Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-04-23
LYNeaBuRa. April l6, 1852,

~ ttC Et}foFS OF me Hlchf1Ord Times
GENTLEMES-There is a project now on foot to
extend one ofthe South Carolina roads to East
Tennessee, striking the line in which ve are in
terested, either at Jonesboro' or Knoxville. This
road, II made, must be rival to ours, and, if
completed before ours, would be a formidable ri
val.
Everything depends on which line can be
finished first. 1t would take very little to decide
and set the trade either way and all the business
connections OF the country would be most apt to
adopt the line first made. But it would not be at
all desirable to enter into this compettion-and
certainly 1t would be madness to court it. 1t is
an imminent danger; there are but $50 miles of
new road required to connect Jonesboro' with
Charleston, adopting the route by Charlotte. n
Z. Charleston has felt the benefits of railroads too
clearly to sleep on this project. She will sub
scribe a million for railroads to build up her COM
merce, while Richmond, Petersburg or Norfolk
are debating whether it is not best to levy per-
petual tax on commerce, in the way of drayage
to prevent it from passing through their markets
We have to deal with no common rival. The
stockholders of the East Tennessee and Virginia
Road have passed resolutions in favour of the pro-
Ject, and public meetings have been called every
where to help it.
Now it depends on the will of the peoples re-
representatives., in session, to say whether Vir-
ginia shall secure this prize allow her noble ri
val of the South to wrest it from her grasp.
If we show the West that we will finish the
Virginia and Tennessee Road in two and a half
years, and give them an outlet to market, they
will lend no material aid to this scheme, and
Charleston will be deferred from the competition.
This can be done if the company receive the aid
they have asked for. Without that aid it is pro-
bable that five years would be required to COM
plete this road, and South Carolina would certain
" occupy the field before us. The Virginia Lee
gislature must assume the responsibility of deci-
ding this question, SO full of important consequent
ces to our future prosperity State
Virginia has the advantage given her by ma
ture, and by prompt and energetic action she can
keep it, or, by criminal incidence she can throw
it away.
There are two conflicting plans proposed-one
is to 60 from Knoxville by the Rabun Gap to
Greenvlle, ). G.. Let us compare this route
with the one to Richmond.
From Knoxville by Rabun Gap, to Charleston. AGA miles
Do do to Richmond. ...- 436 do
The other route proposed is from Jonesboro', by
the Coatauga and the Catawba Valleys
From Jonesboro to Charleston. 1892 miles
Do do to Richmond. -. 356 do
1t is probable also that on the / so miles yet to
be made of the Charleston road, very steep grades
must be adopted.
These facts might frighten Charleston from the
attempt but surely the danger is too great to al
low us to sleep quietly. Will Virginia incur such
a hazard when she might easily avoidit?
There is another consideration urging on the
Legislature an immediate appropriation to this
road. The present appropriation is 81 100000;
anditis assumed that without farther legislative aid
five years would be required to complete the work.
1t is a very liberal calculation to assume that in
using the road during the incomplete state, it
would average per cent. per annum on the
whole cost. This within the five years would be
dividend on the States stock of $27OOOO. 1t
is believed that the road after its completion
would divide 10 per cent. the whole cost Ii
the State grants the 100000 asked for making
So ,00D-the road can be made in two and a
half years, thus securing its full two and half
years sooner. Saying nothing of profits in the
years during the progress Of the work, the 10 per
cent. per annum in the two and half years thus
saved would be 100000, or $3.50, 1000 more than
the State would receive in the same time if she
withholds the aid now demanded. This differ
ence will My be great, if not greater than
here represented, and the increased Dividends
which the State would receive in the case last
supposed would return TO the Treasury more than
half the appropriation now required, by the end of
five years.
Ahoo may ILLS Appropriation W clearly SHOWN
to be a revenue measure. There is another view
OF the subject. The East Tennessee and Virgil
MIA Rail Road Company are now debating wheth-
er they shall commence and press their work
from the Virginia line or from Knoxville. If our
delay forces them to begin at Knoxville, which
point will, within two and hafyears be connec-
ted with Charleston. by rails through Dalton At
lanta and Augusta, the progress of that road will
be drawing trade from Virginia instead of send
ing it to her. Charleston will occupy this whole
ground first even without the help of the pro-
posed Raban Gap road, and the tendencies of
trade will be directed towards the Southern sea-
board. When Virginia is ready to come into a
pre-occupied field, she will have to struggle to Sc
cure what she never should have lost. With the
appropriation now asked, Virginia can occupy
this field first and acquire trade which her natu-
raj advantages will enable her to keep.
There is another advantage, which, though
temporary in its nature, is very great. If we
finish our road within two and half years, the
iron for the East Tennessee road, Ii 900 tons,
will be imported through Virginia, requiring at
least twenty two ships to come into our ports and
paying freight over our improvements. 1t would
likewise cause the locomotives and cars for that
road to be made in Virginia. creating large ex-
penditure of money here. With so many argu-
ments in favor of an immediate appropriations it
would be impossible to conceive any good reason
why the Legislature should hesitate to make it.
Respectfully,
Your ob't servant
CHAS. F. M. GARNETT.
WI, 10 r IL. Il.