Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-08-26
A Great Water Poetic.

letter from. the Greerb. White sulphur
Springs gives the following information rcla-
tive To the resuscitation Of great enterprise in
which Gen. Washington att other prominent
Nirgmians took great interest The work was
originally known as the James River Canal ;
lut this being Of rather local Dimensions, Jo-
sEru CAEEII; Of Nelson County, an eminent
member -''the Legislature, undertook the Her
culcan ASA Of giving the work not only a
Stat, but National character. lie laborcd
zc',isusiy for years, and obtained from the
Legislature a charter and subscription to the
stock Of tie James River and Kanawha Ca
raj Compaay," paying smelling to the old
company Cor the rCnunciation Of its chartered
privileges.
The writer Of the letter says this canal was
commenced before the war, aud about half
completed Il was as f,r back as 1888, and
the Canal has been in use to Lynchburg for
more than % years.
The former senior editor Of the Free Press
had the honor. and it was an honor which he
priced, of being a Director Of this Company
FIR several years, under the Presidency Of Col.
Walter Gwyun and Hon. John Y. Mason ;
and he we'll remembers the zeal Of Mr. Cabell
and his adiutors in behalf Of this work aud
their sausuine belief that it would eventually
reach the Ohio River by the River Kauawha.
Il affords US sincere pleasure to fud that
the master intcllects Of the State are now en-
listed 10 the noble project Of uniting the wa
ters Of lde Chesapeake and Ohio. For quar-
tcr of century we had INDUCED the hope that
our own Chesapeake and Ohio Canal would be
the channel Of connections ard many drop
OF ink we spent in efforts TO keep up the en-
tiust,,m with which It was begun by the
.i.tcl and uusclhsh Mercer and his associates,
Tut it was soon made a political machine for
the benefit Of a few persons-frst for one par
ty and then for another. according to the vary
ing politics Of the State Of Maryland Still
iJ Is not without benefit to a portion Of the
people, as a cheap means Of transportation Of
coal aud flour from Cumberland to George
town, though as a stock concern it has yielded
ustliuc. Virginia subscribed more than half
rnI,i1a, the District cities a considerable
sum. Congress over a million, ana Maryland
enough to sceuro her a controlling power
Perhaps the agitation Of the question Of a great
water route through the heart Of virg.uirmay
awaken the dormant energies Of the Potomac
region. What says Mr. Faulkner, once the
active champion Of the cute-prze, through
whose efforts a subscription Of 100000 wa.
obtained for connection Of feeders from oui
uatiye county Of Berkeley?
Pie theme suggests to us the propriety Of q
written history of both Canals and if we ha,
time and materials we should take pleasure IL
bringing forth "reminiscences worthy Of record
and altogether new to many of the present
generation.
Correspondence Of re Baltimore san.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGs,
Grccubrer County, w. Va. Aug. 10. J
The Greai Water Route from the AaaRiic q
DE Hest-Ths NatiORli Board Of Trad.
COMMITTEE
Il is understood that the committee Of the
National Board Of Trade appointed to repor
upou the most feasible water route from th,
West 90 the Atlantic coast, and now in session
here, have agreed upon a report which emb0dic
substantially the views put forth 10y Com. VI
J.. MtUry, in a late pamphlet. The proposed
water route % the Ohio Is via the James river
and Hauawha canal. This canal was com
nenccd before the war, and about haif com.
ple;ei The route has been surveyed the
whole distance, and found 20 be perfectly prac
tcdlle. The route was undertaken with pri
vltc capital but with the present impoycri>L
ed condition Of the State nothing further car
he accomplished, aud it is proposed TO ask tn,
AID Of CJngreSssin making a great uatioua
route from the Atlantic 90 the West The al
vlutages Of this route are clearly and methodi
cal'y stated In Com Mlury'S pamphlet It'll
claimed that grain can be shipped by this route
10 twenty-five to thirty cents cheaper per bush
q. titan los any other route In the event o
war It's advantage over the present waterrouteS
Via the lakes and the St Lawrence and Oh,
Mississippi, are obvious and need not b,
pointed out. 10 is not probable that the re-
puJt of this committee viii be made public
until Is has been submitted a. the Board %
Trade nj It's nextauugal meeting butts mair
features are, IN substance. rs stated. NeStCr
day lie members Of the committee, and quit,
party Of ladies and gentlemen, made a triI
Co. Caru-ton and back on the Chesapeake an.
Ohio railroad.