Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-06
RAIL- ROAD.


| have already mentioned, AMI every body
knows, that this system of I'M ercommuncation
has advanced rapidly towards p, rf;,ction within q
very few years past Having acquired now.
what it wanted Fore, the capab lhty of trans
porting large burdens, with great velGcities, OF
level, it snstains i'll many circumstances q
successful competition with canals, some CT
which. indeed, are ,nverinL into Rail Roads
| in England 1t is, Their fore proper to der,
whether the basin of J.rnCs River would favor
lis application.
At the very threshold, we meet with an OBJ
lection, mentioned in my letter TO Mr. Garland
last year, (page 23l, aud which Judge Wright
also states in the following terms: If rR all
Road should be adopted, 1t OF ght to tart from
Richmond instead Of Maldeus Adventure: tbis
would destroy the OF the prctcnt canal"
How far this objection should Influence the
| determination OF great State, is a fair subject
| OF enquiry, when so magnificent a scheme is in
| agitation as general connection between the
east and west If il should appear that gene
raj Rail Road would procure very superior ad-
ventagcs, would II be sound to persevere in
that which has ceased to be best, and reject
! that which new inventions have rendered most
desirable, because what has been done before
might lose part of its usefulness? This might
be the course of an individual with limited
| means, but never can be that Of State.
If, however, the cost ola abroad from Maid
ems Adventure to Richmond, Constitutes a n OBJ
lection, the substitute of Judge Wright, viz the
enlargement of the canal cancels his own OBJ
lection; for shall easily prove, that it would al
least cost as much the railroad; and besides
the saving in cost between good canal and
railroad the whole way, as view it, would pay
| for the eXteasion.
| A rail road along James river, would cost
about as mnCh ordinary canal, and less
than that recommended by Judge Wright; though
| he says, Il do rot believe a railroad with two
Z .,Sl fl,r -frta
turn-ouls and fixtures can be Cons ructcd for so
small a cost per mile, as Il good canal"
THIS is not a matter Of b,liof but cf actual
fact and experience.
II is " III nscertained now, that the 54j m les
Of the Baltimore rail road, from Ellco is mill
up to the point Of rocks. embracing as many
difficulties as we should have to cEc ,unter, will
cost S2J,lGG per mile, which is the estimate CIV
en- us for good canal, and that most canals
nave cost more than this, md the Ohio aud Ches-
apcake canal, &C far, about double.
Here again, this gentleman objects on &C
count % tie great NC lanical * ii required; and
we sha! find all along. that steam power vii! not
DO in any shape in Yrgni1, but that we musl
now and forever, conine ourselves to negro
power, and let the other states retain and enjoy
the superiority, which attends every where the
Application OF mechanical skill Yet we are al
lowed by him a rail road over 200 niles long
from bynchburg to Tennesze, or the Ohio.
- - "uueu, that " locomotive engines GRE not
used applying only horsepower, it will te found
that no great speed is gained, and it is certain
that the expenses of transportation per mlle
VIII be much greater than n canal Property
cannot be as safe f.om storms and depredations
as in a good cana boat under lock and key"
The word horsepower j. used here very III
definitely: tb"rcarc situations certainly. whore
. h"r>c could not drawsnH rail road as much
- CT 2 canal: this would Dc ;bc Gaze II he had to
overcome an ascent. But we are here upon
INC James liver, it is proper to consider, that