National Republican., 1874-05-21

''tral water line upon which we are called
''to report" They further declare. In
resolution. that 'the route presents extra
'iordinaiy claims as msasureSof relief TO
'the population of the Western States in
t'furnishing them, for their bulky produr-
lions cheap transportation 70 market,
''and for fostering the commerce Of the
Omitted States by developing immense
mineral resources now neglected. -
With the exception of Gen. Barnard who
is somewhat reserved, all Of the board, In
their individual expressions of opinion, are
enthusiastic In behalf of the route. y i,1 !,
Gen. Gilmore says, 'the assumption is
"not without many intelligent advocates
"that local interests alone are of sufficient
magnitude to render this water-line re-
"munerative, and therefore TO justify its
construction. He cites, with approval,
the declaration of Prof. Ansted, of England,
that he can safely say, from his kRowledg sc
of the subject, that 'thc quantity of min
"erals alone which would have to be car
cried over such line of water communica-
"tion would be sufficient to justify the con-
"struction of the canal, at the cost at which
cit has been placed" ESQ. 900. 000.)
Gen. Gilmore thinks that in q few years
from its completion, the annual tonnage
that will seek the line will amount to from
twelve to sixteen million tons-3ix to eight
millions from the two Virginias and an equal
amount from the West.
With locks Of twenty-three or twenty
four feet in width. depth of eight feet of
water, and an addition of t*enty-four feet
to the locks, as proposed by Mr.. Lorraine,
boats of five hundred tons could run on the
canal.
THE adequacy of the water-supply, he
says. "will not be questioned by any engi-
"neer who gives the subject few mo,
"ments' intelligent thought.
General Weitzel says canal Of the est
mated capacity Of the James river and
Kanawha.canal would do the work of al
least three first-class railroads, and with the
great additional advantage that it would dc
it $50 much cheaper"
Supposing the three railroads built and
supposing the difference in cost of trans
portation per ton per mile only one hal
cent, as compared with the canal, he offerE
the following calculation, putting the ton
mage on the canal at less than two thirds il.
capacity:
BY rail, 5000 900 tons, 400 miles, at one cent pei
ton per mile, 81, 900, 900.
BY James river and Kanawhs canal, 1000 00t
tons, oo2 miles, at one hall cent. per mile, SIS,
o3O,ooc. -
Saving In one year, $5,s.o,ooo.
Or nearly $4,000. 600. or about one tenth
extreme estimated cost of work.
Colonel Craighill is very decided. moi
only in favor of the entire practicability Of
the work, but of its great commercial value,
and is very full on both points.
Mr. Latrobe's letter has reference particu
larly to the tunnel. He refers to the lette
which he had previously written to Mr.
Lorraine, expressing his entire confidenc,
in the practicability ''of this apparently
formidable feature of the work." apt
adds that he has nothing to recall in thai
regard. "What saw of it upon the grount
recently, made 1t assume indeed, mort
favorable aspect than before"
''The commercial benefits of such {
''work," he says, appear to be too OBJ
''vious for argument.
The report, with the accompanying in
dividual opinions of the members, mus
make a profound impression on Congress
and points at no distant day to earnest and
effective measures on the part of the Gov
ernment to open this great national watel
way.
This is one of the four great water ways
recommended to Congress in the able report
Of the Senate Committee on Transportation,
TO which we shall take occasion to refer in
q future article.