Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-09-11
~ r. s ~
@|z;I|mI
"a. oossr,rUrsos-srArE RIGHTS.
RICHMOND DAILY WING.
THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER II. isis.
Internal Improvement Agiiaiion.

Il is now rendered pretty certain that IL virgil
mia means to keep pace with the spirit OF the age.
she must do something speedily and boldly. She
NAV talk hour by hour in her public councils, and
in her social gatherings, but unless she rouses up
from the inertness that has long characterized
her. she must fall still further behind her sisters
in every enterprise worthy of the age.
We have Just seen that Northern Company
has purchased the Monroe Railroad IN Georgia.
which road unites with the Central Railroad at one
terminus and the State Road a, the other. irarers-
ing the most populous region OF Georgia. The
design is, to make a connection between the At
lantic and the Western Walcrs-one that will AT
all times be beyond the contingencies ot the sea.
sons. and ensure a safe and certain line of inter
communication between those extreme points.
On the other hand, North Of us, we have vari-
GUS enterprises stretching out to the far West, and
destined to an intimate and certain connection IN
matters of trade and travel. New York. 10y
means of her Lakes and Railroads, is already COM
manding immense additions 10 her business: aud
now Pennsylvania, as well as Maryland. Is put.
ting in for a share of the rich products OF the
Mississippi Valley.
Our readers are already apprised of the efforts
ton with the Atlantic. by means OF the Baltimore
and Ohio Rail Road; hut, from the difficulties
inierposed by the Eastern section of Pennsylvania,
that project seems to be- abandoned. new
scheme is i'm progress, TO uniie The Ono Rirer
lrhh the city of Philadelphia, BY CONTlNu-
Gus Rail. ROAD, believing. rs the Piltsburg
meeting states, that such an Improvement is es
sentialy necessary to the prosperity OF their East
ern and Western emporums, philadelphia and
Pittsburg,) and for the success of their public
works.
In furtherance of this scheme, tho public meet
ing held at Pittsburg, on the 9th instant have APP
pointed 1877 their most influential citizens a.
delegates to meet a Convention at Greenburg, on
the oath instant, to deliberate upon the subject.
Thus we see movements on each side OF Us,
North and South Pennsylvania no longer con-
tent with her canals, but determined to ensure a
more rapid and certain intercourse between her
extremes !; and Northern enterprise forcing it.
self South, TO work out results somewhat similar.
Virginia has accomplished the construction, in
ten years, of l47 miles OF Canal, from Richmond
TO Lynchburg. Does she mean to be content with
thisl Does she mean to creep on, at the rate o
Al miles an hour, unheeding all that is passing or
around herl The writer of this will not at presen
undertake to discuss the relative merits of Cana
and Rail Road Improvements. He will only er
press the opinion that the former is not only en-
tely foo sop for the progressing spirit of the age
but that any improvement IN Virginia that canno
command large portion of the travel never caI
compete successfully with the works now in pro
gress in other States. Wherever travelling cal
he accomplished speedily, there will it go, withou
regard TO dstance-and when the fact is remem
bered that there must lie 1928 feet of lockage be
tween tide water and the Ohio, only Az feet O
which has yet been overcome, leaving 350l feet
437 locks of the usual lift to be completed, we
may well pause and consider whether the original
scheme of Improvement is within means, OF
whether, if accomplished, it would prove to be
worth the outlay.
Time, in a matter of this sort, is worth even
more than money. Practical men, who have made
the calculation, and have noticed the progress o.
affairs in other regions, say that. with such i'm
mense lockage, we cannot hope 10 compete will
other works An engineer Of no little experience
and one beyond the influence of any motive which
could bias him in this matter, states confidently
that Locomotive Engine would traverse tn,
whole route between Richmond and the Ohio Riv
er, IN less time Than arould be required 10 pass m,
500 locks necessary a canal.
Besides, it is now demonstrated, between dis
puie, that barrel Of -four is carried on the Raj
Road from Boston TO Albany for 80 cents pc
barrel, and on the river from Cincinnati to New
Orleans for only 80 cents.
II is therefore the travel between the Ohio ant
the Atlantic that is principally to maintain an
work worth the constructlon-and that travel, il
the opinion Of the writer, can only be secured by
Rail Road, which wtll strike into the Noun.
tains, among the Virginia Springs, and carry
thousands and tens Of thousands who now seek
other channels.
u,Izu ,, I>pt,N Top>-