Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-12-03
EnR TIE ENalIRER.


The Extension Of he .Jomcs Rtrv Improvements
"A Roiroad-Ns 0drantagcs orcr M cther
modcs-1Hc dutnot The Eastefn portioa u Ne
State 10 DC jIsacyM propIe.
The advantages OF an expeditions and GER
tain communication with the Western portion
of The State, are incalcuabe 10 the city OF Rich
mond and in the selection Of an improvement
for the James River above Lynchburs, the most
expeditions and certain should be chosen; and
this becomes more apparent, when II is ascer-
tanned that the most expeditions and certain is
the cheapest. A comparison between the expe-
dition and certainty o! Railroad ard any kind
of water communication will resolve itself mfo
MiS-.hai Railroad will perform any given dis
lance in about one fifth of the time with passcn-
gers, and about one third of the time with freight
that is required 10 do il on any kind Of water
conveyance; and, further, ihat Railroad is
much more ccrain-any impedimenli To Rail
road is only momentary, there being no neces>i-
~ 10 await the Glow and tedious operation 81
mcnding locks or breakages, or repairing dams
or auy Of The numerous and TEDIOUS Instructions
that lay in the way Of al waller Improvements
for, although there NAV be Instructions from ice
or snow, their continuance is never lon" il
being only necessary that the track should BE-
cleared Of, BY forcing the engine through,
and sirglc daY will not elapse before the
whole will Nc under WY ssain. The car may
run off, bat j, can be again placed on the track,
and pcrmilted 10 pursue lis journey; 4 bolt may
! be removed or wear oul--in few hours il can
be replaced;-but break on 4 canal aud all is
stopped till it Is repaired; lock is out Of order,
and the whole lire is perfectly valueess till il
is mended; dam breaks, and no water can I've
had till il is replaced. The comparison in this
respect is not the only one in which railroad is
The superor-bui its cheapness in first cost is also
another inducement for its adoption: s cost in
this instance being only onc-half OF any other
mode of improvement The level, which is the
chief cost in railroad is already obtained, and
only a single point for any labor TO much extent,
that is the bridge which would be quite as neces-
sarY Tor either of the other modes as j, wouId be
Tor raiIroad-whereas for the water communi-
cation, several dams, Of immense dimensions,
will be necessary, requiring two years 10 COM
pete them, besides being immensely costly; and
several locks and emhansments and excavations
10 complete which hour or five hundred thousand
dollars will be necessary 10 reach the North river
distance of only 81 miles. A railroad can he
put there for two hundred thousand dollars. in a
single year. But il may be said that canal is T.
free highway for every one, and railroad is
monopoly. Such may appear 10 be the case; but
the law regulates he latter and adap,s it 10 the
wants OF the coun'ry-the other is dependent
on the sickness during the summer months !;
upon breakages, which may collect all the
boats at one end of the line; upon the careless
ness of boatmer; upon their want of attention
or capacity, and variety of other circumstances;
and besides, the Railroad Company that may
have charge of the line, is liable tor defects OF
this kind and in addition to all OF This, there may
be exact calculations made as 10 Inc time Of The
arrival and the condition in which all kinds OF
freight will be received. Another subject of no
small importance, is the fact, that this line will
have charge of the mails; and expedition with
travel Of that portion Of the State would be GER
tain to look out for the railroad car in preference