Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-05-21

Dear Sir have this moment read your editorial Of
the 4lh, my letter to Major Borand about the Pana
ma Ra lr'ad, published in the May number Of the South
ern Literary Messenger.
have been trying to prove that the Panama and Cal
norma railroads links in the same chain-that the
Panama road would be but extension of the one from
San Francisco TO the Mississippi Valey-tha one is a
part of the other and that neither will be complete with.
out the other-that the Panama link would turn the
stream OF travel ana make it up the Mississippi
and through county when the road to California
is built
At present the lsthmus of Panama is choked up with
travel from here TO California. But let these two links
be completed, and the line of travel instead Of setting
from here there would have endeavoured prove sci
from there here. That people of South America bound
to California, China, and the like, would. was main.
tanning come over this way get there. They would all
pass through the u. States.
was inst about to write @ f. D. under the demon
straton of this and sundry other propostions when
friend handed me your editorial.
Verify, thought |, must have been "looking one
way and rowing another" for friend Carington with
his clear head and accurate mind, to any such
conclusion as that, in my demonstration the impor-
lance Of one, dlSproved the necessity Of the other
Let me tell you what | think | have been maintaining
and trying TO prove. have main aimed, that railroad
from the Mississippi Valley TO California, woudun all
the travel from South America California and China
through the w. Staeslhat would bring all the travel
from Europe to California through the channel and
would got for Ibis country fair share Of the travel be-
tween England and China.
lave maintained that this road would greatly enhance
the value of property on the wayside-hat il would in
many fold what used to known as the Santa Fe
trade with Mexico, and that in promoting commerce with
Mexico it would compete with the trade which is car
red the backs of mules and from Vera Cruz and
other ports of Mexico with the interior. do thiuk
that with their cargoes" each of 200 lbs asses could
keep up very active opposition wi railroads and bur
den trains And taking into view the branch roads that
would probably be extended into Mexico from the main
stem, doubt whether the time will not come, when
most Of Northern Mexico will look to this fafoad en-
trely tor her foreign merchandise. Mo- do doubt
for the time will assuredy when such will be the
case.
have maintained and do still maintain, that the Cal
lforna railroad will be TO the people, who day
to lnabt the country between the Pacific and the Valley
Of the West, what the Mississippi river to the inhab
ants of lis Valley. That will fetch ard carry far them
take away their surplus produce and bring buck return
whatever they may choose to buy.
have maintained that the railroads would convey
certain light and costly articles Of merchandise between
The waters OF the Pacific and the of the Atlantic
That this merchandise would consist of the silks and teas
Of China of gold and silver from the mines of both Mex
leo and California OF the sping and fall fashions fol
these people, and of other costly articles.
From the centre of the Mississippi valley to San Fran
csco,the distance in straight line is about 1900, not
OUUO your estimate OF ~ cents per ION
mile over this railroad let see how would be
Teas they say deerioaie and lose much of their fla
vo IN consequence of the long voyage by sea, that
here and lea In China is The beverage. | have
tried and know that it is not. You like cup Of Jod
tea, know. Suppose the aroma could be preserved by
sending the tea from Shanghai by steamer to California
25 days and thence by railroad hat Tennessee railroad
from Lynchburg to Richmond being another link jim
hive days more, would you not be willing to give for the
fresh tea and s fresh aroma, 25 in the pound
than for that which has been six months at sea, and
which has sweated out all lis freshness the voyage
think see YOU nod Of assent. Then, as said let's
see tea by this route Two Thousand two hundred
ounds Of tea make ton. and the freight Of
tea for 1900 miles at @ cents he mile is 80 dollars
25 cents pound for 2200 pounds gives $3.50. 1t APP
pears therefore, that the finer qualities of tea could very
well afford this California railroad and SO
with raw silks, which many times move valuable
than tea
have maintained that the California railroad would
tend 10 advance by increasing the facilities Of
intercourse and promoting travel. In commercial point
of view the whole country is nothing bnt immense
trading shop-and with the country grocer, the more
people you get to visit this shop the more customers
Fe likely 9 have and the greater the amour. Of our
sales is likely TO be- who is up TO his business,
will keep many articles for sale upon which he actually
loses money ; but they pay for themselves, and that
handsomely, too, by preventing customers from going
elsewhere 50 with this railroad though it may not at
first pay in dollars and that visible, il viii
than pay with collateral advantages.
maintain that the California is to the Panama rail-
road, what the Long Island railroad is to Long Island
Sound the Erie railroad 10 the Erie canal. The canal
took the bulky articles of merchandise. still there were
light articles and travellers who could not wait for the
canal boat. Therefore the railroad was built.
maintain that the refuse Of The California railroad
that is all those articles Of merchandise which cannot
pay the railroad tols-and they will be the bulk Of
merce-wiI come across The Panama railroad
+ thai the Panama road will mt with
in month Of seven eight millions Of Sunh Ameri-