Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1868-08-28
The TdgtHiU LHge--I National
Lime.


II - impossible to set bounds to the ma
touul Importance, the great advantages aud
grandeur, of that pressed and gentle line
of communication between the Atlantic aud
the Mississippi Valley which lies through
no" heart Of Nlrg u a, and at the same tiue
the very heart ui n, Ol'on. Naturally the
easiest aud most direct of all toe lines, po.u-
irAly 70 is the most important to the Union.
Furnishing the easiest grades and most li
rect line, II is the best for railroads, while
AS 4 water line 10 is the only practicable
route tor connecting tue waters of the Atilu-
tic aud Mississippi between the lakes and
the Cult. Both The lake and eulr route are
border rOsdcg-tbe one sustaining dylrmcut
from tropical beats, the other from w.ntor
iro~ts, and both being Circuitous, and both
liable 10 danger and suspension ia time Of
war.
1t is q happy fact in the history OF this in
comparable advantageous route that It's dis
coyerer and chief advocate was the FATHER
or MS CoUATEY, and that John Marshall,
succeeding him, was no less ardent 10 cs-
poU,ug It with all tho force Of his great
mind.
Tine grand railroad scheme started 80 ma
ny years after the canal was begun has OUT
stripped that, and is about 10 clear the Ale
gUTuy noun AIMS. Il will most assurdly be
built at an early day. So favorable a route,
promising such 81 cts upon trade ard such
great national benefits cannot fail to attract
capital; aud the railroad once across the
Alrghanies will rapidly follow the waters
10 the OHIO.
But the canal Ia more important than the
railroad while neuLtr can DO dispensed
with. 1t is a fortunate Circumstance uow
that the public attention is-drawu 20 tho
canal, aud that the great western cities are
calling for It's COustrGCliou--that the cutin
eer Of that important work has boldly pro.
/ passed 30 make a tunnel Of the Allegheny
nine miles long, by which oil doubts and diff.
/ lculues touching an alum liant supply of wa
/ ter Co cross the mountain are completely re
moved. That has been the main ground ot
| opposition 20 the canal, aud the object OF
/ he derision Of all who were not is devoted
Iieuis. A mountain OF d'tie1l-y and pre-
/ iudicr is thu, cleared by the long tunnel
while it avoids 40 feet Of locage, forty G1ui
I locks, seven and "a bali hours delay in pass.
] ing each boat through tue locks, and seven
miles distance with lock keepers, wear and
/ tear Of boats, So. Moreover, it avoids the
reservoir, wish lbs long canal or feeder pass,
( iug through tunnel Two and a bali mile,
| long All of which things, SO avoided, would
/ boo b perpetual source of expense aud troub.
/ le, while tie long uunrl would be- a straight
. conIalt, inexpensive, and as easily traversi
/ bic as any straight stretch of canal on the
route.
Thus We have the main difficulty removed
10y tunnel that may be buut ia less thar
three years Time, according TO the distiu
gushed Mr.. Lltrobe, ui Baltimore au3 o..
wat line az once Assumes so pra,ticl
character that mono can doubt 81.
u rs susceptible proof from positive da
IA that thi, water line will in one ear alte
Us construction save 10 The people Of thD
Mississippi Vsll,y So trelsuts a sum OF Nun
cy equal 10 rs entire cost.
so that, politically aud commercially, W,
have here line of mixed Improvements %
railway and canal that IL SD commended b.
ts benefits thlt ias completion Is demnnlei
hy the highest national cpnsIlcra,i. W,
cannot but believe 81 lhe5s are p.r.,irutl,
auI fairly presented thai In lew year, !
w!. bee complete, aud che people uI the Uu
lon IN the enjoyment OF is benelts.- Rich
..u..I Ut.rgfrr