Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-12-03
IMPROVEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA.

article recommending Rail Road from your
town to Harper's Ferry-also, the proceedings
| of a Convention lately held In Staunton, for
the purpose Of extending the Louisa Railroad
TO the foot Of the Blue Ridge, and thence to
CoYington. | also noticed short time since,
an article in your paper headed prospects
Of alexandria," being an extract from letter
from a gentleman in Virginia TO yourself
He says, 81 should be pleased to see a
scheme started for Rail Road from Alexan-
dra to the Ohio river" Again he SAYS, "look
to the present and act for the future. That
Alexandra may become a large, prosperous
and enterprising city, is my most fervent de-
SIRE" TO this, answer, Amen. And this
answer will be responded to by all the citizens
Of old Northern Neck, nay by every true Viz
gInian.
That Alexandra may be able to, regain her
former prosperity, not only believe possible,
but have no doubt, she might become more
prosperous than she ever was in her palmiest
days, and become the first city of the old Do
minion, if her citizens only look to their inter
est, and be true to the same, and act with de
cision, promptly and energetcally.
To accomplish this very desirable result. the
question would naturally present itself-What
shall we do 2 | answer, encourage Com
merce, Manufactures, and Trade, and as an
auxiliary to accomplish this, carry out every
available scheme of Internal improvement that
offers itself TO your patronage.
am happy to see spirit favorable to Inter
nal Improvement again spreading amongst
our citizens-for by judlcious system of In
ternal Improvement the great natural resour-
ces Of Virginia NAV be developed; the water
power, Of which no State possesses a larger
amount. be rendered valuable, and be brought
into action--the Agriculture be improved
Trade and Manufactures fourlsh-and the
mineral wealth, viz: Coal, Iron, Barytes
Copper. Plaster, Lime, Salt, SC, now buried
In the bowels of the earth, and valueless from
being at localities distant from, and WITHOUT ia
cillties for transportation, by Navigation or Rad
Roads. onwardS to a market-be rendered val
liable, aud add to the wealth and importance
of our State. Nay, the time will come, when
old Virginia will again take a stand amongst
her sister States, and if not destined to be the
first. as she ought TO be, from her central posi-
ton, climate, soil, and various resources of
every kind, yet she will, at least, become the
second State in the American confederacy.
only here propose TO point out one line Of
railway TO your attention, as, in my opinion,
being calculated to add 10 the prosperity of
your great town, be a great benefit to the
travelling community, and add 10 the wealth
Of our State
The line propose, is one that has ALREADY
been surveyed, nay, even a charter has been
granted, Incorporating a company by our
Legislature-and no doubt exists, either as to
its practicabIlltv or its value. | allude to a
scheme for a Railway from your town, 10
conect with the Richmond, Fredericksburg,
and Potomac Rail Road say at, or near Aqua
the terminus Of said Rail Road on the Po-
tomac. do not here intend to enter into an
examination Of the proper route, or line Tor
SAID Railway, Its cost, or amount OF tonnage,
and number Of passengers, profit to stockhold-
ers, sc. Enough for my present purpose TO
state. that the construction of Rail Road be
tween your town and some point between
Fredericksburg and Aqua Creek, is not only
practicable, but the country between said
points, offers many advantages, TO the location
of a Railway. A choice may be made be
tween two routes The graduation will be ca
sy, except in few cases, the curves light. the
grades easy, admitting Of the construction ola
Railway, for rapid travel, al moderate eXpen-
diture-as compared with other lines that
have been located in our State-the length by
shortest route, say thirty eight miles, and by
the longest route, forty five mles-cost, say
100000, for a road constructed in the most
substantial manner, with heavy rails.
If Rail Road was constructed from your
town, to say, Aqua Creek-then a link in the
line Of Atlantic Rail Roads, now ntercepting
and offering obstacles to travel would be sup
piled. and a continuous line Of RAN Roads
would exist towards the south on to Raleigh:
And when the improvements Of North and
South Carolina, now rapidly advancing to
wards completion. are opened, even on to
Cross Plains, to within fifteen miles OF the
southern boundary of the State OF Tennessee,
and 10 Macon, in Georgia. Nearly all the
distance from Cross Plains to Chattanooga, be
ing say thirty miles, is graded, and IN short
time ears viii be running over this road, from
this point to Savannah, being about four hun
dred and twenty five miles: from the SAID
point to Charleston, four hundred and thirty
eight miles. and to Nashville about one hun
bred and thirty miles. At the last session Of
the Legislature of Tennessee, a most liberal
charter was granted. TO open a road from
Nashville to Chattanooga. No doubt, in
few years, a Rail Road will exist between
Nashville and Savannah. and also Charleston
and as Nashville IS situated on the Cumber-
land river, which is navigabie TO that place,
for the greater part of the year, for steamboats,
Of the largest size, there will be rapid commu-
nication between the south and southwest,
and the north, by only finishing our portion Of
this great chain of Railways. In less than
five days. passengers will pass from Washing
ton to Nashville. and thence down the Cum
berland to the Ohio, and thence, to any point
on the Mississippi or Missouri. or their tribu-
taries, with safety and despatch.
Again; when the contemplated improve
menIs in Alabama, Mississippi, and l.ouislan-
ma. shall have been carried out, we shall have
direct communication with Mobile, New
Orleans, Jackson and Nicksburg, by Rail
Road. The contemplated lines from Alexan-
dra to the Mississippi River, could be compile
ted. iorsay, s. 100000. All that would bere-
CURED from Virginia, would be to build her links,
saw. al an expense Of 500, 900. North and South
Carolina. are engaged in finishing their por-
ton Georgia has nearly finished her portion
of the line; and the $50 miles allotted TO Mis-
sssippi. Alabama and Louisiana, no doubt
will be made New Orleans and Mobile
would be able to construct the Railways that
might be required TO connect those cities to
gether, and 10 unite them with the Georgia
lines. Then there would exist continued
inc of Rail Roads, from New Orleans BY Mo
bile aud from Vlcksburg by Jackson, on to
Montgomery thence by Augusta. Camden,
Raleigh, and Richmond, to the city OF Wash,
Ito and