Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-12-17

ciusion Is 10 recommend an isspe o. tht
bonds Of the company. fion time to time
as they may be needed, 10 the requisite
amount. such issue to be guaranteed BY
the State. recommend this mode ol
raising the money, because believe 'hai
when the Southwestern Railroad shall be
finished. the condition Of the canal will be
e%minen,ly prosperous, and that i, viii
possess the means of rapidly dischsrging
It's debts.
1t cannot have escaped attention that !
am opposed 20 the connection Of the Eas-
TEN and Western waters through the val
ley Of the James River, either by canal OF
railroad. Canals are not adapted TO the
impatient wants Of the present age. The
great New York canal is protected by law
against The competition of the railroad
running BY its side. II the Pennsylvania,
The Chesapeake and Ohio, and even our
own James River canals, were nos new
questions, few would be found so hardy
as to advocate their construction. AT this
time a railroad is under construction be-
tween n. York and Albany, parallel with
the Hudson river. PENNSYLVANIA is con-
stfucting a line Of railroad between Phila-
delphia and r~i,lsburg, parallel with her
canal. Railroads are projected on both
sides ofLake Ere; and it Is manifest tina,
tho are destined TO supersede. IL ? very
great exteni, all river aud canal navigation.
1t is also argued that a mixed line Of canal
and railroad caunol successfully contend
for the Western trade. should therefore
be opposed TO the execution Of the main
design Of the James River and Kanawha
company, IL were entirely practicable
and We had the ampiest means for its &C.
complishment. am equally opposed TO
the connection of the eastern and western
waters on this line by railroad. The ca
nal affords every reasonable facility to the
country through which il passes; and for
local purposes the railroad is not required,
but by adopting another route. the connex-
ion between the East and the West can
be easily attained, and immense local ad-
vantages secured 10 other large portions of
our State. The possible difference be-
tween the two routes, IN The cost Of their
construction, will fad an ample equivalent
in the diffusion Of these improvements
But the canal ought to be extended 10 the
point | have stated. The work already
partially constructed. could be finished for
a smaller sum than would be requisite TO
complete railroad. The whole work,
too, would be homogeneous, and could
be managed with more facility and econo
Monty than 4 mixed improvement. II
would also enable them 10 put their
freigbts at lower rate Than could be done,
if the line were composed of portions Of
canal and railroad improvement.
] have carefully observed this company
for years. ! am satisfied that its executive
government is inefficient, useless, and un-
necessarily expensive. Its condition is
hopeless. With the State alone abides the
power 10 preserve its vitality. In this con-
ditlon of its affairs, with and eve alone to
their improvement, | recommend that the
present executive government of the COM
pany be abolished, and that all ITS duties
and powers be transferred TO the Board of
Public Works, which shall appoint a Pre-
sident, clothed with all his presen, powers
and dl,ies. II would diminish the ex.
penses Of the company several thousand
dollars a year, and give il, ! am persuad-
ed, a more efficient administration.
You will be informed by the report of
the Board of Public Works Of the sale and
purchase Of the late Portsmouth and Rca.
noke Railroad, for and on account of the
State. This purchase was made princi-
pally with a view Of placing the road at
the pleasure of the Legislature. The RI
valry which had existed between this road,
from the day ii was opened, anu the Peters
burg Railroad, had been so disastrous, and
the loss to the State, both in capital and
revenue, so serious, that it was deemed a
paramount duty on the part Of the public
agent to acquire the control Of this road,
that it might not fall into rival hands, and
again become an instrument Of dangerous
and destructive competition. This policy,
so Just and sc reasonable, was alone, am
persuaded, in the contemplation Of the
Legislature on the passage of the act pro.
viding for the sale of the Portsmouth and
Roanoke Railroad. To no one vas offence
intended, and most assuredly o TO a SIS
Ter State, with which we are united by
many ties of interest and affection. II is,
therefore, with profound regret, that ! have
to inform you that the Chief Magistrate of
North Carolina, in bis recent message 10
the General Assembly, Characterised the
set referred to as the "mere %effusion Of a
jealous and hostile spirit, without object or
meaning"
The Portsmouth and Roanoke Rail
Road, under the name Of the seaboard and
Roanoke Rail Road. being now the prop
erty of the State, furnishes a question full
Of difficulty. 1t will not do 10 revive it as
a rival road-to recommence that career,
which has already proved so fatal. Nor
yet will il be just in our fellow-citizens
who are interested in the road, or to the
people of North Carolina, TO leave it in its
present condition. Sincerely anxious TO
protect the interests dependent on this
road, and yet bound so to advise that the
Commonwealth shall sustain no injury in
the premises, | have, after much consider
alton concluded 10 recommend the passage
of a Jaw that will give The various railroad
companies. or either of them, between the
Roanoke and the Potomac, constituting
what is generally called the inland route,
j tho Vtuht ~ pnhary.ha for FAM axaptb. "A