Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-06
GRANDDAUGHTER
To THE PRESIDENT OF TIE JAMES RIVER
AND kANNMIIA EONPANN.

do not know any thing that has surprised mc much
mole than tie Cturl making to have a rirA Rail.
Road we'll nav gable Cnnal, between Richmond
and Lynchburg. think such scheme is neither wise
norjust.
Ii is true live at distance, and subscriber for
few shares of the james River and kanawlia stock
and being SO far Interested may not be Il competent
judge.
The kind Of improvement that ought to be made be-.
tween those places, whether Canal or Rail Road is
question; that there should be two rvang each ether,
ID totally different one.
Sn far commerce concerned, safety and certainty,
with reasonable speed, is all that is necessary.
Every thing can be transported canal; whilst Il
rnil-roaJ only take those things the market price Of
which will sustain n. weig t and cumbrous character
pay much lu toll and transportation will cover wear
and tear, and give profit. IL the price III market
won't bear this, if it too cunbrous and unwlcdy 10
go n rail road, must remain at home. On canal
the owner of such article be accommodated at mi
nimum toll, weight and bulk being Of little consequence
there and, by lis own labou rival carriers, also
have minimum price Of lran:porlatlon; and thus
compete in market with similar articles bro' gt from
other quarters Travellers also. especially Those wish
ing TO subss, themselves, und go cheap b.
undated Others too, who would regard safety and
fort and reasonable day journey Of "a hours, pre-
erahe 10 danger and rapid motion, would also be accom-
nodated. ~i
Taking all together greater amount OF interest," il
not equal number Of persons would probably be
communicated by canal, than By raj road, surprising
one the other and not to to be the kind Of Improve
Incnt adopted.
ifa Rail Road, il surely ought to occupy the valley Of
the river 1t would do, presume, 10 carry it
the ridge, and oblige the great agricultural interests,
and the river and lis tributaries, 10 transport their
products FROM the river, TO the Rail Road on
the ridge The great and true interest Of the country
therefore, requires that the main improvement, Of what
ever kind it be, should occupy the river or lis margin
Suppose that TO be a RaIIuad, of what consequence
sands of people flying through the air, like wild geese,
from cline to another, if they have to pay tor trans
porting their produce to MARKET without The advantage,
by their labor, competing carriers, 10 reduce Inc
price: Verify, the shoc may cost them loo dear ~ mghl
benefit The Company but the great farming and plant
ing interests =.
On thu whole according to my poor judgment, in.
cline 10 think the interest of the country as well as OF
the towns has been better consulted ny establishing the
canal than railroad i'll the valley of the river; and
strongly Of opinion will IN the end, be better Tor the
company also Let tins great and esscntaL work then
be- first effected and should time and experience shew
hr necessity of rail road 10 transport passengers and
rht commerce. let that be undertaken BY rirdi work
if the company will not do IT,
y the wa has canal navigation arrived al the ne plus
,hra Of speed; and may not improvements spring up
pu, it, in this respect, footing with rail roads
few years experience may not he unimportant in
gard to this matter. In the TING let the great oork
90 on uHcheckrd and success must attend only that
but every other auxiliary work.
Is Richmond in favor Of this rivalship IL she is, |
only say, that after lying in long and dcn.lhs
chd the jerer must now be high in proportion This is
state Of healt and, unless strong iebriiuge is
exhibited: believe the doctors call it, death may ensue
Destroy the james River improvement, and death Is
inevitable. This brings to the scc"nd posI'lon-lne
justice Of the case.
Had this rival road been projected and brought oelore
the Legislature before the stock of the James ana
Kanawha Company was taken, would ina. s'och na'e
been taken: II know man who has always .aAeh
deep interest in this work. necessary to sare Irg'H
who would have had nothing to do with It, tic ~"nia
have seen nothing but contention, and rivalry and ut
mate discontinue TO both parties Besides, is This riral
company to be confined the ridge, may they seek
the margin Of the river not occupied by the CANA: