Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-07
CONGRATULATIONS
EoH THE WING.
Rah Road .from Richm9nd 10 York T'o,rI

''Sh lew observations, III cCrroboration, and CX
tension OF, the very correct views of the subcc
which is the caption of this paper, taken by "Mer
GATOR. Every person acquainted with the topo
Sraphy OF the country, between Richmond an,
York Town, and between the James and Y uri
MYERS must acknowledge the scheme TO be feast
n'o-WIth the exception Of iron, every matcria
Tor u railroad is abundant and mag be purchase;
low on some parts of the route there arc farmer.
""o would furnish the timber gratut 0usiy, ant
PL'o'piy inc land on which the road may he loclt
eu-hcithcr would there be any difficulty in pro
curing iaoourcrs, as hundreds arc annually hired
Ia inc range OF country now under contem patton
~ rtll-road from Richmond TO York Town could
DE so located, 1T is thought, as TO reduce tie dis
'ui'cc Oh travelling from the former to the latter
pace TO hity mlles; thus Diminishing IN. ursseol
distance, as by the mail routa, twenty miles Tho
country certainly, is not InfaYoranln 20 the con
StfuctIon of such road IL has as few if no.
lcWcr ihipeoinonts to present, than perhaps any
section OF the State no mountains 10 lcvc! or en-
circle; 10 formidable rivers to cin5ank and brid -a
and when arrived at y orl, Town, Il deep and beau.
tilul river presents itself, easy of access TO ..,
commerce of the world. The depth of water nj
iork Town, within fifty yards OF the margin OF
me river, has been asccrtaincd by survey to he
rom len 10 fifteen iuthons: and for the purposes
ol erecting quays, for vcssc Is TO be loaded from
ina ior me cars or Wagons 20 receive goods she'll
cement can he easily had; and rock stone abounGs
iii The banks of the river. These would cost no
tnlng, %S many of the proprietors would present
them to the road company. On the banks OF the
RIVER IN many places, contiguous, timber for
whariing, can chcapy be procured Quays or
Wharves could be so constructed, as 10 admit Il
vessel TO be laden Immediately from the wagrons
OF cars. III is believed that in less than six hours
ship could receive her cargo and he prepared for
sea- There are no bars, shoals in this river.
from The town to the Chesapeake Bay, TO obstruct
or IN any way impede navigation. The same wind
With winch vessel sails from the quays, will car
ry her to sea; tic wind which sails one into the
capes OF Virginia. would watt her TO the docks or
whhrvcs, which would be erected at Yorl; Town
nero is IN TINS picture, no idle ciawgcration,
When, during the late war, the feet which car
ricd the Brush army, commanded Ly Gen. Ross
entered the capes OF Virginip about 3 4. H.; this
fleet was deserted from York Town II A. NJ 1T
was believed by some to have taken the York chan
mel, destined for the city of Rchlnond-and had
mat nave beep the design of the enemy, he would
have rcGchedNNcst Point with his TRANSPORTS 80
miles above York; in three hours, dise4barked
ms troops IN lighter vessels, FOR Cumberland or
thc fIpng Tree, and have sacked. and hrncd
Richmond that night. There is only one point of
the compass from which the wind blows, that
ever makes il necessary for vessel to bert out of
tne river L will not attcmptto express opinion
oi TIC PROBABLE expense OF IA permanent or tempo
rary railroad per mile, through this section of
county; but it is believed ii may be constructed ut
less cost and labor, than in any other part of the
State, iron excepted.
This road would doubtless attract the capitalists
S!d mercantile i"te.e9ts Of beth Baltimore and
ported from Baltimore to Richmond and from
Richmond to BGltmore; or direct through the
Chesapeake and DciawarG canal, to, and from Phi
ladeiph;a, i'll considerably less time, and consc-
quently expense, than by the present course of
communication. 1t Is believed, the merchants Of
Richmond would receive goods from Philadcphia
II Steamboats, should be employed from and to
\ DIRK, az this would be AN inevitable consequence
Tor the purposes OF transportation, in cnc.third
less time, than by the James River nayiuation-
Il is from fbor
Bar, Westo"cr or Turkey Island, to the Chcsa-
peake; another, would if sailing from York, be
half WY up tho Bay. The distances from either
Westovcr or Turkey Island, ''to Old Point y
where a vessel from James River enters the Che
sapcake; and from Old Point to the mouth of Y orl
River, or point opposite to it, (not less than $50
niles would be saved. The angle which is ncces-
sarIly made al. the extremity Of Elizabeth CITY
county by vessels navigating from James river up
the Bay, would be avoided. Again, vessels laden
at York Town, and destined for Europe or any
foreign port, would have their navigation, or dis
lance to the ocean, reduced fully, nay more, t.an
orc half than from MISSIONER, or Turkey Island,
to the Atlantic. The anchorage for vessels in or,s
river is not exceeded by any in America; during
the boistcrous and severe winter of l719-S0, two
French vessels of war, the one a line of battle
ship, The other lrIgatc, remained secure and un-
hurt through the winter; never losing or dragging
their anchors. On the score of accommodation,
for housing goods and produce, no difficulty would
arse; as one OF the inhabitants of the town, pos
sessing one of the largest brick establishments,
with brick Offices has been heard to say he would
surrender his residence for this purpose and take
It's valuation, lii shares, stock of Il company,
which should be formed, for the purpose of csta.
blishIng such a road as am contemplating.
How is this Road to affect the City of Richmond
has been an inquiry. iously?-Cerainy not
| Benefcialy ?--Assurcdly so, [ answer Richmond
must ever be the grand depot of the products o
| the Western Country. There they must be land
| cd from the boats navigating the Canal. SHE Wi
still be- and continue to be, what nature has de
signed her to be- the capital of the Stuc-tho prca
mart for the interchange Of products-uf raw MA
| tcrials, for manufactured artices-in truth, tht
| great reservoir Of western agricultural Industry
| VIII the Richmond merchant receive no benefit, o
| | may more properly say profit, if the articles il
| Richmond, can be transported i'll seven cigh
hours to y Crk Tom, and in five hours more be OF
Nhcir voyage to their destined portsl VIII tho
| receive no benefit from this Road, if by it, and th
! uninterrupted navigation of the River, they caI
| import and export, in winter, in summer, thei
merchandise and manufactured products, on
| half short Of the distance and time, in which The,
| now receive thcm2 Except i'm the winter Of l710-
80, York River at y ork Town, or for miles above it
| has never been frozen, to impede navigation
Is this the case i'm James Rivcrl How long ha
the commerce Of that River been, duiing the IRE
| sent winter, CmburgOCd by ICCl is ii vet rccl |
not at this moment, its commerce hloci,adcd by an
! impeueirabC rock OF ice, extending miles below
| the metropolis The transit OF vessels i'm Yor
/ River, has never for moment been occludcd
throughout this severe winter: free inuress nu.
cgrcss, has been open to lis commerce., the Who'll
winter VIII it be qualification TO a man Of but
sucss in Richmond, to iud, that In seven or crl
hours after he leaves his dDmcil, he will have Ia
4 ken Shipping at : ork Town, with unimpcdo
navigation open 20 his port Of destination, cilhe
in America, or Europe? VIII not the iuporlin
company Of Richmond, Of such has been formed
reap no benefit from moro certain and expedition
! communication, 30 and from their correspondent
and agcnt.} viii the merchant Of Richmond, q
even above it, be benefited, by moro advance
sail Of some DAYS from York Town, than he coul
have through James Givcr2 Would if be Of n
ahvnnlnmn 20 lhn iLmnnrllnn nnumL-tLnm Of RLcl