Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-01-14

| TRADE OF THE WEsT BY THAT RoUTEi
The following passage in the report of the Engnee
OF the Virginia and Tennessee Rail Road deserves par
icuar attention. Col. Garrett in his zeal to expo
Objections to the Central road. thus developes in
He says:
p" Now, suppose the Western trade or any conside
eiepart OF lbs destined either to Petersburg Nor
iols & then this New River aad Lynchburg route vii
| be 80 miles the shortest"
II constructing this New River and Lynehbure
branch is to have the effect OF dverting Western trad
rom Richmond, the representatives, OF the great bod
Of the State will fnd in hat fact, objection TO tn
scheme Ii 10 not pretended that Richmond per Sc has
especial clam TO derive patronage from our publ
WORKS. But, II is true and all agree that II is tha
Inc DEMENT'S OF trade radiatc in every direction from TIL
point where they are first felt diiusing their inv CORA
ting Influences into every interest within its sphere ther
ihe increase oil population and the elements O com
mereial wealth at Richmond, will be calculated 10 d.
more good than al any other point in the State. Their.
IS no point in the State approachabls as Richmond
Tor The great body OF citizens, who embarked il
me pianIngs farming. inning and manufacturing inter
esie; none from which is so easy to answer all the
demands whieh commerce supplies. With rail road
across the narrow neck OF aad, dividing the James
and OK rivers, and some improvement OF the bed
ice James river. 1t possesses the remarkable advantage
OF speedy communication with all the foreign markets
OF the old world, well the cities OF Baltimore
Philadelphia, New York, &c, &C., and at the same
time, that centrHlity OF inland position which makes
her prosperity subject OF general interest to our own
people.
That Richmond, though thus fayorably situated fol
poiise The enrichng influences OF our works OF inter
nal Improvement, is not by any means advocated.
en- cad that has not been the policy OF the State
Norfolk has the Dismal Swamp Canal and Sseaboard
Railroad. Petersburg is entered in four directions
by Railroads. Lynehburg and Alexandria have each
the benefit OF a Caaa and Railroad. But the COM
monWcalth has right to demand that her treasures
shall not be so expended as to iy@e the city, which,
from lis position, would dispense more benefits the
producing classes than any other in the State.
Inc important question to be considered is, ia the
LANGUAGE OF Col Garnett, if the Western trade is ever
embarked on the Ne,U RiUr and LzYchburg ;et.fe
as 1t NOT destined 10 Wo,fok?' That the advoca cs
OF TINS scheme so regard it, cannot he disguised
The facility with which it will go City Point, COM
bind with the difficulties OF its getting to Richmond
viii ensure that destiny. Let not Richmond deceive
1erseii with the hope OF drawing from the Southslde
Road her trade, at the Junction OF the Danyie road
There are numerous difficulties in the wav of trans.
ieffng trade from one road to another, when
.neTs IS mutual desire to accommodate; and one
knows better than the Engineer of the Virginia and
tennessee Railroad how many embarl assments can
pc AIDED, when there Ia desire to send the trade
on TO anotherroad Can 1t be expected that the South
side Railroad Company, which is controlled by the
preponderatlng Petersburg stock and Petersburg IN.
Blence, VII put itself to aay trouble to send trade
h!cpmond! am not suspecting Petersburg oil any
thing dlshonorable. Her people will rank with any
IN honorable propriey all Subjects but they have
also full share OF intelligence and public spirit and
WI take care OF their young and fourIshing city.
But 10 addition to this there are very serious physic-
al disadvantages, calculated 10 prevent the trade when
once on the South Side railroad coming from the
Richmond.
grades on the South Side railroad said to be only
Ito ieet to the mile, all the wsy TO Petersburg. while
on the Danve road there grades of about go feet
According 10 Col Garnett's tables OF the power OF a
locomotive on different grades this serious imped-
ment; In the continued transit to Petersburg besides
avoiding all the evils of transfer delays and divided re-
sponsblly, the charges will be much less, nearly
three times much can be drawn by the same engine
to that place. as could be to Richmond. (Ift is true
that the South Side road passes under the DanvIs
Road as has been said, this will be found in practice.
all the freight to Petersburg An attempt may be made
to show that connection can be made by turn off
above the Junction. What difficulties exist in the nature
OF the ground dc not know; but to admit engine
10 pass under the Danville track it must be some Is
or ~ feet above the other track. The connecting
Track ought to be level to prevent accidents from cars
getting loose. How far above the junction the con-
meeting track would start obtain this level, can
not say /; but let those interested, endeavor 10
depreciate the difficulties as they choose.-Experi.
enee will show that this no trifling impeachment.
Over the South Side road it is about the same dis
tance to deep water at City Point, as to Richmond
by the Danve Road, where various expenses such as
transhpment forwarding and lterage to be incur.
red
last winter tor continuous Railroad communication
from Petersburg to Norfolk which is to be revived
and the Virginia and Tennessee interests will give it
their support. In view OF these facts, will not the
adoption of the New River and Lynchburg connec-
ton with the Ohio, be calculated to injure Richmond
1t will not only make 1t probable, that whatever trade
to Norfolk but even the trade of the counties South
OF James River, may also lake that direction, and
thus injury is done 10 the Commonwealth by
blow at Richmond whose prosperity and enlargement
will diffuse more general good than that of any city
in the State.
There Is, however, another enquiry of still more
grave and serious import. Can the Lynchburg and
New River Railroad, if made, afford 10 transport at
rates that will the Western trade and sustain
itself!
In the active competition which is to occur for the
ira n MT pc yhn rfn L.
leading TO Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, the
Virginia Road Will have to be content with charges
that will barely cost it trade is diverted from
the Cincinnati aud Belpre Road at Chicothe No
Road transport freight at such reduced rates. un-
less it derives heavy profits from travel. No one at
all acquainted with the cost OF transportation on
Railroad. will deny this. Car the New River and
LynchbuIg route get the travel Of the great West,
which is destined either for Washington or the com.
mercia cities OF the North
Dstance from Cincinnati to Baltimore BY Richmond
over this line, according TO MAJOR Gwinn's state,
ment, weuid be about. ..........:... ,76O miles
Do do Baltimore by Parkersburg. $3.50. $50 !"
Increased distance by Virginia and Ten
nessee route. ....s................IS0 &c
Can any, the femetesi hope be entertained that
with such u disadvantage of distance, the western
passenger destined tor the north will take thisroue?
The answer is, none VIII the local navel furnish
pref enough to enable the company to take freight at
low rates? II is equally certain that such
a hope as that is alike vsinly enteItained.
If these correct, and cannot see how