Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-02-22

IL would seem TO be a matter OF indifference
win estern virginia. so far each individual con-
cerhed IN procuring market for his products whether
nat market should be in this or that part of the United
PROVIDED ne facilities OF transportation to such
maiAet DC such as TO draw out the great abundance OF
nc various productions, which all Western Virginia is
capaoic oil pouring FORTH strong anxiety, however
~. ue advancement oil Virginia in improving her in
erha condition, and Tor the deveopement Of her re-
sources, and that she may be oustripped by her
sister States wholly removes this Indifference from me
--and doubtless should remove il from every yiryinan
and induces me TO hail, with infinite satisfaction, the
present strong indications that an extensive system of
internal Improvement will be entered upon by the pre-
sent Legislature reoicc to sec the very favorable
reports oil the BOARD OF Public Works and Principal
Engineer OF the State this very interesting and most
important subject. feel assured, that these Reports
VIII receive the protoundest consideration Of the Lee
gsature IL will no longer be urged that every part
oil the State as we'll Eastern Western is not teepy
Interested In the execution OF enlarged and
sNe plan oil Improvement IL must be obvious that the
execution OF such plan would annually carry to the
markets OF Eastern Virginia, from the Western part of
inc STATE and some OF the Western and South Western
ouaes, productions TO the value of many millions of
winch very little Is now produced for want of speedv
transportation TO market Ii is too other States
awe 10 inc Importance OF the subject, seeking
.ake advantage OF our apparent unconcern and want of
acton, and are pouring their millions to secure
what Is completely within grasp. A reference 10
me Report oil the Board of Public Works for view of
me disbursements OF the fund of Internal improvements
VIII show that Eastern Virginia is more concerned
merely IN local point OF view, in Internal Improve
men,, than some seem TO have imagined. Indenen
IDENTIFY OF any general good that would result from an
enlarged plan OF Improvement, these disbursements aC
ord strong argument that every part the STATE as
one ianiy should act with perfect unity I'm advancing
internal Improvement throughou the State-par,icnar
~, all such works be considered of general ma,
.ure IL would seem, that Eastern Virginia would be
e less opposed TO an extensive plan Of az
rsaist be acknowledged that her markets woud rec.;y
unspeakabe benefits from the execution of sucb I,
cannon believe that system of improvement which
would effectuay unite the West with the East will h
longer neglected. shall assume that the most ;,,,o
an' improvements, that have been presented for YOUR
cohs'aerauon' VIII be provided for during your present
SESSION. anu upon such assumption proceed TO offer
suggestion or two in relation 10 that mart of The e
hrst improvement, should think, i'm Importance bo,
can be entered upon by the State which lies be,aa
Iichinond and Iynchburg and in relation TO connectng
Staunton with Richmond by channel of speedv CON-
mun,cauon, IN order TO enlarge the advantages that
would How from the road, proposed by the Board If
Public Works, between Parkcrsburp and S,aun,on
Which two grand Improvements would at once omen
all estern Virginia to the metropolis of the State
Inc able Engineer of the State in his late report 70
the Committee on Roads and Internal Naviqation con-
pares the advantages of each of three modes of mnro
ing James kver-by railroad by canal, and by locks
and dams-and after enumerating the disadvanages Of
railroad between Richmond and Lynchbure-sucb a.
considerable injury 10 valuable river bottom that II coI
accommodate only one side of the river, Sc-comcs to
the conclusion, that railroad would cost abont 40
much as canal, and yield much more revenue and
Tor reasons given by him, would be preferable ~ n CO.
nal AS to speedy transportation however and ,n,ny
o,her advantages, recent experience has abundanuv
shewn that railroads superior to every other Lind Of
improvement. To obviae the difficulties THAT wonJ a.
'i9o uoH INJURY 10 valuable James River
anu 'le partial accommodation by railroad on one
side oil the river; and in order TO extend the aIv,na
es Q, such Improvements 10 much larger portion of
e STATE Than could possibly derive any direct advan
tage from an improvement of James River Inv road
or otherwise; would suggest, that James River Lo
Per''ed 10 remain as is, with all its advantages and
asauVanages and that railroad be constructed ON The
South side OF James River, in the most direct courso
between Lynchburg and Manchester, and thence di
reSty across the river TO Richmond; and slso that
railroad be constructed from Richmond or the head of
.ne James River Canal, through Charlottesville N
Staunton. The present Manchester rail. wav ,niht
Propapy, Iorm part OF the one between Lyncbb1ro
anu ha' Town. some acquaintance with the face of fc
country, aud reference the map convince me .ha,
he railroads, suggest from Lynchhurg and Staunton
70 chmond could be very conveniently located so that
e Two would not exceed two hundred and ten miles in
length, or one hundred and eighty if the one from
oauntoh should stop at the head OF the Canal Is fer
iihaung at The head of the canal, however woud in
some degree, lessen the inducement 10 TRAVELLING On M
airoad and thereby reduce the revenue that its ex
70 richmond would make it yield. Besides the
pleasure excursions that would frequently occur from
nichhohu 10 the distance of H. 20, or 30 miles nm bo
road would produce large revenue on that portion Of
ho e ROAD Inc advantages of the railroad, propose
between Lynchburg and Richmond, would be directly
ieH by several counties South of James River which
could derive no immediate advantage from the mprove
ment OF the river itself, in whatever manner innroa5
The distance between Richmond and Iyncbh,,,mr ~
such railway, would be, least 80 miles less than o
he rver and 40 miles less than the RAILROAD or canal
spoken OF by the Engineer i'm his Report bowever "a,
voraby located with view TO save tbe distance GO 20
stoned by the bends of the river Regarding the Great
CT adaptation oil the face of the country TO such wor
ana the much smaller amount that would be maid for
INJURY 10 land, and the distance saved am convinced
.nat us COST with double track, would very Ii,ue
IL at an exceed the estimated cost of mprovinp tbe
,lVer' from the head of the canal to Lyncbburg Inv
locks and dams The railroad, | propose bet1eenn
Richmond, or the head of the canal and SIannton
wouu pass over ground welladapted favorable To-
cauon and cheap construction. Ii would PASS tbe Rno
Ridge at perhaps, the best Gap along the whole extent
oil the mountain This railway would remove einnns,
every inducement to the proposed railway between
otaun'on and the Poomac and, by meeting at Staunton
such road from Parkersburg as the Board nj Public
WORKS propose, would secure TO our own markets near
~ the whole OF the trade of North Western Vrg;o;,.
All oil which trade will. certainly seek the North
ern markets, if this portion of the State should moi bo
ehectually and advantageously come ced with the
East, and should good Improvement be made between
Staunton and the Potomac This railway between
richmond and SaunoD would afford increased facilities
10 several counties, East and West of the Blue Ridge
10 winch James River Inaccessible. IL would also oc
FORA great advantages TO countless either side OF the
mountain, which could derive no direct ADVANTAGE
Whatever from the Improvement OF the River Ii
"ouiu remove the necessity for improving the Ri
wanna River, which very lately beoun and
must ever be limited In its ADVANTAGES II would
oy Company, between Cbarlotsviils and Ivpcb
burg, and similar one from charlottesville tbroygh
part OF Rockingham, to the edge OF Shenandoah eeun
w. feIhap', indeed, IL would Justify rail.wav he
tween Chariott've and The edge OF Shenandoah conn
w. Whlch would secure 10 our markets much trade
hat Is areaty taken TO the northern maket> and ond
DC very advantageous and profitable subs'iiuis for a
good part OF the proposed improvement If the Shen,r
loan river The cost Of the two Rail- Hays propose in