Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-07-09
IMPORTANCE OF TIE
Virginia and Tennessee Rail Road.
From the Richmond Wing.

From the Richmond Wing.
TIPPAH COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, May 9Th, lS49.
To the Editors Of the Wing:
misunderstanding mysclfa Virginian though
not born there still she adopted when small, and
alone far from my native land and far from my friends
she promised to watch my rights, and swore al
egance to her laws she guaranteeing me the same
rights as her other children, thereby making feel
the same interest in her welfare any OF herr other
children give way to native in MY attachment
for if ever man loved his not only adopted, but native
State, ! am that man.
My motive now is the welfare Of Virginia, more es-
pecially Richmond and the surrounding country. A
railroad from the Atlantic to the Pacific is fast taking
hold of the minds of the people here, and unless Rich
mond moves in the matter, she will lose advantages
that would make her the third city in the Union. By
starting the road in your city, carrying it via Lynch
burg and Knoxville, Tenn thence to Memphis, the
central town upon the Mississippi obtain for her
advantages not to be anticipated If the Importance
of such road was only known by Virginia, she would
carry it to the Tennessee line at once.
Nothing can be done for her until she makes ready
to accomplish it then Richmond is made, in my hum
Bile opinion Any man with common sense, and know-
edge enough to tell what and makes great
city, by hours study will be enabled to say, Rich
mond would be the third, if not the second city in the
Union. 1t would connect her with the great valley of
the Mississippi produce, &c. would take this route
from all the States bordering the Mississippi, Miss
ouri and Ohio rivers it would be the cheapest and
fest route to the Atlantic coast AT regular seasons,
even the Mississippi and below this point is difficult
of regular navigation We are compelled to journey
and to ship goods and produce via New Orleans
the Ohio river to Eastern and European markets.
For months in the year, New Orleans suffers the
ges of terrible epidemic and always the delays and
risks attendant upon the navigation Of the Gulf stream
and the Gulf of Mexico are to be met in Shipment
For long seasons the Ohio is either frozen dried up
so far to impede navigation, and render it annoying
if not dangerous This ought to be sufficient, alone
to induce Richmond and the surrounding country to
move in the matter. But her interest in such road
is hundred times stronger in manufacturing point
of view,she surpasses any city in the world Manches
ter, to my own knowledge, is nothing in comparison
her water power is not equaled in any country. If
she wishes steam, coal can be had in abundance from
Chesterfield, Powhatan, Henrico and Goochland, the
farthest 20 mlesand this by railroad and canal Far
be it from me to anticipate the advantages paint
the prosperity such road would inevitably bring a.
bout.
Richmond could have 100000 Inhabitants just as
easy is for her to have her OO0 And why not
Richmond have 100000 inhabitants There is that
which would bring them from all States and countries:
mean water power. There could be factories estab-
shed up James River for five six miles, and in sight
the country as high as Dover Mill. What market
it would then be for E. and W. Virginia Every
house-keeper could get good price for every thing
down to dozen eggs. 1t would also be the making
of Western Virginia for the road would enable her to
pour down her produce which is made in abundance,
even to waste.
How are you to make Richmond this great and
more than Manchester First having the road from
Richmond to Memphis, which would inevitably bring
all the cotton grown in the South and Southwest thro'
Richmond stopped there. it could be bought cheap
er than any other place in the world Why, the cost
would be lost on carriage, Insurance. commission, &C.,
than by sending it to any other manufacturing town
in the U. States, much less Europe. Secondly. The
advantages in health cheapness of provisions, fuel,
rent and every thing else the way of living, are
not surpassed by any town in the Union. Richmond
having such advantages these capital would certain
y follow; operators would follow capitan thousands,
particularly by obtaining such advantages in point Of
health, cheapness Of provisions, fuel rent, Sc.
The Iron business could be carried second to Pitts
burgh. Coal may be little farther but could be
ried with but little cost. Western Virginia would
make the rails Of this road creak with the weight Of its
ore.
1t would follow Of course that if two such large in
terests as the Cotton and Iron could rise in Richmond
they would be followedby members Of every other