Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-02-27
Georgia Correspondence.
CHEROKEE. GA. Fek

CHEROKEE, ia, req. y, 1857.
Mr.. EDITOR There has been for some
weeks stir made concerning the opening of a
Canal from the Tennessee River through Geor-
gia to the coast. Various r6utes have been ex-
amined and surveyed southeasterly from here,
so far as [ can learn.
The expectation is that it will start from the
Tennessee River, mot far from Chattanooga, and
strike the Oostenaulu some twenty or thirty
miles above Rome. following that River to its
confluence with the Etowah, at Rome, and
then up that River to Gainesville. and posi-
bly, 20 or 40 miles higher.
In case it is decided to go by way of the Oc-
mulgee, the probability is the route will leave
the Etowah near Cartersville and GO up Pump
kinvine Greek and to Chattahoochee, and down
that River some distance, and get over to the
Ocmulgee by some means; but In case the de-
cision should be t. go down the Savannah
River the route will extend up the Etowah a
considerable distance, then over to the head
waters of the Chatahooche and to the Savan-
nah.
The head-wa of the Savannah and Of the
Chattahoochee rise nearly together, and it is
quite possible that route may be found that
way that will be much easier opened than by
any other, but it will be very circuitous and
have to rise to very considerable elevation,
and such immense lockage will make the de-
tention still more When all these dsadvan-
tages are taken together, and duly considered,
I should think the latter route would be aban-
doned and yet, when we look at the Ocmul-
gee route. we see obstacles to be overcome that
are but little if any less than the tunneIing OF
the Allegheny Mountain and completing the
James River and Kanawha Canal and, iu
deed. [ have been expecting to see that Vir-
ginia was doing something now, at the eleventh
hour, as it is. Now is the time to work, if
ever. A canal is very soon to be opened thro'
Georgia or Virginia, to give an outlet to West
ern trade, and this canal will carry immensely
more freight than the great Erie Canal, and
will open without delay direct trade to Europe
from whatever point it strikes the coast.
The Erie Canal has done more, perhaps, for
the City and State of New York than all her
Railroads. and so will this canal do for Geor-
gia or Virginia perhaps more than all former
improyeme ents, which ever of these routes shall
be opened.
It is of no use to doubt its construction by
some route. The West must have some better
outlet to u,arke', and they will have it as sure
as time progress Of the world continues.
Their principal conveyance IS now over the
lakes and through the Erie Canal, and these
cIosed-locked up for FIVE months out oftwelve.
just think Of 100000 bushels OF grain being
locked up in the ice by the cold snap in No
yer0her. and most OF 1t TO remain there till
May?
A free, independent people will not long on en-
dure such a state OF things-and the difficulty
will still increase population OF the noW
great West will soon be doubled and tripled,
and present Railroads cannot carry one-fifth.
A better road to market, a cheaper one, a
safer one. is a foregone conclusion, fixed fact
that a canal has to be made; but the precise
route t is not yet decided upon. I have no doubt
Virginia route u III i s, the 1sI s6os oT many Pa ,fs
and and vet [ doubt that 1t can be made through
Georgia, Gee and may Be nearly as good upon the
whole, having less ice to contend con with in winter
in every other respect the Virginia route is
These operations here now, | understand,
are under the authority Of the General Gov;
ernmsnt. The legislature OF Of georgia a has had
has chosen delegates go go to Washington 10
aid Of the route by that City.
Yours
COSMOpOTITAN