Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-10-02
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
From the Selma An. Reyoy,er

paper.
As YOU have now taken up the subject
i hope you will go on and do your part il
showing to the people Of Alabama mul
titude Of facts and arguments illustrating
the value Of the railway and particularly
Of the one leading from here to Tennessee
The people Of Alabama are oppressed
with the burdens of costly transportation
in every direction.
Living as we do in dependence on other
States and countries for almost every thing
we consume, the burdens of expensive
transportation fall more heavily upon us
tan on the people of many other States
| Cheop transportation is the grand deside-
ratum now with US. Our "magnifcent
distances" are now in our way. we must
rid ourselves Of them as all the other States
a ound us are doing; we must reduce to a
reasonable compass. or annihiatc our dis
tances. We must be able to 90 to Ten
ncssee in one day, instead Of sir or eight;
ior five or six dollars. instead of thirty.
Speaking Of Tennessee Kentucky, and
/ Northwestern produce that we consume
IN Alabama, you remark that 'on tie trans
Portatjon Of Mat 10 Aia5ama by way Of
the Western waters and all various charges
on the circuitous route by New Orleans,
te lose aiany haaared Monsanl do1,ays IN.
aHaly." You arc correct. This can east
ly be demonstrated. and at some future
I day | viii submit to your readers some
! figures have at hand that will shew most
conclusiyelv, that we lose nearly one mil
lion here--on the tyaaspmtation, that we
might save, had we the railway finished to
junction with the Nashville at the Ten
ucssee line, and thence having a continu-
ous line to the Ohio at Louisville, from
which point roads are now radiating in
every direction through Kentucky, Indiana.
Ohio, and to the great Lakes. The articles
are ilourpork lard butter. bacon and cheese.
mutton, beet, tobacco ana whisky. apples
and kersays, rope and bageing. i've 5tock
of all sorts, iron and other articles too nu-
merous 10 Notwithstanding to between
three and four millions annually. Now, If
near one million Of this could be saved in
the way of transportation and profits and
what 1t dld cost by railway, could SO INTO
ne pockets 9f Afdbdma Taif'cdy share
Gol"eTs' instead OF Steamboat men on the
western waters and merchants, draymen'
wharhngers' &c az New Orleans It ought
at once to be done Tins would be o@e
step Alabama would make N political econ
ony' 1t would icad rapidly TO others
ne cheap transportation and cheap bread
stnii wonlJ lead to the opening OF the
'nlnes o. ne interior and ne establishment
OF many taetores--Ihese again would lead
to many other products better suited TO the
inferior and North Aiabama than that Of
coi.oa.
All these things, together, would con
spire 70 enhance 'he net prohis OF the cot
ION planters OF the great cotton counties
oi south Alabama Where now SIX TO
elght per cent Is cleared twelve to II
'eeh per cent could oe more easily done
/ then.
Alabama would go rapidly then on the
road 70 prosperity ahd power and would
soon oclhdePendeHt enough TO have Tor
eign commerce OF her own' ana save some
iliii'ohS ahhutHiy MeFe'
But beg your pardon, MeSsrs Editors,
| simply desired to thank you for your
services TO the public inyour advocacy oi
/ railways and 10 exhort you 10 so onas you
have begua. Shew to the people what
has been done-what Is now doing else
where-and what may. with proPriety. he
done IN Alabama. and they will not hcsi.
tate to pursue their own interest.
wish You would present 10 your read
ers tue accompanying article on "the Ala
hama and Tennessee River Railroad Ii
was Published IN that excellent nationa
work Hunts Merchants Magazine some
time last year, and believe you have nev'
er re-pubiIshcd II. Tbs article will show
10 Alabamans IN what light their grea
wo-k IS viewed at a distance. 1t has
many valuable IDEAS. Where the writer
speaks our road IN connection with road,
Northeast through Tennessee and Virgin
"a, and says, speaking Of a continuous llne
to Mobile and New Orleans ten years
WI do all TINS we consider ne Is max
ing 90 liberal an allowance OF nme. .
iaras the Virginia portion Of the line is con
cerned' all the arrangements are made t'
have 1t complete to the tennessee line II
t1oo years from this iali, and by that time ;
good portion through Tennessee will bc
complete
1t Is to hc hoped Alabama will not bt
far behind when she sees the great prize
dazzling before her eycs-a stream o
travel that shall be worth more than on'
milton annually. and commerce that shal