The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-05-13
THE DANvILLE RAILROAD.

ment for several reasons LIST. Because we be-
lieye il is destined to be of more real beneht to
the community in which we reside than any
other, though il may be easily shown that all
Of those commenced will be of very great utl-
ity. 2dly. Because we are better acquainted
with il than any other. 3dly and lastly. BE-
cause we love the old Virginia rule offair play,
and do not conceive that this road has had IT..
Indeed, the opposition which has been made
TO il, has been not only so violent, but mas
come from quarter so extraordinary ana haS
been supported by arguments SO Singular 'na'
we are lost in amazement when we THINK Oh
This, however, is not the time TO introduce
matters of this description. Our OBJECT al
present, is to show that the preJudlces "hich
have existed against it. are altogether WITHOUT
foundation, and we shall endeavor to do so, by
a plain statement of incontrovertole facts
facts, which, if they lie denied, can be proved
from the record.
The idea was, from the first, very carefully
instilled in the Legislature, that the country
which the Danvile railroad was designed to
drain, was little better than desert. The ge-
MUS of desolation was represented as lowering
over il. Such was the description gentlemen
felt themselves at liberty TO give, ola country
which pays one sixth part of the taxes OF the
State-of a country which furnishes rather
more than fourth part of all the tobacco IN
spected in Virginia-of country, embracing
the magnificent valles of the Stanton, the
Dan, the Roanoke, the Meherrin, the Motto
way, &c, comprising at least fifty miles of
low grounds, equal to any in the world. 1t
was thought justifable to stigmatise, IN this
manner, the counties Of Amelia, of Nottoway,
of Prince Edward, of Charlotte, of Halifax, Of
Pittsylvania, Of Henry, of Patrick, &c, in
Virginia of Caswell, of Person, Of Stokes, of
Rocking CHAM, of Surry, &C., in North Carol'
ma. To those who know the fertility OF these
regions, such argument were of course ad-
dressed in vain. But there were many MEM
bers of the Legislature who knew nothing
about them, and who conceived the opinion
often expressed out of the Capitol, that the
Danville Railroad was a visionary scheme
that it was designed to 50 nowhere, and to
pay, but would continue to be burden upon
the Treasury to the end of time. The two
first of these assumptions can be settled by
mere reference to the returns Of tobacco
inspected in Virginia, by ascertaining the
proportions contributed by each division
of the State, and by an enquiry at the Audi
tors office, with regard to the amount oftaxes
paid by the country tributary TO the Danville
Railroad.
The Danyille Railroad was completed, only
about two months ago, as far as Jennings Or
binary, about fifty miles. 1t is we'll under
STOOD that a short road does not do the same
amount of business with longer one, ana
that business increases as the road is extended.
The people of Chesterfield, for instance, who
live five or six miles from the railroad, and
about the same distance from Richmond, would
prefer hauling their produce at once to mar
ket, instead of paying toll on the Danville
road. When the distance from market be-
comes greater the profits of the road in
crease. The Danvlle road, then, has been
supported by tonnage taken above the county
of Chesterfield with the exception of coal.)-
The distance being short, the roads which feed
it are of course short alss. Yet while it re-
manned at the Appomattox, as well as while 1t
remained at Jennings, its. receipts increased,
regularly, from month to month, from week to
week, from day to day. While at Jennings
Ordinary, it reached as high as $4,000 per
month, and had it remained there would have
realised, even if the receipts had continued sta
tionary, the figure of $40 600 per annum and
this, too, in spite of the rivalry of the South
Side Railroad, with which it here comes in
contact. 1t has, but few days since, been
extended FIVE miles farther, Ito Burke 81 where
it forms junction with the South-S Rail
road, at the distance of So miles from Rich
mond. Seventy-two thou sand dollars year;
from railroad terminating, as it were in the
middle of an old field! Was such thing ever
heard of before Why. 1000 is the interest
(at 5 per- cent? upon $1,440,OO0! 1t is the in
terest, at 6 per cent. upon 81 ,033 900!
Does this look like entaling an eternal bur-
then upon the State ? Does this look like The
cars of the Danville Railroad were moving
through country over which the genius OF
desolaton has been lowering from the begin
ming of time We defy any railroad, not only
in Virginia, but elsewhere, of the same length,
with no point of importance for one of its ter
mini, 10 show such result No railroad, to.
wards the interior of any of the States. has
been of any material benefit, until il has
reached at least one hundred miles from the
point of departure. The great Georgia Gen.
trail Railroad, which is scattering wealth and
happiness over that noble State, traversed
barren region of 200 miles, before il reached
the country il was designed to tap. The pro.
gress of this road, on the contrary, is already
discovered by the vast improvement of the
country through which it runs. Enormous
quantities OF guano are transported upon it by
every train. IL is probable that but for it, the
farmers would never have used this valuable
fertilizer, for the cost of transportation would
na We been too heavy. TO Justify fhe undefta-