Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-01-19
MlSCELLA NEOUS.
FIR me Enquirer.


"CaatieR," in most of the papers of Rich
mond, on The 18Th instant, makes bu. feeble
attack upon the Lynchhu'g ard salem Railroad
when lie holds up The estimates Of the engi-
peers as deceptive. lie refers 10 those OF the
Louisa Raj roai to Underwater, 10 viii: 81 l32 %
per mile, an 10 the kicnmord and D,iyIlie
Railroad clio 600 per M e; but concludes that
I ese may oe true, but that J., 2J9 OF per mile
for the L,nctbug and Tennessee Esll oai is
IN rue because tins road /, To pas over a coun-
try far less favorable for Il, Cor struction.
Now "Ca,;ion' exposes his Ignorance, for
which lie may be excu ed however, as ne is hu,
one ot thousands VINO think that The srealer the
elevations ~ be overcome, the greater Inc cost
OF the road
This is only true when the rate OF these ee.
vstons PER mule exceed The grade Of the road
per mile. 50 that deep sum al cutting would ne.
cesssrly be involved
If tho rise per mile Of the country is onl,
equal to the grnds per mile Of The road there
may be no ore cutting ard filling tlan f The
county was perfectly level, and the grade ri
the road vel; and a, lnis IS the case upon the
ground surveyed for The L,nchburg and Tennes.
See Raj road, tat Is Ia say the greatest elevd-
tious are @'thln he contemplated era les for tne
rUad, SO That the quaint. OF excavation and
cmr anknen, does not exceed that per mi up n
comparatively level port ona OF The country
there is no reason why this road should cost
more than those roads elsewhere in the State
Indeed, The tras lest iii this matter IS III amour
of cult ng a.d filing TO be n; and b, com
pairing that carefully, Calculated by the engl
n.ers who made tho surveys for the Lynchhurg
and Tennessee railroad, with the guantit cs
upon other roads within this or other States,
.Caul on" might have learned the fact, tina,
the former is even less than many Of Inc latter
Another lac may not be known to sue As
"CanttOn," 10 vii: re lager features Of the
country, If the genera rise and fall does not ex-
coed the proposed gr AIDES or slopes Tor III road
the less cutting and filling will Dc requred-tge
surface Of the z ound coincldlng more neari,
with the grade 10 be put IN; aud such is very
much the state Of 'hlrgs upon ire route Of The
L>ncnburg and Tennessee Rai!roadi or, in ma
ny CONSECUTIVE miles, there IS nothing 10 be done
tut 10 smooth oil The surface Of the ground, ami
lay The rails down al once; aud this In the noun
tains.
"Cantiaa" may know that longer straight
line can be traced upon the surface OF his nose
now IMAM when he was a child; SO, longer straight
lines, or road grad can be traced upon The
surface OF mountains than upon Inc surface OF
hills; and il he knows tins, he may comp;ehenJ
why the estimates he so mucn doubts may be all
true.
In reply to those who have no better argu
rent against this great improvement, than a.
attack upon the honesty and correctness Of these
surveys, will here state, that experienced con
tractors sre read, 10 lske The work al the prices
and have SO informed the All horlties governing
the operations upon this road nay, that exca.
va,on AID embank lent arc being done both up
h. Nh md