New-York tribune., 1870-01-11

IL quite certain that, whether the west cohCiu"oS "
manufacture for itself not wheat aud corn WIZ DO
wanted in immense quantities on this coast ana tha'
they be grown cheaper in the Mississippi Nay 'hah
the seabOard or in Western Europe
The following extract from the Report OF the commit
tee OF tho National Board OF Trade at its meeting In
Richmond 1862 giYes nearly as may BE- 'he present
condition OF the East and West lines OF ransporauon'
ITO show the nadequacy OF the present means Oh vod ou
let for transmitting such volume OF produce as Wouiu
be spared for market, we may esIhhe tiiu ~ I'LL @ @
at 100000 tuns; We may estimate the ntGse % eaPaist
OF all the railroads leading across the Aieghenes az
estimate the amount of Western produce when now goes
out by the channels OF the IT, Lawrence anu nc ~
lower outlets Of the Mississippi and Of the 81 Lawrence
for discharging produce, Is, OF course ho % ~
the ouantity actually going out, but rather Dy te ca
pacy OF existing appliances for ITS shpmchtl linus,
the utm0st theOretie capacity 0i these SEVERE" ~
Guant7 OF western through tunnage actually moving
over them is but little than half THIS amount el
tho present tunnage which could be spared O tnc west
and which could be forwarded to market its products
modified by cheap carriage ana Dy anpc a, %
OF transportation, would be 2joOoNO tus toee al.F
cle Hunts Magazine for August 1853 III = not lhe9
fore mcrcya question, whether We shal auu ncn IAN
roads to those already engaged IN the WORK OF %
we shall merely open canals, whether We hhall
merely increase the appliances necessary IOr t
be had to all these eNpcdicnts aud sun there
will be geyOus deficiency IN the means oi conducting
the vast transportation
These figures may seem too high but even they leave
out of account the effect which lower rates OF transpor
ation would have upon increasing shipments There Is
little doubt from past experience that II tho charges
should DO reduced % per cent the amount oil produce
etc, available for shipment would be increased more
than IS per cent and so on IN greater rao Tor iurher
reductions
This is the burden Of the cries from the West and
Northwest " Give avenues to the sea for our
surplus produce. Those in operation are either
overtaxcd or impose sach charges upon traffic as to
take away the profits Of labor Several remedies
more or loss practicable being discussed In conyen-
tons, newspapers, aud elsewhere Tho following are
among the more prominent:
l. Another canal between Lake EHe and Lake ontario
H. An enlargement OF tho Erie Canal.
Ill Barge shipments down the Mississippi TO the Gun
w. A canal across the Allegheny Mountains to unite
the waters OF the Kauawha with those OF the CheSa'
peake.
w. freight railroad between New-York and the MIS-
sssippi to be built part out Of Government subsidy
VI Additional trunk lines between the scaboards ard
tho West.
Each Of those projects has IT. advocates, and to each
there are peculiar obstacles and difficulties.
For example: before another canal is built round
Niagara it must be shown that the existing ono VIII not
accommodate the traffic II would be well TO ask II the
canal WHOM built. will have tho desired effect
Again. supposug the necessary means to bc provided
and the time expended in enlgng the Eric Canal Is IL
at all certain would materially cheaper trans
pOrtatOnt
IL urged against project No III. that breadsuf are
liable to injury in transit through the tropical waters Of
the Gulf and that the expense dncding insurance. Of
transportation 20 Newl or IA about the same as by the
other channels However. this route is ever at hand for
trial. and its superiority If ii have any, ought to have
been demonstrated before this time. Similarly Of the
project for a canal across the Allegheny hounains-t
would require years OF time and many millions OF money
TO enable Us to from fresh TO salt water by 1000
feet expensive lockagc and 1t il By 10 means certain
that the cost Of this form Of navigation would be less
than 10y railroad. Indeed, the evidence Of the time il,
that where canals and railroads run sidebysde the
railroads can carry e ghs nearly cheap and the gap
Is constantly lcssening
Now facilities must devised relieve the under
paid farmors OF tho west well tho Ovorchargcd
tocrs OF the East Legislative authority granted,
aud suitable typographical advantages could he found,
private capital would bc tempted TO carry new lines
across the mountains without the aid OF Government
money The present high charges keep down tho Volume
OF freights far below It's natural dimensions, and the
high charges n turn the result of overtaXed railroad
and water ues The true remedy for this state Of things
lies in carrying new and improved roads (unburdcrCdby
issues OF watered uabiullcs to the West. The canal
schemes may carried out II they arc not supeIcded
In the interval a frstclss railroad line between the
seabOard and the West immediate necessity II IS
doubtful il one be found across Pennsylvania or
Ncw-York possessing tho desired advantages.
There is fortunately an opportunity, south OF the
Potomac OF carrying additional trunk lino OF rail-.
road between tidcwacr and the ONO and Mississippi
Valleys. This route following the Valleys Of tho James
and Kanaaa Eiycrls superior It appears, from trust
worthy eyIIaccin point 0f grades distance and cheap
ness Of olr ration, TO any Of the lines now built Tie
whole 10 from the Ohio nIyigaon at The mouth Of tho
Big Sandy tributary tho spacious and eycropcn Chcsa-
peake Bay can bo constructed with grades not exceeding
80 feet TO the mcOr less than the grades in use between
Now.York aud Philadelphia Here, then. Is The true
solution Of problem OF cheap brcadsiuis! Along this
line, grand freight railroad may be built, which VIII
furnish the cheapest. easiest, aud most reliable line
between the stabOaTd aud the Great West The distance
between the navigation u the Chesapeake ana Cincln-
natl and points West is less than by the more hOrcry
lines. lee ana obstruct travel in this latl
tudc while coal and iron found close TO the line Of
road. Such line unci tho Atlantic navigation at It's
most favorable haTbOr with the inland navigation az its
best STAGE and also with the network Of western rail.
roads From a pamphlet recently issued under the
auspices of tic Chesapeake aud Ohio Railroad Co, 80
arc satisfied that this great work OF internal improve
ment Whose more expensive portions were fog
years carried by the State OF virginia, under Che
title Of the Virginia Central RallroaD bos at la.t
been taken IN hand by Of prominent NcWNorb
capitalists ana railroad builders They VIII extend the
line-now just emerging upon tho ONO slope or the Ale
ghenics-rompty to the Ohio River et poiut only ljo
miles above Cincinnati Mos,rs q. T. Huntington, l. 4.
Low Vim. II. Aspinwal Jonas c. Clark and others, are
among the directors Of Tthe enterprise Tho states
OF Virginia and West Virginia. through Commissioners
appointed for the purpose, have llo arrangements with
these responsible parties complete this great work Of
internal improvement ana have grantedto the Company
in consideration thereof tho whole ~ the work done
on State account, amounting 10 $4,000. gold value,
Their names Sufficient guarantee oi tho Nigor and
fidelity with which the remaining 900 miles Will be bui
II is represented that the English railroads, uotwlth.
standing their heavier first cost carrying coal for lees
than halpeuny per tan per mile competing with the
ocean lines between Newcastle and london. We conf
denty predict that the day Is hot i.r distant when coal
gram -four. lumber, and the like, viii he carried on our