Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-04-19
TPROPRIETORS.

doubt can exist that Railroad from Gov.
| lngton TO the Ohio will receive as much of
the products Of the West, as it can trans.
port, when the distance to be transported
TO good markets will be less than hafl
'But this great Western Valley will
continue to increase rapidly 10 population
and productions. From its former in.
cr, ase, it is calculated that in 80 years, its
population viii he 27,000. 900. and its pro-
duclions $1,000 100000. Now l ask
what railroad or canal need iear the want
Of passengers and products to transport,
with such a population and such vast pro-
ductlons. 1t appears to me that If no more
than The half dozen contemplated improve
ments be made person from the west send.
ing his prodsct to tho eastern markets will
not be able to determine by which route he
rsW send them, but by which route he
can send them.
| will proceed to notice the second reason
gave. that the canal will cost more than
double that Of railroad, and require more
than double the time to construct it; and
first as to the cost ofthe two improvements.
The canal from 'Covington; | under
derstand. has % miles OF tunnel through
the Allegheny, aud 3 miles of tunnel to
convey the water to the summit level
about $500 feet of lockage and high and
costly dams on New River, Of which one
is 65 feet high. Why, sir, these items a.
lone must exceed the estimate S6.466.3IS,
leaving out the other dams, one Of 1870
feet To hold the water on the Allegheny.
the excavation and embankment, cuverts.
and acqueducts. land damages, bridges.
walling. &C.. &c, &c.
The Chief Engineer Of this Company,
gives this as the estimate OF Mr.. Gill, and
under the circumstances | suppose en-
dorses this estimate. but as he does not di-
rectly, | wish to be informed by him wheth-
er be endorses those estimates or not.
From Richmond to Lynchburg. with
only about three feet fall TO the mile
nirc-tenths of the distance through low
grounds without difficulties Of any magni-
tude to encounter-with wooden dams
and locks, generally of,he cheapest con-
struction, the canal we are told cost S3l,-
100 per mile The canal from Lynch
burg to Buchanan, am informed, cost
over $4,000 per mile; on this part ofthe
canal most the dams are wood, with a
fall of only about seven feet per mile, the
canal through low grounds with slack wa.
ter around difficult places.
Now, ask can any one believe, with
the cost of the canal between Richmond
and Lynchburg, and Lynchburg and
Buchanan. before his eyes, that a canal
can be bored through the Allegheny. with
lockage of about $500 feet, with dams
fgreat height over the rapid New river
with dam Of 100 feet high on the
summit level, and with 3 miles Of tunnel
to convey water to the canal, can be con
strucled at S27, 900 per mile.
"Credat Judeus Arel1a"
The canal must cost more than that sum
or about the estimate of Mr. Ellet which
he said would cost $il 900 per mile more
than a railroad.
| Let us now look at the cost of rail
road Col Gwynn tells us that from
Covington to Loop Creek Shoals 1884
miles; it will cost at least $4,000 per
mile. Has Colonel Gwynn made an
actual location? No, then by his own
showing he could not make an estimate;
for he says it must be done by "an actual
location, made by competent practical
engineer, and that no engineer can make
a correct estimate on an experimental sur
vey." Well. has he ever made an exper-
imental surveyl ] believe not. He told
US on a previous occasion that he referred
to notes of Mr.. Eilet in his possession; but
Mr., f., from those notes. estimated the
cost a, SIT, 900 per mile; and Col. G. at
$4,000. Here is wide difference be.
tween results from the same figures; but
in his report he does not tellus of any such
them; but tells of the Hudson River Rail
Road, and other Northern Railroads cost
| ing immense sums, and therefore this Rail
| Road must likewise cost as much or more
than the Hudson River Railroad This
Hudson River Railroad, | understand,
was built without regard TO cost, to enter
into competition with the steamboats, on
the Hudson River. and hence its great
cost. Another reason: suppose the en-
sneer of that Road is one of those who
receive $4,000 salary, and suppose his
suhordnatcs receive in the same proper
tion. | can readily conceive Of an officer
receiving such a salary as that--why; sir,
it would spoil the best officer living. AZ
ter few years he would believe the i'm
provement belonged to him; would sit
with his feet on the FIRE place putting
cigar or reading a newspaper, and if he
degned to pass along the line, every sub
ordinate would be hat in hand or dismiss
ed. do not know the officer referred
to. only speak OF cause and effect
Our Chief Engineer estimates the cost at
$4,000 per mile; without ever having
made an experimental survey; and Mr..
Ellet at about $4,000 on an experimen-
tai survey. Now on which Of these esti-
mates shall we relyl
"Who shall decide when doctors disngree,'
! "And learned ca.uisis doubt-like you and mel"
| believe it is usual to call in another
doctor; ard Mr.. Shaw is called in. He
makes an actual location-he tells the
number ofyards of excavation of earth
and rock. Of embankment, of tunDeling,
Of bridging, &c, &C., and he puts high
prices on each of these items, as any one
acquainted with the subject must know.
and he makes the cost including tho e.
qupmeni. at about S21.000 per mile, a.
greeing almost exactly with MIR. Ellct--
Then win the experimental survey Of
Mr.. Ellet. and the actual location Of Mr..
Shaw. coming upto the requirements Of
Col. Gwynn, we must rely upon them as
substantially correct; but even if a large
margin were allowed, a railroad cannot
cost half as much as canal.
But in the cost Of roads why did not
our Chief Engineer come nearer home2-
Wby not have told us of the cost of the