Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-04-01

ston. | VIII express to the ST ockholdcrs
of all the railway corporations in the State
the belief entertain that there is now
forming in the Legislature party, compo-
sed, Tor the most part, of the mere poili-
cal hucksters of that body. who are deter
mined to arrest all the great internal i'm.
provement enterprises Of the State, lest far
ther appropriations orsubscriptions should
endanger the supremacy of the Democra.
cy of the Old Dominion in the approach.
ing political struggle. Thus it has been
from the beginning. and, unless the people
interpose, SO it will be to the end, that ev-
cry practical good is sacrificed tn keep in
place and power set Of small politicians.
whose gourmand appetite for treasury
pap is absolutely insaiiable.
lwould give notice Of this treachery.
that the people may see to it in time To
prevent the mischievous consequence e
which must ensue to the treasury and to
every citizen who has been induced to
aid with his private capital the cause OF
internal improvements. Not alone to this
class of our fellow-citizens, but 10 every
man who has anticipated benefits Of anv
sort 10 result from the speedy completion
Of the great State works now in progress
would | appeal. | would call upon all to
take warning from what has occurred in
reference to the James River and Kanaw-
ha Canal, because it was arrested before
it was much more than fairly commenced.
The city Of Richmond and the Bank of
Virginia, owning little less than a million
OF dollars in the stock Of this. Company,
suffered a sort Of financial paralysis for
years because of the failure of that cornpa-
ny to progress with the works. Many
individuals, who subscribed largely To the
stock, were greatly injured by the WORTH
lcssness of their investments. and the pro
duccrs Of tonnage were all disappointed in
their anticipated profits. growing out of
low transit charges. Was not this treach-
cry to your city, to the Bank Of Virginia,
and to all the individual stockholders in
the james River Company? Most assu-
red y 1t was. What would be said ofthe
first capitalist in your city. il lie should
project and set on foot, under his guidance
great commercial enterprise. solicit his
associates and friends to DIN him. and, as
soon as they were Committed to the full
extent of their ability TO pay, desert them,
and coolly tell them. IL have changed my
mind y Would not every honorable man
in the community pronounce him infamous
and treacherous to tho last degreel
This was the conduct of the State of Vir.
ginia to your city, to the Bank of Virginia.
and to every individual stakeholder in the
James River company. Like causes will
produce like effects always, and predict,
without the fear Of being upbraidcd here
after as false prophet, that. If this Legis-
lature shall adjourn without providing
adequate means TO prosecute the great sys-
TEN of Railways now in progress, the very
same results will come to pass on the Cen
trail road, the Virginia and Tennessee road,
the South Side, Danvillc, and Grunge and
Alexandria roads. 1t cant be otherwise.
The incipient capital in all those works
will have been expended, the roads will
be stopped, without reaching any poiu,
from which adequate tonnage can be COM
manded te pay interest on the money ex-
pended. The Directors Of these corpora
tons will adopt the only policy Of taxing
local tonnage, to pay interest on capital
expended to attract foreign tonnage; and
then the people will begintocry out aganst
those who projected and managed these
lines Of transit, and, finally, the whole sub
ject Of Railway improvement will be as
odious in the eyes Of the people. as the
james River Canal ever was or ever can
be. This is not all; il the Virginia and
Tennessee road is arrested for want of
capital, we will lose, beyond all question,
the whole trade and travel Of the entire
line South West of Washington county to
Memphis. In this way: Tennessee has
passed all the laws necessary to build
every mile Of this great thoroughfarc. with
in her limits; and all her part Of the works
Is rapidly progressing. When completed,
If our road is not connected with it, the
trade will taEe the Southern line to Chnyles-
ton and SarannaA. No man. who has
grain Of sense. will deny this position. If
this trade is thus diverted from us, can
we ever get it backl All must admit, it
is extremely doubtful. This is not the ex-
tent of the mischief which will be done by
arresting the progress Of our great South
Western line Of Railway. The success Of
our efforts in prosecuting this line Of road
has attracted the attention, and inspired
the confidence of all whose interest has
led them TO carefully watch its progress
This has caused the States of Tennessee
and Kentucky to charter road from Lex
ington to Knoxville, which, when COM
pieted, will throw upon our South Wes-
tern line its entire trade and travel; be-
cause from Knoxville to Richmond is 43G
miles, whilst from the same point to
Charleston and Savannah is. to the former,
522 miles, to the latter 436 miles. To
give TO your readers. and especially to the
members of the Legislature. some idea of
what we r1sk-nay. what we will unaues.
tionably lose. if we do not prosecute the
Virginia and Tennessee road with all
possible diligence, I beg you TO insert the
following article from the Knoxville Pic.
bean:
From the Knoxville Plebciaa.
AROXvillc md LexiNgtOss R~a<P.
We are pleased to see that this irnpor-
tant railroad continues to attract the atten-
ton of our southern neighbers. Among
other proofs Of this favorable feeling in the
seaboard cities. we might give several ex-
tracts from their public journals. We can
only make room for one this morning.
That able Journal the Savannah Daily
Georgian. Of the 2oth inst, after paying a
high and deserved compliment to shs
l'beraiity wh'ch has distinguished our
present legislative assembly in reference
70 Internal improvements, thus refers 10.