Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-08-01
IyNcunu.G. AUGUST 4, iss
THE RAIL ROAD.

books of subscription for stock in the Lynchburg and
Tennessee Rail Road, on Tie 18th inst. Is attract
ing attention abroad. How will it be received al
home :! That is the great question. And the an
to ii is so obvious-or at least what that an
swer should be-ihat we fear we shall be performing
of supererogation. and perhaps oil presump-
ton, in making it the subject Of formal article
No questions the vast importance oil the Road
no doubts the capacity of The STATE 10 construct
it--all believe that il and will be made, in the
natural course Of events; aud that, when completed
il viii be the most profitable line in the United
States If not in the world. 1t needs then, argu-
ment upon these points, either TO inform to con-
vince the public mind in this region. Yet, some
thing is requisite TO stimulate us to action, without
which ourk now ledge and our convictions alike
worthless
II will readily suggest itselfto every mind that al
though our assumptions are self-evdent to those
who have personal knowledge of the resources Of
the region OF country through which this Road will
pass, and of the various connections and dependen-
cies which il will, upon completion, instantly form,
land TO which We shall advert hereafter yet IN ma
ny sections of the State public attention has no, been
particularly directed 10 the investigation Of this sub
ject and the people of those sections are therefore
both ignorant Of the facts upon which our judg-
is based, aud incredulous when those facts
spread out before them-regardng them as the de-
lusve promises of visionary interested men. 1t
will, consequently, meet with favor from their re-
representatives. in the Legislature, who. like them
selves, look upon IT. certain Of State ag-
grandzem en and emolumen,, but object invov-
ing enormous expenditure & endless taxation,-wi,h
at best remote possibility OF meeting the interest on
the cost Of construction, but hardly the shadow OF
n hope that 1t will ever repay the principal unless
we "show our faith by works" 1t is poll
cy, Therefore, fit be in our power 10 remove this for
mdable obstacle, and to inspire abroad confidence
in The scheme, both on ,he score of practcabiy
and profitahleness. How shall do this : How
can we do it, except by embarking promptly our in
dvidua means, the fullest extent of which we are
capable When go before the Legislature with
claims, asked, - II this Road IS to be SC
profitable why do you not construct it upon the
joint stock principle 7" 1t is in vain that we assure
them of our Of pecuniary resources and ofthe
poverty of the country which it will penetrae-poor
not because il is sterile. bat because it cannot reach
a market with its products,-we say tits in vain that
tell them Of these things, at least until we make
vigorous and united effort do something for our
selves. Hercules refused to assist lie WAGNER un
I'll lie had put his own shoulder to the whee-thc
State will professionally be willing to assis
us, when manifest disposition to help cur
selves.
The Southwestern Rail Road, ii is well known
presents several points of Termination James Rw
er. The bill before the Legislature, last winter
provided fortwo of the most prominent Of these
Lynchburg and Buchanan ;-requiring of both OF
them, however, subscription oftwo -fflhs Of the sun
necessary 10 construct the main stem from New
River, where the State line TO terminate, to The
Big Lick, aud the same amount 10 construct thu
branches from the latter place TO those towns iespec
lively. II the bill had passed the Legislature i.
that shape, it would have been dead letter the
statute book, unless could have complied will
that requsitlon. Ii we could have done so then, W,
can secure the charter Of the Lynchburg ant
! Tennessee Rail Road, the sum necessary for tie
purpose being reduced to enable US to do so
and having done this, is it not apparent thatwe shall
winter 20 before The 1t legislature with an argu
ment which, if it be not irresistible, will be much
more powerful than any which has yet been ad
dressed to that body in behalf ofthis scheme twill
reiute an impression. which very prevalent a.
mong the most intelligent members of the House
last winter, mat ace couf0 mol MAKE me bfdnc from
Lynchburg 10 The Big Lick, if the State should
commence the work from Big Lick to the Tennes-
see line-lt will inspire confidence in others, by
showing that we have confidence ourselves, both in
the feasibility of the scheme and in the ultimate ful-
! flment of the predictions Of its iren Is. 1t will
show that both able and willing TO make the
stem fom Big Lick to Lynchburg, and consequent
! ly while II secures the eastern termination OF the
Road here, will likewise stimulate the State TO
carry il on from the Lick to the Tennessee line.
We mic ht here advert other arguments, Of a
local character, calculated to influence us 10 vigo
rous and energetic action They are SO obvious and
clear, however, that pass them by, to glance at
others, of a more general, though considered mere
" IN reteren ce TO our own interests, ola less mpor
tant character. But must defer farther remarks
| for a future occasion.
| o. Col. Polk, the Loco Foco candidate for the
office of Governor in Tennessee, handsomely cor
| nered few days ago in Knoxville, The Colonel
had stated in Knoxville and on his way thiher that
his competitor, Gov Cannon 3" had slipped off from
him without letting him Polk know of his intention
to visit East Tennessee"-for the purpose of ptodu-
cling the impression that the Governor was afraid TO
meet this modern Golah, upon whom has been de-
VOWED the gigantic task of notwithstanding Tennts
Il