762 



FA R M E R S' REGIS T E R. 



[No. 12 



distance or400 mile.s between the harbor of Norfolk 

 and the above designated point, would not exceed 

 the estimated cost of the Lynchburo; and Ten- 

 nessee rail road. A profitable line of rail ^oad 

 could also be constructed so as to connect the 

 head of steamboat nav'>ation in the county of 

 Stokes, N. C. with the Charleston and Cincinnati 

 rail road, passmg throujh a highly favorable and 

 fertile country, on the Yadkin and Catawba rivers. 



Staunton River. 



A comtiiunicaiion is effected belween this river 

 and the Dan by the thoroughfare at the head of 

 Nelson's Island. A similar mode of improvemeni 

 is also recommended. The fall from the Dan 

 river at the head of Nelson's Island to the town 

 of Brookneal is 84 f^^-o ^^^t, and the distance is 48 

 miles 4193 feet; the average width does not ex- 

 ceed 150 yards. 



The whole distance of the contemplated im- 



provement ex-tends 171 miles 2636 feet, and the 

 tail 354 y;,^;j^'feet/av(>ra;):nig2 -j^/j^ to the mile, fur- 

 nisliing a verj^vorable result in support oi" the 

 mode of impro'vemenl recommended. 



The vvhoifr estimated cost is $650,169 20, aver- 

 aging 3791 dollars per mile, or 1833 dollars per 

 foot liill. 



[The report next exbibi'ts different "General Es» 

 timates" or statements hi detail of the various particu- 

 lar works required, and the esfiu:ated cost of ihe im- 

 provements proposed, to furnish slack water steamboat 

 navigation, f4 feet deep at all seasons,) by locks, 

 dnms, and short canals, from Rocklanding, at the head 

 of the great falls of Roanoke, as high as Danville, on 

 the Dan, and Brookneal, on the Staunton. It is un- 

 necessary to insert here these several estimates in full. 

 The following abstract from them, which concludes 

 the report, v/ill suffice for the general reader. En. F. R.] 



Richmond, Januanj 9, 1838. 



SKETCH OF THE FROCEEDTNGS OF THE LATE 

 AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION OF N. YORK. 



The following commmunication will be read with in- 

 terest by every subscriber to the Register, who is pro- 

 perly impressed with the importance of the combined 

 action of the agriculturists of Virginia, for the purpose 

 of protecting their own interests, and, by that means, 

 also the best interests of the commonwealth. At the 

 same time, every such reader will feel both sorrow 

 and shame, in being compelled to believe that no such 

 pubUc-spirited views and action are to be hoped for in 

 Virginia, from the people, and still Jess from the legisla- 

 ture. In the latter body, any subject, either frivolous, 

 or useless, or hurtful, may be introduced, and discussed 

 at length, at the expense of thousands to the treasury, 

 in mere consumption of time; petitions for money, 

 for the private gain of individuals and corporations, 

 unsupported either by justice or policy, are granted for 

 hundreds of thousands. But the urgent wanfs of 

 the great agricultural interest are not thought of; and 

 if any such cl dms are attempted to be brought for- 

 ward, they are promptly rejected, after the shortest pos- 

 sible hearing, with scorn, ridicule and contempt. If the 

 legislature of Virginia would appropriate judiciously, 

 for the promotion of agricultural improvement and in- 

 struction, but the tenth part of the average annual ex- 

 pense of discussions and grants, either totally useless, 

 or decidedly hurtful, the commonwealth woiild rapidly 



regain her formerly prosperous and dignified condition- 



Ed. Far. Reg. 

 To tlie Editor of the Fanners' Register. 



Kinderhook, February, 16, 1838. 



Last year I gave you a short abstract of the 

 proceedings of our slate Agricultural Convention 

 ! and Society at Albany. If you recollect, we then 

 i passed a resolution to hold a similar meeting at 

 I tlie same place, in February, 1838. That nieet- 

 ! ing has been held according to appointment; and 

 in the absence of tlie the printed reports of it, 

 whi(di will he given to the public in a few days, 

 permit me to give you a short sketch of our pro- 

 ceedings. The sketch will necessarily be imper- 

 fect, as I have no minutes helore me, in aid of my 

 memory; neither can I make a discrimuiation be- 

 tween the acts of the society and convention, fur 

 as the object was one, their proceeding would, 

 consequeiiily, run into each other. 



The convention organized in the Assembly 

 Chamber on Thursday, the first of February. I 

 think there were about one hundred and fifty mem- 

 bers in attendance. In the number of delegates 

 were several members of both senate and assem- 

 bly, having been chosen by their respective coun- 

 ties, to represent them in that body. A tempora- 

 ry chairman was chosen until time was ijiven us 

 to make out a regular list of officers. J. R. Law- 

 rence of Onondaga, was elected president, assist- 

 ed by nine vice-presidents and four secretaries. 

 Afler the preliminary business was dis[osed o(j 



