Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-12-19
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SOUTHWESTERN RAILROAD.
Messrs. Editors: Amongst The many PROPOSE
tons before the present Legislature, for appro.
pria,ions of money for internal improvement, |
notice one for subscription by the State of
three 6lths OF tie amount necessary for the con-
.lruclion Of a railroad from Lynchburg TO the
Tennessee line; and another for the construction
of railroad on State account from Buchanan
to the Tennessee line. By way of exhibiting
the comparative merits Of these two competing
schemes, would respectfully submit the follow
ing facts for the consideration Of the Legisla
ture.
lst Surveys and estimates OF the cost of
railroads. On the lines above indicated, were
made in 1887 by Mr.. w. 8 Thompson, under
the direction Of Mr. C. Crozet, Principal En-
glneer.-[See 22d Annual Report Of Board Of
Public Works, from p. 81 TO p Ga
2nd. BY Mr.. Thompsons estimate, the cost
of railroad from L,nchburg 10 the Big Lick,
fifty nine miles, would be s. ,O92 427; from Big
Lick to the Tennessee line So 500, $50; FROM
Buchanan 10 the Biz Lick S354,326 and whole
cost from Lynchburg 10 the Tennessee line
So. 653, O79; and from Buchanan 10 The Tennes-
see line - 944 ,975; showing difference in ia
yor of Buchanan Of S735, l0l.
3rd. Three.6fths OF The cost of a railroad
from Lynchburg TO the Big Lick make 1865. ass;
from which deduct S354,326 whole cost of rail-
road from Buchanan 10 the Big Lick, and the
excess of three ftths of the cost of a railroad,
from Lynchburg TO the Big Lick, over the whole
cost of a railroad from Buchanan to the Big
Lick is shown to be 1901 ,l29; and the ave-
rage cost Of a railroad from The Big Lick to the
| Tennessee line, according to Mr.. Thompson's
estimate, being Sl4,3l2 per mile, this excess
Of S30l,i2 9 would make twenty one miles of
that portion Of the Improvement; showing that
three. fits of the cost of railroad from Lynch
burg 10 the Big Lick would pay the whole cost
of construct e a railroad from Buchanan to
point forty seven miles West OF that place, and
twenty one miles West of the Big Lick
An Take s.. 100000, ms cad 81 he estimate
Of Mr.. Thpmpson's, as The whole cost Of rail-
road from Lynchbure TO he Tennessee line and
make he like proportional differences in the cost
OF The road between he points above named, as
are made by Mr.. Thompson, and The cost OF
railroad from Lynchburg to Inc Big Lick IS
shown TO be S74I 500; from Buchanan 10 The
| Big Lick, $40 500 AMI from The Big Lick to
the Tennessee line, 81 1880
n. Three 6lths oil The cost oil a railroad from
| Lynchbure to the Big Lick, by this estimate,
make $444 900; from which deduct $40 500, and
The excess OF threc-ffths OF The cost OF he road
from Lynchburg 10 The Big Lick over The whole
be 1904 400 land the average cost per mile, by
this estimate, OF railroad from the Big Lick TO
| the Tennessee line beiae 80 lis. his excess
OF 1914 400 would pay The cost OF making TWEEN
ty-one miles OF that portion Of The improvement
showing that, by this estimate, ALSO three fins
OF he cost of a railroa! from Lyncnourg 10 the
| Big Lick would pay the whole Cost OF A rail-
| TOAD tom Buchanan 10 point AZ snies Wesl OF
that place and 81 miles West OF The Big Lick.
Co. Et,, ~ 10, - ,,At r,
Lynchburs TO The Tennessee line, by This esIi-
male. make 81 100000; deduct his sum from
| 81 99a, 900, the whole cost of railroad from
| Buchanan 10 the Tennessee line, by Inc same
estimate and The excess Of The lchJle cost of a
railroad from Buchanan to The Tennessee line,
| over threc-fhs OF The cost Of lik. improvement
from Lynchburg, is shown 10 be S499 600.
TIN. the James River and Kanawha improve.
menl is now in progress OF construction and WILL
in short lime, be completed from Lynchourg 10
| Buchanan.
