Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-02-16
MONDAY. FEBRUARY &c. 1852.
The Public Lands-Intcrnal I'M
prOycmcusS.


tent and value Of the public lands. I'm
mense as the domain was shown to be, it
is rapidly diminishing by sales and Con
gressional grants. and we may look for
ward TO no very distant day. when ii will
have been entirely disposed Of. We need
not inform the reader that Virginia contrib
uted more largely to this national proper
ty than any other State; nor need We state
that she has profied by it, as little as any
other A friend who Ike ourselves, has
no particular respect for the political
prudery that has excluded this State from
a participation in the profits and benefits Of
these lands, has handed US, with a request
that we would publish il, the suboined
memorial. drawn up We believe. some
twelve months or more ago, with view of
its presentation to Congress.
Efforts are now making at Washington
10 obtain grants of lands to aid in the con
struction Of Railroads and Canals in other
States. We believe, almost every State
west of the Ohio river, and southwest of
the State Of Georgia, is an applicant to
Congress for donations from the public
domain, and we do not at all doubt, that
many Of these applications should receive
the favorable consideration Of the repre-
sentaives Of the people. To what better
purpose can portion Of this great fund Of
national wealth be appropriated, than in
aiding to build lines of Railway & Canal,
to facilitate and promote commerce be-
tween the States, in times Of peace, and
to add an hundred fold to the available
national strength in time Of war.
Far the greater part Of those, who apply
for this aid, use the argument that the
Government is great land proprietor, and
that the value Of its possessions is much
enhanced by granting a portion, for the
construction of lines of intercommunca-
ton through the remainder. We think
this position is a sound one, and The argu-
men;s used 10 sustain il unanswerable. AS
auxiliary to this view Of the subject, it is
urged that the establishment of cheap
line of transit through a great producing
region-connccting it with the commercial
markets OF our country, and with the non
producing and consuming districts, is a
benefit to all classes and interests. This
position is equally sound and is sustained
by thousand facts, with which all intel
ligont observers of the internal commerce
of the country mast lie familiar. These
views are confined 10 the support ofappli-
cations coming fom the western and
southwestern States
Is not line OF railway from Memphis
to Norfolk, as much entitled TO a share Of
the public domain, asany line OF inter-com
munication, that either has been, or can be
projected. to connect tie lakes with the
Missi.sippi--the Ohio orthe Illinois rivers 2
viii not this line of railway cheaper the
cost Of transportation, between the valley
of the Mississippi and the great northern
Atlantic markets, and thereby benefit the
producers, Of agricultural staples in that
valeyl VIII it not render more speedy
and safe the travel going to, and coming
from that valley TO the federal Capitol and
all the cities Of the Atlantic coast north Of
the capes Of Virginia Would it not, in
time Of war, Contribute as much aid as
any other line Of railway to the defence of
| the country
What Is it Of public good that this line OF
railway will not as effectively promote as
any in Missouri, Michigan, Arkansas, Mis-
sissippi or Alabamal
How comes il then, that the people of
Virginia and Tennessee do not demand as
a matter Of j4stice and right, that sim
liar aid be granted to them, in furtherance
Of the patriotic efforts they are making to
establish this great national thoroughf4rc?
Whist we are expanding millions, an
nually, drawn from our private resources.
The people of Missouri Michigan. Arkan-
sas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and
Louisiana are provided with the means,
through donations Of public lanl, to perfect
similar enterprise. But without further
preface we invite attention to the facts, set
forth in the memorial;
The undersigned. citizens Of tie State of
Virginia, most respectfully represent, that,
beng deeply imp esscd with the vast i'm
portancc, considered either in political,
commercial. or social aspect. that the val
ley Of the Mississippi, below the mouth Of
the Ohio river. should be connected by a
Railway. on the shortest and most eligible
route, with the Tide Water cities Of The
chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, com
meneed in the year 1916, to make efforts
tor the speedy construction Of this great
national tho oughlare. In 1917, an act of
incorporation was granted by the Lcgisla-
ture ofthis State, to construct Railway
from the valley OF James River at Lynch
burg, 10 the State liue in Washington coun-
ty.-SInce that time, a company has been
organized, the entire route surveyed, and
found, rot only practicable, butoi easy cx-
ecuiion, when it is recollected that the
Blue Ridge Mountains and the great Al
leghany chain are both passed. Sixty
miles OF this road are now under contract,
and in rapidprogrcss ofcostruction Slim
ulated by this movement iii Virginia. and
being thereby awakenedio properappre-
cation Of the subject, the Legislature Of
Tennessee has given its sanction for the
continuation Of the Virginia line Of Rail
Road through the entire length Of the
State, tcrminatingat Memphis. The Leg
islaiure Of Virginia, in the winter of 1889
authorised the construction Of a Railway
from Alexandra to GorIonsyilc, a point