Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-08-21
EXTENSION OF THE LOUISA RAIL ROAD.

In conformity to resolutions adopted by the
Stockholders OF the Louisa Railroad in June last,
Circular has been issued by the authorities OF
that Company drafted we presume by its wor
thy President, SIR. kimbrough) suggesting in the
first place, the Importance and feasibility of ex.
tending the Louisa Railroad from Gordonsville.
where it now terminates, TO Harrisonburg, the
seat of justice Of the county of Rockingham.
Of the easy practicsbiIry and serious impor.
lance of this extension to- the country which il
will penetrate, to the great Valley, in which il, will
terminate, and to Richmond, there is scarcely
room TO entertain doubt. The Circular says
"Bu su?posng ,ha, the improvement should only
be made Hirisonburg IN the frst instance tue fine
county between GOrdon'yie aud HarsOnOurg aud the
and fertile valley 10 the neghbourhoDd aud the coun
Try for hundred miles beyond, Astounding IN agncu.
raj aud mineral productions, which would be vastly in
creased by tic stimulus % cnsy outlet and good mar
kci would pOar upon amount Of business which would
well repays very large expenditure. The Louisa Railroad
from the Junction 70 GOfdDusve only fifty miles long
passing for the past through poor county, havng
iae trade Of bit narrow belt below Gordoasvle, and
strong competing lines ior much Of 'ho trade and travel
yields gross income Oi tlilr forty thousand
dollars pes annum, which progressively improving The
extension 10 aTrsOnbuTg would sdd about fifty five miles
through fertile country, and would draw the trade from
greater extent On each eide On reaching iiansonburg
the county becJnts fertile, aud the distance Ground
and boyDnd from which trade aud travel would be autact
cd will BE- very much .rclcfsed that the receipts II -
thought may be safely assumed az i've the present
large paTt Of this business goes and viii
continue ~ so 90 BIrpic instead al Richmond. unless
5 or some other improvement can be made iaciisc
and cheaper te ~ the latter place. II thu i'm.
p:Oycmol' could be made in time this important
trade, Who doubt the important accession ihat would
b. derived 10 the commercial and manufacturing business
Of Richmosj, and the wealth and prosperity nC the
country enjoying tic benefit Of the Improvement The ~.
VI population and Of the value property would %
very lar compensate tie state and concerned IN
making the improvement for the expenditure which might
be- required, a. 10y nothing Of he probable amount Of n
come from the business"
This extension of the Louisa Rail Road, as the
Circular justly argues, would not only draw hith.
or new trade, now seeking other channels, and
other markets, Int would reclaim much Of that
driven from the upper parts Of the Valley towards
Baltimore and the District, by the high tolls on
the james River Canal, and the cxocrable condi.
ton Of the so called Scot,svillc and Stanton
Turnpike IN wet weather, opposing an almost in.
surmountabc barrier to the transit Of wagons.
Were this Improvement within the vicinity Of
any commercial city North Of the Potomac, the
capital for its construction would be subscribed IN
u hours, and the work itself completed in one
year. Property holders and capitalists here seem
lobe detective IN that hr reaching ken and pono.
ifa'ins s'giciy, which distinguish our North. rn
brethren, and especially tho expansive, en.crpri.
zng aud intrepid mercantile classes and property
hoIccrs Of Boston AMI Baitimore-two cities
which, with FAR inferior natural ADVANTAGES 10
Richmond, have left her al sigh;lcss distance lc.
hind III the noble strife Of improving to the ut