The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-10-03
A BOLD, BUT NOT A NEW PROJECT

II DObD, d. NOl n NEW HROJECI l..
The following article, frora the correspondent
the New York Herald, refers to a project suggest
ed TO us last winter by a gentleman of HAMPSHIRE
county. as one which might do something to reno
vate the of Alexandria, and bring back
to her The bright days of prosperity which once
gave her a cheerful and a happy aspect.-Rich-
mond Republican.
1.-The Potomac river presented quite a com
mercial aspect this afternoon, there being upwards
of twenty little sails visible, ascending he river,
at a single view. Several large vessels, the
George Washington and John Marshal! among
the number. are now lying at Alexandria. The
ancient city having gone back to Virginia, it only
needs a little State pride, and a little State capt.
tai, 10 run a railroad straight across some 20 miles,
To Harper's Ferry, again TO divert TO Alexandra
its rightful trade of The great Valley of Virginia.
The Baltimoreans, by their railroad of 100 miles,
have robbed the ancient city of the District of this
trade, and while it has been the making of Balti.
more, il has been the ruin of Alexandra. In ad-
dltlon 10 this Internal commerce., the Western
travel bound southwark, and vice versa, would be
diverted through Alexandria by such a road. We
hops the Alexand rians will open their eyes, and
look at this thing like men of business. No city
on the Atlantic seabOard can possibly exist withou.
a railroad, in this age of telegraphs and locomo-
tlves. The quantity Of -four sent down to Balti-
more from The great Valley of Virginia is not less
than lO,OOO barrels per week, with large quaint
Ties OF corn, cornmeai, grain, provisions, and TO.
6acco. Alexandria might reclaim il all if she
would. and still Baltimore would be left with an
abundant trade. The exchange in foreign com
moditIes would revert TO the depot of the produce,
and this would a; once bring the old town out OF
the ashes. We tell these people to be up. and
stirring, or their very streets will grow over with
chInqnaPins and blackjacks, while all the towns
around them are going ahead"
"No city on The atlantic sea board can erisl
1cithout a Rail Road, in this age of teIegraphs
and locomotives That sentence struck US par
ticularly, and we wish it would sink deep in the
heart OF every citizen of Portsmouth. until they
determine to get the Roanoke and Portsmouth
Road IN their possession, and put it in perfect
order from here to Weldon, and from Weldon to
CASTOR. When that is done, then may our cili.
zens look forward to a day of glorious prosperity
but not before.
Look at our sister town, Alexandria, with not
half the bright prospects before her that we have
she is contemplating a Road that will cost double
what ours originally cost, and when it is com
pleted, for we look upon it now, as a matter
settled, she will have to compete with an energetic
nclghb"r' full of enterprise and full Of means,
having the advantage Of being already establish
ed, and habit and a large market always pleading
in favor Of her rival.
With our Road it is entirely different. This
Route has no competition TO draw from us the rich
products of the interior Of North Carolina. that
must seek the sea board for market-this fact is
so well known 10 all that it needs not a word
from US, further, TO gain the assent of every indi
vidual interested in the prosperity Of our town.
1t appears from the following statement, that.
during the quarter ending 3lst Of August Iast,
there were 24l2 through tickets taken from We'll
don to Baltimore:
"OEFIcE JAMES RIVER AND BAY LINE.2
weldon, n. c., Sept. 2, 1876. {
"GENTLEmEN-BelOw / hand you a state
ment of through travel, from Weldon (Ofice) to-
Baltimore, as taken from the bucks of The Peters
burg Company, to whose agent we both report
every (night) our travel and settle their pro rata
Of fare.
"The statement is for the months of June, Ju-
" and August: