Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-30
From The Am ricaa Ra,lroad Journal.
A Railroad Ul.cr.-A hi. Dinner

A Railroad Wuscr.-A Big Dinner.
On Friday, May End, the graduation of
that portion Of the lndian9po and Belle
fontaine railroad through Randolph county
Indiana, touching the Ohio line, was let to
responsible contractors; the grubbing and
clearing having been previously finished.
On the same day meeting was organized
at Winchester, which was addressed by
Oliver III. Smith, President, and Austin
w. Morris, Secretary of the company, and
others. AT the close of the Addresses, the
following, among numerous spirited rcso-
lutions, was passed.
"Resoired,-That we hereby give no.
tee to our friends in Ohio. (the Bellcfon-
tame and Indiana railroad company espe-
ciaIly) that we accept their proposition to
have barbecue at the state line npon the
completion of both roads, in October, 1852,
to be prepared jointly, and raid for by the
company finishing last, with the full con.
fidence that we will not pay for the din
ner."
IF like emulation could be excited, be
tween the people of Southwestern Viz
GINA and East Tennessee, much goot
would result The apparent Indifference
manifested by the great body ofthc people
both in Virginia aud Tennessee to The greal
limo of Railway which is now in progress
of construction from the Underwater of the
Chesapeake to Memphis, bctokens no good
to sny the least Of it, To succeed as VIC
should do, in this great national work, our
efforts should be unceasing, and our in
dustry elevated to enthusiasm. Nothing
short Of this state of popular feeling miIl
enable us to succeed. The age in which
we i've. calls for more than ordinary ex-
exertions. The object to lie attained. de-
mands that all our energies should be pu,
forth, and nothing short of it, can secure
complete success.
A friend has handed us for publica.
ito n the following testimonial of the val.
ne of railroads. We givcit place yer,
willingly, suLjoning his own comments unt
reflections.
Extract
From Letter from Huntington to Ms Editors o
The New Or'caas Bnktcim.
| do not think the people OF the United State
| properly appreciate the value ofrailroads, duh
estimate their importance in promoting the growth
| prosperity, power and resources ofthe country
| The incom- which these railroads uiiurd to rhei
respective proprictora. is moi .'tAc twentieth par
thn tthc" Of their value 10 the country, md parii
culariy II We take into view their great tendency Il
binai xtc nation together. and to cement and con
tinucthc Union Of the States, II not with hooks
steel" NJ lcnst with 'bnrs If iroa." just ftr on,
moment imagine that nil the railroads il the Unitct
States, by some magical process, were suddcnl,
and entirely destrcycd-where would we be The
| tell the story of n councilman in England who wa
lamenting over tho extinction Of coaches in consc
| quencc Of the introduction Of railroads and atc
explaining how much less was the risk il conchci
than in ears, added :: "And Il you were even nr
away with. and souscd into ditch BY the upset o
a coach, there you are but IT trim Of the
track and npscts, Where are youf" II, as hnvc
suggcs,c !, railroads were oil suddenly destroyed
we could. in the ccachmnns lonaungc, well ask the
question of the whole nation, " Where arc you ~
just reflect the fact for IL fact, that but for
railroads it world at this moment be advanta.
geous for the people Of New York city 10 procure
Chicago, from any other portion Of the Westoru
country. That single fact speaks volumes on tie
subject Of railroads. Have yon noted that the apen-
did work, the Hudson and Erie Railroad. win very
shortly be completed md in operation from Lake
E-is through the Southern tier pf ccuhiies In wow
York TO tho city, distance Ut 430 niJcs-aDd that
ruiroad Is now being made from Erie 10 Clcyc-
land, which will make Il continuity Of rails from
New York city to Cincinnati over which tho jour
ney between the commercial emporium Of the East
and the Queen City Of The West will be accomplish
cd in thirty hours Pennsylvania, too, is not idle
but Is rapidly pushing completion her central
railroad from Philadelphia to Pittsburg and au-
other line Of railroad is rapidly progressing, which
is to unite Pittsburgh and Cincinnati reducing the
period Of travel from the latter city Philadelphia
TO twenty six twentyeight hours Is ii not pass
ing strange that, seeing these and other similar
works progressing in every direction to tap her
trade ard drain her hearts blood from her. New
Orleans still looks listlcssiy on, apd il unwilling To
STRIFE blow, not even q singh ttor for her owD
safety and protection Is she forever to fold her
arms and point with foolish confidence TO the Mis-
ss5ippi, and think bccause the Alnigb'yu his great
bounty, has given her that noble TINT il
not necessary for her 10 PIT her shoulder 10 the
wheel, Ia order to overcome, 70 some extent, the
disadvantages other k0cii,g in bcipg 90 much further
removed from the great nurts Of the world than
Boston, and New York, and Philadelphia, which
latter cities have, by their energy and enterprise in
making canals and railroads, given 70 Themselves
the further advantage Of drawing much To
thrrn far travel aud the Of transportation
arc concerned the great producing districts Of the
West. Why should MOI New Orleans, too, hive
her railroad the Ohio and another 10 the Atlantic
through Alabama and Georgia. and TINS collect at
her levcethe thousands and tens Of thousands Of
Western produce which now indsiis way by canals
and railroads and the Lake route to the cites Of
fbf.N kxx
Of cotton from Georgia and Alabama which now go
to other ports the Gulf to Savannah or Charles
ton, besides furnishing supplies 10 the inhabitants on
both those lines Of railroads. to the extent of many
millions, which they now draw from other quarters
1t is time that the citizens Of New Orleans awoke
from their dyeam % security, they will soon find
out, it they already have not done So that the Mis-
sssipPi, grcat and glorious the stream muy be,
is Of itself not sufficient maintain and increase
the commercial pre-eminence oft the city. and that
even its food cfwafcrs viii. by tho energy and