Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-07-10
The South West Road.

II '' 81" The South West Road.
The Lynchburg Virginian thus comments on
the remarks we submitted the other day upon
this subject, and the Central Improvement gene
rally:
.ISrERSAL INrRoyEsEsrs VIRGINIA 1t will be
BY the ,oboined rou,srSs the Richmond Wing, that the
editors OF that paper ami, the force OF the views which
days expressed in reference To the completion
VI James River and kanawha improvement. origin
ally contemplated and ,her-upon proceed 10 make several
specific suggestions, which cannot fail To claim large
share OF public consideration
IL 10 obvious that the question very different
aspect that which bore the period when the
nection OF James aud Oho river urged by Cen
Washington Judge Marshall and other distinguished men
or even the when the caHal commenced under
ths auspices OF the eminent gentleman who il
head The introduction oi steam navigation upon the
Western has n great rcvouiionizcd the
course OF trade by making New Orleans the enepOt OF
very large proportion of the produce Of that fertile and al.
most boundess r.giOn-an event which entetd
the conception OF the patriotic who first suggested the
union Of the and OF Virginia IS
the means OF attracting the metropolis of State the
produce OF the magnificent mud taemirg though then
peoped empire And although Gis remark does
not apply those individuals. who, later pcrpi have
sought realize The splendid conceptions o their pcde
cessor other scarcely less influential have been
work, diminish, at not To desroy) the confidence If
reasonable and calculating minds in the ultimate capacity
Of contemplated improvement, II completed, To
redeem the promises OF friends fulfil the uncipa
ton. Of those who look il only through the deceptive
-ished o
causes doubtless the competition of formidable rivals
who by superior energy have pre-occupied large portion
of the ground and with whom for obvious reasons con,
Of which the greater fertility and produeveness OF the
country penetrated by their improvements the internal
trade OF which enable them TO diminish the OF trans.
portaon upon that portion exterior and from beyond
the line i, to that shall be able
eessfuy 10 contend carriers Of The Vesern trade.
"Our object is again 10 discuss this prOtlem but
invite public attention to IT, absorb
ing interest to Vginnns at this particular moment whcn
81. .NaA.w
y subsidized her citizens with laudable feeling Stat.
prde directing their attention her domestic policy
with the hope OF raising her from that premature decr
tude and decay into which she has fallen and OF restoring
her ancient pospcrit and reHown. Hon. is this 10 BE-
done7 is question OF too scope and amplitude 10 be
answered now We will, however, respond negative.
y, by saying. that be effected by large
upon munhcent but potess works And hence the
necessity OF solving this problem correctly before
shall be called upon 10 lend its either
shape OF money credit to the completion OF the Jnes
River & Kanawhn Improvement Mark! We do not as
unquuedly that the idea OF completing this work
ought to be abandoned. We have. tits opinions upon
the subject, inclinng that conclusion. But all ha
say is that before the work is resumed, ought be
demonstrated with reasonable ceItanty that will not be
both waste OF money and OF time upon proftes'
terprze particularly while other schemes of far less dub
result, inviting aid This Is the position we
assume. and which we deem imprcgnab!e."
COMMENT.
In good deal Of conversation with numbers Of
well informed persons lately, have me-, with
scarcely one who did not concur in the soundness
of the views which recommend modification OF
the original plan of the Central Improvements
and the adoption, from Lynchburg or Buchanan.
of a Southwestern Road as the main enterprise. in
lieu of the prosecution Of the Cana! to Co,inston
and a Railroad thence to Charleston in Karawha
Having TO encounter in the General Assembly
under the mos, favorable circumstances. fierce
hostility and doubtful ISSUE il is plain that, To-.
sing the support of Southwest Virginia, the pros.
pect Of sustaining the original plan is desperate
The Southwest :ier of counties can hardly be oX.
pecied 10 sustain measure which is in direct
collision with their own proposed Improvement,
and their own interest since the completion of
the original design of the Central Improvement
would leave the State exhausted, and Powerless
10 prosecute any other great work.
Whether, then, consult public opinion as 10
the relative eligibility of The original plan or the
Southwest Road, or the state of parties in the
Legislature, il is obvious that the present scheme
Of Central Improvement must terminate at Lynch
burg or Buchanan, and we have little doubt th,.
Legislature would arrest it at Lynchburg, il
ground had not already been extensively broken
above that place.
These conclusions appear so necessary and in-
evitable to our minds that they could scarcely be
strengthened by the decision of the Legislature.
and we hope all the friends of Improvement in tho
upper country will view til IN in the same light.
and regarding them as the settled policy rally to
them, determined a, the next session of the Gen.
eral Assembly to make combined and vigorous
effort to carry them into prompt execution. A
South West Rail Road from Lynchbug or Blu.
chanan, passing through the great tract of country
now without markets 10 the Tennessee line. tlIro'
the heart Of Tennessee to the Mississippi. and
presenting to New Orleans and all the great Mis-.
sissippi Region below Memphis far the shortest
route to the Atlantic cities, can scarcely fail to
realize the most splendid results. In Virginia
alone il will open TO market, a larger tract Of
country now without markets, than any other en-.
terPrizo in America has done, except the Erie
Canal.