Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-21
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.


INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
We insert below the interesting letter OF Col
Crozel 10 Mr.. Lyons, which was read at The late
meeting OF The citizens Of Richmond. il Is Iht
production of an able and scientific man, who j:
certainly Gisimcrcstcd and writes upon the re-
spcnsibily Of his high character as an Engineer
no, as volunteer, but in answer 10 enquire:
from member Of our Legislature, who appealed
10 him for correct information.
He thinks the railroad TO the Horse Shoe Of
New River is the cheapest and best route 10 the
valley of kanawha, iadependeatef rs bctns ne
hlc line 10 lie .Sonti-rea. Our friends of IA
nawha. whose late meeting I'VE shall publish their
proceedinss) regarded this route as an abandon.
meni OF the scheme 10 The Ohio must not lei their
fear OF an extension 10 the Southwest dishcarien
them. The people OF Richmond have no idea o
abandoning The connection with The West, through
The valley Of kanawha. Bnl they are taught By
experience, that conciatiOn and concession are Ne
cessary 10 accomplish tie work OH ann route. The
line 10 Lvnchburg is completed Iii be extend
ed To New River, can any one doubt its ultimate
completion 10 the Ohio? The kanawha people
prefer The Grecnjricr route, striking The New Ri
yer fOriv mjhs beior the Horse Shoe. Can The
difference be 50 great, as 10 make The friends oil
The great improvement fall out, in the face oflhis
testimony OF an accomplished Engineer, la! the
Horse Shoe route is the best and cheapest 10 ka-
nawha! Our friends OF that beautiful valley
should aconcsce in this slight deviation from
the line Of their cgoice, as il will secure to them
The whole vote OF the Southwest, and will concli-
ale those in The East who estimate the Southwest
IMPROVEMENT as Of inestimable yalne. That me
route 10 Kanawha is 10 I've ajoadonsd, the late
meeting in Richmond had not The renoicsl idea.
Th- people Of kanawha shoull acqulesce in the
improyemen, 10 the Southwest. Both works may
be accomplished more easily, perhaps, than either
one. In the conflict OF claims ior improvement,
unless Cancellation and concession animate lis
friends generally, nothing will be done.
We are not opposed 10 The connection by The
Canal but we have no idea that a majority Of
the Legislature can be obtained 10 is favor; We
regard The further hope as almost visionary. Nor
are we opyoscd 10 III. extension o: the Louisa
Road 10 Staunton-t would bring 10 Richmond
The rich products Of the Valley which now pass
bv Winchester. But we should oppose The ex-
tension Of that road from Staunlon 10 the James
Rirer, either al Buchanan or The mouth Of the
Cow Pasture, 20 miles above, which We under
stand to be Mr.. Bolts plan-as The effect miehlbe
To divert the whole trade and travel 10 Baltimore.
Unless the Louisa Road be extended SO as invite
The trade Of the Valley 10 Richmond we hope a
good road from Scoltsvie 10 Staunton may be
made.
The letter Of Col Croze, discloscs 10 usthe i'm
porianl fact, that The ronte 10 Parkersbnrs from
Baltimore, practicable for all useful purposes,
and that our central improvement has nothing 10
fear from Ina, competition. Their Railroad may
strike The Ohio at Fishing Creek, which is only
about 6 miles below The parallel OIL PennsyI-
vania Fne-a point from which The competition
with our route would he very little greater than
that from Pushurg But whether greater or less,
we would no longer enact The dog in rhs manger
10 our brethren of that portion OF the Stale. II
seems We cannot he connected with them, in trade
| by Railroad or olherwise-as the route from
Stanton 10 Parkersburg is also impraclicahe.-
It IS idle 10 expect their trade 10 descend 10 Tie
Great kanawha-lhey have no improvements
from the interior 10 that River. And If a Rail.
read we're given them 10 accommodate tina, trade
il would be a link in their desired connection with
the Baltimore Road.
We see, therefore, no ground for unnecessary
jealousy among the friends OF improvement
The Northwest, the Central line and ihe South
west may all unite in one common cause, and
with The aid Of those n The East, who have al
ways favored their views, added TO such as arr
now daily heard 10 say, I've ongh,, heretofore, Il
have gone for these improvements, and will nj
longer oppose Them" reasonable hope may
INDUCED, that the ensuing session OF The Legisla
lure will be characterized and chronicled in afle
| lime, as The great one in the cause OF interna
| Improvement and Education. Many OF The Eas
already regret The past apathy of the State, in re
! gard to The improvement, OF The West 10 wbic
they ascribe in great measure The demand for
Convention. We do not oppose Convention
as is known 10 our readers but in behalf oil In
ternal Improvement, il is fair 10 remind lhos
gentlemen Of the East, who are content with thing
as they are, that they might have saved them
selves from all fears Of Convention al this time
if they had moi refused aid in developing ii
resources of the West. ,lslead OF the feelings c
evaporation l6ai prevails in part of The Yves
liberal and generous course towards lher
would have made them conienled and happy
without seeking 10 correct their unequal repre-
sentalion in Inc Legislature. But "let by-gone
be by-gones." Let there be no examinations {
determinations but as band oil brothers, hay
ing common interest, and with common dc.
tiny, let US, in tulqre, &C. for The common YEA
/ and endeavor TO resusci,ale The Old Dominion
She 10; reposed too long upon her iaurels. Weos
gin already TO be regarded. in melancholy conlra
with our ancestors. For generosity and npble bcal
Ing, Virginia sill holds her head among The bighe'
and proudest Of Common weallhs. But the blist
Of ignorance is upon large masses Of her people
she falters in The march OF improvement. But
lew years ago, she was frs. in population. as