The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-12-25
The Central water-Isne.


Administration In the Empire City, gives it:
preference TO the James River and Kanawhs
canal as the most eligible Of the proposed
watcr-liucs connecting the Mississippi Vale,
with the Atlantic seaboard. We copy below
the article Of the Times on the subject. On'
striking point brought to notice by tha
PAPER is that water.courses have in ali bis
toric ages marked the lines along which have
poured the tides of civilization and com
meree; and when we look at the map W.
behold o la.ttuainous Hue marked out. in thu
heart Of this great Republic, by great, rivers
which already indicate the tides Of c!viliza
ton and commerce, and which are TO be &C
celebrated and increased incidentally in power
and wealth. This great line-the James, The
Kanawha, and the Ohio river-is alike protect
ed from northern frosts and southern fcyers
lis found the most eligible route for the rail
road--that great agent of rapid communIca
ton aud active commemorative 1t is the
2he of water communication along which
the waters of the East and the West in their
natural flow almost unite. The combination
Of tho two media Of transportation must
strengthen both and promote the advance
lnent OF human energy and increase the force
OF population and wealth to wonderful
decree.
4 Inc Of rivers thus flowing cast and west
ecros, the bosom Of the Republic, with its
fertile soils, its unsurpassed mineral wealth,
isa feature Of grandeur as well as national
strength that must excite the admiration of
every one. Its improvement by canal and
railroad will add intellectually to the national
power and to its means Of public defence
against foreign foes. 1t will, above all, do
more to bind together and promote tue en-
durance and happiness Of the Union than
any other one cause that we can imagine. A
Republican Union must depend for its
strength and duration upon the thrift and
sympathy of the people. Can we Imagine
anything which can more promote the thrift
of East and West, or more strengthen the
sympathics between them, than thorough,
facilitated, and cheap communication be-
tween that great storchousc of national pro-
duction the Valley of the Mississippi and the
Atlantic ocean along the central line of lati-
1ude within the national boundaries a line
which, as we have already said, is alike
shielded from obstructive frosts and the
weakening and depressing effects of southern
heats and southern malaria.
The Times wisely gives its support to the
central water-line. 1t Is to be hoped the
Government will take the propcryiew of the
project lin which Virginia has spent Sl0,-
coo, C00), and, by completing it, secure to the
nation its inestimable blessings. The Times
rightly estimates it as vastly more important
to the United States than a canal across the
isthmus of Darien:
"THg NATIONAL INLAND wATER-LINE.
"Thc project of a trans-A leghany water
line appears to be one of the new and live
issues of the day stirring the public mind.
Few questions have arisen recently which
assume greater national Importance, aud
more deeply touch the prosperity and dc.
velopment of the country. Without attempt
irg now to consider it in any other than an
economic light, it is of tie utmost conSe-
Qlence that the problem it presents should
be carefully discussed.
at has often been observed by historians
marked the lines along which have poured
the great tides of civilization and commerce !;
and the banks of many insignificant rivers
have become classic and historic ground. The
valleys Of the Danube, the Pc, and Rhine,
both subsequent to the decline Of the Roman
Empire and in our own age, are notable il.
Illustrations of this fact. There can be no
doubt that on our own continent the
advance Of population and the ebb and
flow Of natural enterprise have been Won
Gorfuy aided by the Ohio river and
.The Father Of Waters and are destined
TO lie further accelerated along the natural
highways opened by the Missouri and the
ulher great streams OF our hydroSraphlc
system. If the geographic law that couE-
tries owe their fertility, civilization, and
prosperity to the abundance and situation of
their rivers holds good, we have strong ar.
gnmcnt, especially in so expanded CONT
nent rs ours, for the inland canal system.
Il is this which gives the safest, cheapest,
and easiest thoroughiures; aud canals, judi
ciouslv constructed, Supply--to borrow the
figure Of Pascal-'n moving roads, that
carry merchandise at less than half the cost
Of railway transportation.
"1hese general principles apply with Pc
cUlar and now intensified force in the i'm.
lncnse interior grain-growing sections Of
this country, hemmcd in ut all seasons by
the Ailcghanics on the east, and by the Pc
rilous and circuitous gulf on the south, and
also by the stormy and ice-bridged waters
OF the lakes, in the busy fall aud winter.
Taking Cincinnati as the centre OF 4 circle,
with q radius stretching thence to the sea-
board. there are within the circumference
about fifteen millions of people thus cut of
from the sen aud the chief Atlantic scaporS
whose productions cannot be got to market
except by costly railway carriage, and whose
industries are discouraged and checked be.
yond calculation. TO open cheap water-lines
across The narrow gorgeS and detles of the
Alleghanies would unquestonably enhance
every interest of the entire country
stretching from the mountains TO the great
plains, and pour golden tide OF wealth into
the national Golfers. Perhaps no better eyi
dcnce of this can be or need be given tina,
the deep-Tooted conviction of tie western
people Of the necessity and their urgent az
peal for such communication without delay
The completion of such n line as that pro
posed from the Mississippi Valley to the sea
board would be hailed as al event of inf
nitcly greater moment to the people of tn,
United States than the Inauguration of
SucZ or Daricn canal. The present avenue
OF tlnnsportation--nOt excepting the rail
ways themSelveS-ar already burdened Will
the lapldly-increasins shipments of tn
west, and, in the event Of the construction
OF such waterway, would certainly be tht
gamers In the increased growth and enrich
iDcnt OF the sections they cross.
. question which now demands con
sldcrallon Is the choice of the route by which
these ends can De attained in the quickest
,.ti puh