The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-11

oil the eHfi1f, md While not exactly Dulil III
the spirit OF opposition, are yet opponents,
springing out Of the growth OF the age; for
in the progress OF years the rail has Hsurped
the position held by the canal.
Yirginians are proverbially conservative.
This in many ways and at many times Is
wise, yet 1t may be nigh akin to onstinacy.
It may be too much pride OF position, an
unwillingness to confess to mistaken view,
or it may be mental sluggishness and az I'M.
willingness to take the requisite trouble ana
labor to investigate facts and rouse up IKE
men fully awake and view the surroundings
throughout the whole field. Now, we argue
that while the stereotyped views in favor OF
the canal are constantly heard, they are ut
tered by men who forget that the spirit and
advancement OF the age have swept past
them. Whilst the slow-moving mule and
the slower, broken.down boat-horse are
slowly drawing their loads along the broken
tow-path Of the canal. which ut the best can
only carry boats OF seventy or eighty tons,
and often from interruptions not so much,
the spirit OF the age and OF civilization IS
rushing past with locomotive speed upon
the iron track.
The Hudson and Erie canal was. in fact,
the father OF the James-river canal. NOW
let us see how it stands to-day. That canal
was the outcrowth Of the necessity OF the
times and surroundings. Early in the his
tory OF New York the settlers from New
England located upon the line OF the Mo
hawk and in the GeDnesSce Valley, ever a
hardy, thrifty. energetic people, who, while
by their industry developing their naturally
fertile lands, found growing necessity for
an outlet to market. and az the question OF
railroad could not come into the caicula-
tion, they called for canal along the val
eys OF the Hudson and the Mohawk, never
dreaming then OF the vast tonnage which the
unpopulated West would one day pour
into this channel. Hence the canal was
built-an Improvement fully up to the de-
mands OF the times, and one cherished By
New York city and the whole State. Ii
nenetrated field rich in fact, but valueless
without this Improvement but this i'm
proyement, abreast with the spirit OF the
age, caused All influx OF population and an
advance in the lands, and a growth OF all
mechanical and agricultural industries;
lands rapidly advanced here chow widely
different the fact upon the james River and
Kanawha canal y, and the success and poDu-
lariiv OF the scheme for time was
complete. The rapid filling up OF the
West also tended greatly to increase
the products poured into this channel.
the only Que open to the markets OF the
world; and, in fact, under the slim
illus thus given, New York did become
the great mart OF the country. But GH MtS
,Cns in the olden time. Now let us see how
the tonnage OF this canal compares with its
own former tonnage. According TO reliable
statistics the operations or the canal cullnl-
nated ins1S62 in 2,9l7,000 tons. This has
declined gear by year until, in 1876, it only
reached l ,740, 0G0 tons-a decrease OF thirty
per cent. And this in the face OF great IN
crease of production in the West. In addl-
ton to this, forty years ago New York State
furnished seventy per cent. OF the tonnage,
OF the canal against only twenty per cent.
in 1876. We thus see how the interest III
the country along the canal has abated in
IFS own works and how the traffic has gone
to the railroads. No longer feeders OF but
rivals to the canal. Yes; more than
rivals. Great oycrshadowing institutions,
abreast with the times, and des-
tined to crush it out for the causes
now at work are not transitory, but deep
rooted and all-pervading-th opening OF
many steam channels is iar-reacbing in effect
not only to New York city, but to the eX-
istcucc OF the Erie canal itself. Not only
do railroads present comparative freedom
from interruption OF water, flood, and ice,
but produce is now carried on we'll
organized, well-constructed railroads at
less than on the Erie canal, being 81
mills per ton per mile on the canal
against 81 or less by rail. In view OF
these facts the rebuilding OF boats has
greatly diminished, and tolls have been re-
duced to rates not sufficient to keep up the
repairs. The result OF this must be mani
tested against the canal at no distant day.
In word, the great improvements In all
departments of railroads.&c. the manage
ment, in the roadbed, in the solid steel rail,
in the permanent character OF the whole
work-have 80 diminished The costof trans
portation that no one who regarded the
question OF the advantages OF canal trans
portation in former days and allowed his
ideas then to become fixed is prepared to
dispose OF this question now.
Since all, and much more than we have
said, in regard to the Erie canal and the
great changes affecting it, is true, let us
come more directly to the consideration OF
the Jamcs-riyer canal. This canal-the
outgrowth OF the Erie, coming into exist
encc too late in the worlds history, conse-
quently never completed, hence destined
never to be--has been a continual incubus
upon the State, the city OF Richmond, and
the country through which it passes.
So, 400, 900 have been expended upon it,
and still, to. day, it is OF less than no value,
only a cumberer OF the ground. occupying
the line along which railroad should be
built, and that at once. Now, while Rich
mond is smarting under the losses daily,
hourly, sustained by the loss OF highway
along the James-RiYer yaley-the result OF
the same unceasing cause-tet her look lCell
to this subject. A mistake now would be
fatal to her future-should she conclude to
rcmoin welded to this mistake Of the past
and make it Il still greater mistake OF the
future. In consequence or mistakes and
mismanagemcnts Mt ditlereEt times in con-
ncction with the railroads running to-We
should rather say by-Richmond, the coun.
try through which the canal passes has be-
come her chief source OF supply. While
she reaches out her arms to more remote
points let her remember that the valley OF
the james river is her natural feeder, and
il properly cared for and nurturcd will yet
be to her a source OF untold wealth, capable
OF supporting an immense population
rich not only in agricultural advantages,
in mineral treasures Of numberless varle-
ties, in manufacturing sites and facilities,
it will pour flood OF wealth into the lap
OF the cities situated along the line. Let Us
remember how the character OF this $50
called) improvement has retarded tue deYel,
opment OF this lovely section-how the lands
were deprecated by its presence, even before
the war, when large holdings and large slave
property were desirable-and much more
now. when the country should be Subdivided
and large population encouraged to settle
and develop it as nature has intended i!
should he, unless the sIuggishness and stu
pidity OF man forbid. With railroad along
the line OF the canal, life and energy would
diversity ~ interest