Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-04
COMMUNICATIONS.
To rmr Eprrons OF TIE Wmlo.

GENTLEMEN The Wing of the 26th instant
contains an invitation to It's readers, to perusc the
Ncmarks OF Morcator, on the subject of Rail Road
from the City of Richmond, to York Town. and
mentions that there two other projects now be.
Tore the Legislature, which arc the subjects of
genera! conversation: the one to construct a Rail
way to some convenient point below Harrisons
Bar: the other that il shall terminate in the vic;.
MY oil Turkey Island In relation to the latter
proposition, the Wing adds, thus avoiding the
heoithiness of tho country below. Being possibly
AN interested party, Messrs Editors, ask that my
remarks may be received for no more than they are
worth; but an argument from the lips of child,
ought to have the same weight, as If it fell from
inc tongue of Chatham
Rail Road to York, would doubtless approx
mate nearer the sea, and even the Baltimore mark
CT if the object he TO ship to Baltimore. But to
say nothing of the distance, being three times that
to the Bar, there are objections which seem to me
insurmoun,ablo. The first is, that it would be
wholly destitute of military protection; and i'm case
of war, the shipping would be always subject to
being pounccd on by enemy. In the second
place, without such protection, and that of the
most efficient kind, TO an cnerprising foe, it would
open an avenue into the very heart of the State
In case of collision with England, the first news
that we Vrgnans may have of even Il declaration
OF war, may possibly be u return cargo of British
soldiers, by way of the Rail Road TO metropo-
. lis. In such case, my dear sirs, the tocsin of
suiarn, sounded during the last war, merry
peal to that which would greet your ears. Then
would come tho plundcring of Banks, the rcaliza-
tion Oh Inc NEW orleans MOttO, OF Beauty and
Booty: and lastly, city wrapt in flames. This,
81 you will perceive by Mercator, may be effected in
about four hours travel from York Town. The
same conveyance taking the plundcrors back in the
evening, to sup York River oysters. 1t strikes
me, gentlemen, that this scheme will not do; three
times the cost of Rail Road from Uarrson's Bar,
and nothing gained in distance from Norfolk,
winch, as Virginians, ought to encourage in
preference to Baltimore. Abandon this idea, and
let tho trade to the West, take its course up James
Kiver, and observe the advantages which present
themselves. The moment you enter Hampton
%oads the Fortresscs of Monroe at Old Point, and
calhoun at the Rip Raps, bid defiance to the ap-
proach OF any hostile flag: thence you have an
excellent navigation up James River to Harrison's
Bar, with fair wind, being about a DAVIS SAIL
Thence to Richmond is about twenty -onc miles,
IN Il straight direction. On Rail Road, YOU would
accomplish this in about one hour, with locomo-
tive The situation at the Bar, is not contiguous
to any swamp save that of Wcstover, which lies
below 1t, and in direction from which the summer
winds rarely blow You, Mcssrs. Editors, have
said somewhat about its unhealthncss compared
with Turkey Island. On this subject, beg to diff
fer with you. Curlcs Neck has for years past been
considered unhealthy Turkey Island has extern
slve Swamps, three sides of it, and none more
than a mile Distant in short Curlcs Neck is con-
sldcrcd unhealthy almost To provcrb-thc fact,
aver, that there is no part of Charles City County
on James River, thought more sckly. One nqui.
ry on the subject of trade, should be much graft
fed to hear answered by tho consignccs of the ship
William Brown. She went up to Turkey Island,
was detained there think, about two months,
and has been about fortnight below Harrison's
Bar, receiving the balance of her cargo. Will the
consignees be good enough to state the expenses
of this Ship up James River; and then make an
estimate of the difference between that sum, and
what it would cost the ship to load
below Earrsons Bar, the cargo ready, and
the transportion by Rail Road, estimated at
two cents per mile for ton? 1t is not my wish
to dsparagc Turkey Island, account of the
worthy fellows who reside there, but it is Il fact,
n N nal mo he npfi
neighbours resort for health to
CHARLES CITY.