New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-21
TIE KANAIVIA RIVER IuPROTE-
MENT.

jet.
lvROm SPECIAL CORRrsPosDfNr or TIP TRiPUSE.l
BALTIMORE, June 20.-Ihe improvement of
the Great KanaWha River from the Great falS 10 It's
mouth will complete a very important link OF what Is
known as the Central Water Line" connecting the James
River at Richmond with the Ohio River at the month Of
the Kanawba the construction OF which was strongly
recommended by Senator WINDOWS Committee ~ us re-
port little than year AGO The appropriation OF
1900 900, made by Congress at its last session. Tor ue
improvement Of Kanawha, and the manner In which
t is to be expended become therefore, subjects OF great
importance BY voting this money, Congress has, IN
sense committed itself the completion OF this Cen
trial Water Line" and, having once entered upon tho
work Will, doubt. be called upon for annual apfop
lions to complete it.
The distance from the Great Falls OF the Kanawha 10
its mouth Is 9li miles, and the cost OF improving ~
estimated By the late Mr. Lorraine will be 100000 In
order that the TO be expended next year may be used
to the best advantage Board of Army Engineers with
Cen HUMPHREYS at its head appointed by tho scere
tary OF War; with instructions TO give the matter careful
consideration Several meetings wero held, aud finally
visit was made the Kanawha in order that b. personal
inspection listening 10 the suggestions OF persons n-
terested in the Improvement the Board might act with
complete understanding of the subject and adopt the
best plan for securing the object In view, which Is 10 so
increase the depth OF water the shoals az 10 allow the
passage OF vessels drawing six and half feet OF water
One plan strongly advocated by some having personal
interest improvement Of the river was 10 construct
movable piers by which the span could be widened or
narrowed according to the stage of the water, and thus
to mako "shute" through which vessels could pas
without the delay and expense Of locking. This plan was
carefully considered but the objections TO IL were found
TO be so great that rejected. One of the most Sc
rious of these would be the difficulty which vessels as
| cendng the stream would encounter.
| After thoroughly investigating the subject the Board
returned home and few days ago. decided 10 iecoln
mend the construction OF stone locks and 20 expend tho
100000 in building the first ono on the Hats below
Charleston This lock is to be 300 feet long and 30 feet
wde report OF the Board il now in the hands Of the
Secretary of War, awaiting his action Col Craigll OF
this city, under whose direction the work will BE- DONE
says that there is plenty of good sandstone and limo
stone the place where 1t is proposed to build this
lock- AMI that if the plans Of the Board are approved
he intends construct piece Of masonry equal to any
| thing in this any other country
The history OF the James River and Kanawha Canal OF
which the Improvement proposed may be considered
| "a a part is very interesting one. The project was
originated in the latter part of the last century and the
route has been repeatedly surveyed. Nirgnans were
always famous for projecting, il not for carrying ont
great internal improvement schemes, and this one for
securing rich carrying trade of the West and North
west was very popular among Southern men. At the
Same time it has met with many serious difficulties
and dsappointments and, as Is well known,
has made very slow progress. Among the most
enthusiastic advocates OF the project nj
litter day was Cen Hamilton Of South Carolina. Hami
ton was enthusiast in favor OF the Independence
of Texas, spending all of his fortune and portions
of the fortunes Of very many Of bis friends Ia her cause
The James River Improvement Company, then pushing
forward its work the canal sent Hamilton, at mat
time man OF unsulled reputation and fine speaker, to
London, with authority to negotiate loan OF 100000
on its bonds 20 carry the work Tie State having
already loaned its credit the enterprise Hamilton
in a measure acting under her authority in London.
Texas at that time struggling for her independence
and being very much in want OF money authorized Ham
I'm
negotiate loan for her. Hamilton hal excited good
deal of sympathy for the struggling Texans i'll Lon lon
and a number OF influential anu wealthy friends or
the cause gave Hamilton what he considered snf-
fcient assurance that they would take the loan
lie WAS successful in negotiating the loan for
tho james River Improvement Company and
had the bills OF exchange his pocket But his heart
was the OF Texas, and under what lie afterwad
called mistaken idea of the situation at home he let ncr
have the money to relieve her pressing wants, feeling
sure that would few days be enabled to replace it
with tho funds promised him on his Texas bonds But
unfavOrable reached London concerning the affairs
of Texas Just at that time, and the "naaentlal and
to risk The loan Hamilton felt that only
volyed himself in serious trouble but at las reputation
honest man. which was something 20 be proud ol
in those days Vas gone lie had G"nmtSa g,
The news Of this aiar was received in Richmond and
commented on IN the seyerest terms 10 the Improve
men Company it was heavy blow, since they had en-.
tered into large contracts for work on the assurance that
| the loan had been negotiated. Hamilton hurried home.
appeared ia Richmond aud at meeting called expressly
gave plain unyarnshed statement OF all tie facts. but
iiiled 10 effect change III public opinion. lie used 10
say he could forgive himself koeny did he feel
the wrong he had committed He had been great friend
o Texas, and his native state had honored him ana cE
The canal PROJECT struggled along meeting and over
coming other difficulties, until ii reached buchanan.
20 miles west of ynchousg and near The fork OF
Kates Mountain peak OF the Acghenies Thirty years
ago this mountain presented what many OF our elglnctrs
considered impossible barrier to the further extension
Of the canal toward the SUNNI, level The canal as lar
constructed rayerses the richest poru. ns OF the state
aud curious fact that Its business has SO Increased
that it ivers to-day more freight Tonnage in Richmond
than the five railroads concentrating in that city,
| Since the war new impetus has been given 10 this
grand central canal project and new and more modern
| achieve. Instead OF Gea. Hamilton and the oli-fasl-
toned engineers who planned the work. have senator
enthusiasts in this socaled grand canal project
Of uniting the waters Of the Mississippi and Chesapeake
Bay. Craighill IL himself Nirgnlan, ana very nat
uaily tax deep interest III the internal Improvements
Of his state Bat or ta St Ha ANA !. S r sct
| Canal was with Lesseps Gen. Butler made Dutch Gap
mere a'sh Jrsga.i made IL p asaeg me or dnse
the james River, that vessels drawing Is ieet
%ds 5 d s n S%d Kawa e cSS @
vessels of 800 and 400 tons capacity and drawing 90
| and Z feet OF water can pass through 1t propelled
| Rates Mountain dincultyf' was asked Of him
Easy encugh-no difficulty about that" he replied II
Lesseps could construct the sucz Canal iand the Alps
could be successfully tunneled, certainly tunnel
Rates Mountain The distance is only sis miles tribe
longer than the tunnel under Mount Cents The rock be
wOrked through Is sOter and more penetraDe, and tho
cost notwithstanding our higher wages paid for LABOR
woud bc mneh less Nature here has been more CON con,
siderate. There three ndentaons depressons IN
Hates Mountain, al equal distances shafts conli 20
sunk down there thus securing ive working positions
| In that way the work would be expedited very murh
When tho tunnel Is finished these shafts could 20
uel below" Inquired II he had made estimate OF te
cost 20. yes" said he, $50 100000 perhaps less won9
easily obtain a footing ON the Greenorler RIVER anu
hal. ul.rfar npl Nav RlxAls dan