The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-11-07

near Guyandotte. Guyandotte Is some 45O
miles from the sea. 49, tst't .1i {
Dunkirk and Buffalo are (either Of them)
more than that distance from the sea; yet
how far are they from the heart of trade
Certainly not less than 200 miles. or that
there can be no question. Having goods,
then, on tue Ohio, or within certain radius
Of it, which you want to send to the sea,
will you send them by direct avenue, or
will you send them first to the lakes and
then to the sea?
There can be no question on this subject !;
it Ia, as We said, automatic.
But 1t will be said there is railroad near,
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad.
Is there not railroad from Buffalo to
New York 2 and does any zane person think
OF blotting out the Erie canal, which is COL
lateral with it and having the same termtni
east and westf
We want analogous works to these, or per-
haps homologous Is is better word.
The Erie canal, the New York Central,
and the New York and Erie accommodate
the North. We want similar avenues to ac-
eommodate the centre. .....
We have the Mississippi for the South.
There Is no work more wanted than the
James River and kanaWha canal. The de-
mand for it is imperative. It's route has
been carefully considered by the best ensi-
neers. 1t is eminently practicable.
1t would have been built long ago by for
eign capital if it had not been for the folly of
secession. 1t is not, perhaps, remembered,
yet it is a point, an event in history, that
French capitalists, encouraged by Louis Ma
poleon in 1860, had the subject under con-
sideration of building this work. 1t had been
brought to their attention by Minister Mason,
Virginian. Eleven millions, l believe, the
capitalists were to put into the work, Vir-
ginia and the other stockholders yielding the
control to the subsidiary contributors. The
extra session Of the Virginia Legislature,
called late In 1860 or early in 1861, was con-
vened to consider this subject, and ostensi-
bly, for this purpose alone. The wire-pullers
might have meant different all the while, but
the general public supposed that the session
was called to consider the French offer. We
all know the result. The canal was scarcely,
If at all, mentioned during the session. The
patriotic (D subject Of secession was alone
discussed, and It was carried. with'what con-
sequence be who runs may read. We men,
ton this matter only to show what shrewd
foreign capitalists thought of the great Vir-
ginia water-route; and, had not the madness
of secession prevented, the canal would have
been built and in use at this moment.
Arguments in favor of this work are not
far to seek. The archives of Virginia possim
for the whole Of this century are filled with
reasons why it ought to be built. &. ~
Jefferson argued for it, and long list Of
Virginia statesmen and worthless in bis train.
Joseph c. Cabell-a Eirginian of the Virgin
mns, one Of the old school, personal friend
Of Jefterson-was its president for long
time and wrote voluminously in Its favor.
Professor Maury, in bis physical Survey
of Virginia." has done 1t ample justice.
And, In closing, let US say, suppose the Erie
canal TO be great work-supposing it will
carry vast amount Of the produce OF the
country from the centre to the sea--Hhy, the
Erie canal, the New York Central Railroad,
the New York and Erie railroad, the Penn
syvania railroad. the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad. and finally the Chesapeake and Ohie
railroad itself, all these are not enough. We
want the whole of their capacity and far
greater capacity to carry our products to the
sea. Il IL because there Is not enough carry
ing capacity that freights are go high. There
is nothing the country can engage In more
important or more profitable than the extern
slen of works Of internal improvement,
which should be created for every latitude.
There is q section, and very Mrge sec
ton. Of the country whose port is New York,
another whose port is Philadelphia, another
whose port is Baltimore, another whose port,
az we hope and believe, is Washington (; and
this will support the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal O work by no means to be LEFT out Of
consideration with those looking at the cheap
transportation project.
Another, and very large section, per-
haps the largest ofall, whose port is Norfolk
for Norfolk will yet be the port Of delivery
for the Pacific slope, or we much mistake the
tendency of the great trade movements Of
this continent. ...."
Heretofore State jealousy, or let us gay
State emulation, has argued in favor Of the
work passing through the borders Of the
State notwithstanding or passing by
works that would benefit an adjoining great
section. But the time has come now when
State boundaries, surveyors boundaries,
are no boundaries at all of our immense
traffic. Our boundaries now are those Of
physical geography. The lakes have their
special sea port the upper Ohio its special
seaport; the lower Ohio, the Gulf States, the
Valley of the Mississippi, and the eastern
and western slopes of the Rocky mountains
their special seaports.
And these all have the special avenues laid
out by Nature, not by board OF trade or q
CORPS of engineers. Among these the James
River and Kanawha canal is one, and very
important one, to be considered. by any COM
mittee of men or syndicate of men having
charge of the subject. The General Gov.
eminent must look to this matter; must
give it It's most serious consideration.
Small communities cannot carry out these
great measures, and most especially close
corporations cannot doit. The selfish desire
of inordinate profit is always difficulty,
aud will be always such. '.f""
Success aggrandizes these corporations,
and they are induced thereby to NEEDLE in
governmental affairs. They seek undue in.
duence, and sometimes, we fear, find 1t in
our legislative bodies, even in the highest of
them. The Credit-MobiIier affair is an evil
dence of this. Let our senatorial commit
tee: then, be warned in time Of the vast i'm
portance of the duties before them. Let
them not be moved by merely local eonside-
rations, and let them beware Of yielding to
any temptation In favor of "partic4lar i"
which "to foresee smells from the general
veal" .I .:.a< -a
We earnestly commend to them the James
River and Ksnawha canal If not the great
est. it Is certainly among the greatest works
In reference to which they may be called
upon 10 act. .... -.
BODY ExHUagD-CAUsB OF DEATH TO BE
IsvEsrIeATRD.-A telegram was received yes
terday by Coroner Walker from Commander
p. #. Woodin, in charge of the Soldiers
Home, at Hampton, Va, asking him to ex-
hume the body of soldier who died on the
steamer Louisiana ION Its passage to Balti-
more, on Thursday last, and send 1t by