Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-02-19
To he Edttns Of HE ENQUIRER:
CABELL COUNTY, January Isl, l847.

sulJeSl VI iHlebdl improvement, having ItieIeHCe
directly 10 he great central route tlom Richmond
10 The Ohio river.
The progress ofpublic opinion, not onlyin Vir-
ginia bur in other States, 10 regard 10 this import
AMI subject, cannot be unobseryed, nor much ion.
ger disregarded.
OF The vast, The inca,culable Importance the
indispensable necessity OF this great work and
rs speedy complexion 10 The prosperity and poll
tIca Influence of Virginia, nothing need he sal
nothing can be said, that has moi heen already Of
len repeated All admit lis imrorlance-none
deny lis benefits. And there is bul one common
wish from East 10 West, from North TO Sou h
and that is Tor lis completion. And the only ques.
lion is, how can that be tone2 How i, ought Ia
ne done would seem 10 be mailer ot tar less
difficulty; since men OF great wisdom, Learning,
patriotism and experience, declare that il ought
10 be dcne by means Of railroad. al the pub
lie charge. But in this, as in everything else,
there are but loo many opposed 10 what ough; 10
be-some 10 the plan and many 10 The means
And here il may not be out oil the way to notice,
en- passanl, The Plan Of Prcsiden Gwynn in his
report 10 The James River and Kanawha Com.
pany in which he proposes 10 complete The canal
10 Coyinelon, thence By railroad across The Ale
ghanies TO The kanawha river, and steamboat
navigation TO the Ohio In support Of his plan
he assnIcs Us that il has been asceriained during
The last summer, by actual measurement that
there is greater depth OF water in the Kanawha
river in time OF low Tide Than in the Ohio
Now, venture there is moi boainan who has
navisaed both rivers at all times and all tides,
but will smile at The worthy Presidents creduii-
" Indeed, it is but too well known here lhai for
weeks and weeks, from ice and low waller, beats
even oil The smallest class cannot ascend lhSha-
nawha, even 10 Charleston; while there is scarce
~ 4 day in The whole year that they do not come
up 10 Guyandolle.
Mr.. GWynn acknowledges The force OF the OBJ
jeclion against mixed route, with porages and
rans.shipmenls; and, il seems 10 me, shows con-
clusivey, in his repcE, The utter inutilily Of the
holch-potch plan which he recommends
Such an improvement, 10 be useful and profit
able, mus secure The travel as well as The trade
OF The great valley Of The Mississippi. Yet all
admit that the travelling community never can be
induced 10 palronize route with little steamboats,
on little stream, always difficult CT navigation,
and often impraclicabe, part railroad and part
canal; while they can accomplish their journey
by some other route, on continuous railroad,
with speed, certainty and comfort.
Suppose The plan Of Mr.. Gwynn in lull
! operation, would any man, woman, or child,
ol the millions that travel East and West, leave
! I splendid steamer, with all its comforts, on The
! Ohio 10 be cooped up in such waIcr-cla as shall
4 be suited TO navigate The kanawha river 10 lis
falls; then poked into rail car, and dragged over
The Alleghanes 10 Covngion; and there lmprison-
| ed in canal hoa, 10 creep on al snaiPs pace
10 Richmond?
! Nor do |, without some reasonable hore Of
drawing hitler The commerce ot the West, see
The wisdom oil continuing The canal To Covington,
where the productions scarcely exceed The con.
sumption, if you except few loads OF iron.
The important consideration in works Of in
/ ternal improvement, is not so much Inc coSi, or
distance, flor the greater The length The more will
be accommodated but the pfot@tfsntss Of !h-
investment. For what matters il il road cos
thirty millions. iii pay well On that investment?
