Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-12-20
fok ruE yiRGiNiAS.
TO THE LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.

We Undersigned citizens OF Southern aud West
81" virginia. respectfully represent, that, regarding
"e present as an important era in The march Of gen
''" Improvement aud public enterprise, they beg
ieaVe TO address your Honorable Body on a subject
oi absorbing interest themselves and as then be-
acre deeply identified with the future welfare
aud destiny OF the State
Inc location and construction OF a Rail Road from
Lynehhnrg through Liberty, across Bulord's Gap
oy tho way oil Misunderstanding, Eyansham and Abng-
uoh to the Iennessee line. with an arm extending TO
Fc"s'ie hRs ever been regarded desirable wor k,
moi only by the people oi Virginia generally, but by
many Oh the c'Iizens OF other States bordering
Inc grea, valley of the Mississippi. The great and
lasting advantages which would result nom this
scheme, surposing the Road to be extended las it
nnquesiionabiy will be- and as il is the wish OF your
memorlalls's It should be-, eastward 10 the city OF
hlehmohd. aud westward through The State OF Ten
hessee 10 the naSgable waters the Mississippi have
on more than one occasion attracted the attention
oil ooth tho National and Stale Legislaturcs.--ln-
deed, your memoiiasts believe that no man. or body
CT men, can cast an unpteJudiced over the map
oil the United States, aud for moment fail 10 be
convinced that this loo alton is OF the pro-
nineht in the State, and should the work be com
p'eed, Will not oaly be the most profitable, but the
most direct and eligible hue, by which ,ommuni-
Gallon between the Western waters aud tho Chesa-
peake can be effected.
As early as the 5th day OF April, 1881 your Hon
cradle Body granted a charter Tor this work. Ito a
JOINT Stock Company and again, on the 10th day
oil March, 1856 an act was passed incorporatlngihe
"LynchburS and Tennessee Rall Road Company"
Under both OF these acts, unsuccessful attempts
were made TO accomplish this work b, a corpo, ate
company. It's unnecessary for your Memorallsts
10 enumefate the causes which have operated to
defeat the construction OF this great work by lnd-
vidual enterprise. The extensive commerce. l en-
barrassments which have recently prevailed spread
ing panic and dstfust thoug bout the country have
deprived some persons OF the means, and many more
oi lhe disposition TO embark in so large undertak
ing. But whatever the cause OF failure may have
BEEN II is evident that this improvement cannot in
any reasonable time, be accomplished, except on
State acc cunt: and IL must rest with your Honora-
BILE Body to determine, whether OF not great an
| object shall be Observation-Disclosures the present
suspicious opportunity for laying a foundation for
the rising greatness aud glory Of the State shall be
neglected.
Your Memorlasts cannot believe il necessary
TO attempt any labor OF argument, to show the i'm
portance OF prompt and efficient action in the prose-
cutlon OF this scheme MS STATE work 1t object is
and ITS effect VIII be, II commenced without delay,
and pressed onward with vigor 10 secure 10 Virginia
a concentration within her limits of the Southern
and Western lrade-lt will secure her that which
the States OF Georgia and South Carolina by bold
efforts, are endeavorlng invite through their terrific
~ on the South, aud which Pennsy lvana and Mary
land are eXpending millions TO divert 10 the North.
Such are the efforts, which are being made To at
tract the trade and travel which would naturally find
their way TO the heart of Virginia by this route, that
4
Augusta, through the State of S. Carolina, and
Georgia ~ progressing with similar work, in
continuation TO the Tennessee line, To meet the
Hiwassee Rail Road, which the latter State is ac
lively engaged in constructing. These, with the
Charleston and Cincinnati Rail Road, some Of the
inducements held out TO divert the immense West
ern trade 10 the South. while The States OF Maryland
and Pennsy vana, in addition ther present works,
contemplate uniting with the State OF Ohio TO con-
struct a Rail Road hom Cincinnati Pusburg.
| v IN IL uuia he ever deg
tined to share portion of the trade and travel from
the Mississippi yalley-il she wish to convert to any
profitable use, the immense masses of mineral wealth
within her limits and which now lie concealed be-
yond the Blue Ridge OF mountains, there IS no time
to be lost-She must resort to the efficiency of
State means aad not depend upon The tatdy opera
tons of a Joint Stoca to::'.nany. There are other
considerations which go to show the pfopnety OF
making this improvement State work, in peter
encc TO that of a chartered company. Corporations
have multiplied, and their number still increasing 10
great extent md many good citizens are disposed
to deprecae The effect of these legaized monopoes
on the institutions of the country. Whether their
fears be well or i'll founded, your Memoriasts viii not
stop to enquire; but they adhere to the belief that
works of great magnitude, such as the one now un-
der review should u! light belong 10 the State
As to the great advantages TO Western and Eas-
tern Virginia as well as to tue enufe state, whch
this work will combine your memoflalls's cannot DC
leye in the existence OF dissenting-voice be! as
ference of opinion has been expressed, with regard
to the point at which il should stricke the great line
of the James River and Kanawha Canal. Buchan-
an has been named as proper point for the Eastern
terminus of this Road, and her claims and preen-
sions will no doubt be ably presented TO your Hon
orable Body. Entertaining the greatest respect Tor
the views and opinions Of Others and with no desire
TO disparage the claims diminish the interests OF
any, your memorialists would submit, with defer
ence, briefly, one or two considerations in favor OF
locating this Road, before inlimated, across Blu
fords Gap, directly 10 Lynchbufg, with an arm ex-
! tending to Fincaste.
Lynchburg is a Western town, and greatly larger
than any other in the State above tide water; has
known and well established market, the great empori-
UNI of rich and extensive country, including por-
| ton of the Western, Northern and Southern parts
of the State of Virginia, as well as n. Carolina and,
excepting Richmond, is now perhaps the largest To-
bacco market in the Union. Furthermore, it is not
the design wish of your memorlalsts, nor can
it be the interest of the State thai tins improvement
should tap the james River and kanawha Canal at
the nearest point from the Tennessee line. The
great object of this ork is, not only communion
ton with the Canal, but CONFIRMATION the Road
itself until it inersects the gteat Northern and
Southern line at Richmond. That 1t VIII be extend
ed along the line of the Canal to the CAPITAL oi VIZ
gina cannot be for IA moment doubted, by any one
in the least conversant with the history of simlia!
works and by crossing the Blue Ridge al Buford's,
and coming directly to Lynchburg, 1t would cut oil
considerable angle, and diminish the distance ~
miles shorter than the route by Buchanan while on
both routes, the barriers Of the Blue Ridge must De
overcome, in extending the Road TO Richmond
| These views will not escape the attention OF your
! body. But there is another, and more weighy con