The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-10-21
The Virginia Water-Line Under Discussion
in St LnniS

1Ae virginia Watef.Llne Unuer discussion
in st. Louis.
[From the st. Louis Republican, of October 81
On Thursday last the directors Of the St.
Louis Board Of Trade met to take into con-
sideration new project for opening up a
water-lne communication between the West
and the Atlantic border. The proposed
route, however, is the oldest, as an inceptive
proposition, Of all the improvements project
ed or accomplished in the country; for
Washington himself suggested it more than
eighty years ago. The plan is to unite the
Ohio river with the ocean, through the Ka.
nawha and James rivers, at Norfolk or New
port News. Mr.. Monroe, of Iowa former
ly of Viiginia-presented this important
matter to the board in very lucid and salts
factory manner, and requested the endorse
ment of the organization, simply for the pur-
pose of recommending the work to the ia
vorable consideration of Congress. It is
eminently national in its character, and de-
serves to receive government aid for it's con-
structlon.
It is c!aimed-and in fact the map shows
the fact beyond dispute-that the route is
the shortest one that can be made available
between the Mississippi and salt water; that
the natural channels which it employs are able
to float tugs and barges as large as those en-
ployed on our Western streams; that the ar
tifcial links, or canals, already constructed
and in process of construction, are equal in
extent and condition to the great Erie artery,
by which the trade Of New York has been
replenished and nurturcd into mammoth
growth, and that the line, running through
a genial climate, below the parallel of severe
frost, would be open to navigation during
eleven months of the year
The State of Virginia has held this project
in her catalogue Of favorite improvements for
long period, and has spent good many
millions Of dollars in the effort to accomplish
its completion. But for the war the improve
ment would have been finishedsometime since
So certain are its advantages, and SO evident
the enormous patronage it must receive, that
the idea Of abandoning the enterprise cannot
for moment be entertained, and Mr.. Mon
roe has entered with zeal upon the mission
of laying its claims before the various bodies
Of the West representing commercial inter-
ests, for the object of securing their co-ope-
Idtis0 "lu IL Ill PPVaA w Oous5 esp Aot AAdeC-
rial means. 4 ..
It is very apparent that cheap transporta-
ton must become more requisite as the broad,
rich acres of the country are placed under
cultivation. Every avenue possible will have
to be opened to accommodate the carrying
trade-raiIroad, lake, river and canal
Tide-water must be reached economically and
without delay, and the process by which this
can be realized deserves the attention of the
entire country Computations accurately
made show that by the Kanawha and James
rivers route freiyhts can be very materially
reduced, and that an almost indefinite amount
of tonnage can be accommodated without
hindrance throughout nearly every scason.-
To st. Louis this is an important measure,
and SO the Directory considered it. fs
It was the opinion of the Board that a
better effect would be produced on the Ma
tional Legislature by the submission of the
proposition through the Cincinnati Cham
Der of Commerce, as that market is more pc
culiarly connected with the Kanawha trade
than this Locally it is a Cincinnati enter
prise. which may very appropriately be re-
fcrrcd by that city to the attention of the
National Board Of Trade which holds its ses-
sion there in December next. Mr.. Monroe, in
accordance with this view, departed yester-
day for Ohio bearing with him an endorse
ment by the Directors Of the work he has
In hand, and an earnest sympathy in the suc-
cess Of the undertaking.