The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-10-24
M. GUTMAN & co
EVERY DESCRIPTION OF
MEMS UNDERWEAR
M. GUTMAN & CO.'S.


from the Greenbrier region, we learn
that the work of surveying for the pro-
posed steam boat canal, to be called the
James River and Kanawha canal,
across the State of West Virginia, to
unite tie waters OF the James and ONO
rivers, has been finished.
Last winter Congress made an ap-
preparation of $4,000 for the purpose
of making this survey. The proposed
canal is to be over 200 feet wide, wide
enough to admit Of the passage OF
steamboats, carrying three hundred tons.
1t will follow the James and jackson
rivers to the foot Of the Allegheny
mountains, at point few miles from
Covington. where it is proposed to make
a tunnel, under the mountains, nine
miles long, and of the full width OF the
canal. This tunnel will be over 2OOO
feet above tide water. Two miles from
the western end OF this tunnel the canal
will enter the Greenbrier river, near the
iron bridge Of the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad over that stream. 1t is pro-
posed to lock and dam the Greenbrier,
New and Kanawha rivers to a point
five miles below Charleston.
Mr.. Fitzhugh, of Alexandria, one OF
the engineers, says the plan is entirely
practicable and that the whole work
can be completed for $50. 100000. The'
high rates charged by railroads for
freight on western produce, and the im-
perative demand of business for q
cheaper route from the West to the
seaboard, renders it a certainty that
Congress will appropriate the amount
of the estimate, and especially when
the proposition Of the James River and
Kanawha Canal Company OF Virginia,
who are willing to cede their work al
ready completed some two hundred
miles) to the United States Govern
meut, upon the cordition that the Gov
eminent shall complete and operate the
same to it's point OF communication
with the Western navigable streams,
charging only reasonable tolls to keep
the canal in use and repair, is consid>
cred.
The engineers found the greatest fall
in the three rivers at Richmond Falls,
on the New River. At this point they
found fall Of over sixty feet per mile
for three miles. The Falls Of the Kan
awha are $40 feet above tide water.
Two miles above the falls the water
was found to be l04 feet in depth, the
deepest place in the three rivers.
1t is proposed to furnish water for the
nine mile tunnel, spoken OF above, from
a large reservoir to be made on How
ards creek, two miles from the tunnel,
and connecting it with the canal by
means OF another tunnel. The engin-
GERS think that it will not take longer
than two years to cut the large tunnel
through the mountains. The supply
of water for the purposes Of the canal
they consider amply sufficient. AS low
az the rivers are now, they found the
discharge Of water from the Greenbrier
river to be 10000 gallons per minute,
and from the New river over 100000
per minute.
The batteau used by this party OF
engineers in navigating the Greenbrier
and New rivers is the second vessel OF
any description that ever sailed from
Lewisburg to the Falls Of the Ka-
nawha.
Our want of room compels us to
omit some very interesting details but
enough is given above to show the prac.
ticability Of this, one Of the grandest
enterprises ever projected on the conti-
nent, an enterprise which, when COM
pleted, will unite the Ohio river and
the sesboard, and will give cheap trans.
portation for the freight and traffic Of
the West to the marts OF the East. 1t
is an enterprise full Of promise to our
State, and one that will aid her 10 be-
coming one Of the wealthiest and most
important States in the Union.