Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-22

scheme IS intended for rival work and the RIDGE :; >.
commended for the purpose of avoiding the river and
WIN the canal, altogether will conte.
Pa'c TIC ehect OF such scheme upon our orcat
WORK, Tor II would amount no less than an entire loss
me So9'nwesiern trade--a very limb Topped Off
IS aiicult to reconcile such proposition with an
over,ardent attachment for the State
we cannot sympathzc in the patriotic an xiety Of
n, icy. me imnicdiate execution of the work, IL
WITH The canal might be prevented by the in.
adequacy OF the company meg ms 10 carry il into y,
nai IT would py well is admitted on ali sides aud we
uo"o' n"' al The intrinsic merit of the scheme would
recoi'iendi to the attention or capitalists whether
Dined with The canal and it would rc, uit, some
ng more tnan the fact Qiit were act) that the work
.'i@"t VI constructed "nnch cheaper much fieer
from abrupt curvatures 30 miles shorter than nm Tho
aey OF the river, TO change opinion on that subject
et the promises of such advantages as are held ont in
'his paragraph must and ought 10 carry eain we,ht
ano II IS therefore proper TO investigate their claims upon
The peculiar formntion or ,J,. co,n,,, h.,..... p.,
mona ana Lynchburg along the ridge proposed as the
sue oil the road is well known. The first part OF the
Ioue IS peculiarly level extensive plain for
aoout thirteen miles by the Chesterfield Railroad and
acrward by the Stag road through, Pow haitian and Cum
oeu, would seem to offer remarkable facilities for the
uchon of the work; and TO persons whose
ons have not rendered them familiar with the nature of
c olcuities IN The execution of the grading upon such
aotiiation would appear to present obstacle And
IL compared with the end of the line the coun
Try whin forty fifty miles of Lynclburp indeed
eAeecaihgy favorable But when regarded alone, or il,
neA'on WIN The ground occupied by other works of
nature, 'e cannot hesitate say that the difficult.
,naeht 10 the formation of an uniform surface which
me valleys by which the plain are doom
ana The escapcment of their banks ABRUPT Aud the Oh
suucohs OF TINS character well others of differ
en' nature Increase IN increasing ratio up 10 the
very point of its termination.
Inns Is not mere conjecture have-wliat on such
sun' cts Is infinitely important than any theory or
Presunp'ive evidence bc--we have a practical test
of its truth r ~
The Railroad from Manchester 10 the coal mines con-
III very favorable circumstances, and under the
immediate superintendent of gentleman of great SIX
ana exprrenceone OF the ablest engineers of Virginia
lis well known TO have cost the enormous sum of near
~ fourteen thousand dollars mile; and that for single
track ana ira wooden superstructure Aud it is noto-
rious too that although To experienced eve the coun
Try appears 10 be perfectly level the formation was such
as 10 induce The distinguished gentleman to recommend
ree inclined planes in distance of only thirteen miles
% deceptive are appearances necessary the aid of
scientihc examinations in detecting those points which
ADMIT The adoption OF ngenicas expedients
What then should expect to be the cost the seep-
ness oil the grades, the number of stationary cnunes
on the upper end of the work where the country Ia
broken and oing and the height of the dividing ridge
Is sufficient to enable the observer TO look down mon
ihe nils between Lynchburg and the Blue Ridge
~ adopted under similar circumstances, they will be
But we are also promised n limo o,nuoh Co. c.
abrupt curvatures than if constructed the valley of
Had this remark come from an experienced or pro
iessionai man, and been addressed to public
OF the nature OF The ground and the effect of its con-
upon the location OF ai-rood, it might have
ehtltied 10 some iespecbut cmnnatng from one who
evidently obtained his information from the ma in his
closet, and offered to community familiar with the roll
G.
ny the rapid streams flowing through them and nj The
same time informed of the true character of the valley
oil James River IL is not little ludicrous
Why, the hills upon the ridge are clustered and inter
locked IN manner that would put 10 the rack The inge
huty oil the most sklul engineer of the country to Oh
tam practical route, while the difficulty of avoiding
curves that would be utterly inadmssibc are insurer
able F
We have been informed by professional mon Tint thor,
are u" situations that involve great both in
the construction of the work aud The o ,b
power as where an elevation is 10 be attained by a-
a eft. cfe1a 4 ba.
sides; and the difficulties To be on that nor
uon oil The line, are extreme of this descrip-
uon On the other hand, the valley of the river pre-.
seh,s no sucIi lmpedlments. The low grounds are
WIDE and level and frequently extend many miles
without the most trihing interruption They are
almost uniformly elevated above the reach of tho
resets and preserve inclination parallel with that
OF the surface of the stream. We have rcpea,edl
ed the whole of the valley between Richmond md
Lynchourg and have never yet discovered " the alb
rupt curvaturcs which form so serious an impedment
TO nigh velocities railroads.. The changes in The
direction oil the course of the river certainly nume
rous; but they nevertheless gradual and effect
cd by Il swamp of several miles There are few
exceptions 10 this rule where the points of inAexon of
the bcnd approach exceedingly each other and
the curvature at the apex somewhat abrupt bu, these
we have always regarded among the most favorable
features oil the route; for the SUBMITS between the points
OF nearest approach being moderately elevated tile line
by being carried the intervening RIDGE NAV ire
quently save several miles distance in the space of few
hundred yards. "'@ 7"
This diminution of distance is important considera
tion for railroad may be made off more than half
upon the dividing ridge together with the steep Sscens
to be overcome, must require sinuous line 10 pass
round the spurs OF the hills diminish the abruptness of
their activities that 1t cannot be doubted that The river
line will be many miles shorter than any practicable
ronle that could be selected between tie same
And moreover, the gentle grades upon it i'll enable the
power TO work always with its maximum effect and at
an increased velocity, which will again be equivalent TO
another and very important saving in distance
Add TO these facts the advantages we derive from the
evenness of the ground the uniformity of the inclina
ton the comparatively trihng Of graduating the
roadway in the valley and the facilities offered for the
intersection OF lateral branches, and what nducement
remains to cause us TO depart from it
We do not propose to 60 within four miles of Farm
vile but go enough TO do for that interest what
proposed TO do for ITSELF take up the road which
they design making 10 Carcrsville and carry il ON TO
Richmond and connect with the great line TO the North
and South; and passing by Scottsville we double the
motives orexecung the line from Siaunon TO that place
and create another opening for the produce of Rocking
ham, Augusta and the fertile counties adjacent 10 them
The fears entertained by "a Citizen" with regard 10
other and rival improvements, which about to be
undertaken and may be suspended by the accomplish
ment Of this project, are, doubtless real but that por-
ton of his views will be equally well answered. whether
the line which shall prevail be that by the river or the
one among the hills, may waive, for the present. the
discussion of that point. BEDFORD.
MARRIAGES.
Married, Thursday evening Mr. Keeling MIR
James Dunsan, TO Miss Harriet Burnley county