Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-03-24

ton to express my commentator OF your
editorial course generally, and especially to.
thank You for your enlightened zeal mani
Tested in behalfof all works of Improve
ment III progress or in contemplation, cal
culated to advance the prosperity Of the
State and of the community in which you
live. Had the Press in Virginia, and our
Legislature been thus engaged for the last
20 years, instead of wasting their energies
In the discussions ofthat airy nothing,"Fcd-
eral Relations" and its kindred topics,what
different condition would our old Com
monwealth now present
Nourpaper of Thursday, 18th inst, has
an article on the contemplated Plank
Road from Lynchburg to New London.
| will not stop here to demonstrate the
great utility and superiority of this kind of
TOAD over all others now in use save Rail
roads. This fact is now generally con.
coded, and | shall set myself to the task
of trying to show the merits Of this pariic-
ular scheme. This road in my humble.
Judgment should be constructed as speed.
lily as possible, not only on account Of its
intrinsic value in uilording ample facility
to the people living on, around, and about
1t, to approach Your market, but that from
its public and prominent location, being AT
the tcrmin of several long lines of Roads
leading from the South and Southwest il
may act as a stimuant to all travellers up
on it from those sections to aid in cflcctng
Plank Road connections with it. You
say, "at New London is the diverging
point of one Of the finest and best graded
Turnpikcs in the State" &c.-and further.
"all those difficult passes over the water
courses between New London and Rocky
Mount are now spandcd by excellent
bridges"
This is all true as can testify, having
but recently passed over the whole dis
lance of it. Tie grade appears to me to
be excellent, and 10 the eye nearly fitted
as it is to the conversion into Plank.
Road.
Ia speaking ofthe important trade which
is to be brought on this road to Lynch
burg, and Of the counties from which it is
to flow you name 'FrankHn. Floyd, Car
roll and Grayson." These Counties are
rated deservcdly high for the richness of
OF their lands, and the former being the
oldest, would have long since stood high
for its productivencss, but for blight upon
it which unfortunately rests upon too ma
ny portions Of our State. ! mean largo,.
landed propiieiorships. One family in
that county was informed few months
ago in passing through it, owned upwards
Of 80 600 acres land, nearly in the centre
of the County, not an acre Of which could
be bought for reasonable price, This
party deserve all credit for sheir gIelt
energy and intelligent enterprises in tho
Iron business, but with due defercncc to
their better judgment, would il not be wisc
in them to dispose of portions of this land
to industrious and cnterprising settlers,
which would after while make the un-
sold portion, in all probability quadruplo
its present value! The Counties Of Floyd,
Carroll and Grayson are in rapid state Of
settlement and Improvement, and must in
a few years become great producing coun-
ties.
Great as is the value Of the present and
prospective trade Of the above four coun-
tics to Lynchburg, yet, you have failed,
Mr.. Editor, TO embrace in your notice an
other district fcouptry, the trade ofwbich
fairly and lcgitimately belongs to your
town, and the value and Importance of
which perhaps is known to but few in
your ncighbourhood.---I mean the counties
Of Patrick and Henry. A tour through
these counties last year gave me knowl-
edge ofthcir climate, soil and productions,
which was truly astonishing. Patrick isa
very large county in point Of lcrritoryi
rick. The soil Of both counties is made
up almost entirely Of deep red clay and
loam Of great fertility, and might for colour
and productivencss well dispute with Al
bemarle and Orange for the title Of form
ing part Of the "Rcd Land District" To-
bacco, Wheat, Rye, Oats, Hemp, Flax,
and all the culinary Roots and Vegetable
grow 10 great perfection there. Fruits of
all kinds come to perfection, and It rarely
happens that any crop Is injured by early
or late frosts. The country is perhaps
little more elevated than at Lynchburg,
yet the climate is milder---this il owing Ia
its lying at least l deg. farther South.
The unimproved and backward con-
dition Of these two Counties heretofore il
owing to their isolated position from all
works Of Internal Improvement, not dol.
lar having ever been appropriated by the
State towards making road in either
County. 1t is thus easy to see the causo
Of the great chcapncss pr the land in Pat
rick and Henry. In no part Of Virginia
can lands Of equal intrinsic value be
bought as cheap. III some parts Of the
county of Patrick good lard may bebought
for so cents per acre.
Twill not dwell longer upon the present
condition and future prospects Of this re-
gion of Virginia, designing only to call
the attention Of the meeting at New Lon
don to the subject, that it may devise some
means 10 cause this trade to flow into the
lap of Lynchburg. Danyille will not lose
it without struggle. A bill is now be-
fore the Legislature asking an appropria-
ton to make a road from Danyille 10
WyihevilIc, ria Henry G. H., Patrick c.
H., and HiIsville. ss Ef6 s1RH
1t is not perhaps generally known hat
authority is given in the charter Of the
Rocky Mount Turnpike Company to make
en- arm Of iheir roadfron Rpekyt Moprt to