Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-01-21

VIII Oe effected between the chesapeake
towns of this State and the Mississippi, the
Gulf Of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. at
the points mentioned. The value of the
main stem in Virginia, as medium Of trav-
81, transportation of the mails, live stock
merchandise and heavy produce, can hard
ly be oyerrated by our people. nor should
we spare any proper means to avail our
selves Of the incalculable benefits and am
pie resources which may be derived from
this great work. The James River and
kanawha company, with 146 miles OF ca
nal from Lynchburg to Richmond, and the
Southside, and the Richmond and Danvllle
Railroad companies, will derive incalcula-
bic benefits from it. The distance both
from Richmond and Petersburg to Lynch
burg, by railroad, will be about | ID miles,
and from thence to the Tennessee line 204,
making a continuous line from tidcwater
OF 3l9 miles in our own State.
The Richmhnl and Danvllle railroad is a work
which it seems TO me, should be placed, IN regard
10 HE means Of completion, in the first class 1t
passes about $50 miles through one of tho most
productive portions of our own State, and pene-
ira.es North Carolina at point from which a
large trade will be attracted to our commercial
towns. II cannet fail 10 command large portion
of.he travel and mail service between the Yves
tere portions ofNorth and South Carolina and the
cite Of tho federal government and other cities oil
the North. With these advantages we may well
anticipate reinunerating revenue alter II snail
hava been completed.
The Southsde railroad should likewise be COM
ple,ed with as little delay as practicable. 1t
forms a aest important link in connecting the
main stem of the Virginia and Tennessee road
o-iih the tidewates country, and without whlcn
tho travel and transportation OF the mail 10 ana
from the Southwestern States on the main line
wiz be seriously Interrupted.
After the Richmond and Danvile and the South
side railroads shall have been comPleted,liiS not
improbable that the public interests may require
road from Richmond to some point on York river
on the bay, and one from Petersburg to connect
with Portsmouth and Norfolk But do not feel
justified in recommending the immediate con-
etr1ction OF those improvements, while so much
remains undone upon the lines penetrating the
mountains to unlock those rich treasures so much
more needed to invlgorate the commercial enter
p,lses Of the towns mentioned.
The Northwestern railroad from Parkersburg
10 the rygart's valley river, Corning Indeed
section of the main stem ofthe Baltimore and u
hio rallroad) as a local improvement, is not less
important to Northwestern Virginia than any
road have mentioned is to any other section OF
the State. Circumstances connected with enter
prses recently projected, as well as the intrinsic
merit Of this work, make it peculiarly proper that
virginia should hold over il a controlling iniu-
ence. Its Importance in a national point OF view
has been sufi :enty noticed in comparing the
great line to which it belongs with the central
improvements recommended. IL is confidently
believed il not certainly ascertalned, that the
capital can and will be secured from abroad tor
the completion Of this road but 1t is OF the hrst
consideration, not only to the State at large, but
10 the citizens Of the Northwest, that so Tar as
governmental or proprietary CONTROLS concerned,
il should emanate from Virginia, and not from an
other State. This road in the hands of Virginia,
will constitute a lever which, in future time, may
exert controlling influence over the whole line,
and be the means of protecting the interests OF a
large portion of Eastern as well as Western Fir-
GINA; and therefore respectfully suggest the a
doption OF such measures as will secure to this
State and her citizens the future control of the
line. Already we have assurances, IN the opera
ton of the main stem, Of the profits which may
be derived from such investment. The citizens
of the State have right to this interpOsl,ion in
order to protect them from the srcr6ce OF their
interests in that competition which is inevitable
between Baltimore and other cities OF the North
for the business of the country beyond the Ohio.
The sec ton OF Virginia traversed by the Baltl-
more and Ohio Nosthwestern railroads is one oil
the most euterprising and prosperous in the State,
and will in future contribute very largely TO the
common treasury. Justice, therefore, no less
than duty, imposes the obligation to provide this
reasonable protection to our teIow-cltlzens OF the
Northwest.
The Manassas gap railroad, extending towards
Harrisonburg in the Valley, will probably re-
quire some further aid for its completion TO the
point contemplated.
The citizens Of Hampshire county have recent
ly suggested the propriUty of constructing a
branch from Strawsburg to Paddytown for the
purpose of connecting with the Baltimore and o.
hio road, and thereby uniting Northwestern Vir-
gnia by railroad with the Valley and cities OF
Alexandria and Richmond. The suggestion is
worthy of consideration.
The system of Improvements which have the
honor TO submit to the consideration OF your homo.
rable body has been in much haste, and, fear
imperer(ectly prepared and while entire original
ity is not claimed either for the system or the
points OF view in which il may have been present.
ed. am sure it viii receive that wise and patriot
ic de,iberalion for which the Legislature of Vir-
gu.a has been so highly distinguished. That the
execution OF the work will require considerable
pecuniary responsibility is manifest But that 1t IS
our duty, by judcious system, steadily and ener-
ceticaly to press these grand leading lines through
10 completion at as early day as 4 prudent and
proper regard for the finances of the State will JUS
tify. the melancholy decline Of our relative power
in the confederacy, the prostratinn of our trade
with foreign nations. and our entire dependence
upon States inmcal to our interests s Institutions
whose unparalleled success in commerce, wealth
and political power is due TO a timely execution Of
like improvements but too clearly prove. Large
as NAV appear the area of the plat before ust will
not reouire more means To construct the great
frame work of the system than has been expended
upon sinule railroad in New York Less than
has been expended on line Of 100 miles in Penn
svlyana will complete the whole system Why
thon should Virginia longer delay what inevitable
necessity requires to be done!
Intimately connected with this subject in the
question of direct trade between our own aud for
eiqn ports The geological position of VirgInia,as
wsll as her excellent habrors, capaclOus streams
and other natural advantages could not fail to Sc
cnre TO her, and incidentally to the whole South,
,ha bsneiit of s1ch tradef our capitalists and the
ensroies of our peopls were sufficiently aroused up
an this subject. Possessing as she does, advanta-
rss SURPASSED by none, and perhaps the best har-
Sors upon the Atlantic coast, II is strange that her
onterprising sons should have 50 long neglected
their improvement, aud have permitted TINS trade
10 grow even less, whilst cities larger than any In
our State have sprung up at other points possessing
far less natural advantages than ours. ana through
which our trade is now almost entirely carried on
II is gratifying however, TO see that some OF our
people aroused by Other exciting causes, are awak
LAor