National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-02
THE NA9T0NAL WArER-LLNE.


The surplus of the United States grain
crop which reaches the seaboard is esti-
mated at two hundred millions Of bushels.
or about five million tons, annually. The
quantity which is placed ON the market for
consumption, and participates in one move
ment from the producers hands, is est,
mated ct fivellundred million bushels more.
In addition to this grain movement, the pro-
visions. live stock. fuel cotton, sugar. man
ufactures OF all kinds, make an aggregate
tonnage almost beyond computation. The
present average cost Of moving this tonnage
on the New 7 ork canals is about eight mills
per ton per mile, and by the New York
railways two cents per ton per mile The
great desideratum of the present moment is
the achievement of a possibility Of moving
all heavy tonnage between the Mississippi
valley AMI the seaboard by water and steam
rs cheaply as rsftso logs can be towed
through q iake Such route would act as
governor and regulator of rates of freight
on all competing lines, and afford COM
plete protection sgainstextortion. Nwould
he . grand thing. indeed. to have con-
tinuous water line, navigated by steamers,
from st. Paul and Memphis and Omaha to
Hampton roads. free from ice eleven months
in the year. and carrying ton of freight at
the rate Of two TO three mills per mile.
Such is the promise held out by the
friends of the Central Water Line through
Virginia. connecting with the Ohio and
Mississippi rivers. Sucha scheme, having,
so far as the execution of the work is con-
cerned, been pronounced practicable by q
number Of the most eminent engineers ofthe
country. deserves the serious attention of
Congress. The amount of money required
to finisl, the canal and to improve the Ka-
nawha. Ohio and Mississippi rivers will be
large, and the utmost circumspection
ought. therefore, to lie observed before COM
hitting the Government to such an under
taking. A question has been raised about
the water supply at the summit Level of the
canal. and witt, regard to the practicability
of the great tunnel Of the Allegheny noun
tains.~ Under resolution of the House of
Representatives the Secretary Of War has
already had this line surveyed by Major
Craighill. of the United States engineers,
who has reported to Gen. Humphreys that
the surveys conducted under his charge
have settled" the question of ''practica-
bility.' Mr.. Edward Lorraine, one of the
most distinguished hydraulic engineers of
the country; Capt. Mcneil, of the United
Siates Typographical engineers. and other en-
gincers had previously made similar reports
in favor of the practicability of the route.
But, in view of the magnitude Of the under
taking, it is well that yet another and more
authoritative examination las been ordered
by the Secretary of War, who has directed
the assembling Of board of engineers to
pass again on the subject. This board win
convene in a few days at Richmond, Va.
The central water line is not to be con-
founded with the various private schemes
before Congress for subsidies and sppropria-
lions. The transaction is one to which
(practically) the only parties are the States
of Virginia and West Virginia on the one
hand and the United States on the other
1t is an offer on the part Of Virginia and
West Virginia to turn the work over to the
Federal Government Oh tho ground of their
inability to complete it. They make CON-
plete surrender of the work, which has cost
some $40, 900. 900, and ask the United States
TO take possession Of it, complete it, and
make it a free public higAway for all the
DeOOle 0f tho TTninn-s,,l,iect only IN e,,fii
Gent tolls to meet the necessary annual re-
pairs. The proposition, therefore, is grossly
by those who speak of it in
association with the subsidies asked for in
behalf of some other schemes now. before
Congress. Many of these contemplate the
creation of new moasopozies to be subsidized
by the Government; the Virginia PROPOSE
tion contemplates work controlled by the
Government for the benefit of the people,
and is essentially the reverse Of a subsidy
and monopoly.