Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-02-04

New MAIL ROUTE 70 WAsHIsGToN.-The
Potomac river having been alroaay .rioo aiAaAd
by ice the present winter,-and we hear from one
who confidently consults the goose-bone" in all
matters of this sort, thatit is destined to be again
with the North was suspended. These inter-
ruptons very naturally attracted the attention OF
the public, and writer in the National Inte-
gencer suggested the propriety of abandoning the
Potomac river as mail route. The Alexandria
Gazette, in abiding to. the subject stated, what
we all know to be true, that as soon as the Or
ange and Alexandria railroad shall be completed
to Gordonsville, the mail route South by railroad
would be complete, for at that point would con-
meet with the Central railroad The Gazette very
properly urged upon Congress the necessity O
granting to the Orange and Alexandra road the
claim assigned to it by the State of Virginia, SC
as to enable the Directors of that road to push
forward the work and complete the line to Cor
louisville during the ensuing Summer and Fall
We heartily seconded the propriety of this course
because we were assured by the Gazette that
over this route the Washington mail could be de-
this too, AT ALL SEASONS OF THE YEAR. Upon
this the Frderckburg News remarks as follows,
Gas we learn from the Dispatch not having seen
the No. of the News which contained the artcle:)
The above we take from the Richmond Times
We acknow ledge that whilst reading it we had three
times to refer to the title page to be assured were
reading from Richmond paper. The invocation to
Congress, the last sentence pass SPEEDILY the bill
asking for $40 900 with interest," and appropriate it to
the construction OF this Road, is OF the most re.
markable instances of self sacrificing spirit on the
part OF Richmond we ever recolect to have read
What road is this our contemporary is seeking with
such newborn zeal 10 build up2 The geography of
the country will show him II is one destined to do
more lrreparabe injury to Virginia, and especially to
Richmond. than any other work in the State Con-
meeting with tine Central road Gordonsvie it will
d vert from Richmond to Washington more than one
hall OF that western trade and travel which Justly be-
-,"gs, aud II properly managed, would have gone 10
Richmond.
But the most extraordinary declaration is the desire
10 the great Southern mail carried along this route
From Alexandra TO Richmond, by this route, is a,
least l65 miles BY the Fredericksburg road ii is less
than 12O. The one Is nearly semcircle-the other
il almost straight line. The is old, rattle
Trap, stage coach concern travelling at gait OF about
10 miles an hour. The other is complete order
well managed, and travelling at the usual rates Of
modern speed.
And Congress ought Immediately to give the amount
now asked for by Alexandra? IfCohgress should do
it, Alexandra ought not egitimatsly to claim it, The
Legislature had right to give it, She might sub
scribe, and become stakeholder TO that extent. But
TO give il as a donation trauscendng her power
The present Legislature, and Richmond especially
ought 10 protest against it
Entertaining as we do an utter repugnance to
all species of Railroad controversies, we shall
SUMMARY dismiss the subject in hand.
The News thinks in the first place, that the
Orange and Alexandria Railroad is "destined to
do more irreparable injury to Virginia, and espe-
cially to Richmond, than any other work in the
State" How2 Let the same journal answer
"Connecting with the Central road at Gordonsville
it will divert from Richmond TO Washington more
than one half of that Western trade and travel
which justly belongs, and it properly managed,
would have gone to Richmond" Now the idea
of Washington city becoming the riral of Rich,
mond for the Western trade, is, we confess, rich