Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1846-12-14

mankind, The Baltimore company, which amhitiousl'
asps- To penetrate Virginia in different directions, wa
eighteen years IN reaching Cumberland; progress mucl
slower than that which propose But this objection ma,
be obvatcd whonevcr the Legislature may IN It's wisdom
direct
The James River and Kanawha Company will be be
fore YOU. asking loan for the payment Of their
dues The necessity Of this application arises from Tho
shortnoss of our crops and the payment Of certain out
standing claims which could no longer be deferred A.
long this improvement has depend upon the valley
OF the James River alone its must be unsettled
and procarous. II is only when il shall be extended 10
The North RIVER and shall bc fed by the Southwestern
Railroad. that revenues will he independent of the
seasons, and II viii hegu 10 deyeopc It's great eapaci,
and value, But how is II 10 reach those polnsl Money
rs lndsl ensibc, and the company cannot raise it.
From careful consideration OF this subject. am salts
he'd thai the State may, with short cup anticipate
the occurrence u similar demands until the improvement
shall have reached tho points which have designated
The supply from both will be requisite 10 place the
revenue ot the james River Company upon footing of
safety aud independence And II may lie remarked here,
that one Of the great eNcconclos Of tho Southwestern
Rallroad MS n moncd investment, will be found 10 be
under careful and ludlcous management that every ten
miles, hrou ,hou ITS whole extent will moi only support
ITSELF lu will iurns large and ncr, asing supplies Ia the
canal As the State cannot abandon Tho canal, II IL
obviously the part of true wisdom complete to the
points Indicated. with reasonable despatch have
pond'lcd mos, anslousy to the bes, Of raising
the funds Tor this Inrpc.e. and my conclusion il To
recommend Issue ii the bonds of the company, from
nmc To time, as they may be needed, 10 the requisite
amount, such issue 10 he guaranteed hy the State.
recommend thus mode OF raising the money. because he
icve that when the Southwestern Railroad shall lc fin
ishod. the condition Of the canal will he cmincnty pros
perons and that II viii possess the OF rapidly dis
charging its debt.
Il cannot have escaped attention that am opposed 10
the connection of the Eastern and Western waters through
the Valley o the James River either BY Canal or Rail
road. Canals not adapted 10 the mpalicn, wants of
the present age. The great New York Canal is protected
by law against the competition OF the Railroad running
by ITS SIDE the Pennsy lyania the Chesapeake and
Ohio. and even our own James River Canals were new
questions, few would be found hardy as advocate
the construction At tins lime Railroad Is under con
strucou between n York and Albany arallc with the
Hudson rver. Pennsylvania is constructing a line of
Railroad between Philadelphia and pittaburg parallel
with her Canal Railroads projected ON both SIDES Of
Lake Ete, and II Is manifest tina, they destined
suporcodc to very great extent, all riror and Canal
navigation II is also argued that a mixed hnc of Canal
and Railroad cannot successfully contend ir the Weston
trade should therefor" be opposed 10 tho execution OF
the main design Of the James River and kanawha Com
pany. II II entirely practicable, and We had the
anplesl means flr lis mplshmcnt equnlly up
posed 10 the connection Of the and western waters
on this line by Railroad. The Canal affords every
reasonable laclty to the country through which passes
and for local purposes the Railroad Is required but
by adopting another routc Inc connection between the
Fast and the W est can be- easily alta ned and mmcnae
local advantages secured TO other aga portions of our
State. The possible difference between The two routes
IN the cost OF Their construction, will Gud ample
tquval nj in the diffusion Of these improvements But
the canal ought To be extended the pom, have stated
The wvrk already partially constructed, could be finished
iur smaller sum than would be requisite to complete
railroad. The whole work, too. would be homogeneous,
and could be managed with more facility and economy
than mixed Improvement II would aso enable them
10 put their reigh's a, lower rate than could be done
if the line composed Of portions of canal and railroad
have carefully observed this company Gr years
am satisfied that It's executive government is in, cicnt,
useless, aud nnnoct ssarly expensive. lis condition
hopeless With the State alone abides the power To
preserve its vitality In this condition Of It's affairs. with
an eye alone 10 their Improvement recommend that the
present. executive government Of the company he abolish
ed and that all its duties and powers be transferred 10
the Board of Public Works which shall appoint a Prcsi-
dent clothed with all his present powers aud duties II
would diminish the expenses Of the company several thou
sand dolarsa year, and give 1t, am persuaded
j, ilicient administration.
You will be informed by the report Of the Board of
Public Works Of the sale and purchase Of the late Ports
mouth and Roanoke Railroad for and Of the
State. This purchase made principally with view
Of placing the road nj the pleasure Of the Legislature
The rivalry which has existed between this road from
the day 1t opened and the Petersburg Railroad had
been disastrous and the loss the State both eapl
tai and revenue. serious, that 1t deemed para
mount duty the part II the public agents acquire the
control Of his rad that il might fall into liya hands
aud again become instrument of dangerous and DIES
ructlyc campett This policy us and SO rcasora-
bic, was alone, am persuaded in the contemplation of
the Legislature ON the passage Of the act providing fr
sale Of the Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad To no
one offence intended, and most assnrcy none To
sister State with which united hy many ties of in
tcrest and affection. II is. therefore, with profound re-
greet that have to inform you that the Chief Magistrate
Of North Carolina his message to the General As
emily, characterised the referred to the "mere eff
fusion of jealous and hostile spirit without object OF
m ing"
The Portsmouth and Roanoke Rail Road under the
name Of the Sdaboard and Roanoke Railroad being now
the property Il the STATE furnishes question full od
Guilty. II will not do TO receive 1t rival roadto re
that career, which has already proved IA
tai Nor yet will it be just our fellow citizens who
interested in the ad to the people of North Caro-
lima, 10 leave II IN It's present condition Sincerely
Ions TO protect the Interests dependent this road
and yet bound 70 advise that the Commonwealth shall
sustain no injury in the premises | have, after much
consideration, concluded TO recommend the passage
of law that will give the various railroad conra-
MICS either Of them between the Roanoke and tie
Potomac, constituting what is generally called the
inland ROUTE the right to subscribe for four seventies OF
the amount requisite to put in prime running condition.
and also to put line Of boats In connection herewith
TO the city Of Baltimore, each share of stock to give
vote, and all questions arising out Of this road, any
be left TO the appellate control fifth, Board of Pub
lie Works This plan will reopen this road as former
ly stood prevent the revival of dangerous competitions
restore to those dependent upon this road their former ia
ccs relieve our railroads Of anxiety and uncertainty,
and, in connexon with the Bay line of beats, secure
good dividend upon the new investment.
deem it 10 be my duty to call your attention to the
TO ni