Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-18
COMMUNICATIONS
FoR THE Who.

friend and predecessor Y, in your paper of Mon
day evening last.
He begins with assuring mo that I am totally
unacquaintcd with the localities Of the roads pro-
posed, and therefore incapable of correcting his
errors upon this subject. Now with all due res.
pcct to Y, this assurance appears to me unneces-
sary: while complimcnted him on his own mi
mute in formation, did not profess for mysolf any
knowledge ofthe country, nor did I propose to
correct his errors, if anys such should oxist
l only asked of him plain and simple cues
ton.
1t is true, did say that tho two roads would BIO
identical tor the first ten miles, and confess that
made tho Aupposition, without being accurately
informed as to either of the routes in contempla-
tion. had not them nor have now, a very in
innate acquaintance, either with the country it
solf or the courses marked out for the roads pro-
posed drew my inference from a source accessi-
BILE to every one, the surveyed map of Virginia.
10 that map refer Y. If the right line of which
ne ~, talks 80 much, be drawn from Richmond to
WestoVer, as tho bird flies, over land and water
nditierently, it will DO found pass directly over
Turkey Island. / had certainly no expectation
that the road would follow this line so to cross
Numerically the great bend of the river at which
the latter place is situated; but l concluded that
the shortest road to Westovor would deviate least
from this right line, and would pass at the least
distance practicable from Turkey Island knew.
moreover, that the present road to the two pla-
ces was the same, and that it passed within n
mile and half eff Turkey Island landing. Upon
knowledge of these facts based the belief, that
the two roads projected for the first ten miles,
would be substantially the same.
put IN TINS, 1t seems, was mistaken; and n
point on tho Westover route, ten miles distant
from richmond, is seven miles from Turkey Is
land. The language in which this is announced
is somewhat ambiguous but it must mean one of
tnree things-the point on the route, ten miles
distant, must be either opposite Turkey Island or
above, or below it. IF it be opposite III refer again
to tho map,) the route must pass through the
marshes OF the Chlckahominy, since that river is
at that point only eight miles from the James: if
ten miles carry the road below Turkey Island the
road OF Ia miles to that place must be materially
shortened II 1T be above, and miles from
Turkey Island, it must Of necessity be found in
the heart of the White Oak Swamp 1 request Y
to verify this Cor himself by admeasurement on
the large map of our State.
10 return to my former piece-I asked of Y a
plain and simple question. demanded the grounds
OF his conviction. that rail road Ia miles in
length Ito adopt his own fgures) would exceed in
the cost of construction, one of %. Has he COM
Piled with that demand? Has he fully and fairly
met tho enquiry which his broad assertion of a
paradox absolutely challenged? Is his position es-
taolished, by merely enumeratng the difficulties
winch Will attend the construction of one work,
and demanding of me the probable expense of
their removal? Or should he not rather have ex-
amined the obstacles to both undcrtakings-calcu-
lated their expenses, spectively-compared the
results-and thus proved the economy that which
he recommends? did not ask him to show that the
road to Turkey Island would cost money, but that
1T would cost more money than the longer one to
"estover The only candid answer to this call is
an estimate OF the sums required for both works
and the simple subtraction of the one from the
other This answer he ought to have prepa red
before ho hazarded the public assertion of the fact
when he has given it, the queries he has pjt to me
Will be fully satisfied.
But this is not ala right line to Turkey
Island Will cross Almonds, Cornelius, and Four
Mile Greeks, with Marion and Baileys' Hills
and VIII occasion heavy expense in graduations
ana Observation-Disclosures L suppose he means
since the work in question is not a canal but q
rall road. However, since right line to Turkey
Island crosses all these places, what will be the
course of one to Westover? If the map of tho
state be correct, it will cross not only each and
every one of hem but will also cross the large bay
at the mouth of Turkey Island Creek-What is to
be donel How is our friend to escape from this
dilemma! Why-nothing can be more easy. We
are to follow the first road to its destined termina-
ton, regardless of all that may intervene-oyer
bog and fen, hill and mountain-wherever the ig-
MS tatuus light Gas he seems to regard iD shall
choose to display itself. But the road to Westo-
yer-ah! that our friend Y does not intend to be
SO misguided-he will not tie that down to an in.
convenient straight line, but will avoid all these
troublesome localities, and travel away to the left
through an open level and cleared country down 10
Harrison's bar--for be it remembered, that VIII en-
he talks of forests between Richmond and Turkey
Island, he says not a word of any between Rich
mond and Westover. Well, although will not
permit my ROAD to be any thing but a rect linear,
| suppose he will at least allow me to ride with
him as friend and neighbor, and look at his
III he does So will ask him in the first place,
how does he propose to escape the very expenses
he has charged to the Turkey Island scheme7-
How will he pass by these very hills and creeks?-
need not inform him (sipce am incompetent to
the task) that large creeks are commonly made up
OF many small streams; and that, III the instances
before us, wherever you pass up the single volloy
through which the collected waters roll them.
selves into the James, you find it diverging into
numerous ravines, which extend far into the coun-
try, and serve outlets for these minor tributa.
rles-ls 1T here that shall find "one of the le-
yelest surfaces in lower Virginia." Is it across
this country we are to n road, whose cheap
ness shall compensate its lengthi road kere
would he continued succession of yiaduct
ana graduation, exceeding tcnfold tho cost of that
which 30 much disspproves. 1t would avoid
normally, the creeks which he has mentioned;
but would cross successfully, almost every one of
their branches.
1T may be, however that Y. eschews the little
creeks as zealously as he does the big ones, and
Will go much out of his way to get rid of them
all my heart-to keep him compa.
ny VIII head every stroamlet, provided that will
erect our purpose; but, before we set out, let me
remind him of certain geographical fact The
distance from the Chckshominy to the James, be.
tween Richmond and HarTison's Bar, no where
exceeds twelve or thirteen miles, and at very
ny points varies from six to nine miles. (Scc again
IDe map OF tho Statc.) The head waters of their
creeks, running in opposite directions, may fire.
lucnty be crossed by right line, drawn between
the two rivers. In particular, those Of the White
Oak Creek almost in;crlocked with those Of
Cornelius and -Four Mile Creeks: that his road
in avoiding the obstacles presented by the latter,
Guilty Of tho White Oak Swamp; at least pur-
sue winding and irregular, as to rival
the beauties Of the James itself.
But suPPosing that we have, by some unknown
Il i