Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-18
JAMES RIVER AND s.,NAWA CANAL
a Correspondence Discusses the Pro
ject Which Washington
To the Editor OF The Dispatch:

TO the Editor OF The Dispatch:
beg leave to trespass upon your space
for short letter with a view of recall
ing to public attention an enterprise
which for nearly hundred years wal
thought to hold the future. not only OF
Virginia. but of the great West-the oid
James Rives and kanawa Canal.
A glance over the map OF the United
States will show that George Washington
may have reckoned beyond his time but
reconed wisely, when In his earliest mill
tary expedition be traversed the line OF
the James aud Kanawa rivers and first
conceived the idea of connecting the At
lantic seaboard with the vast system OF
navigabls rivers draining the mighty
basin between the Allegheny and Rock,
mountains by a water way.
If we look at that map to-day we sea
the same formation which impressed tns
practical mind OF Washington. Condi-
ticns have changed, but the future coudi-
tons, which Washington saw only in
his magma ton, are now living realities.
and multiply q hundred times the need
of carrying out Washington's project. Not
along the lines winch the scarcity o.
labor and money in that day rendered
necessary. which was a ditch along ths
river bank with turnpike road across
this mountains but along the lines which
New York proposes to adopt in trans
forming the Erie caral-ahandon the ditch
and follow a natural channel.
First, let us compare the advantages OF
the two ways: the one which Virginia
tossed away as worn out garment. with
the one which New York has cherished az
the first born OF a giant progeny. The
Erie canal, as it exists and has existed.
is a ditch which boats moving faster than
three miles an hour would destroy. IL
is closed for six months OF the year; the
water being let out In November and not
t, rned in until May; 1t connects the Great
Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean, upon
neither CT v aich the canal boats can
venture. which necessitates q transfer
of cargoss. Moreover. not one stream
drains into the Lakes. Whatever is
transported by lake and canal must first
be taken to the ports by rail- requiring
at least. two haulings. 4.4e Virginia
way is link Of $50 miles along natural
channels over which boats could steam
at full spes ]. tapping system Of io00O
miles of internal navigation. permeating
every part OF the richest country In the
world which has far outgrown its pres
ent facilities for transportation. This is
shown by the constant advance in-valus
OF all railroad stocks and securities Such
sinanciers as J. P. Morgan and others do
not advise their clients 20 buy speculative
or gambling stocks.
The revival OF this project upon tbs
lines Indicated seems to the writer to
be III accord with the spirit of the times.
For many years railroads have mono
pc ed the attention of the public. but
within the last decade the world mas come
to see that there Is need for both water
and rail for purposes OF transportation
and eminent railroad men now know that
so far from being rivals. they go hand In
hand. Witness the New York Central
railroad paralleliing the Erie canal with
four tracks. and both prospecting. It mas
never been the policy Of the Central to
antasonf2e the canal This character OF
Improvement of the James and kanawa
rivers is not new proposition. and In
the main has been the subject OF investi-
cation rv the most eminent engineers In
the United States. AS late as 1874 1t waa
tnanir1ously pronounced practicable and
a great public necessity. by board, OF
Which the eminent Mr.. Latrobe. OF Balti-
more. was member.
There are many gentlemen In Rich
mond Who are. familiar with the subject,
emo I am sure 1t would be found interest
ing to your many readers IL discussed
through your columns.
Very respectfully.
r NJ -