Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-04-10
lie Editors Of Tie Enquirer

4
GLOUCESTER COUNTY, March IA, 1910.
Gentlemen: |, is with regret that discover Inc
loss of a certain bill in The Senate, BY lie vote
Of IL to II, which had passed The other House by
decided majority, viz: the Richmond and FL
ham Rail Road Bill II appears 10 me, that had
The rerils of this bill been generally known, It's
fa,e would have been oiherwiee. Twill endeavor
10 explain why: The distance, as am Informed,
from Richmond 10 The terminus contemplated, is
something like 80 miles. This terminus (Ellham)
is on The Pamunkey river about three miles
above the junction OF The Matia5ony, where tile
Two make the York; and the distance 10 the Ches-
apeake Bay about 40 miles-makiDg The whole
distance from Richmond TO the Bay 20 miles
The navigation is good for the largest size ship
tina, floats on the Ocean, al all tides and The same
wind will carry the vessel 10 sea that walls her
down the river, and vice versa. The river is
tree from the Instructions 10 navigation by ice
during The winter, which cannot be said OF James
river. The lowest tide will give an average OF
four (alhoms over every bar, from the mouth 10
Ethan; This likewise cannot be said ofiae James.
Erery business man, whether merchant or far
,ncf. can al once see and appreciate this route OF
CONVEYANCE for freight and passengers, 10 and
from Richmond, going and returning from the
Northern cities, or Europe. VIII not then lie
Richmond merchant be able 10 sell his goods
cheaper han he otherwise could in consequence
OF the DELAY in time and The extra charge Tor
ishleraee, g., from City Poin! or Bermuda
Hundreds on the James? These advantages
conceive, are but small, compared with other ana
more extended enterprises which the good sense
OF the people of Virginia, have an abiding con-
fidence, will ere long commence and carry 10 sue
cessiul completion. | mean communication
with The Ohio river from Richmond This Little
Railroad will be the first link in the grand chain
of connection between The Atlantic and The fertile
valley Of the Mississippi aud lis tributaries
Merchants in Memphis, Tenn, Louisville, 81.
Louis Cincinnati, Nashville, Huntsville, Ala,
and nearly all OF the Northern portion OF Missis-
sippi. will Immediately adopt Ibis route for The
TRANSPORTATION of their merchandise from the
Northern Cities, as being the least expensive and
most expeditions. ltnnw takes from 3 10 . weeks
10 effect the same object roand me dangerous
Capes of Florida and up the Mississippi river,
and is attended with no, only this great loss OF
time, bu, enormous rates OF insurance. This
communication being open, the merchant 10 either
sc Ihe above named places can get his goods IN
travel of this vas, region OF country come upon
this line And what can hinder Richmond from
becoming large importing and manufacturing
city What river on The whole face Of the globe
can boast of superior privileges of waterfalls TO
The James And what city can compete with
her in facilities OF export or import, al moments
warning, TO any point Of the compass? Ii will be
The means ofdevelopina The vast mineral resources
of Virginia, from The Atlantic 10 The Ohio River.
Iron, salt and coal will form but comparatively
small items in the great bill OF commerce which
this enterprise will bring along in lis Tain | do
not hesitate To predict that from the valley vi he
| Kanawha coal can be laid down in Richmond
at cheaper fate than The cos, of raising il from
The pits in Chesterfield; salt nearly as cheap as il
can be brought in ballast from Liverpool and
| those Of our farmers who are so unfortunate as
10 have to purchase pork from the "great West y
can get il at - 80 TO So These views nigh,
conflict with the interests Of few but The true
doctrine should be "the greatest good for the great
est number" have no doubi, could the men,
bers OF The ensuing Legislature see This matter in
is true light, there would not be one dissenting
voice 10 lis passage-and, moreover, il The mem
bers could for once leaveihe State OF Virginia. and
travel through most Of the Northern States, parli-
cuarly New York, 10 the Lakes, thence down and
| through the entire valley OF The Mississippi and
see for themselves what the enteFprsing citizens
| in those States have done and are still doing, and
compare The advantages which this once prond
| old Commonwealth has over all of lhem they
would cease passing laws ITO kill crows and
! black-hirds," and al once 60 TO work upon this
conceive 10 be, The greatest enterprise ofthe age.
| design occasionally TO trouble you with shor,
essays upon this subject, provided you lhinl;
them worth publishing.
Very respectfully. PoRoPoTANK.