Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-18

road, the Central Railroad of North Carolina, and
the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad Com
panies especially, on the importance OF con-
nexion by rail way between Charlotte, N. e. and
the East Tennessee Valley, near the junction of
the East Tennessee and Virginia roads.
This address shows that the people of East
Tennessee are looking to Charleston as an Quite,
for their trade, and are appealing to the citizens
of South Western Virginia to unite with those of
Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina in
the prosecution of this scheme. The movement
is that should not be disregarded by the peo-
pie or the Legislature of Virginia. 1t must be
evident to the most careless observer that con-
certed and strenuous efforts are making to secure
to Charleston the trade of the South western
portion ofour State, and to make the immense
of that fertile region subselvient to the
prosperity of South Carolina and the further i'm
poverishment of Virginia. Charleston sees and
fully appreciates the value of this trade, and we
now find that she will be aided in her efforts to Sc
cure by the active cooperation of East Tennessee
and North Carolina and possibly even ofthe peo-
pie of our own South West, in case the prosecu-
ton of the Virginia and Tennessee railroad shall
be arrested or retarded. However strong may be
the preferences of our South Western citizens in
favor ofther State work. yet that work is de-
layed in its progress we need not be surarised
should they turn their eyes to some other quar-
ter and embrace the schem that promises SOON
est to break the mountain barriers that have so
long isolated them from the world of commerce,
and prevented the development of their unri-
vailed natural resources. The vigorous prosecu-
ton and early completion of the Virginia and
Tennessee railroad, furnishes the only practicable
means that we can discover of thwarting the ex-
ertions of rivals, to divert the productions of
the South West from their legitimate channel
and to- reap the benefits of a commerce that tho
cities of Eastern Virginia are justly entitled to
monopolize. We quote an extract from the adj
dress to which we have alluded:
1.-THE Watunga in connection with the Cataw-
| ba Valley, is believed to furnish very eligible
route for said railroad communication, the adyan-
| tages OF which, if fully understood by the people
of the South, would insure its early completion :
| to Charleston and the other cities of North and
South Carolina it is of incalcuable Importance, as
| the immense trade of Western Virginia upper
| East Tennessee, and Eastern Kentucky would
| flow directly through this channel to their mar
kets 1t would give to the citizens ofwesteln North
Carolina and the border counties of South Caro-
lima adirect communication by railway with the
extensive beds of gypsum and veins of salt water
that are found in such abundance in Western Vir-
ginia; tapping it would the f. Ten. and Va road
near the point of connection with the Virginia and
| Tennessee road, from which latter, branch road
Is to be extended to the manufactures of salt and
to the centre of the plaster region. So abundant
is the supply Of salt water at these establishments
that salt may be manufactured to meet any de-
mand. at cost of Is to 20 cents per bushel and
afford profit to the producer. Plaster, so essen.
tial to the Southern Planter in the renovation O
his worn out lands, from its great abundance anG
the facility with which it can be obtained NAV be
hadat So to So per ton at the mines, and might be
| transported to Charleston, Columbia and Whining
ton at an average cost of $40 per ton and onterm
date points at less
1t appears that the railway connection between
Charleston and Charlotte, N, c., will be compile
ted by the 5th of July, and it is proposed to hold
convention at the latter place on the same day
to devise means for extending this line to some
point on the East Tennessee railroad. The dis
lance (say the Committee) from Charlotte, NJ c.
to the nearest point on the East Tennessee ant
Virninia road, could not be more than l4O miles
100 of which would be in North Carolina,!and AZ
within the limits Of Tennessee, and would not il
the whole exceed a cost of 100000 Surprising
the cost of 100 miles in North Carolina including
Tunnel at Blue Ridge, to be $4,000 per mile
under the liberal policy of that State, it would
only require private subscription of $500, OOO.-
Putting down the cost of the 40 miles in Tennes.
see at 900 per mile. (which, from the known
eligibility of the line, is considered ample) the
cost would run very little over 100000, and un-
der the recently adopted policy of this State, f1r-
nishing $4,000 per mile for iron and equipments
would only require about 100000 to be made ur
by private enterprise in all only about $500. OO0
which, if divided among the several States sc
deeply interested, would bear very lightly upon
any one. In view of the advantages accruing to
Charleston, Columbia and Wilmington, from the
| opening of this channel of communication with
tn e North and Southwest, they could very well
afford to raise the amount, if the investments, so
far as dividends concerned, should prove profit
less. Yet one familiar with the operations of
| railroads in the United States, would have any
doubts as to the profits arising from such an in
vestment.
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General Assembly of Virginia.