Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-09-15
.,raos.on os ,hs tosa: ,ne1 ,Nerofer. reeon,mena.


that the Convention Immediately adopt measures
for tho actual survey of the rail way along the
whole route, by some engineer of such character
for skill and probity, fully to engage the tardy
confidence of men who invited to lay out their
money in such vast undertaking.
The enquiry presented in the second resolution,
is one OF serious difficulty; involving requisite
10 correct result, the most accurate and extended
knowledge of vast variety of facts and difficult
tram OF reasoning upon them. Your committee
cannot, therefore, be content with trusting them
selves IN the entire accuracy of their conclusions
but beg leave to explain succinctly the short
time gwen them will permit, the facts upon which
! their opinions rest, and the considerations which
support them in the belief of their correctness.
The enquiry inv lived i'll the second resolution,
| is necessarily divided into two questions.
L. What is the probable cost of constructing
rail way from Iynchburg to knoxvilIcl
p What would be the probable amount of trans
portation along the rail way, and the probable di-
vidend which the stockholders might safely antici-
patcl
| On the first of these questions, your committee,
with the best lights which have been afforded them
on this subject have satisfied themselves that for
the whole distance between Lynchburg and Knox
vile, the average cost of constructing rail way,
with double tract of rails laid upon stone in the
most durable manner, would not exceed $4,000
per mile. Your committee understand that, at
present. tho cost of constructing the Baltimore and
Ohio rail road in the best manner, amounts to that
sum- i'll that part of the road recently made.
This is far less than the cost of the first part of
thot work. and the difference is owing to m.ny I'M
portant discoveries and improvements in tho pecu-
liar art of making rail ways which is in state of
rapid advancement When it is considered that
this art will probably attain higher improvements
and that the country through which our rail way
would pass, affords all the materials for its con-
struction-stonc, iron and every thing else,
ehcaply and abundantly any other-we think
do not go too lar in saying, that such great work
| could be achieved chcaply here any where in
the world. Taking, them the present cost of the
Baltimore and Ohio rail way fair standard, and
estimating the distance from Lynchburg to Knox
vile at 322 miles, the amount required to complete
the rail way that whole distance, would be 81 sos,
QUA vast sum; and one which might we'll alarm
the warmest friends of our enterprise. But your
committee believe, that if they satisfy others
as clearly they themselves convinced, that
the investment of even this vast sum in the pro-
posed work, would ensure to the stockholder fair
dividend on his money, the great object of this
meeting will at once be accomplished There is
now much redundant capital in the northern ci-
ties, belonging TO our own People-and such large
sums have recently been transmitted to this coun-
try by European capitalists III their terror at the
prospect of great political convulsions in Europe
that money is every where seeking employ nent
and all that is wanting to obtain the of any
sum, Is to show TO its owner the fair prospect oil
, his laying 1t out to advantage. With this view,
your committee will enter upon the second ques-
tion and they trust they will be able to shcw, that
merely by looking to tho present commerce of the
country, without anticipating any of those largo
additions which the construction of rail way
would inevitably produce, the stock would at once
realize fair dividend to the subscribers.
Your committee have taken the basis of their
/ calculation, their own personal knowledge of the
present state OF the trade of the country from New
River TO Knoxville, and The trade necessarily con-
nected with it; they have done so, mainly because
the great object of :hs assembling of this cOnven-
ton has been TO enquire into the expediency of
tending the rail way wsstwardly-and because they
have more accurate know ledge of the trade and
resources Of the country vast of New River, and
found their calculations less on speculation than on
tosIt GscsrtGincd facts.
The country from New River Knoxville,
distance OF about go miles, including the eight
southwestern counties of Virginia, and TIE %
counties of East Tennessee, contains population
OF about 300 600 inhs biLants of whom %, 900
free coiored persons slaves. This country a
: once combines the happy advantages of 4 mild an
= healthy climate, abundant water power, fertile so
n and great mineral wealth. Thc construction c
the proposed rail way would not only develope tn
IS agricultural and mineral wealth of this fine coun
IT try, bat would at once open great thoroughtar
IF for the trade batwesn the East and the South
t Your Commiits have founded but small caIeula.
ton tho agricultural productions of the country
. between New River and Knoxville Fertile as the
I country is its agricultural productions at present
= amount to almost nothing, because the farmer is
n not encouraged to produce that which he canno
i send to market. 1t is clear, however, That the
great staple OF cotton would be transmitted along
TINS route, not only from the southwestern part
East Tennessee, but from all that part of Alabama
which lies above the Muscle Shoals, and from the
southern counties of Middle Tennessee which lie
convenient to the Tennessee River. The Tennes-
see River, from the head of the Muscle Shoals Ia
S the town of Knoxville by the removal of some
lnconsderab!e distractions at the Suck and in its
D nelghbourhood, together with the improvement oil
{ some shoals above, may be made navigabo FOL
steamboats, during all seasons Of the year; contain.
ing, as has been well ascertained by actual obser
walton, moro water than the Ohio River, in the dr
est season of the year. When this improvement
OF the Tennessee is perfected, which can be done
4 at comparatively small expense, and to which an
Y appropriation by the Legislature of the State oil
tennessee will shortly be applied, it will at once
clearly be the interest of the people of North Ala
c baina, and of portion of Middle Tennessee, Ia
trade in this direction. With the aid of Steam
boat navigation on the Tennessee River, and of a
rail road on proposed route, the cotton of that
country could be taken TO eastern market in
e much shorter time than to New Orleans, at saw
! ing of nearly half of the carriage, and with
Q greatly less risk of life and of property. Tardy
and devious as tho voyage down the Tennessee and
mississippi rivers is the planter of Tennessee and
f Alabama who lives above the Muscle Shoals, j.
subject to the additional Inconvenience of frequent
and great delay for the want of a sufficient loot
tide 10 tako his productions the shoals al
these circumstances combined would certainly
tend to give direction of this very valuable freight
along the contemplated rail way. The cause
would certainly induce tho merchants of that coun
try TO import all their goods along the route
: The transmission, however, of the mineral pro
r auctions of Southwestern Virginia and East Ten
nesscc, would form the largest OF profit to
, the stockholders of the Rail Road Company
The Iron of this country is equal TO any in the
, world, and can DO produced TO extent, TO sup.
, ply any demand; it is either sent wcstwardy
! or after paying carriage Of from IS to 800 pei
, ton from Abingdon to LJnchburg, is sold at the