The New York herald., 1869-09-21
WASHINGTON.
Proposed Canal from the Mississippi
to the Seaboard.
Government Omcials Go
ing South.

VOA nAhSRt SAAACsaAs W.
ing South
WASHINGTON. Sept. 20, 1859.
New Mouth for the Mississippi River-Great
National Work Proposed-Norfolk to be
Made an Important Port.
The naturally navigable waters OF the Mississippi
valley aggregate nearly 1700 miles. Water has It's
currents and has trade. But those OF the latter
do not run with the formers for in the main the
great outlet Of trade Is northeast by the lakes Erie
Canal and Hudson instead of South, by the Gulf OF
Mexico. 1t is now proposed to open a way across
the Virginia mountains broad and deep enough to
drain the Mississippi valley due eastward into
the Chesapeake not OF water OF course, but OF pro-
duce. The old James river and Kanawha
Oanal-aready finished half the distance
was TO connect the waters Of the James
with those OF the Kanawha. q tributary OF
tne Ohio; but the proposed canal is to
be Of q capacity equal at least TO the great Erie
Canal of New York. Such canal, by supplying 400
miles Of the route, would open the way for trans
portation without transhpment between the ocean
and IT, 900 miles OF already navigable inland waters
The project is to be brought before Congress this
winter, and 1t is expectedthat it will be petioned
for by citizens OF every part OF the Union. Great
considerations OF national defence are said by mill
tary men to justify it, but the grand commercial
hypothesis is the manner in which 1t would effect
the grain interest OF the West and the bread interest
OF the East. Itappears by Official reports OF United
states engineers charged with surveys, &C., OF ro
posed national canals in the Northwest, that the
dangers Of lake navigation the numerous tranship-
ments, the necessity OF much railroad carriage and
the closing Of navigation 1ve-twelfths Of the year.
besides the heavy tells the Erie Canal, oil make
the cost of carrying Western grain to the seaboard
by existing routes enormous. For example:-It Is
reported that from Dubuque Iowa, TO New York the
freight and charges amount to slxty-eght cents q
bushel The effect Of this is that before the producer
gets to market he has spent the bulk Of his grain
in paying the way. On the other nand. the Eastern
purchaser, Of New England and New York, has to
pay whatever price the demand imposes upon an
article already enhanced by such heavy way charges
Now, 1t is claimed, upon very careful anaogies and
all other data, that the sixtyeight cents might be
reduced half or even three-quarters, il this great
Atlantic canal were opened, so that western grain
could reach New York, Boston, &C., through the port
OF Norfolk The far West, indeed, must now pay
as much to get grain to Chicago as they would
then pay to get it to the seaboard.
The reduction OF carrying cost would natur-
ally divide itself equally between the
consumer and producer, so that while the New
Yorker would get his bread cheaper the Buckeye
would sell his wheat higher. Indian 'vorn now
unknown as bread out Of ths country, though freely
eaten by our foreign population could then be sent
abroad cheaply enough to make 1t preferred bread
stun for the poor of Cnristendom, with the effect OF
virtually bringing into new existence an American
export that might rival cotton itself in time as q
ource Of national wealth.
Another great work proposed is the Coosa cotton
route, from Mobile up the Alabama river thence up
the Coosa river till within thirty miles Of the south
bend Of the Tennessee river; across this thirty
miles ship canal; thence up the Tennessee and
Its longest branch. the HostoD, TO the borders Of
Virginia, near Saltville; from Saltville to Lynch
burg (aready uaversed by railroad), double
track road, ut for heavy freights,y and at
Lynchburg striking the Atlantic water route
above mentioned to New York.
The railroad part is 176 miles long; all the rest
water. This route would nearly 1000 miles OF
the present route which cotton takes from the cot
ton centres in New York ana the other cities North,
and also the dangers OF the Florida Keys, for which
insurance alone Is two and half per cent on ship
and cargo.
The advocates OF these works claim that they are
more truly national than the Pacific railways, Of
which they are the necessary complement. II, as
half the thoughtful commercial men Of Europe fear,
and the HERALD has often ably maintained, the
trade of the world to abandon the routes OF Vasoo
de Cana and Magellan and cross the bosom OF the
great republic, the proposed water route from the
genial mouth OF the Chesapeake to Omaha, at least
northwardly to the verylbaseiof the Rocky Noun
tains would give the country an advantage In
absorbing the India trade Of all nations immensely
greater than railway transportation the whole dis
tance between the oceans.
The Pennsylvania Election Fund.
Association, organized here, deny the published
statement that all the clerks n the depar tments
from the Keystone state have been assessed for
election money to help Geary through. The CON-
mttee say they rely solely upon voluntary contribu
t0ns from clerks and other Pennsylvanians favora-
ble to the republican cause, and that no person has
been assessed or forced to contribute.
Organization OF New York Republicans.
New Workers. resident in this district held another
meeting on Saturday last and effected permanent
organization, the chief object Of which is to bring
out the full republican vote Of the citizens OF New
York In Washington at the coming election in that
State.
Kentucky Omcescekers After the spoils.
There is mob OF loyal Kentucky politicians here
to-day looking after several federal Offices. The
delegation want the Postmaster and number of
internal revenue ofhials removed, and come In
force to make demonstration upon Grant, Cres.
well, Boutwell, and Deano. Seven OF them
after the postmastershp Of Louisville and about
thirty desire to be appointed assessors.
The Georgia State Fair.
Secretary Boutwell,, Commissioner Delano and
Commissioner Capron have accepted invitations to
attend the Georgia State Fair, to be held ct Mac on
on November 10. steamer viii leave here early In
November for Savannah, where the party will take
. special train. Other prominent government off,
cials will probably attend
Coin Account of the National Banks.
The following is statement exhibiting the items
embraced in the coin specie account OF the ma
Sional banks OF the United States at the commence
ment Of business on the morning Of september 81
Gold coin &5,4 ass, 672