The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-06-03
FROM RIVER TO SEA.
The Proposed Kanawha and James
River Canal Csnneetiug the
Ohio with the Ocean.

River Canal Cenneetfug the
Ohio with the Ocean.
Letter from L.Q. Washington, to Louis
vile Courier-Journal.
RICHMOND, Va, May II. 1873
Your readers are already aware tha
the Senate at the last session OF Con-
gress appointed committee, headed BY
Senator Window, Of Minnesota. to in
vestigate the great subject OF transpor
tation in all its aspects, including the
question Of aid by the Government te
the canals and water lines which ar,
proposed, in order to give cheaper and
more capacious transportation for the
great agricultural produce OF the West
to the Atlantic seaboard and European
markets. This committee have no,
been idle, but have already done a good
deal Of work upon some Of the ques.
tions intrusted to their investigation.
THE WORK PROJECTED.
They have now before them the doc
umentary evidence relative to the prac-
ticability and expediency ofthe Niagara
ship canal, the james River and Kama
wha canal from Richmond to the Ohio
river, the Georgia line via the Coosa,
Ocmulgee. and other rivers 10 Savannah.
and the ship canal at the mouth OF the
Mississippi river; and they have also
adopted a resolution providing for q
personal inspection by the committee of
these several water lines. They were
anxious to visit the Virginia
route, but it was not deemed practica.
BILE for the body of the committee to
make the visit before the summer, Mr..
Window seemed to think that it could
be arranged for July. As Mr.. Cas-
serly's engagement required him to
be in California at that time, he resol-
we'd
TO MAKE A VISIT AT ONCE
to the most important point OF the
great Virginia line, embracing especi-
ally the portion which has not been
though often surveyed. Sena
ator Bayard, though not one of the
accompanied Mr.. Casserly
upon this inspecting tour. These Sem
ators were Joined at Richmond by Col.
Darlington, the President Of the Canal
the United States engineers
in charge OF the surveys and reports on
the subject, and other gentlemen, inclu-
ding your correspondent and a good
deal OF ground was gone over by them
10 the limited time which Messrs. Cas-
serly and BayaId had at their disposal.
The two Senators.
CANE FIRST TO RICHMOND,
this city being at the head OF tide water
and where the completed
canal begins. Ineed not say that these
gentlemen met a very hearty welcome
in this locality.-The leading citizens
We'd in attentions to them, and the only
limit upon this hospitality was a de-
sire to let them have sufficient time for
their examination OF the work at this
point, and the resources and capacity of
in which naturally they felt
q deep interest. The first evening was
devoted to ride to the basin, locks OF
the canal, &c, which have been con-
structed here long ago at much expense,
aud after this to the celebrated -four
mills, the Tredegar Iron Works, and
some OF the most interesting historical
objects in which Richmond abounds.
The following day the party went on
AN EXCURSION UP THE CANAL.
for q few miles, noting the general
character of the work, and making Q
visit to the granite qusrries, the West
ham Iron Works. and enjoying the fine
Of the river James. This brief
excursion afforded full view OF a water
power which is probably unsurpassed
in America, and which, added 10 other
advantages, will unquestionably make
this one Of the leading manufacturing
centres in the United States. Next
followed an excursion down the James
river in the boat of Colonel Walter
Turpiu who was assigned by the United
States Engineer Bureau to examine the
eastern division Of the water line, and
who is also engaged in experimenting
the removal OF the distractions in the
James river and clearing out the chan.
mel. The river has now thirteen feet
depth Of water. but the appropriation
already made by the city and the
United States, in equal proportions, will
probably secure fifteen or sixteen feet,
and with little more liberality on the
part Of Congress l believe there will be
no difficulty in getting depth OF eigh.
teen feet. The vast and rapidly extend
ing export and import trade OF Bslti-
more is done with Q depth OF only six
teen feet Of water, and there seems no
reason why the heavy freights OF both
the canal and the railroads which cen-
tire here should not be shipped directly
at Richmond. In our route down the
river we passed the new freight depot
and wsrves Of the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad. about a uile below the city.
A tunnel is now being built at the ex-
pense Of the city through Church Hill
to admit of.he shipment st deep water,
aud it will be completed some time in
the summer and before the road is
entirely ready to do q full business.
Drewrys Bluff and Chains Bluff were
next passed. and finally our little bost
went through
TIE CELEBRATED DUTCH GAP,
cut by Butler in the war. About Eve
or six miles are saved by tbiscnt which
cannot, ] take il. be over loo yards in
length. 1t is, I am informed. q real ai-
vantage TO commerce, aud is one OF the