Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-12-10
Public Works should require as security for the retnplio

the eneril Assembly towards The construction ot railroad
rom Ioin"i" to Ia: Ohio river except pass resolution
for survey o the :oue the corporation of Richmond is
asked Ia subscribe SlUU towards the construction
road rom Hinl!non TO Covngton in the expectation that
e o WIZ itn carry the road 10 the nnNgable waters
o The Ohio. N present, no sufficient ground 10 us
uty this expectation; and if there was still do see
mat eFen WIN subscription BY Richmond Of slOOOO The
means would hr sufficient making the road from Stau
ton 10 Covnston: the distance between these points
about ID miles and iii the absence of any careful survey nnd
estimate IL lnst reasonable 10 SUPPOSE that maze in
that region u country raoad and pul il in operation will
eosiony sS $50 Coca mra suppose lha will cost
only s. 100 or $4,000 mile. And far the only subrrp
'ion 10 III, work. is subscription b. the counties OF Mon
r'r nnu Grecnber of $4,000 each If Richmond To
subscribe 10 the work 500 00 STILL including The iee-iihs
:" ie State there would al be provided only s500O00
sun which, upon any estimate far made would b. in
sufficient 10 accomplish the object
Bat suppose railroad actually made and in operation
from the waters OF the Ohio Covngon and suppose that
Richmond, by subscribing 100000 towards .alroa, from
Corinaon 10 StauE'on, could its construction how
lS The commcrca! prosperity other interest oi Rich
.on TO nr promoted by such subscription We are told
INA! hn vast regions bordering the Ohio and Msssp
III constitute sioehouse of wealth sufficient et.c,
ry city between the Blue Ridge and :he Capcs But
this be So still increased taxation should not BE- incurred
get these riches, II they will as well without it,
The Legislature has authorized State certificates bc
sued complete the works of the James River and Kama
wa company from Richmond Buchanan (93 miles and
those works expected 10 be ready for
the moU:a OF hc North River. The Legislature has
over empowered the James Ri' aud kanawha company to
borrow s6OG'U, in sums Of 1000 per month"; conmenc-
Ing the first day day of November 1850 for extending
The companys wafer line from Buchanan Coyneton t55
miles, and has authorized the faith the State he pledg
ed guaranty for the punclua payment Of the interest aud
/ the redemption OF the principal.
l The State having thus provided for canal from Rich
nond 10 Covintlon, whatever of wealth may caye
the waters Of the Ohio and Mississippi reach the winters
OF the Atlantic by way of Covngton, may reasonably
anticipate will come from Covington down the canal 10
! Richmond unless there be Railroad from Covngton 10
take them in some other direction As IL regards those
stores OF wealth, il they pass down the canal the railroad
from Covngton Staunton will in respect TO them OF
| on fhs and njfh hprne
for any oher reason, they continue the railroad
Saunton the effect will be diminish the income OF the
lessen the value OF the stock owned by the city in that
company, al the same time that Staunon and Alexandra
will be brought into competition with Richmond.
The distance By hr canal from Coyngton Richmond,
will be about 249 miles. And from Coyingron Baltimore,
il would be bat little for by railroad from Bali
to HarpeIs Ferry - miles and from Harpers Ferry
Winchester ~ miles, and il is from Winchester 10 Stun-
on g5 miles; and from Staunton Cc,ington about Us
miles. Supposing railroad from the OF the Ohio 10
C"yngton, and thence continued 10 Observation-Disclosures
in competing with Baltimore would have the disadvantage oi
the ranshpnen Covngton from thu railroad TO The
nal against any advantage Of The water line, and about 70
miles less Of distance by the canal Richmond than by
| the railroad TO Baltimore.
If ,hr comparison OF distance from Covnglon be between
Richmond by the canal and Alexandria BY the Manassas
route the difference OF distance viii be in favor vi Aei.
andria.
But lis said tha, the will gran, charter for rail-
road from Stanton down The Valley thaf II il DOES, ne
before there parallel for such inconsistent and sui
icia conduct" Without stopping enquire whether or ~
conduct the Is thus properly characterized II
might sufficient that her past legislation furnishes
instances only Of her granting charters for eut also l
her subscribing To- railroads competing directly with each
other But this ia all charter has already hecn grant,
for the construction OF railroad most o The way down The
Valley The passed the last session OF the Legislature
incorporate the Manassas gap railroad company author
izes line o railrond from Alexandria through Manassa
gap assing Srasburg, Harrsonburg Let great
trade brought from the by of railroad from
Covingon Sauuton and lot railroad be in operation
from Harrisonburg TO Aexandrn and it will not be long be-
nI
is filled up. Nor would be great while afterwards, be-
the Is miles from Srasbure to Winchester would DC
filled mp also and line Of railroad completed from Sta''n
ton Baltimore, well as to Alexandria. In truth, The
powe! given BY the general railroad law make branch
roads miles in length, would be almost not quite, sui
hccn for the purpose, and very short line might ever
without charter be- provided for hy private contract
Wcare told that the Central railroad company, after taking
the trade from Covngton To Staunon will carry thence
Richmond II il But the company has not the power
discriminate in lis tolls in favor Of trade TO Richmond fo
already bound itself transport passengers and com
nodtes, from any point on It's line OF road to s pom.
