The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-06-12
virginia Election and Her Internal
improvements. T=tFa.
WASHINGTON, June Z, 1873.


as WASHINGTON, June z, 1873.
To the Editor Of The State journal. .-.I -
The gubernatorial campaign in Virginia
seems TO attract greater attention in this
capital now than 1t has done before for
many year. The completion of the
Chesapeake and Ohio railway, shortening
the distance to the west, has called the at
tention of travellers, both east and west, to
the sublime scenery and incalculablc re-
sources of the country bordering that route,
and the whole country will soon become
educated TO the value of the James River
and Kanawha canal route as the short.
est and cheapest water-line connecting
tie Mississippi basin with the Atlantic sea-
board. Add to this its comparative inn
munity from those heavy frosts in winter
which obstruct navigation over the more
northern channels, and that tropical heat
in summer so damaging to western pro-
ducts that essay the lower Mississippi and
Gulf route, and it will be perceived at a
single view that this Virginia waterway
must become the prime favorite outlet for
the produce Of much the larger portion of
those daughters Of the Old Dominion born
OF the cession of 1887. And how appro-
pirate it is that they should, even at this
late day, return to the lap of that
generous mother who in early life welded
them to freedom, political independence and
material prosperity, portion of that
wealth which will enable her to educate
her children and pay her debt while it will
III no wise impoverish them.
This great work is no less valuable to
the west than to Virginia. Thirty cents
per buShel economy in the TRANSFORMATION
VI gram "oulu naturally De divided be-
tween tne producer and consumer, and
.nerelore increase tne value OF the crops to
the farmer oy hiteen cents per bushel at
tne salre .ilne lnat II would reduce the
PriGe Vi hour py seVehty-hSe cents TO one
doiiar per oarrel 70 the consumer on the
At,antic coast ana IN EUROPE. Ihus 1t
VIII oe seen mat cheap transportation IS
benelcence TO all bread producers and
CONSUMERS III the ciViiiZed ana commercial
worm. !.
Let US suppose Tor a moment that twenty
mlilions can De expended during the next
Inree years IN the complexion OF the James
river ana hahawha canal. what would
pe the eilect on the iaoorlng classes OIL Var
ginia ana west virginia Plenty OF en-
ployment at good prices. Thirteen and
one third millions OF days labor at one
dollar and hall per day. Twenty millions
at dollar per day. Cement, stone, iron,
WOOD, lime, men, cattle, horses, every
thing put TOOLS, can be procured right upon
the spot. Then the assurance of the COM
pletion OF the work would invite private
capital without end. A store, a forge. a
mil, factory, blast furnace at each lock,
taxing advantage OF the free power afforded
by the fall which the lock oyercomes.
How can all this be done? by the gene
raj government. How can the general
government be induced to take hold of this
great Improvement! Surely not without
an expression on the part OF the people
through their election Of a state govern
ment OF confidence in and sympathy with
the national government. 1t is fresh in the
recollectlons OF all that the present gov
ernor OF Virginia was elected as q " true"
~ Republican; good Grant man. But
no sooner was he invested with
gubernatorial power than he and
his friends, finding that the President would
not submit to their dictation in the distri-
button OF the patronage of the state, COM
menced upon him fierce and relentless
warfare, and since that time have shaped
all the state legislation IN opposition to the
Republican party and the best interests of
the state. Virginia now stands on the