produce OF the valleys of the
James River the ork the Rappaaannock the Potomac
and the Susqnehanna, and with perfect net work O
creeks and coves that ndent their shores The back
country therefore which, without portage, is naturally
tributary Norfolk, not only surpassCs that which is tr
buary 10 New York, in mi1ness OF climate, in fertility
OF soil and variety Of production, bus also in geograph
cSl extent by many square leagues the proportion being
a. three to one 10 favor Of the Virginia port.
81 But there such things natural portsges, by
which commerce even in rude state may pass from
river valley TO another its way 10 the Now let
what portions OF country are nearer To New York
and wha' Norfolk assuming that If these natural port
ages be equilly improved all that country which they
will bring Norfolk will be tributary to Norfolk
aud all that they may bring nearer to New York will in
like manner be tributary 10 New York
Their FORE divide and lay of this back country, turn
to the map; stretch string upon it from Norfolk to New
Y York, and make dot half way between them. Now
seek point the south shore OF Lake Erie that is equi
distant from New Yoik and Norfolk; draw a line from
the dot to this point and you will have dividing line OF
distance between the places every point along which
will be Just far from the place the other iod
will find that th, line Though pelaNare, and eue
Lake Erie, Cleveland, Ohio
"Thus You perceive that Chicago in illinois and St
Louis ..ouri are actually nearer to Norfolk than they
are to New York. by air line. You see, more
over that as between New York and Norfolk the natu-
raj advantages here are greatly in favor Of the latter
The most direct way to the sea through either OF these
ports from of the lake country and from almost
the entire Mississippi valley, lies through Virginia The
natural advantages then of Norfolk, in relation to the
sea- the back country, are superior beyond CON-
parison TO those OF New York"
shall add nothing, Monsieur le Minislre, to the e1-
tracts aud Transitions above the opinion Of NJ. haury
being authority in matters OF this description.
Noriok may become the head Of the railroads of Vir-
gia where the principal rail roads of the Urted States
will connect particularly those of the South and of the
West
The railroads already finished in Virginia and the
small number of those which remain to be finished TO
complete the net wOrk-the two canals the Chesapeake
and Albemare, and the Dismal Swamp bringing to Nor
folk the pi oiucts of the Caroinas and of Georgia.
works recently fnshd will no doubt contribute 10 Nor
folk large freight in cotton. rice and wool.
Bat, repeat it. Norfolk becoms cOmmeroa al
centre only by tue completion cI tho grand eia
line called the James river and Kauawha canal which
may transport produce aad merchandise in masses and
at lone prices.
Onc of the great results Of the completion of the
works Of this canal will be the creation of Norfolk.
ADVANTAGES FOR FRANCE
Itappears to me- Monsieur lie Mnisre that the advan.
tages which France might reap from the completion Of
the Virginia canal, are Of vast Importance
The geographical position Of virginia one OF the best
10 the wasId in a commercial point of view.
The est ,tlishment OF line Of communication of such
,;,tiop tl.a 90 4tTl 49,
slcbe so favored by nature have results calculated
10 mark an enoch 10 Europe as well IS in the Irnited