The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-02-03
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS
The second great improvement noticed ia
the report Of the Board of Public Works, ia
the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. Ii is
impossible to oyer-estimate the importance Of
this great undertaking, not only to the State Of
Virginia, but TO the whole Union. The coun-
try through which il passes, is surpassed by
no Other on the continent in productiveness,
whether its agricultural character be taken
into consideration, OF the vast amount Of min
eral wealth which it is to develope, and TO
bring to market. Ii "threads" the most fertile
portion of the James River Valley, in connec-
ton with the Souih-side Railroad 10 Peters
burg, and its continuation to Norfolk. II PEN
e,rates the immensely rich mineral region
which lies between Virginia and Tennessee in
its entire length and breadth. Even if the re-
sources of this railroad were confined TO this
State alone, they would be enormous. Yet
the products Of Virginia form but small por-
ton OF the objects at which its friends are aim
ing. By means OF the Tennessee improve
ments, il connects ut Memphis with the Missip-
pi river. at a point which the ice, even from
above, never reaches, and thereby opens to
Virginia the trade of the Mississippi Valley,
in its entire length and breadth. The impor-
lance OF this communication can only be esti-
mated by thoseiwho take into consideration, not
its products alone, but its future prospects. Ca
pable OF sustaining population of 100, 100000
Of souls, it fills up with rapidity astounding
to those who have been accustomed to esti-
mate such matters by what they hear of in Eu-
rope, and even by what they see in the Atlantic
States. Every dollar added to the produc
tiyeness of this mighty country, adds a cor
responding value to the Virginia and Tennes-
see Railroad.
Ii is yet a mooted question, in what manner
Il 9 wealth Of the East shall be brought TO
this couniry--that wealth which has built SO
many empres-lhat wealth which has been
the subject of imperial avprice, from the days
of Semranis to those of Victoria-that wealth.
which in its hux and refiux, builds up towns
into cities, and Insignificant provinces into
mighty empires. That it will seek to vent
itself through this continent, no reasonable
man at this time of day pretends to doubt
But by what route it shall reach the Atlantic
whether by the track. across the Isthmus,
or by railroad directly across, has not yet
been decided. Our own opinion is, that it will
take both tracks. But whether it takes both
or one, this railroad places Virginia in condi-
ton to receive her full share oft. lift should
come across the Isthmus, to New Orleans, it
furnishes the shortest track to an Allan
tic port, from that point, and it is better to
go by steamboat from New Orleans to Mem
phis, and thence to this point or Norfolk, than
10 take the nterminable voyage around Flori-
do. IL it should come by a railroad one
branch al least, If not the main stem, must be
at Memphis. In one word the whole trade of
Memphis will be ours, including the whole
trade of Tennessee-a portion Of the India trade
will be ours-a great part of the Missouri and
Kentucky tobacco crop will come to Virginia,
and we shalt be in a fair situation to divide the
cotton inspection with New Orleans.
This improvement will also place us in cor
nection with Georgia and South Carolina, by
connecting in Tennessee with the lines which
have been pushed in that direction. 1t has
been proposed, farther, to extend II from
the horseshoe bend on New River, to the
Ohio, either at Louisville, or at some other ELI
gible point higher up that river.
One great advantage of this road, to the
commerce aud travel of the lower Mississippi,
should not be passed over in silence. Ii is out
of the reach Of those delays which occur from
freezes in the Ohio, in winter, and from bars
in the summer. John Randolph said that the
Ohio was dry one. half the year and frozen the
other half This is somewhat of an exaggera-
ton but those who have been frozen up in
that river for weeks at a time las we once were)
or who have had the misfortune TO run upon a
bar in the dog days, will be glad to hear that
these formidable difficulties are obviated, as
they will be by the Virginia and Tennessee
Railroad.