Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-02-05
DER pAII ROADS.


going in old roads as well the great necessity there
is Of improving them still further Every bodv racolectr
when the Fredericksburg rail road was almost impossible
and wien the road 10 Petersburg was nearly IN the same
condition. But those roads have been so much improved tia
they run with the regularity Of clock and travelling IN the
fine they have has become positive pleasure We
observe that the Fredericksburg company has commenced
still greater improvement that Of laying their road with
rails This is decidedly the cowning improvement as every
will allow who has had opportunity ot conpar-
ing with wooden roads Indeed it is the only kind
rail calculated - show the value and importance OF such
works. and the fact tina, old roads have been able TO
up and TO make money they have DONE under the
destroying effects Of miserable and most imperfect con-
stricon goes show how much valuable they must
become when they rebuilt in permanent manner.
learn that the Petersburg and Roanoke and the Weldon
and Wilmington Rail Road Companies have also commenced
relaying their roads with Il rails and in the Will
niueon papers that the inhabitants OF that spirited town
ho have already made twice much rail road we have
have Just subscribed the stock necessary the speedy
completion of the Wilmington and Manchester rail road
the road connecting with the South Carolina rail roads o
the roads in progress further South, shall say nothing
except that they making such progress that in the course
of year wo shall have uninterrupted steam COM
municatiun, by land all the way to New Orleans.
We mention these matters 10 show the necessity Of ma
now is greatly needed not only for the comfort of travellers,
but absolutely keep them from deserving rail roads
We mean connection by rail road track between tho
Richmond and Fredericksburg road and the Petersburg road
in this city, and similar connection in Petersburg that
the of road along side OF those on the other
road and the may be carried through without
change is done most of the great lines in the North
Any person who will 10 the depot here the one in Pc
tcrsbrg and witness the confusion difficulty and delay of
getting from rail rond the other, cannot fail 10 sec
how much such improvement is needed And If needed
now how much more will il be wanted when the travel is
doubled the completion Of tho roads i'll the South will
ha lie the effect of doing
Oar rail roads will have powerful competitors the travel
in the steam packets which increasing every year on the
coast and 10 secure the travel companies no, only
increase speed their cars but make their roads at
trac,ve as possible With the rails they laying they
can double their expeditions but Of what will it be if tn,
travel is DELAYED an hour in each OF our towns And
what effect will the beautiful and luxurious have the
passengers who have &C, OF em perhaps in the mid
die OF the night in Peters5rg into cold and nncomfo-
able onibusses except nggavate the dscoio,s OF the
change!
We will say nothing about the difficulties that travellers
have To encounter about their baggage except that they
tend TO disgust them with the routes All these dill
culics ough, be removed and they can be removed
BY connecting the rail roads III this connection were
made ard the 7 rail improvement finished our rail roads
could put passengers in New York in forty hours from
Charleston which is twenty hours less time than be
done by the steamboats, This with the present comfortable
cars would have doubt the bulk of the travel
rs long "ro ahead is the motto oi our people we
hone the persons interested in this will take it
into consideration.
F. S We glad to find the substance OF our recommen-
daon confirmed by Governor Floyd in very interesting
communication the General assembly relative 10 ln
provcmcns rail roads and locomotive engines The mme
date subject Of his paper is recent invention o James .
French Old Point by which he proposes 10 ascend much
higher incinatons than the greatest now overcome and Ike
wise prevent the by any ordinary accident from being
thrown off the track The Governor examines tho subject OF
rail roads length and with considerable scientific Skill
lie contends that tho failure of rail roads to realize the anti
cpaons of their projectors investment for capital is
owing not to any inherent defect in the rail system but
chiefly to the increased weight which has been given To the
locomotive since its first introduction. From little over
tons in 1929 he says the weight has reached in Eng
land near 40 tons on many Northern roads so tons and
Southern roads of cheaper construction engines Of from 10
10 90 tons weight in daily The weight OF the mo-
tive power he SAYS moreover the chief Of the a-
pd destruction the rails The Of the engine
Gov F. argues may be made 10 increase directly as the
weight its adhesion, used, cannoand hence, under
circumstances with any amount of weight simple
pound Of adhesion be confidently counted upon The
great question then is whether the weight OF the pre-
sent locomotive be safely reduced and the engine still
retain its capacity for steam The Governor clearly thinks
This is presume the great object OF Mr. Frenchs nven-
ton The Governor docs we learn that the
plan is to attach under to the driving which,
when inclined plane cnn, by spring be made Ia Que
the rail beneath and thus produce The desired adhesion
ia, c9V
produce most important revolution in the rail way systen
would enable the locomotive 10 run over grades mol now
acrpted-cad the substitution of much lighter engines
m he heavy ones now used and thus diminish the first cost
of roads and machinery we'll her subsequent expenses
To test this new and untried invention most important
one successful Gov Floyd recommends an nc! Of public
policy and expcdency that authority and means be granted
TO the Board of Public Works to construct rail road upon
the plan of Mr. French TO connect the Depots OF the FIRE.
dercksbug rail road nnd the Petersburg rail road upon
consideration that, il the experiment succeed the former
company shall become the purchasers of the road at the
sum il nav have cost 'Of (hc says this PROPOSE
lion is based upon the assumption that the City Council
Of Richmond enlightened and liberal s will incrpose
no obstacle TO it," Should they however forbid it, then he
asks that auhory be given the Board Of public works
TO mike such experiments they may deem best II is
proper TO remark that Mr. French furnishes model engine
fS"S@ -
We trust the experiment may be fully and fairly tried
If il succeed il would work wonders The Governor has
suggested by far the appropriate place for its trial. At
all events we hope tho connection between the two
depot carried out Incmovng the present embarrassmens
of travellers it will make the great line Of rail road through
our State much attractive and draw strangers 10 or
State and city, who would otherwise be drawn of by tho
splendid lines OF stcamera daily annchsd on the
broad waters.
VIRGINIA WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
We understand that the Governor Executive Council and
Commissioners have informally adopted the plan of the Mo-
nument surmouned by equestrian statue of Washington
which was presented for the competition by Mr. Thomas
Crawford, the American Sculptor.
---sSsp----------
Dr. John F. Brooke fleet surgeon of the East India squad
ron well known and valuable officer died a, Macao on the
nh of Oct, ias He the eldest son of Judge Brooke
Of .ho Court of Appeals of Virginia
---<ss>---
Georgia Alabama and even Louisiana, (whon tho Whie
papcs set down rs doubilu) speaking out for the
Southern Convention and firm stand behalf Of South
srn Riphts Particulars Tomorrow.
-------Sees-
Extract Of Letter from pirginian in Haslng.on datea