Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-01-13
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.


We upon the consideration Of the ques
ton with which concluded the foregoing number. viz
what OF travel and trade is IL probable that rail
road from the head of steamboat navigation the kanaw
ha river the City OF Richmond will be able commando
IL be evident that speak with certainty
this point IL may however be said, without mproprety
that in estimates this point apt TO fall
the mark than 90 beyond For the growth
the great central region upon which the travel and trade
OF the proposed road will mainly depend, has hitherto out
stripped all calculation, 50, it l. unlikely, II will do in
future.
In illustration Of this point, cannot perhaps do better
than quote hs following passages from document tied;
Repott upon Finances and Internal improvements OF
the State Of New York. 1885, In speaking upon the his.
OF the Internal Improvement, OF that State for the last
twenty years. that document "No fact in all that his
tory is more striking than the failure OF dis
adequately estimate the pecuniary value
OF the canals The sanguine anticpations Of the
enthusiastic supporters OF policy OF internal i'm
provemen fell far short OF the actual results which that
policy has produced while the doubts and orebodngs OF
Its opponents remembered only curious portions OF
intellectual history. Among
the names truly ilusous the early history OF public
works few dsusu than that OF Gouveneur
Morris His comprehensive intellect aud ardent empera
ment enabled him look far beyond Of his
porarcs the rapidly expanding future and yet he
fell short Of the realities the Erie canal has brought within
view. In the sugulary eloquent and animated
nal by which his fame is forever connected with that
work. and in which he endeavored upon thu egs
aurc the importance. all future time OF connecting this
Hudson with the waters, after depicting the wide
spread region around inland and capacity sup
ply the OF great and profitable commerce. he asked
whether would be deemed predict
canal. within twenty years, would annually bring down
100000 tons Z" The actual amount which reached the
tide 1885, G97 3I7 tons or nearly three-iod the
quantity estimated by Mr. Morris; and the total tonnage
OF that year ascending aud 800 600"
Enough has been said in the foregoing numbers
show the similarity between tia; work and the pro
posed. The marked point OF resemblance between them
aud that which gives them Of character this,
that they both connections b, tween the Atlantic
board and the great central region lying between the Appa
lachan and ChPpewayan systems Of mountans. From
important similarity in character, i, surely would be
unfair to argue similarly Of T'sls At least mus, be
admitted that it fsir actual results OF the
a data, extent, to base estimate Of
the probable results OF the other.
well aware, that the Virginia public will receive
with great Strust, estimates reasonable upon
this subject, owing the unsatisfactory results hitherto
OF many Of public wo;ks,-resuts however, which,
in have been the natural and necessary
queuce halj lcdy schemes OF Improvement. SHALL
Therefore, the especially fory my position,
by estimates which will be likely question. oho
Is ciiiRg 10 hazard hs reputation for JEdsmeRf-
And beg il will be remembered that fair has yet
been given, the estimates whicn times have
For surely would not De fair Against Pecuniary
value, from the failure OF the Lynchburg Canal to make
adequate return THIS would Re infer from the
suits OF unfinished cork results when cumpstei-
Aud surely enlightened public will si To draw the
proper discrimination between Rad Road from Rich
rnoad TO FIederieksbH'g 10 P,fers5HTg. and a Rail
Road connecting tAe Nss'ssppi Valley Lok the Aanhe
bodrd As we'll might OF your petty inland
be compared with the Gull Stream OF the Lei
proceed TO cOnsdeT-lst. what OF travel it is
probable the proposed road will be abe command And
here fortunately speak with pretty reliable
y. When state that in all probability rail road from
the head of Steamboat navigation the Kanawha
the city OF Richmond, would annually carry $780,
600 persons Easwardy ami Westwardy, will probably
be said that the estimate Is much large But when
further that the Bsmue and Ohio rail road company
carried the Of their road, during the last
years, average Of hsn that ard that
during the last year. they have actually carried many
20245e5 assent 10 thai estimate be yielded
however reluctantly And that such the fact will quote
the found the last annual Report Of the
President and Dir, OF that Company that may speak
for Itself. Under the caption OF Comparative Summary
the operations of the MAIN Stem" Of the Baltimore
aud Ohio Rail Road, during years from 1886 Is45
inclusive, " the following statement appears: