Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-07-12

authority that a journey may be performed from Rich.
mond, Va; via Washington city, Baltimore and Philadel-
about day and a half, and from Richmond to Il Baltimore,
In about IA or Is hours, a distance of near 200 miles.
Al Richmond, this road will be connected with the Pc
tersburg rail road, and from thence a similar work may be
anticipated TO North and South Carolina. Ii is TO form a
regular chain OF communication from the North to the
South; the work is therefore of unquesioned importance,
and loudly demanded by the Interests OF eastern Virginia.
The West are not Immediately interested in il, but will
regard tho successful completion Of all works OF this de-
sctipuon, as additional arguments in favor OF the principles
Tor which they have contended, and will look upon it as A
prelude-as the dawning OF a more liberal policy. We
can see IN 1t, that Virgnii has Sc caught a little of the
spirit oil the times" and that she is now manifesting a dis
position 10 cast off the shackles Of a restrictive and pru.
dental policy, by which her march of improvement has
been so greatly retarded. The prejudices of the East are
now in a great measure removed, and Virginia is at length,
by the successful experience Of other States, persuaded of
the expectancy Of a liberal system of internal improvement
under the patronage OF the State, and to the adoption of
such a system we may look as the iorerunner of her re.
generation; liberal principles will again prevail; aud free
labor WI, yet even, in the Old Dominion, meet its just re-
ward. -WeNsburg Republican.
The RAIL ROAD SYsrEM.-The railroad svstcm n,
improvements, prosecuted with comparative ly ,abated
zeal, during last year, has this season been resumed with
increased vigour in almost every section Of the Union.
New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and South Carolina
present this favorite system Of transportation in successful
operation, and the cool, sagacious calculators of New
England, have embarked their capital in similar works
interseciing their busy country in almost every direction
The day, we think, is not distant when the princi.
pan ioutcS VI udut dUu UdVcl, throughout m xyila
republic, VIII be supplied with railroads, strength.
ening our Union with bands OF iron, and enabling
the man oil business to perform the tardy and un,
comfortable journey OF a week in tho space of a dav
It's gratifying to hnd that railroad stocks in commercial
cities bear a hattering comparison with every other mo.
MED investment; lew, indeed, are below par, while some
command more than $3.50 for 500 paid. The stock of the
Petersburg company, in our own State, whose gross re.
ceipts during a lew months OF partial operations have been
upwards OF $lo,OOO, is but little below par, though threat.
ened with a formidable rival in the Portsmouth and Roa.
noke company while that of the Chesterfield road-tbe
only one finished in the State-commands a premium of
az per cent. The prices OF stock afford the most sa-
tlsiactory evidence OF the success of the system. and the
confidence oil The community has uniformly accompa.
med Its extension from the great improvement of
trade. The neighhouring city Of Frederick is randi
ly improving under the influence of rail road com.
munication with Baltimore, and her merchants now re-
ceive goods from Philadelphia in the short period of two
days. A little more zeal and energy, aud our citizens
will enjoy the same benefits; and the Winchester mer.
chant when our latetal road is completed, may calculate
ON the sale transmission Of merchandise from the same
city in three days, which heretofore has often consumed
as many weeks.-The stock OF the Oxford road. in Penn.
syivania, extending to the Maryland line, and thence 10
Baltimore has lately been taken; and at no distant day NAV
the inhabitants OF our Valley look for a continuous line Of
railroad from Winchester TO the vicinity of N. York; thus
leading to the centre OF commerce in the north, and pene-
trating the most fertile portion OF Virginia-in the line of
travel 10 the southern and western states-pointing TO tho
most celebrated watering places-ofering every facility
ior the pursuit oil health and business. The productive.
ness oil our undertaking TO the stakeholder admits of no
doubt, and its benefit TO the community would appear be-
You'd calculation.
Its believed, that the course threatened in the adver-
Il. $3.50 S"sS III tuc duNeF-
usement OF this days paper, has been urged upon the d-
rectors by a desire TO commence the work and prosecute it
as vigorously as possible, that farmers and others NAV early
ieei The beneht OF an improvement, retarded by circum-
stances over which the board had ITO CONTROL
pirginian.
The Potomac Bridge.-It will be seen by a letter from
a friend at Washington, that this immense contract has
been signed by the Secretary of the Treasury, and award.
ed TO Messrs. Stephens and ellison OF Pennsylvania. From
the great experience of MIR. ellison in works of this char.
acter, and the moral worth and high standing of both n
the gentlemen, we feel confident the Executive could no
have made a better selection. MI. Gibson has ,levoted an
acive lie TO public works of immense magnitude, and i.
cohsluered inferior TO none, in experience and capacity
hr. stephens is well known as the talented repre- senta.
tive to Congress, from the northern part of the State, and
as an honest and active Observation-Disclosures AnteAi.
Ssncer.
Extract from a letter, dated
WARRINGTON, June 81, 1888.
DEAR SIR,-The contract for the construction of the
Potomac bridge is at length executed. The long period
oil time which had interviewed since the acceptance of the
propositions, and before the contract was complete, created
much speculation and inquiry as to the cause. | believe
i was a misunderstanding between the engineer, Colonel
hearny, and The contractors, in relation to the true con.
muGuo 0, .He pan oil some part OF the work and the ad-
VernSement oil The Secretary Of the Treasury. In what
manner this dispute has been finally disposed of, the pub
lie DO not know. IL is supposed that some satisfactory com
promise has taken place. IL is said by scientific and prac-
ucai men, that the plan and specifications of the bridge,
anu The description OF the work to be done in the adver.
nsement, all drawn up by. Col. Kearny, are exceedingly
lame and unfeehnicdt. If this be so, it accounts for the
dlncuihes which have prevented until this time the exc
cuuoD OF the contract.
-" Sohudc' pihus u contractors 10 construct the
Drldge In The manner set forth in the plan and speci6ca-
tion, Tor the sum OF 81 ,lS6, 900. If alterations are made
by the President, (s there doubtless will bel this sum is
to be increased or diminished in due proportion 10 the adj.
dluonai or inferior cost of making them. This sum falls
considerably short of the original estimate of the work;
put a S me contractors are men OF experience and pru-
dence, they have doubtless "counted the cost" Messrs.
ellison and Stephens are both spirited and enierprising c-
nZehs oil Pennsylvania, and they will, beyond doubt,
complete their stnpendous undertaking in the best and
most workman. like style. When finished, This bridge will
De one OF the most magnificent structures of the kind in
the world, and will reflect the highest honor on them
%terprise, liberali,y, and scientific spirit of mr. Govern
ment. Yours, &c.-B.
E"kOES.-- His is TO inform my former acquaintance
~ apd4asspiblic generally, that | yet continue in the
Re Trade at Richmond, Virginia; and will at all times
ny, and give a fair market price Tor young Negroes. 1