The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-04-21
A Canal from tho Ohio to Tide.
-. Mater In YirRlnla. IL Z.

. q.
From tho Cincinnati oommercial.J +.
q The Physical Surrey OF Virginia
to which o,ls: called attention. o Fey fey
days Since isawork which every busl'
ness man in Hocs Ci6ctnnati, and every
man in tho whole mississippi Valley
should read, and not only read, but
study. SC III
1t may be the advantages of the great
work there advocated are In some
points ovcr.stated, yet making ali due
allowance for enthusiasm. aud skllliul
manipulation Of figures, tho grand. fact
still remains, that with this work &C.
complishad, the mighty West with NIL
It's boundlcss wealth would have
opened to its use q shorter, quicker,
cheaper outlet to The ocean than any
other line Gun offer, aud with tho ad-
ditional advantage'tlIat 1t would sell
dom or never be'aubject to an ice
blockade. A canal from the Ohio to
tide-wa through Virginia, is not
only called for by the needs Of com.
mercc, but also demanded as a national
necessity.
That the whole West, requiring
facilities for importation well nigh un.
limited, should DO restricted by two
lines Of water communication, one
along our extreme northern border,
closed half the year by leo; the other
going outside our own borders info
tho Cult, mud both alike circuitous mid
unsafe, IS M anomaly IN commefcc,
and n blundcr IN political eco4otny.
The Eric Canal was II great wotE, and
has been Of incaltulablo bcnefIEtol the
country; but the country has out.
grown the capacity OF any one canal,
however much it may DC Enlarged.
One canal, aud titBt, too, Aocatcd far
'from tho ccntor, Is observation-disclosures
for transporting tho supplies and prod
ucts Of an cmpire. i Al, Outlet such rs
IS required from!the Mississippi Valley
to the Atlantic lies within reach Of
easy. accomplishment. Already the
work is well nigh half completed, and
the right Of way for the remainder can
be secured, free Of cost, from tho State
Of Virginia: With canal Of large On.
pacity;connectlng the waters Of tho
Ohio with the largest and most secure
harbor on the Atlantic coast, the Ohio
River would become the great high
way over which the whole enormous
traffic OF the West would be compelled
to- pass. SO constructed rs TO permit
OfEtowinS by steamers, or by engines
running on tracks on the tow-path,
Irciglts could lie transported, East or
West, quicker and more rhcaply than
by,0ny other route. The whole Of the
West would be brought within direct
water communication Of the Atlantic.
Produce, Or provisions Of any kind,
could be pIacctlon boats or bargcs OH
the Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri, or any
OF their branches. AND without break
Ing bulk conveyed 10 the harbor or
wharvcS Of Norfolk, and that too in
much less time. and less than half the
cost it is possible TO do by any route
now open. This route would seldom
be closed by ice, and could always be
Kept open by icc.boats constructed for
the purpose. giving TO agricultural
productions the winter months for
transportation, " hen farmers nre not
crowded with other work. and enabling
them to take advantage OF the markets
the whole year round, thereby breaking
up the huge Sruin rings OF Chicago
and New York. This Is n work of
vital interest to Cincinnati. and once
completed gives her commanded the
mississippi Valley cast OF TINT river.
This Is no tlay-drcam or imaginative
scheme. Whoever is skcptical, let him
take the pamphlet referred 20 ut the
opening Of this article, read it, trace
ont the lines on the map, compare the
route. laid down with those now in
use, mud thew will be- compelled to nc.
knowledge its uurivalcd superiority.
Not onlv%would il be the means OF
promotinSkthc growth Of Cincinnati.
but il would be benefit TO the whole
Union. Itwould cheaper the price Of
bread in the Atlantic cities. Mt the same
time returning TO tho producer Il bet
ter price. it would give new i'm
pulse to the productive industry OF tho
West, and stimulate trade through all
its diversified channels into greater
activity. IT would be worlh moro TO
the West than the Pacific Railroad
worth more to Cincinnati than q thou
sand acre park.
. .
Our Debt and Our Taxes.