National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-11-20
OPEN THE ROANOKE RIVER.
1t VIII Give an Outlet to Coal, Iron
and Other Products.

and other Products.
CUscowILLA, Va, Nov. lG.--It must be
gratifying to every VirgInlan to see the in.
terest you have already manifested in behalf
Of our prosperity, coupled with the prom
ises in your issue OF the 18th ultimo to de-
vote series of articles to our welfare,
received recently letter from Gen. Alb TT,
who was appointed by the Secretary Of
War to inquire and report whether the
Roanoke river be worthy of Improvement
by the government. Feeling confident that
your interest In our people will induce yOn
10 render your aid to one OF the "ery best
sections Of the state, which only because Of
want Of cheap transportation Is lett in the
race for prosperity.
The town ui CMrksville, at the confluence
Of the Dan aud StauntOn, where they form
the Roanoke, was, before the war, the third
tobacco market in the state. Until late in
the '5O's no other transportation was to he
had except batteaus or road wagons, Or
course wagons were out Of the question,
especially IN the winter, aud all this bulk Of
fregnts found an outlet on the river. Then
the boats were owned by responsible parties
aud while there We're constant TObheTies Of
freights the boat owners could aud did
make them good. After the war the owner.
snip Of these boats changed to the captains
aud crews, who were totally irresponsible,
amt the shipper bad to insure his own goods
against tire, Hoo !, and fingers. The tonnage
of II butteau is SO light that capitalist can.
not all Irl to hire first class man to aC'
company each, and the result has been that
every effort that has been made by the
farmer hcre to secure other means Of trans
pOrtItiOn or get "a home market even AT a
loss. Consequently numerous little mar
kets have sprung into existence, making a
few Spectators rich and leaving the toiler
stil poor,
The estimate made by the engineers OF
Of the United States coast survey from
ClarksviilG, Va, 10 EatOn's Falls, \. c., IL
SlSl,3l6,S2, a distance Of lifty three miles.
There Is "A canal thence TO Weldon, y. c.,
which will connect the Upper and Lower
Roanoke. The Alnemarlc and Chesapeake
canal takes us into Norfolk. survey OF
the Dan from Ddnvllle to Clarksvile has
been made. which have never seen, hut
learn That the report Is entirely IN favor Of
nuyig ttiOn Above Danyile there Il fifty
miles If coal, superior las | was told by the
late Hon. Thumas StauhOpe FluurnOy) tC
the Cumberland coal Of Maryland Ihis
could he put into Norfolk AZ a price which
would make II, instead Of New York, tn,
COallug station for steamers gOiug from
europe 10 China and Japan. Here they
would find "A better harbOr and save AT leas
100 miles Of travel. On the Upper Dan, a
l also learned from the same high author
fly, is the mDTOtuc iron ore said 10 exec
the best Scotch pig. Also, At the foot o
the QuaratOwn mountain, marble o
great beauty, cXCelling even that Of Italy
All Of these need cheap transportation
which they CanuOt now lind by rall.
The farmers OF this section PARTICULAR
need lime aud marie. our most intuligen
farmers have always coutended that GU
lands We're superior Ia those ON the Jane
river IN natural fertility, and yet on
Isolated LOCALITY IA lett far behind In agri
culture. All If our lands are disposed L
bring blue grass, aud II we could get eithe
the stone lime from above or the shell
from Norfolk at reasonable rate, W
might show some Of the hurscmen Of Ken
lucky the heels Of some Of the descendant
Of Old NiTginian horses who were In tn
olden time the pride Of their owners an'
tue discontinue Of al corners.
Little Is known outside Of our Owl
locality OF the possibilities Of this section
There Is no crop, fruit or berry, whic
grows outside Of u tropical climate, whiC
Is not " home here, growing most luNu
Tiantly and yielding profitable crops. w
had, before tine war, everything we wanted
aud people In that happy state give then
selves little trouble. We could, II W
chose, take our own teams, aud at leisur
seasons market In Richmond or Petersburg
A patriarrhal state Of happiness was our
unknown 10 few people Of other localities
In fact, we lived In such ease and cOmfol
that few cared to lay up money, aud III
result was that when judgment Il IS cam
we were left poverty stricken aud almO'
helpless. A gallant effort has been mad
by many Of our people tn overcome I'll
obstacles 80 rugged, but we are stl
behind, and have desire TO struggle o