The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1874-03-26
James River and Kanawha Canal :
Letter from the President,

James River ana hanaWha Canal -
Letter from the President,
RlcnloSD, Va, March ! 9th, 1874
To General MCaulaal:
DEAR GENERAL The receipt Of your
letter Of the 9th inst, was delayed by my
absence in Washington City. Your ear.
est, active interest gives me great pleasure.
The completion of the Central Water Liue
not only means cheap, free transportation,
but it means freedom for the masses of the
people. 1t means the improvement of the
Ohio River, and the improvement Of all
the great rivers in the Valley Of the Mis-.
sissippi-ulI the prOporty Ofthe people, aud
only needing improvement to become the
great, cheap, free highway, There are
very few passes through the Allegheny
mountains connecting the sea board by
short route, with this great system Of in.
land navigation, This central watcr.iOc
furnishes one, aud perhaps the best of the
passes. 1t is 10 the interest Of The people
that this plan shall never be under the
control Of any private corporations to ex
act tribute of them, but should belong to
them and controlled entirely in their in.
terest, Virginia and West Virginia have
rendered it to the people. We have strug-
gled for many years to preserve it in their
intercst-from the hands of speCulators.-
If Congress accepts aud completes it for
the people, then with this and such other
artificial waterways as may be necessary,
and the improvement Of the great rivers IN
your Valley, believe thata much bright.
er day will dawn upon the whole country,
and that it will make strides in prosperity
which will be greater than can be autici,
pated. 1t does not mean any war upon
the true interests Of railroads, and neither
wants such a war--becauSe it courts rail-
road progress, and gives both rail and
voter transportation, which are necessary
I toa perfect system, and furnishes that
competition which secures low rates, not
violently but BEAUTIFULLY, Its marvellous
to me that the great Ohio States should
manifest so little, earnest, active interest
in q liue-this central liue Of rail and
watGr-which completed would contribute
SO powerfully to their wealth and power
These united as one in action with the
central water-lito would make a power
which would avail in any effort which it
would make, | see what you say about
the speech and letter, The next most no.
pleasant thing to me in writing is that
somebody has to try 10 read what I write.
As to the speech, that is a long time off,
When the time comes have no doubt but
that you can find many who will make far
better speeches
We expect, probably this mouth, tho Re-
ports Of the Transportation Committees of
the United States SCuate upon tho central
water'liue, also that Of the Board Of En-.
ueers appointed by the Secretary Of War,
to review and revise the reports upon the
line from an engineering standpoint, which
has previously been surveyed, 10 whole or in
part, and reported on by fifteen Engineers,
and among them some Of the ablest in the
land, aud all unanimously favorably.
The distinguished Board werO upiDior.
med upon our merits, and tho Senate
Committee will 10 doubt throw before tho