I do not believe that there was a canal connection between the Roanoke River
and either the James or the Appomattox Rivers. There were efforts to improve
navigation on the Roanoke, which drains much of southern Virginia but flows
to the southeast across North Carolina to Albemarle Sound. The development
of the Roanoke River was also tied to developing a transportation connection
(the Dismal Swamp Canal, for instance) from Albemarle Sound to the Atlantic
at Norfolk, Virginia.
Because the canal era coincided with early development of the railroads, the
most important competition became making a connection to the Roanoke, at
Weldon, North Carolina, from Virginia. There was an article a decade or more
ago in the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography about the competition
between Petersburg, on the Appomattox River, and Norfolk to grab the
Roanoke's commerce via rail links to Weldon.
But, someone who has actually checked the facts rather than relying on
memory may have better information.
John
John T. Kneebone [log in to unmask]
Director, Publications and Educational Services
Library of Virginia http://www.lva.lib.va.us
-----Original Message-----
From: kukla [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2001 9:47 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Canal connecting Staunton & Appomattox/James?
Conversations with some canoe and batteaux enthusiasts prompts this
question: was there an antebellum canal connecting the Staunton (Roanoke)
River with the Appomattox or James?
--
Jon Kukla ....................... Executive Vice-President and CEO
1250 Red Hill Road ........ Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation
Brookneal, VA 24528 .... www.redhill.org .... 804 376-2044
Home 804 376-4172 ...... Office email: [log in to unmask]
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