intersection with any other railroad or from such point
intersection 10 any other point on Its lne al no hlShe
charge per mile than the charge upon the passengers o
commodities transported for the like distances on any ONE
Of its oad Moreover in recent acts III relation 10 ht
Virginia and Tennessee company the Richmond and Dan
willie company and the Southside company the State ha
shown its policy bo lin order avoid the expense and de
lay of anshpmen) hut freight OF connecting rail-
roads should be used in common BY them for transportation
and improbable that this policy may be eAtended
the Central railroad company other company sublec
10 the general railroad law 1t not all improbable tina
it would be extended TO the Central railroad company In re
florence railroad connecting with IT, whether the line o'
from Alexandria Baltimore.
And yel in view all this Richmond is asked TO DC nc
live in her efforts make railroad from CoSlngton
Saunon before the line OF Rairoad Is IN operation IRON
Saunton 10 Richmond.
rhc State has nade but little progress in the tunne
through the Blue Ridge and the other work from "hyncs
borough Blair Park; and the company has yet to make IL
road from Stanton Waynesboongh, and great deal u
do between Blair Park and Charlottesville. purt OF whcr
work will be very difficult ground, and IN" means
doing it, il is believed, fully provided Surely these I'M
pedinens the way OF trade between Richmond and Staun
on ought be- removed before Richmond undertakes it
improve the country from Staunton 10 Corinston Inn
they are removed a railroud Saunon will proii
R;chmond little in her manufactures as IN her commerce
and these mpcdmenis not small or trivial The time
competing the tunnel yet be safely estimated
depends much upon the of the rock, nnd TN
cannot easily be conlectued when Is at 20 great depf
below the surfac" Ii there should be encountered quart
rock IL which there is good deal at some points On th
Blue Ridge, the getting through would be most cos
and Tedious process ~
When these impediments are removed, still there will be
eayy charge the tunnel on Ihr tradc to Richmond wh
the hy r.. Rad lom Staunion through Manassas ga
10 Alexandria, will probably be about short rs iat 'honei
the taHncl Richmond unless The present cFen'ous nm
II railroad from Charlottesville 70 Richmond SnouM "
substituted nv direct line, In which case tr distance
Richmond might bc reduced Is 81 miles In addition Il
this railroad progress Alexandria, by way OF ''or
louisville. .,
,ol be A railroad from Cow On 10 Staunon. or from
stanton Alexandria, or from Staunton 10 Baltimore
=
roads persons where who think thai tisir Interests
will be promoted by Them Having under and man
,penen not their interests but those Of Richmond we on
mean 10 say that whether regard be had 10 the financial con
ition OF the Virginia Central Railroad Company the pres
en value Of its STOCK benefits to arise from raj
road between CovinEon and Saunon do not think TIT
interest Richmond will be promoted BY the proposed sub
scrtcn Of S0G 0UO the stock Of that company To maxi
A thai railroad
Richmond doubtless be benefited br tapping the val
lev a, different points She for example be benefited
bv the plank road from Stanton TO Scosyille and by IN
railroad from Charlottesville the Bne Ridge Both ma
bring her some trade and travel from the valley But rail
road Stanton Covlngon ls not the best for her
build up Of this time eyen if il would be herener 10 ge
The trade Of the great West.
If the canal from Richmond to Covlnglon with con
tinuaon thence Of the water ino with railroad thence
(hy the James ahd Kama ha Company, or the State.
The waters Of the Ohio will suffice In bring 10 Richmon
trade from that region OF countryf any think contin
sary TO attain the desired Object then TO all snch we wou
saw that such line is in progress BY way Of Lynch
burg and New River and ha interests OF Richmond ar
more likely TO be promoted by II than bv any line from IN
: waters Of the Ohio Ly way Of Siaunton.
The Virginia and Tennessee Railroad company Is ncofpo
rated make railroad from The town OF lynchbnr
through the southwestern part OF Virginia 10 the ennesse
line about 2l0 niles II is required Of som
one or more points within the corporate limits
Iynchburg more depots upon the boun
Diary line Of the ground condemned the Of the Jane
4 fhaa lonn