Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-02
For THE Vino.
RAIL ROAD DOWN JAMES RIVER.

|
awe to her own interests. The spirit of Inter-
nal Improvement, with frequent touches Of his
magic wand, has dissolved the deusive spell,
which so long held our beloved Stale in this
fearful apathy, She walking abroad.
confident in her misunderstanding her
iece!s IN every direction, and as eagerly seeking
points OF Improvement. upon which to exercise
her newly awakened energies, as she has been
hitherto blind, or, 1t seeing, utterly regardless of
thelr obvious attractions. TO support this
healthy feeling. keep 1t in tone, and give it pro-
per direction, falls especially within the province
of the Legislature OF the State. Noimportoni
step OF this character can be taken, without first
consulting Its members, and obtaining their ap
probation. They charged with duty, and
clothed with power of the highest Importance:
on the one hand, Of fostering all enterprises
which give promise of Substantial benefits, and
OF dlscouroging on the other. such schemes as
appear to the I'm 'mprudent or premature. They
are endowed, to a considerable extent, with the
| ability to control all projects of this nature; and,
In exact proportion to that ability, are they re
sponsible for its useful and advantageous exer-
else. 10 cherish the zeal for Improvement, will,
perhaps, scarce be neoessary--it eeems to be
universal: 1t is more probable that frequent
sons VIII arise for the use Of salutary restraint.
sudden revolution in sentiment of any kind,
is always apt to progress too far, and Judgment
and experience are required to restore the ba-
lance. We should carefully the merits OF
every such proposition; and calmly decide upon
It's claims; for the value of success in primary
undertakings, we all know TO be immense. 1t
opens up way for further advances-stimulates
the adventurer 10 renew his effrts-and relaxcs
the grasp of the wealthy capitalist,-a grasp
wh'ch ilghtens as his purse swels, and which un
closes only at the prospect of certain gain, be-
held through the vista of successful experiment
have been led to these remarks, by the know
ledge that a memorial has been presented from
the county of Charles City, 10 the Honorable
House of Delegates, ond by them has been re-
ferred to the Committee of Internal Improve
ment, praying charter for Rail Road to be
run from Richmond to Westover. This scheme
the crude conception of few weeks growth,
has been off red to the public " hout more solid
support than the enthusiasm which gave it birth,
! There has been no survey of the route of course
no accurate knowledge of its difficulties, or in
fact OF its practcabllliy for a Rail Road. 1t has
not even the recommendation or the approval Of
| a scientific man.
am by no means hostile to the plan of Rail
Road from Richmond to some point on James
! River--on the contrary, have no doubt advan-
tageous results TO commerce. would attend the
! completion of such work. from the reduced
rate OF Transporting produce, and the increased
despatch OF shipping it-but l deprecatc the
grant to any company Of the vested right by
charter, to run Rail Road to any given point
on the River, until it is FIRST asccr;ained by the
attentive survey of an intelligent Engineer, that
such point is IN all respects the most eligible.
Having some acquaintance with the River, !
do most unequivocally assert, that the only ad
vantage presented by Westovor, as a point Of
termination for the Road proposed, over points
much more happily situated, is negative one
the presence of Harrison's Bar Just above a
mole hill which has risen into a mountain -
When the Legislature, ather the Committee
on Internal Improvement, to whom this matter
Is referred, are told that vessels drawing > feet
of water, can pass over this Bar at common
high tides, they will not regard it so complete
| obstacle no
they may have b"en induced TO believe. This
depth of water, Il speak adviscdly,) does exist
and accordingly none but the largest vessels
that come up our River, have 10 stop below the
Bar, to finish their ading. These frequently cav
not step even here, but are obliged to proceed TO
Hampton Roads, and there complete their cargo;
as is the case with ship at this very time on
F he. way thither. III addition to this, the Bar s
known to be only about 90 feet in breadth, and
hence it may be seen how easily and at how
small an cxpence, channel may be opened and
kept open, in the increasing drought OF
ships should demand it. Experience, however.
is every day teaching ship builders that the high
est draught Of which vessel can be built, with
out impairng her capacity for freight, the better
adapted will she be, for commerce generay
, since these bars exist in many of the important
commercial rivers of Europe, as well of this
f Continent l am AUTHORISED in saying that the
builders have for lime acted upon a know
ledge of this fact, and that almost all the new
easy draught.
As an offset to the advantage possessed by
Westover in its location below the bar, may be
allowed to say that it is considered very unsafc
harbor, both on account of the winds and floating
icej which, from the open and extended character
OF the river at this place, operate with much more
force than above. These objections joined to some
others, which shall be presently mentioned, are
sufficient, when compared with its single merit OF
juxta- position, to convince me that Westover is
! not the point to which the railroad should be d
rectcd,
may be asked, if know point more dosira
BILE than this1 boldly answer in the affirm alive
and name Turkey Island
road can be run thither, not exceeding IL or
r 13 miles in length, while that to Westoyer is com
puted by its friends at 20 or 81 miles. The road
to Turkey Island will entirely avoid the difficulties
Of the broken, billy country, through which il
g must pass, if continued beyond that place to West
n over; difficulties, which well known to those
20 acquainted with the country, and which must SC
riously increase the average expense of the work
per mile. These recommendations ought not tc
he overlooked. The difference of 2-5 Of tho whele
n distance in travelling, upon railroad, dc
serves some attention from the merchant, whose
produce is to he transported with those who would
desire to vest their money i'll its stock, the in
creased expense of the continuation should be
}, consideration of much weight; and its importance
is enhanced by the opinion, confidently expressed
:, that Gf the measure be deemed absolutely neces
- sary) the Instructions at the Bar may nc removed
- and the channel kept open for much less than thu
a necessary cost Of construction between Turkey
~ Island and Wesove-.
. But there is another view in which Turkey Is
land n'ay be regarded peculiarly adapted to thi
- design. 1t is the safest harbour upon the River
y, Situated at the elbow Of the great bend around
" Presque Isle,t offers to the shipping broad, deep
and sheltered bay almost cncircIed by lofty banks
- at the very base of winch, runs a channel OF twcn
ty feet in depth. The river at this point has TIVE
~ distinct channels: one of these, have already
aard nd 10 ri n distance