While on the other hand, what greater FOLLY than
to waste even dollar on an improvement that
will prove sinking iun, 10 Safe and >ockhold-
ers2
Suppose the railroad from Richmond 10 The
Ohio river now completed and in full operation,
can il be doubted that il would te no; only profit
able stock, bul the nos, ra'pab'e investment The
kind in The Unionl Being, as it ever mus. be.
the most Southern route from West 10 EasI, Il
would compete successfully with the more North
crn routes, when they were open, and would re
The soc lhoronghiare, when they were closed by
ice and low warer-diihculties that must ever
exist in their way, while The seasons observe
their ordinary round. II would al The same time
be quicker, cheaper and m0rc csfiaia, and afford
TO the traveller convenient opportunity If visit
ing Richmond, Alexandra, Washington and
Baltimore, without in The eas going oui OF his
way 10 any of the Eastern cities. And in view
Of all the facts, il will hardly he denied that the
great central route through Virginia possesses
advantages that will ever place il beyond The
reach OF successful competition from all others.
Why, then, should not our legislators resolve al
once that this great work should be done-dpne
al nce-dcne by the Stale; and lei Virginia be
once more Virginia, and stand where she was
wont 10 stand, The first and foremost amcrg her
sister Siales7 But should party strife, and sec
lona jsacu>ies, and narrow and contracted views
combine 10 defeat this much desired end, lie, them,
al least, place this g,eai work IN an equal loot
ing with all The other works OF internal improve
ment in the State, by passing An at authorizing
the subscription, On The part Of the Stale, Of two
hnhs or more o. The capital stock Vi The Rich.
mond and Ohio Railroad Company, as chartered
by the legislature last Winter. Such an acl
would inspire confidence al home and abroad, and
insure The subscTi pli0n OF The balance without
delay, and The speedy commencement Of The
noble work, with I confident hope OF lis early
completion.
Butt is objected, tina. the laxes-oh the layes,
Tie laxes-wil be increased.
Now, lei me ask, il fifteen or twenty millions
OF dollars expended within The limits of tie Com
Would il be oi no consequence 10 have The vast
and growing commerce OF the .eeming West pour
ed inln The lap Virginia; and instead OF small
| towns grea' and commercial cities along her bor-
,ltrs2 Would il be no advantage 10 the people
10 have opened In them new markets oil cheap
and certain acccss1 Is il OF no moment 10 have
Our lands, from The shores of The Atlantic to The
banks ii the Ohio Increased in value, and mill
lions Of acres OF mountain lands, that now sleep
l.. -. IL hr,lr
brought in subsection 10 human will, and become
lie hah;ia ions Of a prosperous and happy people,
whose wealth ard int!us;r, would pour intothe pub
lie treasury rich reward? Would il be Of no va
ue 10 have Virginia girt from shore 10 shore
with continuous railroad, dotted Al every step
with towns ard villages and manufactures Of
every description?
Pun. then, all these advantages these benefit
these values together, and from The amount de-
duct tie little, tli1ng, piiiful sum OF increased
axalion necessary 10 pay The interest on The cost
Of construction Of snch road, and put it 10
every honest man 10 say, whether Virginia would
be teb.or Or creditor by the vigorous prosecution
and speedy completion OF Ibis srea, and truly ma
tinna work Taxes To this end would cease 10
be huTlhcn and The certain consequence O!
them the richest blessing.
WHY. then should our Legislators hesiate?-
They cannot be blind, while all around them see.
Governors Mcdowell ard Smith, with heads as
clear, and hearts as generous and patriotic asare
10 be found among The brighes. jewels Of Viz
gnia, have both, in their messages TO The General
Assembly, earnestly recommended the speedy
construction of This great work, not by private
capital and individual enterprise, but BY Virgi.
MIA and Virginia alone.
When we behold our sister States around us
con;ending with difficulties moi found in our
way. siraining every nerve and surrounding
every obstacle 10 secure 10 themselves lie mighty
commerce OF the West, ought Vifginia-will she
can she longer told her arms and res; snpinciy,
til she is bound hand and foot 10 The car OF Other
Stalesl With an intelligent and en'erprising
reop!e-with miA and ray with every means
within her reach 10 accomplish all We wish, is it
unreasonable to believe that the time has al last
arrived when this work will be entered upon in
| good earnest? Virginia owes it 10 hcrseli-she
owes ii 10 her people-ani Virginia cannot repn-
diale an honest debt.
To look any longer 10 The James river and IA
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