Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1847-06-28

.'.g' "r seine point uf lyncburp and that VERY,
I Gu pau oi improvement would be advisable east
a'u west al such POINT of connerton J,nd Of H. tbere
certainty be no occasion lr any thing more than n
single Track rroad, adapted to the TRANSPORTATION of mas
'"EeiS ana lIgt and valuable Z ods and | have htile
aoo' thai Tor long time. would he most eN pedlent in
we i''iuoh {" me rallrad 10 make of plate ra SUI
eSfuctufe, similar 10 that ia the northern and southern
me OF ralr ad through Virginia | would advise this
o'ise III Tie Inst Instance, only on account of the
diminished hrsl cast Of the work such PLAN but be-
'se waving THIS consideration, the excess IN the ann
AFe"Ss 81 The cheaper work, IN this portion Of the
'ouc' would moi PROBABLY for many years equal the in
ieres on the difference in cost etwerna ii lie rail and
eoSe aI snPersrtctnre. On the other hand whenever
IL might be cNpeden change the one for the other no
very material loss would l. sustained old railroad iron
nal cost.
We may Judge Of the economy with which such
WORK would be constructed along any one OF the ridges
III lrSnla, between tide water and the mountains (r
IN Their typographical features they resemble each other
cltsely) by the cost OF the Louisa rail road which was
about 5000 per mile
" est OF the point where the contemplated work would
touch, or be connected with the Canal very different
plan would be advisable. As the western portion
oil The railroad, heary trade well travel might be
expected II would be .xpedicnl construct this Part Of
the work as free as possible from Objectionable grades
aud curves and 1t would be advisable. in the of
few years. though hnh not in he beginning, 10 Ia,
down an edge, OF heavy non ra supersiructure-1ho
Is nothing, however. III the topography OF this portion OF
the route, which Induces 10 believe that railroad
between the point at which it would with the
Canal and The Ohio. would bepecuarly Npensne
A large portion OF the road. in every trace which
might be adopted would be along the valleys Of streams.
and though these III mountainous districts present often
points Of good deal of difficulty, yet there always
less Difficult y IN securing suitable grades In valleys,
than there would be In crossing alternately racys and
ges, involving as these do frequent deep cuttings and
Killings IN comparatively champaign country In even
the most difficult passes the portion Of the
route. 1t would be very serious matter 10 effect the
graduation oI SINGLE track railroad. aud. the plan OF
improvement VIII ch would recommend as most elig-
bic for The work IN question. it would, probably rarely
be necessary t. grade for double track portions OF
the route presenting particular obstacles.
My idea Is. gentlemen. that whilst tho eastern portion
OF the route need he only single track railroad with
turnouis al suitable distances. the western should be
double track road, for sufficient portion OF lis length TO
prevent any risk OF embarrassment III The movement Of
trains. for the largest Of tonnage which in view
oi the numerous works which will undoubtedly be exc
cuied between the east and west. be reasonably anti
clpaed In the contemplated improvement. Taking
the most enlarged view Of this matter. and executing
enough OF the work double track. to answer any
demands OF trade and travel which the work may
be expected to command. still large portion of
the western division Of the work. that beyond
It's point Of connection with the canal may be.
without material disadvantage, single track ralroa
tile improvement as To make those portions Of the
tern division double Track. where r long distances an
Increased breadth Of roadway would be attended with
greatly enhanced expense and the where
for lJug distance Gas in the New River cliffs. single
track would be comparatively slight and double
track very serious. matter, 10 have all nearly all the
advantages OF double tack railroad, at greatly dmin
ished cost.
Executing the work on the plan which have sketch
ed abuye have no doubt that Virginia may have, between
Il Id. u
ne 10 aug similar ,c0rh criSting course Of
con Gciece The east and tces. for exceeding the
first Instance, eight millions # dollars. And when the
trade and ira, 81 shall have accumulated such work
10 extent sufficient to make ii cXpclicni substitute
the original sup rstrnciure by heavy iron rail the work
itself will. at the time furnish obundanlly the
means accomplishing the object.
l0nr second inquiry is. gentlemen, GLOW far would
such work be profitable to the stockholders %
Of course any reply 10 this enquiry must be based on
the presumption that he act oncorroration would be
liberal In this event, the results of the business of
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company. for the past
year furnish us very certain data for answerin. your
question:
liappears, from thelast report of the President and Dl
ecors that the gross receipts of the Company from its
main stem, for the year ending the 3Oth of September
1916, were 500 3l5 % and that It's nett latter
deductng the expenses Of working and keeping the road
in repair. amounted to the sum Of Si4O,475 81, being
S65,I3 Oh greater than the previous year, and more
y.
These the results of work which when
completed will have a plan and profile very in
ferior to what may be attained the Virginia |
line OF Improvement which will terminate at 4 point
on the Ohio less favorable for commanding the trade
of the west and which, 50 far as Completed has cost
more than and half millions of dollars or nearly
as much as the whole line between Richmond and Guy
andoe. leave you gentlemen. to deduce he result from
these data, satisfied in my own mind that work
which can he projected in Virginia could lie profitable
to the parties executing it, whether the state indyid
uas. as assuredly could dlfIuse widely ex
tended Benefits both TO the State and Union, than the
one 10 which your inquiries are directed.
Your third inquiry is. ''Would it he practicable 10
rails the capital stock for such work under of
Incorporation which would exempt the stock and proper
~ of the company from taxation. until the dividends
should exceed SIX per cent. and which would guarantee
the Company for the term of thirty years from the
petion OF the work. from the competition of line Of
railroad connecting the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad with
the Ohio river below the town of Wheelng}'
II IN addition to the provisions suggested by you in an
act # Incorporation. the work completed, made
Con the plan of the Eng and some Of the Northern
roads the property of the stockholders. allowing them
the rl9ht to regulate the tolls they might deem fiji
and the company also allowed 10 commence the
work a subscription should be made up. sufl
Client to insure lis bona fdc prosecution, cannot doubt
that the stock requisite for its commencement would
readily be taken, and | have little doubt that the
W r., n commenced. W, uld rapidly o res com
plelon. ! can objection 10 these PROVISIONS in
mlarspn with he objects TO be attained by them
The State may eicualy guard against the line being
tied mp in an act Of incop ration by provision, that
whenever the work shall 10 progress at The rate of