Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-10-05
DOW ESTIC.

meeting held in this place having o,e" ~ Tho nov,
a;,,ss 10 prepare and publish Memorial to The next
;.l,nre of this State to be signed by yourselves ASH
inc the construction, upon state account " s"
rnsd from Richmond via Lynchburg 10 'he tennessee
H.; in Reforming that duty have deemed u not map.
IN offer few remarks in relation TO this grand
irmnrovement which your interests urge you TO unite
h o,bars in demanding al the hands OF your Legis.
lature. -, j., ..o,., :;
this address will permit US TO enter into Details ana
~. ob,U therefore be content with laying before you
some of the striking general advantages which
would result yourselves to the Stale ana 70 inc cou
try at large, from the successful prosecution Tic
W Road. .u
REGARDED as the great tboroughare for travelling be-
fween the distant extremes Of this country, lis con-
,ruc,ion is of the utmost Importance IL Is the only
Tnk wanted to form chain of Railroads from the North
81 Eos, IN New Orleans in the extreme South West.
From the East and North far Richmond, and from
Nashville TO New Orleans, Railroads are either com,
p,e,ed or are now in progress. Whether TINS grano
means of international communication, so important 10
tr,v.l 10 commerce. and 10 the Government in time OF
war for the transportation Of troops baggage arms and
munitions of war shall be made perfect, depends upon
the LEGISLATURE OF this State For the construction OF
q Railway from Nashville Eastwaioiy 10 lne nhe,
the Legislature of Tennessee with It's characteristic sa
o,clv and wachuness Of the interests OF that State has
long since provided by incorporating company Tor that
and pedgng the State to take one third OF the
stock Tennessee past has stood ready TO co.
op.ra,e with Virginia in eec,ng this improvement so
to the interests not only OF these two States,
but of the country al large She has maze the neces
sary provsou and only suspends her action upon the
subject, until are ready to co operate VITA her
need mol now recapiluate those causes, which have
hitherto prevented Virginia from putting forth her
ergies to The accomplishment OF this great work IS
snfciep to say that her blind policy and neglect OF
Internal improvements mas Paisieo her business en-
ergiss-crippled her griculiure-destroyed her com
merce and impoverished her PeoPle-Ihat with abund
ant means Of wealth, she is poor, and IN the race
OF CONNIE rcial prosperity has been far oustriPped by
10, rI,ls ~ Al,
Confederacy In this enlightened day, when the spirit
Of Improvement stalks abroad through the eart-when
the most gigantic schemes are conceived and executed
carving in their train wealth and greatness 1t needs
argument 10 prove that the presen, depressed condition
of our own State in her agrcultura manufacturing and
commercial interests is TO be attributed TO her hitherto
blind and niggatdly policy in reference to internal i'm
provements. But reinice that "a change has come
DER the spirit of her dream. Within the last Two
years the scales have fallen from her eyes, and she
dscerps her true interest in grand scheme Of Internal
Improvement effected upon State account At the last
session of Legislature, after hard-ough struggle,
the bill for constructing the great South western Rail.
road was defeated bv O few votes. Ii is believed, that
if those Immediately interested shall now make The
cessary exertion demanded by The great Importance OF
the subject the approaching session OF our Legislature
will unhe slatingly decide in favor OF this great improve
ment,
It has been estimated that the traveliaone upon this
road, would produce 100000 per annum or per cent
the amount of the estimated cost We believe this
estimate far low 1t is founded upon the number Of
persons which travel the present road, without taking
into consideration The great additional number which
would be drawn upon tins route in case Railroad
constructed, and which now take The route either by
Wheeling. Guyandotte, OF the South Of We
doubt whether any lin the United States) be
designated which would obtain create: amount OF ira.
Vel and which would 7-ay so handsome premium upon
the funds invested Being the great thoroughare OF the
West and South and possessing advantages every
other route must necessarily secure the greater por
ton Of the immense travelling communication between
those regions and the Northern aud Atlantic States
Passing through healthy country, Astounding IN medl.
cina Springs which under all existing dlsadvana
ces annually thousands Of vsters from almost
every part Of the Unlon-a country proyerbal for the
beauty and subimlly of its scenery and being witha
the most direct route cannot fail 10 nvershadow every
other route which possibly come into competition
with il; its stock fail 10 pay handsome dividend
OF the advantages resulting TO the country from this i'm
amount of travel through it, need not speak
Let US now glance al The advantages o this Improve
mcnt, in commeciut point Of view 7. nould connect
the Atlantic cities will: ;:,r agricultural regions in the
gre. o-y Of the Mississippi, and hus open to Of
the East an immense and profitable trade, from which
We have hitherto been cut off; while il would afford
eaual advantages brethren of tho West OF these
advantages shall presently speak, but lei first take
general views of the benefits which IL would cast
upon Of South. western Virginia. And if ever any
people under Heaven called upon 10 strain every
in order TO the gleriDg prize of prosperity
and wealth, within their grasP-we are that people
II self interest can move US, we now should feel It's
strongest impulse.
single glance at o0t vast resources, lying pro-
Gtess 10 u.s. and Of the advantages Of which could
avail ourselves, the improvement of which
speaking effected sufficient 10 arouse us TO prompt
and decisive action. As grazing country this section
Of Virginia perhaps unsurpassed by any section OF The
globe. Railroad affords cheap md expeditions mode
Of transporting live stock. Our location would give
choice OF the best markets With the South. western
Railroad at doors, and the Charleston and Cincn
natl Railroad intersecting il within striking distance OF
u.s. could throw live stock into the markets either
East West, North or South. Our mountain lands, too
steep loo rocky for cultivation, and our immense Boz
dies of woodlands lying idle and Improbable, might
be put grass and by raising STOCK rendered of great
value to Laying aside the other
Of wealth which are within our reach, we might by sim.
ply converting this into grazing country, and turning
attention principally to the raising Of cattle horses
mules, hogs, Sheep &c enrich ourselves, and nder
this section of Virginia Of the finest countries in the
world. We have not The shadow of excuse for our
poverty the want of an outlet to market Our SOIL
generally speaking, is fertile, and where it is So
Nature has given ample means Of rendering pro-
ductve. From our beds Of gypsum and our lime stone
rocks we can at all times and at ufng expense, pro-
the means of enrching our soil.
But let US for moment look 10 other resources of an
agricultural character
Ex perience has amply proved that soil is well
adapted TO the production Of Indian Corn, Wheat, Rye
Oats, Barley and Hemp. But how inconsderable is the
aggregate value Of these articles, produced here?
Having guile, to market, We bave no Involvement to
raise them in larger quantities than sufficient to
supply the wants ct home consumption. Give the
of throwing these articles into market, prices
which would reward US with reasonable profit and the
effect will be here, has been in other sections of
country where railroads and canals have been made
Among the effects Of the proposed improvements when
pished would be increase in the value Of our
ands They would be improved in value because their
products could be disposed Of profit, because there
would be market created for all that they are capable
# producing, and because they would then be in de.
pand the door 10 wealth would be thrown open, and
IN industrious and enterprising population would flow
n upon us-fll up our waste places and add to the
wealth Of the country. This increase Of population