Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-10-15
FOR THE spectators.
TO THE PEOPLE OF AUGUSTA.

| foh THE SPECTATOR.
TO THE PEOPLE OF AUGUSTA.
You have seen the proceedings of the meeting
lately held in Bath on the subject of internal inn
provemenis, and also the proceedings of the meet
ing held In Staunton the Sd instant, relative to
the extension OF the Louisa Railroad, and have no
dOuot witnessed with pleasure these manifestations
OF reviving interest in the cause of internal inn
| pr0vement.
IL becomes you at this time, when almost every
part OF the State is pressing upon the Legislature
Its own peculiar claims TO some sort of improve
ment, and when the wisdom of the Legislature af.
fords some that this important branch M
public policy will be no longer neglected or delay
ed, to turn your attention to your wants in this
particular and rs am one of you, and feel deep
interest IN whatever affects the public veal or VICE.
VIII be excused for calling your attention to this
SUBJECT and Tor suggesting plan Of improvement
M,ch' trust. will receive the appreciation of you
1t has been long n favorite scheme with the
wsest and best men of the Commonwealth to unite
the waters OF the Ohio and the Chesaneake
Washington in his day saw the incalcuable bene-
hts to be derived from such communication. and
strongly recommended and urged upon the people
oi Virginia It's construction; and the people them
Selves fuly aware OF its vast Importance attempted
10 effect 1t by water communication, which has
Deen since abandoned wild and impracticable
Inc question now arises shall all efforts to accom-
phsh this work cease, or what plan shall be adopt-
ed to carry IT on2 Shall the Canal be extended to
Covngton, and the Railroad thence to the Ohio.
or shall the Canal and the improvement be discon
tlnued at Covington? We are too sensible of the
great Importance of this work to entertain such an
idea Tor a moment.
Let US then pause for awhile, and see whether
this scheme can be effected in any other way1 than
the extension of the James river Improvement. Ia
there no route for Railroad to the Ohio, but by
m thoc p,,tE c.J Al l.. n N
a very slight acquaintance with the geography of
the country assures us that there is. What insur-
mountabe obstacle presents itself i'll the way provi
ded you desire the extension of the Louisa Raiiroad2
The Blue Ridge has been examined by some of the
most enlightened engineers of the age and they all
concur In the opinion that there is practicable
way over the mountain. Col. Crozet, than whom
there is not in the Union man better qualified In
give an opinion, or whose opinion is entitled to
greater weight, has examined the route and saws
that the mountain may be passed at Rockfsh Gap
by tunnel of only 34 of mile, and am credi-
by informed that there is gap not far from the
Rochiish much better adapted than this for the mr.
pose What then prevents this road from bena
extended There IS not in the Union more favor
able ground Tor the construction of railroad than
that from Staunon to Covington and the country
from Gordonsvlle to the mountain presents but few
impediments
This route for connecting the East and the West
other, not the least of which is that it will not in
tertere with the James river canal. Indeed SO far
from beng OF any injury, it will be of infinite bene-
fit to It, for 1t will bring large amount OF produce
from the Western part of the State and also great
deal OF coal, IRON, lead, salt, and gypsum, which
would leave the railroad at Covington and go down
the canal to Richmond water carriage being cheaper
than railroads and it would also be of the highest I'M
porance to the State, as it would attract an immense
travel that would pass directly through the centre
OF the State, and moreover it would be accommoda-
ting with facilities for market large and wealthy
portion Of the State now entirely without the MEANS
their ineXhaustible resources were deyeloped Of
carrying them TO market.
Gould these objects be obtained by any other i'm
provement! believe not. If the railroad should
be carried from Covington to the Ohio it would
certainly bring to the canal at that point large a.
mount OF produce and great deal Of the mineral
weatfof Western Virginia, but this line could
never al'ract the travel. Persons would not con-
SENT after travelling % miles an hour upon rail-
road, to go along the canal at the rate of OF s.
lhIs great source of revenue then would be lost.
tor the travel would be drawn up the Ohio to
Wheeling or Pittsburg, which is the nearest route
70 the Northern cities, and one which would always
take The travel unless we had continuous railway
from the Ohio to the Potomac so that the railroad
would have to extend farther than Covington in
Virginia to ensure the travel. Let us suppose that
1t went to Richmond what would be the result AS
sure as "the light Of day" it would break down the
canal, and then our situation would be infinitely
worse than 1T is at present, for the people now ac
commodated by the canal would be but little better
OIL than before. Indeed not so well off for canal
IS better suited for their wants than a railroad.
The Zen millions Of dollars expended in the con-
structIon OF this great work forever lost and tho
resources OF the State almost exhausted by making
this great railroad along side the canal repeat
we wcaid be IN situation infinitely worse than
the present. for this being the condition of the State
after the construction Of the South-side railroad,
where would we get the means of improving our
own sections of country2 The public Golfers would
be empted, our credit abroad at the lowest ebb,
and the people most violently opposed to direct tax
alton, what could we do2 Nothing. This, then.
is not the plan to pursue. Make railroad down
the canal, but let the large and wealthy part of the
State already accommodated by the canal enjoy the
advantages they possess Nay, increase them by
extending the canal to Covington where it was de-
signed to 90 and where it must 90 before Won can
expect to sec those magnificent results il was in
tended to work out. Extend the Louisa Railro,d
TO Covingtor and thence to the Ohio. and inns sc-
large, poPulous, enlightened and
wealthy section OF the State, now without anv i'm
provement whatever. wy
Construct this road, and you will bring thousands
ana thousands oil visters annually to your mineral
springs, and tens of thousands of travellers throupb
lne very heart of your State and carry out a scheme
,nat mas received the sanction of WAsaISGTor,
MADISON, MONROE, and MARSHALL
p.
V1'Ihe London Times, speaking of our war
with Mexico, says-"President Polk commenced
hc L al