The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-28

VIM. Moore, Abbeville c. H.
julius Poppe, Anderson c. II.
osnopo1isnn Enterprise.
We extract the following article
from the London Cosmopolitan:
Since the termination of the war in
ALerica, the attention of far-seeing
capitalists on both sides of the Atlantic
has been directed to the improvement
of the impoverished States of the
South, and especially to the develop
ment, In a far greater degree than
has ever yet been accomplished, Of
their immense material resources. It
cannot be doubted that the future
prosperity, of the South, however it
may be retarded by the action of un-
wise and unprincipled politicians,
will be great beyond the most SAN
gtine dreams of Southern statesmen
themselves. In this wide region, on
which Heaven smiles, there is no
State which may look forward with
larger confidence to a glorious destiny
than Virginia, or, as it has always
been proudly known, the "Old Do
minion." This Commonwealth has
been severed for political purposes,
and is now two States-Virginia and
West Virginia; but from the Chesa-
peake to the Ohio, its interests,
feelings, sentiments, are one-and
political partition cannot affect the
essential community Of views that
characterizes its people. Virginia,
Notwithstanding the stirring events
OF the last four years, which directed
towards it. the theatre of war the gaze
of all the world, is but little known
to Europeans. To say that it has
81, 900 square miles; that it enjoys a
mild and healthful climate; that it is
traversed by noble rivers navigable
for more than $50 miles from the sea-
board; that one of the finest harbors
of the American continent is to be
found where it borders on the
Atlantic; that the soil responds with
generous harvests to the labors of
the husbandman; that it abounds in
thermal and medicinal springs, in
mineral wealth, in water power for
manufactures-all this makes little
impression on the foreigner, and all
this falls short Of conveying any
adequate idea of Virginia's capacities.
Her strongest assurance of future pre-
eminence among the States of ofAmerica
is to be sought in the fact of her
central position, whereby the most
direct road from the ocean to the
boundless valley of the Mississippi lies
through her borders. The boundary
line of West Virginia is the Ohio
River, the natural highway of Western
trade seeking the ocean transit; and
all that is required to pour into her
lap the wealth of the continent, ex-
ceeding that ''of Ormuz and of Ind, v
is that some great line of internal
lmprovc cment shall be constructed to
connect the Ohio with the waters of
the Chesapeake.
So distinctly was this foreseen by
the gentlemen of Virginia, of genera
tions gone by, that George Washing
ton, three quarters of century ago.
conceived the idea of uniting the
Ohio River and the Chesapeake by a
canal; and there can be no question
that, had the canal been made, Vir-
ginia would have realized that vast
material advantage which was secured
to New York by the genius and en-
ergy Of Dewitt Clinton, and which
has placed New York foremost in
wealth and physical Importance
among the States Of the American
aNn. But no deter. n;ned effort
was made to construct q canal until
many years after the great Erie water
line had been steadily pouring the
products Of the West into the Hud-
son River at Albany; and this effort
was attended with SO many difficulties
that, at the breaking out of the war
between North and South, the James
River and kanawha Canal was still
far from completion.
Within a few months past French
company, which had been conducting
negotiations before The war for the
purchase Of the unfinished canal
under obligations to carry it through
to the Ohio river, has formally closed
the bargain, and the transfer of the
whole line has been made to them
with the san ction Of the Legislatures
OF both Virginia and West Virginia.