The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-08-26
MIR. Stuarf,s Letter.

MIR. Stuarts Letter.
We give place, this morning, to the exclusien
of other matter, to an important and interes-
ting letter from Hon. A. II. H. Stuart. of this
city, in reference to the james River and ka-
nawha canal.
1t is to he regretted that in discussing SUBJ
ct Of such magnitude to Virginia, and SO to-
tally foreign to party politics. that Mr. Stuart
should have nlalred the force and effectiveness
at his argument, and destroyed much OF the
interest the "iews he advances should naturally
excite with men of all party persuasions, by
making all unnecessary assault upon what he
terms the ''vcious monetary SYSTEM OF the
country, whose tendency is to ''oppress labor
and paralyzc enterprise, in his asserted estina-
ton. That he is sincere in this side blow at
the 'smonetary SYSTEM Of the United States,
we do not believe. But it subscrves his purpose,
at this particular time, to yield to the scnseless
clamor Of the thoughtess and INDECENT, as well
as the spendthrifts and bankrupts, to pandcr 20
the reckless AMI criminal disregard Of national
obligations and national honor, manifested by
the party with which he holds nominal
relations of identity. liza published statement
be truc-and we have seen no contradiction OF
it-Mr. Stuart claims the authorship OF the
present financial policy of the Treasury De-
partment. As to the National Banking Sys-
tenn. his personal relations to that would forbid
the conclusion that he regarded it as vicious
because he has held official relations to that
system ever since Virginia has participated in
its privileges.
We regret that we have felt it due to ourselves,
in publishing his letter, to protest against this
lemagogical slap he administers to the Re-
publican party, and can only account for it Oh
the hypothesis that the primary object had in
view in penning this document, was not so
much the prosperity and advancement of Vir-
ginia through the agency Of the great enter
prise he undertakes to patronize, as the attain
ment of the ends OF personal political ambi
ton.
Passing by and barring this impolitic and L.
relevant alusion of Mr.. Stuart to the admins
tration of President Grant and its financial pol
icy. we cannot too highly commend the osten-
sible object of this letter to the consideration
of the people of Virginia. 1t comprehends a
vastness of interests so far above the range and
atmosphere of party politics, that it looks like
sacrilege to warp its scope ana faint its merits,
by even remote and insidious allusion to any
thing that might excite partizan feeling.
The completion Of this great inland improve
ment to a point where its connections would
practically realize the original design of the
enterprise of commanding the productions of
the west, and bringing the sea-board OF Virgin
il into immediate communication with the fertile
States of the West, is contamination that
shoald rise paramount in the consideration OF
every Virginian to any other that can be sug-
gested. 1t not only comprehents the carry
ing trade of the affllent region beyond the
Ohio, but-it embraces the development of the
richest iron country probably Oil the face Of
the globe. and brings it in direct association
with the illimitablc coal fields of West Virgin
ia, uniting the two essential elements to con-
stituting Virginia, in the near future, the Iron
Centre Of the United States.
The practcability of the proposition to CON-
pete the Canal to Clifton Forge scarcely adj
mts of an argument. We have seen from the
fl cures and facts furnished MIR. Stuart by Maj
NJ :Mahon, that there have been already expen.
del by the State over half million of dollars
we of Buchanan, and that it will require moi
m ,rc than enc million and a quarter more te
Fl lish the work to its connection with the Ches
a3cako and Ohio Railroad at Clifton Forge
W. lcn we consider the immense and vital inter
est embraced within the various counties, where
large mineral deposits have boon discovered and
worked, along the line of the Canal already
completed, and the known deposits that exists
along the surveyed and determined route yet tt
be constructed, this of itself would justify tho
exhaustion Of every constitutional mes ms to ef
feet the grand result, leaving ont of view the
vast carrying trade from the west which the
improvement would accommodate.
Mr. Stuart has wisely given preference to the
canal over the suggested Railroad from Clifton
Forge to Buchanan. Not only is the wisdom
of the change of view as to the comparative
merits, intrinsicaly, OF the TWO propositions.
apparcnt.but the facts bearing upon this point
a:e so overwhelmingly favorable to the canal.
that it would seem almost superlluous to argue
them.
The canal, in the first place, would be four
miles shorter than the railroad, which in a
matter OF construction, involves a large sum-
Next, it crosses the river four times west OF
Buchanan, thus becoming accessible to both
sections divided by the stream, while the rail
rad would necessarily be compelled to traverse
tie northern side, leaving the opposite side OF
the river without available means of reaching
transportation. In considering these facts, it
should not be forgotten that there exists i'm
mense mineral wealth either side of the
James, and that in atfording easy access to both
sides, corresponding value would be given TO
the iron deposits, brought as they would be, into
cheap communication with the coal that would
utilize them. In addition to this new created
taxable wealth to the State, the enterprise
would bring into active life the $4,000 of the
States money already expended west of Blu
Gilman, but now entirely worthless so far az
any practical benefit is concerned, and must
remain dead loss unless revived by the prop
ositon of Mr.. Stuart, the only method OF reach.
ing it.
The State has s1o,oOo,00o invested in tho
James River and Kanawha Canal, and there
are about $4,000 of private stock owne d
in it. The stock, until the appearance of the