Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-09-25
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

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The times are fruitful of schemes for the i'm
Provement of our State. In our last paper we
presented the splendid project of "KANAwHA'
tor opening up commercial thoroughfare be.
tween the waters of the Chesapeake and the
Ohio by the joint enterprise Of Maryland and
Virginia; and now We have another offered by a
correspondent of the Richmond Wing, writing
from New York, who signs himself "A SOUTH.
ROM" and who is evidently virginian.-He
proposes, for the attainment of the same end, the
extension of the Louisa Rail Road to Parkers-
burg, through Stanton, along the State turn
pike, via Beverly and Weston. The Louisa
company, however, although contemplating the
ultimate extension of their road to Parkersburg,
seem to have fixed upon Harrisonburg as the
point of entrance into the Valley and are shortly
to hold Convention at that place, TO further
their object.
These different schemes have obviously origi-
mated from lack of confidence in the efficiency
or final success of the James river improvement.
The friends of that ancient work are themselves
divided as TO the policy and expediency OF ex-
tending the Canal beyond Lynchburg. Some of
them openly contend that the work even that far
can scarcely sustain itself-that its business is
decreasing-and that the farther extension of the
Canal would only make bad worse. A continu-
Gus Rail Road, in their opinion, is the only Elf
cient mode Of improvement and it would seem
indeed as if the intelligent opinion of the coun-
try were fast settling in the same channel. The
slow movements of the Canal are altogether I'M
suited to the go-ahead spirit of the age.
! Whether either of these schemes will unite a
sufficient amount of public sentiment in its favor
however, it is difficult TO say. The large expen-
diture incurred by the State in the James river
don it-though we think, from present appear
ances, that there is little prospect of its farther
prosecution. Still it will be in the way, and
may induce many not Immediately interested, to
hesitate about embarking in any new scheme of
magnitude, while it will be 'nuts'' 10 those OPP
posed to improvements. The scheme of SKA
NAwHA," however, is of such an al-embracing
character that it can hardly fail to enlist pow
erful interest in its behalf. Nevertheless we are
for getting all the lights possible ON the subject.
IF we have committed one error, let us be care
full that, in attempting to correct it, we do not
run into another.
The following is the project of "a SOUTH
ROM" to which we refer above:
81 propose, to get rid of various Earrings, 10 fin
lsh the Kali Road from Gordonsvle to Staunton,
which believe is forty-five miles, and to cost at
the highest point $4,000 per mile, making in
all $45O,OO0. Thence, from Staunton, on the
State Turnpike, via Beverly and Weston, to Par
kersburg--which, am informed by an engineer
who knows the route well, (and who has survey
ca and constructed most all the Rail Roads i'm
New York; can be made on the turnpike, allow
Ing Tor further grading and widening of the road,
SO as to keep 1t a Turnpike, for $1,000 at the
highest point, per mile-cosiing, from Stanton
to Parkersburg, 300 miles, $l,4OO,OOO. The
Engineer further assures me, that on these two
hundred miles, the Rails can be put down in IL
months. But say Is months. At this rate, YOU
would have continuous Rail Road of your own,
and through your own State, from Richmond to
The Ohio River, in one year and al half. Ifneces-
sary, In time 1t might be continued TO Norfolk,
thus having chain of Rail Roads, OF 500 miles,
through the heart of our State.
Inc route from Parkersburg TO ChilIcothe,
and from thence to Cincinnati, has been survey
ed, and the Company having it in charge are
only waiting to see whether the Baltimore and
Ohio Rail Road will terminate at Parkersburo,
10 construct or not to construct it. Should this
suggestion, which now sincerely recommend to
oet'er hands than my own, be adopted, the diff
Guilty VIII be obvlated and the Road will be con-
stfucted TO Cincinnati without delay, giving you
a mold on the produce and wealth of the vast
west and the people Of that region an outlet to
lhe markets OF the East through Virginia. which
no o'ate In the Union possesses. This will
calm and reconcile those dsaffected counties in
l 9th NJ. Ill
would claim and receive their cooperation. 1t
would be one of State pride.
heellng and her friends cannot object to this,
Tor IL would bring the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
Road AT Cumberland to dead halt, or induce it
to 80 to Wheeling under the act of the last Lee
glsatuTe. Eastern Pennsylvania could not or
would not be so suicidal as to give them the
right OF way through that State 10 P;ttsburc-thus
forcing one half, ii not twotbirds Of the trad Of
the west to Baltimore, instead Of Philadelphia.
| am In possession OF the cause Of the Baltim ore
and Ohio Rail Road Company's declining to ac-
cept the act of Virginia, by their stockholders
however unwelcome or unpleasant to Baltimo-
Teans TO have 1t come out, they must excuse me,
for l certainly prefer the improvements of nv
own State TO those OF Maryland.
The cause is developed in a letter of Mr.. Nc
Lane to gentleman of Western Virginia. By
this letter, it seems that Wheeling and Piitsburg
are both to be humJugged; and should Penpsyi-
vania grant the Right of Way, will be declined.
Inc object sought TOR is to wheedle Virginia TO
grant the terminus at Parkersburp, lower down
the River; and should this fail new COMPANY,
which, after all, is tho Baltimore and Ohio Rail |
road Company, IL to be formed in Western Vir |
yinia, to apply for separate charter for Rail- |
-oad from Parkersburg to some point near the |
Maryland line. Land enough can then be bought |
Up, 10 unite the two. Neither Mr.. *ss*as nor