Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-16
From the Baltimore american Of March 10.
TIE ROUTE OF THE BALTIMORE AND
ONO RAILROAD.

The Richmond Enquirer contains, under the
signature Of Shenandoah, some spcculations as to
the probabl, route Of this work, and the policy of
virginia should the Company deem IT cxpedicnt,
under all circumstances TO extend the road through
the Great Valley of Virginia. Alter stating why
il NAV be difficult to carry the road along the north
side of the Potomac, from the interference of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and the objections to
conducting by other routes to certain points of ter
mination on the Ohio, the writer concludes the
route through the Valley, terminating on the Ohio
at the mouth of the Great kanawha, to possess
such manifest advantages that the Company must,
he thinks, give 1t the preference. Should tins be
the ease he deems il the unqucstionable policy of
Virginia to promote this desirable result, by reno.
wing in the first place, the restriction imposed by
her act of 1927, and also by contributing share of
the requisite funds say TO the amount OF three mil
lions of dollars, by convenient instruments. The
Company, he remarks, cannot with propriety even
undertake TO examine the Vally route, till the road
is clear before them to its termination on the
irablc waters Of the West.
The benefits of u road penetrating the heart of
the State for $40 miles, through fertile and extern
sive regions which have long langushcd for the
want OF such an improvement, and only on that
account, are obvious and decided. The mere cxpcnd-
iture of the large sums required for the construc-
ton, would he Il matter of importance; while the
State, as a stakeholder, would be reimbursed for
her advances. "Thcre is the greatest reason"
SAYS the writer, "for believing that the stock must
be profitable. On that part of the road already
completed, the traffic increases daily, and would be
four times greater than it is, if the Company had
wagons ready to transport the produce offered.
The Directors are increasing their stock, and in a
few months will have enough for every demand.
have it from the highest authority, that the re-
ceipts OF the road arc now upwards of $4,000 per
week, and it is confidently anticipated that when
the arrangements referred TO completed, the
ccipts vii be at least $1,000 per day, on the pre-
sent line of the road" Besides this the Baltimore
Company, he adds, would undertake to make Isl
miles of road on a route which the State of Virgin
ia has herself determined TO improve, and which
she cannot improve for less than three millions OF
dollars. The route indicated would benefit equally
the northeastern and southeastern portions of the
State; and the branch roads which might be ex
Tended from the main stem, penetrating the ut pre-
sent inaccessible parts of her territory would give
to Virginia the prosperity to which she is entitled
from her local situation, mild climate, fertile soil
varied surface, and rich and rare products.
This scheme would be so lar from interfering
with the improvements mcditated along the James
RIver, that IT will secure the construction of l5C
miles OF Its road. On the score of it's tending 10
withdraw the trade of the West from the Virginia
towns, 1t is argued that there would be sufficient
tor all parties, and it is very literally remarked
that this, at any rate would be no argument for
shutting out large extent of agricultural country
from profitable trade. Baltimore and the Dis
trlct, as the only markets for considerable por
ton OF the State, are 10 this effect Virginia en-
porlums, In whose prosperity that State has ar
obvious interest, Though they without her ter
rtorial limits.
These views demonstrate what importance is
attached by our intelligent neghbors to the object,
and progress of our enterprise. That importance is
not overvalucd; and when consider the wide
interests concerned in its completion, we car
hardly doubt of united effort should that be
necessary to carry 1t to its destination.