1836.J 



FARMERS' REGISTER, 



635 



"s/wiCi'/ig-," or removing shallows and obstructions, 

 in a rapid stream, the still and deep waters are 

 drawn oH', and other obstructions are uncovered 

 or cau^^ed to Ibrm : shoals of sand and gravel, if cut 

 through, are airain formed by the action of whate- 

 ver first caused them ; and even if the labor is not 

 endless — if the bottom rem.uns regularly gradua- 

 ted thouo-hout — the certain consequence is, that 

 the unobstructed stream will be more rapid, of 

 course shallower, and perhaps as unfit for naviga- 

 tion, as when in a stale of nature. The best and 

 cheapest mode for improving streams like the Up- 

 per Appomattox, is by "locks and dams," by 

 which still water of any required depth is obtain- 

 ed. Willis's River has been improved on this 

 plan. — and boats can easily navigate that inconsi- 

 derable stream, which cannot be carried thence 

 down James River. 



The lower paris of the iMeherrin, Nottov/av and 

 Blackvvater, (without including any part of Chow- 

 an,) together form jjood and uninterrupted naviga- 

 ble water for fi-om 100 to 130 miles; and if desirable, 

 it would be easy to remove the obstructions still 

 higher up the i\leherrin and Nottoway. Almost 

 no use is made of this extensive means of transpor- 

 tation, because it does not lead to Petersburg, the 

 nearest (and as yet the best) market for that 

 country. Though navio-able water continues 

 thence to Norlbllc, yet the low prices there, and 

 the circuitous and difficult pas>age, have caused 

 most of" the produce to be brought to Petersburg, 

 by fi-om 40 to 70 miles of land carriage. Like 

 causes have drawn to the same market the pro- 

 ducts of the Roanoke, contrary to their natural des- 

 tination : but of that hereafler. 



The circumstances which have liithcrto made 

 Petersburg ihe market for the waters of the Chow- 

 an cannot long continue, and the trade must take 

 another direction, unless this extensive and now 

 useless water-way is connected by a navigable 

 canal with the A;)pomattox ; and this seems quite 

 practicable, and. in proportion to the expense, no 

 other improvement promises more profit to both 

 town and countr}-. The head of JBlackwaler is 

 within two miles of the Appomattox Canal Basin, 

 and the latter is on a higher level. The present 

 canal, enlarged throughout, and continued through 

 Petersburg to the head of Blackwater, would 

 empty all the water brought, down the Chowan: 

 and the canal continued through Blackwater 

 Swamp to where its own water woidd become na- 

 vigable, would join, and bring into immediate and 

 profitable use, Ihe upper (and perhaps the lower) 

 waters of the Chowan. It would be equal to add- 

 ing to the canal upwards of 100 miles more, made 

 almost fi'ee of expense. 



If this scheme were completed, it would have 

 the following beneficial efTecls: 



1. The rich and very extensive swamp lands 

 of Blackwater might be drained by digging the 

 canal through their lowest part; and properly to an 

 immense amount would be formed Ji'orn what 

 otherwise must continue a worthless nuisance. 



2. The expense of transporting produce would 

 be reduced fiir below land carriage. The expense 

 saved would operate as a hi<rh premium lor in- 

 creased cultivation and improvement of the soil. 



3. The whole of this increased product would 

 add to the trade of Petersburg, and by that means 

 every part of its back country would be indirectly 

 benefited. 



4. Provided the commercial enterprise of Nor- 

 folk continues torpid, and provided the merchants of 

 Petersburg give prices as high as those of Rich- 

 mond, the rich produce of the Roanoke woiddtake 

 this as the cheapest course to a good market, and 

 perhaps this may be greatly reduced hereafter, by 

 a cut from Roanoke to Meherrin. But this great 

 object cannot be gained — nor will the present 

 trade of Petersburg be saved — if it does not com- 

 pete in prices with Richmond. 



(.'annot commodiiies be exported from Peters- 

 burg as cheaply as from Richmond? And if so, 

 why are not equal prices given, and equal profits 

 made? 



The trade of the back coimtry of Petersburg is 

 laking the course to Richmond, hio-her prices serv- 

 ing to more than compensate the diflerence between 

 land carriage and the present bad navigation of 

 the Appomattox. Wheat and tobacco are carried 

 fi'om south of tiie Appomattox, and sometimes 

 through Petersburg, to the Richmond market. It 

 is even apprehended by many, that the new Man- 

 chester Turnpike, (which ought to be highly ben- 

 eficial,) will injure Petersburg, by lacililating this 

 passage: but, if equal prices are not given, it re- 

 quires no prophet to foresee that Petersburg will be 

 ruined, and every farmer of ils back country be (in 

 eflect) removed twenty miles further from mark.'t, 

 even without the aid of the Manchester Turn- 

 pike. 



In offering these hints, I have no inducement 

 which ought not equally to operate on every man 

 in this part of the state. I have no concern in 

 commerce, or town property — and if every pro- 

 posed improvement wiis completed, they could 

 not increase the product of my land, nor give me 

 a better passage to mar'et. Neil her do I profl'sg 

 to be particularly inlbrmed on any of the sulijecfs 

 of improvements now proposed. The purpose of 

 these hasty and loose hints will be answered if the 

 thouiihts of those interested are directed to this 

 subject — and the exertions of the people and the 

 intelligence of their representatives be engaged 

 heartily in promoting the hitherto neglected inte- 

 rests of the 



SOUTH SIDE, 



From tlie Silk Cultiinst. 



PROSPECTS OF 



SILK CULTURE 

 VIRGINIA. 



IN WESTERN 



By the followintr letter from one of our corres- 

 pondents, we are pleased to learn that the culture 

 of silk is progressing in Western Virginia. Though 

 every section of the United States may be truly 

 said to be adapted to the cultivation of the tree and 

 the rearing of the worm ; yet we have ever con- 

 sidered the climate of Virginia as being peculiarly 

 so, especially for the propatration and growth ot 

 the Morus multicaulis. The native mulberry, 

 also, which is found in great abundance and luxu- 

 riance in that region, gives that Slate, at present, 

 a decided advantan;e over that part of the country 

 where it is not indigenous. They can commence 

 operations immediately with a full supp.ly of food, 

 while others must delay until they can procure it 

 fiom cultivated trees. The more we hear of the 

 results of experiments in feeding with the foliage 

 of the native mulberry, the more are we convinced 

 I of its value ; and we would advise all, having it 



