Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-08

ilSeil, ANU cluS 1T lne ONO river, anu VIII De,
according to calculation, 4S5 miles in length,
Of which l9T are open and free to navigation.
| have only mentioned James river, in order
to give an idea of the continuous line called
Virginia water linc," including, within its
compass from the Ohio to the Atlantic, the
length Of the canal first and then Of the river
to Norfolk.
| COST AND EXPENSES.
| The works finished up to the
present comprising the Rich
mond dock, roads, towpaths
and lateral canals, have cost 10,4l3,9 ,99G l3
Repairs and keeping in order
from the commencement. -. 2,2Gl ,34+ 9l
Interest, expenses Of admins
tration, &c. &c............... 3,407,l9o o.
Total Sl6,oS2,5 ,533 %
! Say about ninety millions Of francs, with the
expenses Of the current year.
These figures arc official.
| According to blans and estimates, the sum Of
fifteen millions OF dollars will be necessary for
the completion Of the canal.
! SUPERIORITY OF THE ROUTE.
The route from the west Of the United States
to the Atlantic, by the James River and Kanawha
CdudI, III IlSluld IL SHO1 vi LIOlC uiiSSt
than the others 1t passes under climate
mild and temperate enough to remove all APP
prehension with regard to ice, the great incon-
venience Of which arrests the navigation Of the
canals Of the northern part Of the Union for at
least five months during the year, or to the eN-
ccSSivc heat encountered OH the Mississippi
route, which has very injurious effect upon
merchandise.
| H.
kets of the west with the port Of Norfolk,
In 1856, when the Legislature Of the State
ton of enlarging the Erie Canal, after
speaking of the probable concurrence of
the Canada and Pennsylvania canals, the
Canal Commissioners added: ''Of all the
rivals and competitors for the trade and
commerce of the west, Virginia may become
the most powerful for through the centre, the
heart of that State, nature has traced the most
direct and easy line of communication from the
most distant points Of the west to the ATTAIN
tic"
Mr.. Flagg, formerly superintendent Of the
canals of the State OF New York, states. in 4
report, that "the Virginia route derives from
the mildnesS of the climate, the shortness af
the distance and the facilities for joining the
Ohio river peculiar advantages for the accom-
mediation of the commerce of the valley Of the
Ohio"
Senator Andrews, in general report to the
Congress of the United States in 1Si9. on the
| commerce Of the lakes and rivers, expresses
himself in these terms in speaking of the
James river and kanawha canal: "lfthiS work
shall ever terminate in the valley of the Ohio,
this fact will be established beyond doubt,
that it will become the route Of an immense
trade 1t will touch the Ohio at every point
| favorable for business It will have this great
advantage over works of the same kind, situa-
ted farther north, that it will be navigable dur
ing the winter as we'll rs summer. The route,
after having crossed the mountains, is immense
ly rich in coal and iron, rs well as in fertility
Of the soil. A continuous water line to the
Ohio is the only thing necessary for the trium.
phant success Of this work"
] contine myself, Monsieur le Mlnistre, TO
quoting the opinion Of Il few Of the able men
placed at the head Of works competing with
the Virginia line, who have been called upon
to enlghten the country by their reports on
these great and interesting questions.
ESTABLISHED ROCTES--C0MPARISoN BETWEEN
THESE ROUTES AND THAT OF VIRGINIA.
There are now in existence three routes by
water for the trade of the west:
l. That of New York, by the Erie canal.
3. That Of New Orleans, by the Mississippi
g. That of Canada, by the lakes and the river
St Lawrence.
Cincinnati being the central point the grand
market towards which the products Of the west
and part Of the south tend shall take that
city as the starting point OF the routes in ques-
ton, upon which to establish my comparison,
and exhibit the advantages which believe to
bc reserved for the Virginia line.
The distance from Cincinnati to New York.
by way of the Miami canal, lake Erie, the Erie
canal Of the Hudson river, is 1,0S3 miles
The passage from Cincinnati to New Orleans,
by the way of the Ohio and the Mississippi
is 1924, miles The transit from Cincinnati
to the mouths of the ST. Lawrence (Montreal
line Canada route,) by way. of the Miami canal
lakes Eric and Ontario, the Welland canal and
the St. Lawrence river, is $50 miles.
Now, Monsieur lie Ministre, will give the
distance from Cincinnati to Norfolk, by way
of the Ohio, the James river and kanawha
canal and the James river Virginia route.) it
is T92 miles.
The difference in favor Of the Virginia route
over all the other lines in respect to the dis
lance, is therefore 291 miles over New York,
9s2 miles over New Orleans, and 1868 miles
over Canada.
The prices Of transportation are established
in the trade in the following manner:
Average freight from Cincinnati to New
York, by way of Erie canal, dollars per ton;
from Cincinnati to New Orleans, II dollars per
ton; from Cincinnati to the mouths OF the st.
Lawrence 10 dollars per ton.
Taking the same rules and the same laws rs
t1~ oF ho fpTiH
from Cincinnati to Norfolk would be i dol
lars and 80 cents per ton.
The difference in favor Of the Firgnla route
over the other lines, in respect to cheapness,
would therefore be 81 80 over New York,
sc so over New Orleans, and So 80 over Cana.
da.
The New York route erie canaD is closed
NV ice during more than months Of the year,
and precisely at the season when the exporta-
tion of grain should be effected for the wants
of the world Real dangers are inherent TO
the navigation Of the lakes, which are visited
hv frequent and violent tempests Finally,
,b;s line necesstatcs four unavoidable tran
| shipments of merchandise, at great expense
II ;s well known that this operation is an in
convenience. which is submitted to in trade only
wben It is impossible to avoid it. 1t occasions
, donble loss of time and money, and often
detcriorates the merchandise.
On the Virginia line there will be no tran
shipment.
The inconvenences Of the Canada route are
in like manner. the ice, the length and the dan
e,cr of the navigation of the lakes and Of the
e. Lawrence river. and two transhlpmcnts.
The New Orleans route itself presents serl-
GUS disadvantages. Ishall specifyin in particular
the exceptional dangers OF the naslsatloh OF
the Mississippi. These risks are sucn lnat INC
insurances refuse to admit great number OF
articles, and charge from Il to lS per cent on
those insured
A report of Senator Barrow on the navigation
| &c +La M;nr;rr;nri aadrnccnh to Congress- eS