Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-04-25


.Ncso, Editors: have read communication in your
rap'r Of this morning, signed "Auother Stockhnlor"
discussing a length the poprety Of the Stakeholder. Of
tho Virginia and iennesse Rail Road Company's manu-
featuring the rails for their rad. Ii the writer had
erred tn ,h proceedings The regular annual meeting
of the Stockholders IN November last. he might have
saved himself the labor of preparing much Of his
muncaion relates To this subject The resolution
adopted is in these words
'Reso'red. That. at the present time il is inexpc-
dent act The recommendations Of The President and
Directors. regard IN the erection Of Rolling Mill for
manufacturing rails and other iron needed for the Of
the Company"
Thus is this question settled, and a,l have always
thought there wisdom IN the old saying, 'never TO
cry split milk shall not attempt t. remove the
doubts and difficulties the objections. of
" Another Stockhoder," TO the policy recommended by
Gen. Clay in his second annual report.
After diSposng of this question. your correspondent
urges. that the interest Of the Stockhudels Of the Virginia
and Tennessee Rail Road COMPANY will be best pro.
moed by the purchase If Fnglsh rails. in preference to
those of American manufacture at enhanced cost
This is practical question and one well deserving the
serious consideration Of all interested in the Rail Road
and rs entertain views entirely variance with those
of "Ano'her Stakeholder" "A Stockh,der" and "a
Is. C CHE communications of the last appeared in
your paper Of the 18Th inst } will give YOU some Of
the grounds upon which rely Tor the correctness Of the
rolcy desire the President and Directors 10 adup in
carrying into effect the resolutions of the Stockholders
requiring them To purchase iron for laying tho track Of
the road.
First rely upon the opinion of our distinguished Chief
Engneer who speaks from experience Of some fifteen
wears. during much Of which time he has been Chief
Engineer OF several az the most important railroads in
the Southern States; and. If am incorrectly inform
ed, has constructed greater number Of miles of Rail
way than any one Engineer in the Union He says in
his letter. addressed To YOU, under dae of the 10Th of
April, 1850:
with regard to the question of the comparative value
of American iron and the English rails now generally
imported IL is scarcely considered for discussion
out of Virginia. All civil engineers. rail road supern
tendents and other persons, having opportunity to
make the comparison, unite in attributing to the Ameri
article superior value 1t is very general opinion
hat this saperoiiy amounts eight dollars per ton
This difference greatly reduced if the comparison
made with the hes, English rails, which would {
per ton more than the price S. qno,cd."
In addition. and fully conmaiory If Col Ganett's
opinion, make the following extract from letter adj
dressed 10 the writer who solicited information from its
authors.
II gives us Pleasure 10 reply TO your questions and
we desire, most especially. 10 have it understood that
have now no interest whatever IN American rails, hav
ing devoted works far more profitable use Our
observation in regard In rails has been very extensive
both in Europe aud this country. Our Mr. c. returned
from ENGLAND in the last steamer. and tes that be
tween the WEIGH iran whirh is imported into
this country, and the common Staf,rdshire there is
difference Of fl per ton. The principal companies in
England USE Satndshre rails aud pay fl extra have
the best quality making at present Il per ton
equal 10 $'6 per ton delivered in New York. American
rails, made from your Virginia Pig, would undoubtedly
be equal, and we think superior 10 these rails, which
would cost Al the present unousy low prices over sixty
dollars in Lynchhurg
"ln regard 10 English rails and American rails when
placed SIDE by side roads, the story is told
We do not know an Engineer who has made the exper
men' without giving preference 10 American rails, of
at least ten dollars Per ton.
"Only yesterday we were examining the English and
American rails laid four years ago the ackFn
glish SIDE and The American the other. While
the former all had crushed ont the latter showed per
ceptlbe marks Of wear. This was on the Housatonc
rail road. In regard to your other questions. answer
explicitly as follows: The cost, between the best aud
common railroad iron, would be at least dollars in
Engand-which difference would be increased by du-
lies and commission. both being dd raloren 10 fifteen
dollars by the time the rails reached this country
"lhe present cost oflmpor,lng English bars is
forty dollars per refined English merchant bars
sz $50 per ton, being ference of 81 per ton
Iron made from Virginia Pig OF good quality would fully
equal and We doubt not, be better than the ordinary
fined English. The very best rened English iron the
laum'e. cost 1920 per ton TO import for Merchant bars
We write in great haste, but will be happy at all times 10
be OF service 10 you. rs well as#Ied the Amer
lean rails realy deserve 10 be used al the little extra
cost.
1--WE may add in proofoe our sincerity that we are
now building rail road miles long al our own ex-
pense. add for our use, aud going lay it with
American rails, which we purchase al extra OF
ten dollars per ton"
copy Of Ibis letter is now in my possession the orgi-
nal has been friend in the southwest and NAV
be seen by any who desires 10 read It, if hy will
make known his wishes to you. have the au
th'r'y Of the writers To give lher names, or would do
So
If this is not deemed satisfactory evidence 10 sustain
my views can furnish other testimony to "a Sock
holder" "Another Stockholder," "a. b. c." and To
all other Stockholders.
Il Friend 10 the Ia. g. Tenn II. II. Co.
LyNcnBuRo, April 22d, 1850.