The State owns half The original stock
in this company s2.5OO,0oO
And The company owes debt 10 the
State, aud guaranteed by The
S,a'e, amounting 10 3,2l2,2Oi
Making an aggregate Of S5,7l2,2O4
Aud The protucveness nt this large sum TO
/
! rived lran This improvement.
| sin. The tonnage OF ne Southwest is estimated
by Mr. Crozsl a! 100 900 toas per AMMAN. which
| he regards as "a yer, moderate estimate" See
fepou referred TO above II Buchanan be made
| the Eastern terminus Of Inc railroad, this tonnage
will be hfough: Gpon the canal al that point; il
| Lynchbuig, il will be brought upon the canal 80
| miles lower down, and The rolls On il Tor that dis
| lance los, 10 the James River and Kanawha
Company; Whien, ~ one cent per ton per mile,
would amount 10 $4,000 per annum--a revenue
alone sufficient, u say nothing o the revenue
| from The railroad, 10 pay accruins interest on
the above-named sum y $500 and leave
balance OF Sc. 0G0 ~ be applied every year Ioihr
payment OF the principal.
| 9Th. The tonnage OF the South West will con
sisl mainly OF iron and other heavy Articles
| Mr.. Crozet, in his report above referred 10, ex
presses The opinion. in view Of the large amount
OF travel from The South w estern States, expec-
ted 10 be secured npon This line thar the prof
| from travel viii he such as 10 enable he com
: pany 10 transport these heavy articles Al he
fa'e oil cents per on, pr mile. Putting trans
portalion on he railroad al this rate AMI putting
transportation OF hs canal II 1! cc1 per ION iei
miie, which is ABOUT the present rate IN pig-iron
and higher han il will b. necessary 10 nave Ii.
average rate on heavy articles er The large &C.
cessioa 10 ne tonnage ina, will be secured BY rhe
complete 0! The canal 10 Buchanan and the
construction oil Railroad 10 The Tennessee line,
and the COS, OF transportation per ioo, from the
Big Lick 10 Ricamon!, by the Two competing
routes, will stand as follows:
From Big Lick 10 Lynchburg, BY railroad
So miles AZ az
From Lynchburg to Richmond, by canal
lac miles 2I9
81 SIS
From Biz Lick 40 Buchanan, by railroad
Is miles M
From Buchanan 10 Richmond BY canal
1856 miles , %
Difference in favor Of Buchanan AZ
And this saving Of SIC per ton, on LOG 900 IONS
amounts 10 ST. 900; which woul. be saved eve
ry year 10 me Souih West according to Mr Gro
zsts estimate OF the Tonnage by bfiosins their
produce upon Inc canal al Buchanan, instead OF
al LyCchburg
Il IS evident therefore, lst That j, is not peces
saTy. in order 10 secure railroad 10 The South
WesI, to obtain tie aid OF Lynch5urg capital, by
MAKING that polot The Eastern terminus OF the i'm
provement; as the difference in lie cost OF The
improvement against LyGchburg is more than
would BE- supplied from The ca ilal Of mat place
even should their subscription he as high as $780,
600 dollars, as heretofore promised 81 That
the loss 10 the State, IN revenue from her invest
ment in the James River and Kanawha improve
msnI, by making LynchbuIs The Eastern lermi.
nus OF the railroad instead Of Buchanan, would
greatly over-balance The difference between the
1tots cost OF this road from Buchanan. and thee.
hths OF the cost OF like improvement, from
Lynchbure; leaving out of view The revenue from
The railroad, and the advantages 10 the State of
having the exclusive control Of so important an
improvement. Mating il nantes, that if il is de.
termin"d 10 snpersede the McAtamized road by
railroad II Is better lor Inc Interests OF The State
TO make the later from Buchanan ,ci9Hy on
Stale aoconnt, than from Lynctburs on the M,ec-
ftLas principle And 3iiy That the interests OF
the South WesI will be promoted by making
Buchanan the Eastern terminus of the railroad
instead Of Lynchburg. A vlRGINIAN.