Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-08-20
Caroline August IL, ISL.
Ia The Educs-4GM .GnaYE'HUnu.

! Ia the Edltus4t, III .EYE;iSUnp.
conference.-the surveys OF The two competing
routes Tor The extension OF the Louisa Railroad
from Gordonsye To the eastern base O! the Blue
Ridge, viz: the one through the county OF Abe
marie, via Charlottesville, in the direction OF Rcci,-
fish Gap and the other through the county u
Greene in the direction Of Powels Gap, being
now completed propose 10 occupy small space
in your paper with soms remarks as 10 the rea-
tive advantages or eligibility Of the Two routes.
profess 10 know but little as 10 The specific re-.
snlls ofthose surveys. or what may be The proba-
bic character OF the report of The engineer as to
either oil the routes. II seems 10 be we'll under
stood, however that both routes are practicable
TO The tasc Of The mountains, and that without
mourning any formidable or unusual outlay in
the construction Of The road upon either The
chiel difference in the costs Of The Two routes, as
Is supposed, will result from the fact that the
route through Albemarle 10 The base OF the noun
tain al RochfiSh Gap, eight miles more in length
than that 10 the base Of The mountain in the direc
ton Of PowelPs Gap. The distance from the
tip Of The mountain, at Reckfsh Gap, 10 Ger
louisville, is 40i miles, and from the top at
Powel.'s Gap 10 GoTdonsv,le, 32t miles, as
asceriained by the surveys making difference
as before stated, OF eight miles, il both Tuules
should be reported favorably OF, as supposed By
The engineer, mp 10 the base OF The mountain At
lcasl-Ihe question as 10 which OF The TWO routes
shall be preferred, may then turn upon whatever
other important considerations may be found
connected with the subject
As 10 The question oil funds, of course, neither
route can get tic road. unless an adequate amount
OF iunds be raised This is a "sine qua non" as
to both and il one should succeed 10 raising
sufficient amount, and The other mol, the one that
succeeds will, VI course get the road, unless there
be some nsuperable difficulty in The way 10 pre-
vent H. such as The impraccabiny Of crossing
the mountain al lie point 10 which il leads, al
any reasonable cost Of lunnelins, which would
go IL defeat The main object ci The Law, as TO he
Ultimate extension OF The road westward.
shall take il Tor granted, however, that The
friends OF each route will raise an aceqnate
amoun, If fund.-, They ale each able 10 do il
il they will; ard il they really desire the road,
and truly appreciate It's advantages, they certain
Nv will Lut be So u wise as not to do il. As>um.
ing, therefore, that both routes are feasible, aud
that an adequate amount Of lunds will be raised
Tor each, We come 10 the mporan. enquiry as
10 which route ought 10 be preferred win reie.
renee 10 all ether considerations bearing on The
suhJeci.
As The first step in the process Of This enquiry,
lei US have reference 10 The provisions Of The ac
itse au'horising The extension oi The road On
locking into The act, i, will be found thai heicarc
stockholders are 10 look, in fixing on the route for
the ,Aiension. viz:
l. The accommodation OF The trade of The Val
ley Of Virginia.
2. The facility and economy Of approaching
the mountain.
3. The facility and economy # crossing the |
mountain.
The ultimate extension OF the road westward. |
Now, as 10 The first object, j, is true that 'he |
trade o the Valley may be accommodated 10 A |
somewhat greater extent BY crossing The noun |
lain al one point than al another; but il is also |
obvious that i, will and must e accommodated |
10 certain and very considerable extent crossed
a, ha, point il may be- As TO the second ob-
ject-lhe facility and economy Of approaching |
the moun;ain-il is believed as before stated, hat
NJ very great difference will arise between the |
Two routes *. ept The miles greater distance
oil the AbemaTe route, in reaching The base vi
The mountain; and this can form no Da!erla! OBJ |
lection 10 this route. as il IS distance, not lost,
but actually gained in the ultimate extension OF
the road westward. But whatever may be the
difference between The Two routes, as 10 The Two |
first AIMED objects this one thing is most certain,
that these are Objects greatly subordinate TO The
third and fourth objecIs referred 10 In The act
that fthc facility and economy OF crossing the
mountain and The grand object Of The ultimate
extension OF The road westward. Both Ihese are
objects Of immense magnitude
and of decidedly paramount importance 10 all
others connected with the subject.
As 10 the mos, suitable gap Tor crossing The
mountain, thai is question 10 be decided BY The
repor, Of the Engineer. The friends OF The AL
bemarle route feel very confident as 10 what that
report must be; that It will show that there will be
a vast ference in favor Of The Rockhsh Gap
in the expense OF lnnneling, which may be rem
lie red necessary in passing that or PowelPs Cap
a nd with this difference in favor oil The Rockfsh
Gap route, as they believe will be shown, and be.
cause this gap Is obviously in the most direct line
rom Gordonsvile for the extension OF the road
and because, as they believe also, that