Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-02-21
on motion. the communication was laid on the
table, and ordered to be printed
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Monday, FEB. n,lsao
SOUTHERN lMPRoNEMENTs-souru WESTERN

MI Robertson presented n letter from John &
Trau,w'ne, Esq, Civil Engineer, Transmitting infor
m'"on ,and mrp) respecting the state OF thos,
southern improvements with which the template,
Valley Road is intended TO connect
MI Robertson said he held in his hand n lc,e,
addressed beverly Johnston, Esq, by j. G.. Traut
w'ne' Chiei Engineer of tho lliwassce Railroad of
tennessee, accompanying and explaining a map
prepared and forwarded by the same gentleman OF
the Railroads in progress projected IN the South
crn aud and South western States. MIR. was an
| eminent citizen of South western Virginia dis,iu-
gnshed not less by his talents than his public spirit
VINO mad sought by correspondence with proper
persons III tennessee, TO obtain information cacnla-
tea to be useful 10 us in deciding the questions in
vowed IN the Internal Improvement policy projected
Tor the South west pant Of tho State. With u view
TO be disposed OF, best To promote the object
the letter aud map had been placed in his (Mr R,s)
hanus lhey embraced very valuable info rmaton,
exhibiting together III very condensed FORM com
plee view OF all present aud projected ns
IN the States South aud South west of Va, aud ena.
bling us to Judge NJ glance OF their bearings and
connections on such may be disposed TO con
struct. lie thought he could not better advance the
object IN view and subseye the public interests
than by presenting the letter alluded to the House
with request that the same might be printed II
the House should, as he doubted not they readily
would, assent TO that propositions he would. with its
leave, cause the map to be properly framed and hung
IN some convenient part of the Hall.
The following is Mr. Trautwine's Letter;
kNoxvILLr, Tenn, Jan. &, 1889
In compliance with the request conveyed IN your
letter TO Mr.. Campbell, send with pleasure such
Information respecting the state OF those Southern
Improvements with which your contemplated V alley
road IS intended TO connect as my limited time of a
few hours will permit. Accompanying this letter ]
mail some OF my reports, together with able
documents by Gen. S. ID. Jacobs, President, of our
Company To The latter, refer you for much ,nfor-
nation on the subject TO render what little have
IN NIan
map Of the different railroads intended to be consuc
ted Byreicrence TO it you will perceive at glance
how greatly the importance oi them all will be en-
ianccd by union with your improvement. | have
marked The route OF the Charleston and Cincinnati
Railroad in different color from the Others to pre-
vent confusion,
You will perceive that our most Northern i'm
pfovcment Is the liiwassee railroad, CONNIE ncing
al knoxville and rnnnig in a South Western direc-
1on oo3 miles TO the Georgia line, where il untcs
with the Western and Atlantic Railroad OF Georgia.
The latter road continues the line IL & miles into
Georgia, 10 near the town of Decatur; n, which
point are two branches one runs IN sonth Eastern
direction to JON the Georgia Railroad (rom Angus
IA to Athens) neal Charlottesville; lfom which place
The railroad IS already completed and in full opera
ton TO Charleston, 5. C., a distance of about 200
miles. The other branch from Decatur passes in n
South West direction to the town Of w Pelut. D
the navigable waters OF the Chatahoochee, and thence
to Columbus. This line from near Decatur to Co
lumbus is called the Chatahoochee Railroad. The
company Is incorporated with banking power and is
moving cnergeticaly.
From West Pom, the line is cont nued 10 Mont
gomery by the w. Point and Montgomery Rail
road, now under construction. From Montgomery
the Alabama is navigable for large stcamboats TO
Mobile /; but Il railroad is also being made from the
same point 10 Pensacola. You will see from the
map that we shall have also another outlet to Mo-
bile, by line running from New Echota ton the
Western and Atlantic Railroad) parallel to the Val
CoOsa w IN n tOW OIS INA hp-
low Montgomery. This is the great Selma and
Tennessee Railroad, 10 mile in length. SO we
are to be IN want Of outlets to the South West.
Once arrived at Mobile or Pensacola, may consld-
er ourselves at New Orleans.
The first described branch running from Decatur,
told you led 10 Charleston, S. c. OF this branch, as
also remarked, more than 200 miles are already in
daily operation and the remainder OF the distance
from Charleston to Knoxville is progressing with
great iapIdiiy. But this is not all shall at the
same time have two communications TO Savannah,
next IN importance TO Charleston, of all the South
cfn cities One will be by way of the line from Au-
gusta, by way of Wayncsboro and the other along
an extension northwardly to the Macon and Forsyth
Railroad, and from Macon souihwardy along the
grea, central Railroad of Georgia, which extends
from Savannah TO Macon, 200 miles. About
thId Of this great railroad is completed, and the
remainder is progressing rapidly. So much for our
principal outlets 10 the Atlantic aud Gulf of Mex
leo now for our connections with the " Far West"
| will however only mention the one likely to ba soon
est completed.
This is the line from near New Echota in Georgia.
to Memphis in the $. w. corner of Tennessee on
the Mississippi. OF this line The Tuscumbia and
Decatur railroad. around the Muscle Shoals, is al
ready completed and The portion between Mem
phis and Lagrange is now under construction. The
remaining intervals have as yet only been surveyed
but the people are fully alive to the necessity OF
their completion and We may soon expect TO hear Of
their commencement.
You will see that ha We marked line Of railroad
from Nashville TO meet of the upper termini Of
the Western and Atlantic railroad of Georgia, at
Ross Landing on the Tennessee River.-This
will be the line Of travel between Knoxville and
Nashville for though indirect, it will probably be
found superior to a more diiect line between hose
cities, which would involve the crossing OF the Cum
berland Mountains and consequent resort 10 incin-
ed planes. Speaking of inclined planes, reminds
me tell you, that along all the Southern lines OF
railroads just mentioned, amounting to more than
1000 miles, there occurs but one inclined planc-vz:
little below Augusta on the South Carolina rail-
road. Even it and no doubt will, be Obviated at
some future day. No where else, believe, all
this immense chain, does heavier grade present IL
self than 36leet mile. hope the Engineer of the
Valley road will every effort to avoid inclined
planes !; a very heavy additional expense should be
enco untered in preference. do not object to them
modes by which that objection could easily be re-
moved but on accou mt OF their heavy annual ex-
pense q the delays occasionally created in travelling
fear, however, il will be found difficult to dispense
with them entirely, in crossing your mountains -
tunnels if found practicable. will be vastly prelera
Bile.
Now as regards the interval Of about 1875 miles Of
railroad which will fall to the share Of Tennessee
to construct from Knoxville to near Blnntsv lille, in