Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-11-07
INTERIM IMPROVEMENT.
LiNCIlBuRG T. TENNESSEE RAIL
ROAD
LYNCmRuR0, Oc,. L. Isl

Of Lynehbmg.
Grntlemcn: Your communication of this date
by the hand ofthe Chlirman Of your Board, i. IN,
| received.
IL has Away, given nv pleasure to EXPIRE" m,
views on tho subject to which YOU have invited
my attention; and if the reasons which have won
my confidence in the improvement in which vou
are embarked, ARE Of ANY interest, YOU are hearth
| " welcome 10 them.
! Considered rs part Of thu limo Of conncxior
between New Orleans and the Northern cities
the Lynchbnrg and Tennessee Railroad deserves
and but for the formidable schemes of improve.
incnt now IN pr ogrrss in other States, which re-
qurc all their resources, it would probably re-
ccivc the countcnance and patronage Of a larger
portion OF the country than m,roy the district il
Uavcr,cs.
Yet even the bnrt'Icn Of their own projects in
ono ut the States affected b, this part of tho inn
piovrments OF Virginia, il not sufficient 10 pre-
vent an effort 10 defect the line from its proper
corsr, and carry tho trade which it creates
away from your own capital. With know-
'"dg" OF this fact, and the public declaration OF
the most powerful corporation Of Maryland, OF
mn intention 10 draw the ira lc and travel from
the heart OF Virginia." and penetrate, bv pre-
occupying the ground ON the route of Your road
to the cotton growing districts Of Tennessee, an
effort ON vonr part to neutraiAc their cyerions
by adopting the only means that remain, nigh,
Justify the cooperation of the community ut Il
greater hazard.
But the inducements To undertake the consirnc-
uon OF great public Improvement are generally
OF different charactcr--and consist either the
prospect OF remuneration in the future value of
the stock, or the enhancement of property in an
ucipaon of the benefits of the work.
The first OF these depend, chiefly on the cost,
and lcnglh OF the llnc thu nature and resources Of
the country through which il passes, and the fit
| ness of the location for the economical application
Of the power.
For information relative to tho cost of the work
mn" refer you 10 the opinions of the Engineers,
who have made an Instrumental examination oi
the route. In the rtport OF Capt. Ciozci of 1873
of the survey Of 4 Railroad lron Lvnchburg TO
New River, embracing lllg mics Of the most
difficult portion Of the route, the cost, intending
an allowance for the stations, engines, Sc. is cs-
tlmatrd Al little ov,r 81 900 milc--,nd in \
letter before me- from Mr.. Thompson. the Engi.
neer now engaged in making additional cxamina-
lions, under authority from the board of Public
Works, the probable cost IS down, from the
preset value of labor al 900 a mile inclu-
ding, likewise, liberal allowance for engines car,
and fixtures.
The survey now in progress under the super
vision Of tho State Engineer, has demonstrated
the ptactcabiiny 81 surmountiog the two most for
mdhhIe obstacles between Richmond and New
Orlcans-thc Blue Ridge aud Allegheny noun
,ans-at grades quite within the limit Of the eff
hcIent application OF the locomotive engipe--ihc
~ ximum inclination opposed to the heavy ton
mage being SO feet per mile. and that pposcd 10
the import trade SO feet. AID it appears To b.
the opinion of the Engineer, that these impsdi-
mcnts, lnconsiderabc As they ARE. msv in the ae-
b,, al, H., ,t,o
sen, data as the NEST favorable can count on
with security, it will be thai the difficulties
OF this are less than have been surmounlcd on
most similar works.
There is in general, great uncertainty IN the
estimates OF the probable tonnage to- be an'cipa-
ted ON a work passing through district OF conn-
try, which, as the valley counties of this State has
previously dcpcndud on the rudrst Of common
roads for access to market. Such estimates rest
statistical Details of which the actual trade and
travel Of the oountry-facls Of themselves difficult
to procurc--ofirr but flint index for it is not
the actual trade which should induce The opening
Of the line, but that which the Improvement itself
is 10 create. And we will be less liable err, if
We look TO tho character and resources Of the coun
try traverscd by the line, the probable demand for
its products AT tho outlet Of the work. the trade
which it will receive at it's termination, and the
chance of competition with rival lines, than IT we
RELY such doubtful data.
In the present instance, we should estimate the
amount of travel TO be- anticipated, not by the
number OF stages now running IN the valley, but
by the increased communication along the line,
due to the new facilities, and that which may be
drawn from the coas, and from the Mississippi.
md in taking such a view, the length of the lin.
is an important conSideralion-for as we depart
from the point nj which the trade is 10 be dellv-
cred the space over which II is to be brought late
rally to come upon tho road, increases in pro-or
ton to the distance, so that so long there is
rival to encounter. the area Of country accom-
modarcd bv the Improvement will increase IN the
duplicate ratio of the distance. And if, so to
speak, the character of the country, and its wants
and products, be homogeneous, AS we proceed
from the point Of departure towards the termina-
ton Of the road the tolls will increase up 10 that
point where the work comes in collision with III
val Ines as the cube Of the distance it has ira
verscd. On line of great length there will be
numerous exceptions TO this law, and the prac,i-
cal results will be influenced by local circum-
stances; yet in the transportation of passengers,
and many of the ncccs>arics of life, it will be
found sufficiently correct. And in tins view Of the
subject, shall consider the length of your road
! not merely the distance covered by your charter,
but that traversed by the works with which yours
will be connected, from the Tennessee line to New
| Orleans.
To those who feel AN interest in the prosperity
of the James and kanawha Improvement, the
town of Lynchburg and the CITY of Richmond
thcr, are other interesting considerations connect
ed with the sub ect.
That there will be line of railroad, ,ravcrsine