Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-01-20

ted the Valley Of the Tennessee to Chatta-
nooga, while others from Memphis and Mo-
bile are in progress Of construction to the
same region Ut country. Little doubt Is now
entertained that whec Virginia executes her
part, complete system of railroad connec-
! lions will be effected between the Chesapeake
towns Ct this State and the Mississippi, the
+ gulf Of Mexico and the Atlantic ocean, at the
points mentioned The value Of the main
stem 10 Virginia, as a medium Of travel,
transportation Of tho mails, live stock, mer-
chandize and heavy produce, can hardly be
oyerrated by our people, nor should we spare
any proper means to avail ourselves of them
caleulablc Benefits and ample resources which
may be derived from this great work The
/ James river and Kanawha company, with
146 miles Of canal from Lynchburg to Rich
l rnond and the Southsidc, and the Richmond
and Danville Railroad companies, will derive
/ iucalculable benefits from IT, The distance
! both from Richmond and Petersburg to
/ Lynchburg, By railroad, VIII be about lis
miles, and from thence to the Tennessee line
| 204, making continuous linef tide water
Of 80 miles in our own State.
! The Richmond and Danyille railroad is a
work which it seems to me, should be placed,
ia regard to the means of completion, in the
first class. II passes about $50 miles through
orc Of tie most productive portions Of our
own State, and penotrates North Carolina at
point from which a large trade will be at
tracted to our commercial towns. 1t cannot
fail to command large portion Of the travel
and mail service, between the Western por
tions of North and South Carolina, and the
site Of the federal government and other
cities Of the North With these advantages
we may well anticipate remunerating reye-
nue. after it shall have been completed.
The Southside railroad should likewise be
completed with as little delap as practicable.
1t forms most important link in connecting
the main stem Of the Virginia and Tennessee
road with the tidcwater country aud without
which the travel and transportation Of the
mail to and from the South western States
on the main line will be seriously nterapt-
| ed.
! After the Richmond and Danville and the
Southside railrodes shall have been complet-
ed, it is not improbable that the public inte-
rests may require road from Richmond to
some point on York river on the bay, and one
| from Petersburg to connect with Portsmouth,
and Norfolk But do not feel justified in
recommending the immediate construction Of
those improvements, while SO much remains
undone upon the lines penetrating to unlock
! those rich treasures SO much mere needed to
invigorate the commercial enterprises of the
towns mentioned
The Northwestern railroad from Parkers-
burg to the Tygart's valley river, Corning
indeed a section of the main stem of the
| b. & o. Railroad) as a local improvement
is not less important to Northwestern Virgin.
ia than any road have mentioned is to any
other section of the State. Circumstances
connected with enterprises recently projected,
as well as the intrinsic merit of this work,
make it peculiarly proper that Virginia should
hold over it a controlling influence. Its i'm.
portance in national point Of view has been
sufficiently noticed in comparing the great
line to which it belongs with the central i'm
provements recommended. 1t is confidently
believed, if hot certainly ascertained that the
capital can and win BIO secured from abroad
for the completion of this road; bat it is Of
at large, but to the citizens ofthe Northwest,
that so far as governmental or proprietary
control is concerned, it should eminate from
Virginia, aud not from another State This
road, in the hands Of Virginia, will constitute
a lever, which, in future time, may exert a
controlling influence over the whole line,
and be the means of protecting the in
tercsts of large portion of Eastern
as well as Western Virginia; and /
therefore respectfully suggest the adoption Of
such measures as will secure to this State
and her citizens the future control of the
line. Already we have assurances, in the
operation of the main stem, of the profits
which may be derived from such investment.
The citizens of the State have right to this
interpretation in order to protect them from
the sacrifice Of their interests in that compe-
tition which is inevitable between Baltimore
and other cities Of the North for the bust
ness Of the country beyond the Ohio The
section of Virginia trayersed by the Balti-
more AID Ohio Northwestern railroads is one
of the most enterprisiug and prosperous in
the State, and will in future contribute very
largely to the common treasury Justice,
therefore, no less than duty, imposes the OBJ
| legation to provide this reasonable protection
] w lCllON' ClAilCHu VI tue NORTHWEST.
The Manassas gap railroad, extending to-
WARDS Harrisonburg in the valley, will prob
ably reqSire some further aid for its compile
ton to the point contemplated.
The citizens of Hampshire county have re-
Gently suggested the propriety of construct
ing branch from Strasburg to Paddytown
for the purpose of connecting with the Balti.
more and Ohio road, and thereby uniting
Northwestern Virginia by railroad with the
Valley aud the cities Of Alexandria and Rich
mond. The suggestion is worthy of consid-
Grafton.
The system Of improvements which have
the honor to submit to the consideration of
your honorable body, has been in much haste,
and, fear, imperfectly prepared; and while
entire originality is not claimed either for the
system OR the points Of view in which it may
have been presented, am sure it will receive
that wise and patriotic deliboratiou for which
the Legislature of Virginia has been so high
| ly distinguished. That the execution Of the
work will require considerable pecuniary