Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-01-13


most clearly indicated by the geological structure of
me country, and IN proper deve oPmeut oil her great
physical resources, it is gratifying to consider that
prcttng by the example OF others, she may gain much
OF the loss in time, by wise, prompt and energetic
I measures hereafter.
st lie, at home and abroad, must be most carefully
guarded, feel duty 10 all frankness 10 suggest or
your consdsieration, the speedy completion OF such
oil the great leading improvements as sppear most
deeply involved with the general efests of the
commonwealth. An enlightened policy would dc
tate, ssd stern necessity demands, that these improve
| ments should be completed speedily as possible
and that no new projects requiring extensive aid from
| the state should be commenced until this great OBJ.
lect shall have been accomplished Virginia has en-
tered the lists with her sister states for the benefit Of
the trade with the great West aud the Valley of the
| Mississippi. The prize for which we contend is wor
thy oil an exerton Of all energies Let some well
d'ges'ed system be adopted and steadily pursued and
success Will crown our efforts 1t is confidently be-
lleyed however that indiscrminate appropriations At
this time for works OF only local advantages would be
ifaught with most mschevious and dangerous re-
suits
At the threshold of the subject we are met with the
elicultles which surround the affairs Of the long de-
lsyed Central lmprovement-an improvement contem.
plated prior TO the American revolution, aud ono 80
strongly indicated by the geographical position OF The
state as well as the geological structure OF the country
that 1t has never ceased to be object deep solicit
l9ue 10 Inc whoie commonwealth. 1t would be act
OF supereogatlon 10 argue at this time the merits or
the Importance 10 the state OF the great line from tide
water on James river TO the Ohio IT. indeed twere orr
gnally without merit, the expenditure Of 10 millions of
dollars IN the last thirty years for its Improvement
would Tx an interest there which we could not dsre.
gard. But the extent and value of the works compile
ted the original merit oil the scheme, and the sums for
| which the state ls already responsible on account of
the improvement, give it an importance n our dellbe
ra'ions. which we cannot disguise il we would But
how lar It 10 propet to continue the water line is a
question upon which honest difference OF opinion
may well exist among the most enlightened and pa
trlotc statesmen. While have no disposition TO dis
parage the benefits OF a canal AM not insepsjbe to
the many advantages which well constructed railroad
possesses over any artificial Improvement: nor
do lfeel 1t necessary to discuss the relative advana.
ges or disadvantages OF The two species adapted to this
line, other than IN their practical relation existing
circumstances From many imposing examples it
has hersofore!been urged with zeal and ability, that
railroads have become necessary sppendages to the
canals upon mos! OF the great lines travel and trans
poration Ii this view be correct and if we have du-
y estimated the magnitude of the service which the
business of the James and Kanawha line will At
no very remote period OF time require, we NAV well
imagine that both species of Improvement nav be da-
manded, and when that time shall have arrived, both
| can be safely aud advantageou ly constructed But
until one or the other sh all have been carried through
the entire llne and large of travel attracted
| 10 it, a strong necessity Tor both cannot exist.
canal across the mountains would satisfy the pre-
sent demand tor the transportation of produce but the
railroad won d, in addition, accommodate a large
amount OF travel, the transportation Of the mail and
live stock, and consequently ensure speedy and am.
pie remuneration for the cost OF consruction Involy
ed as we are, the shortest time within which re.
munerating revenue be produced is proper sub
Ject for considerations and il Hsuperabe objection
| 10 such course exists, the improvement by which
this object can bs first attained, should be first ex-cu
ted But in the execution the work shovd be 60 con-
structed as net to preclude the cons rucon of the
other along or near the same line, should it ever ba
deemed expedieni to do
With these general views of the subject, feel much
confidence in recommending continuance of the
water line to Clifton Forge the nearest point Mn
on the proposed line at which Junction be fern
ed with the Central railroad, and that the gisa,ure
make provision IN the most suitable manner TO com
plete the work at an early day The report of The
president OF the James river and Kanawha company
having charge of this important improvement exhi
bits the entire income OF all their works, in eleven
months ending Both September last, at s25i $50 10
and the disbursements within he'same period for ge-
neral administration and repairs on the works at
$o2 o2o VI, leaving nett income of $i69 $50 ST.
They dsbnrse also, Tor annuity to the old James riy
er company, $2l 900; redemption of post notes 1892
IS, and interest bonds guaranteed by the state
Sl96,21o Do, making an aggregate of Ss2IS I6S 30
being an excess over the nett income Of S4S CPS As
Ia the estimates OF receipts and disbursements for the
car cur ea year. the president anticipates deficit of
$5o,97o IT, He states the second division (from
Lynchburg to Buchanan) will exceed the funds an
proprIated Tor the purpose, by al least hundred
and fifty thousand dollars and the cost of The tde
wster, Rlvanua and Southslde connections Will over
run the appropriations Tor those Objects Upon The
third division between Buchanan and Coylngtonl
contracts have been made fer three dams and tim.
mel but the funds appropriated to the object are insult
fcen to complete the DIVISION and it Is the policy of
the board to execute successive sections and max
them available for gallon and revenue 10 the ey
tent of the means provided Ia this embarrassing no.
sion of their affairs, the president suggests az a
mode OF relief, that the state should assume tie qua
anteed debts and CONVEX their amount into stock of
| he company, by which the nett income would he left
free, and could be applied in the most appropriate
manner to carry on the work. Buff this plan should
not be deemed advisable by the legislature he rrono
ses that loan in state bonds Of three hundred thou
sand dollars shall be asked, that the state shall
pay the interest on the companys bonds unli the lst
of In! tba,
the works process OF construction shall have been
comcleted, the president thinks the company would be
JUS flied In undertaking to refund 10 the sury in
years the sums thus advanced The respectful con
sideratlon OF the legislature asked for these propo
slilons, with view to the completion of The canal to
or near Clifton Forge, as before Indicated as its e.
sent terminus. is not improbable that with poper
energy the canal can be completed this point within
two years, when we shall have water line of about
239 miles.
From this point most earnestly recommend the
construction OF railroad, state account to some
point on the Ohio river deemed most elg lble upon
full reconnaissance of the several routes heretofore
contemplated, having in view the valuable trade f
/ that river and ultimately railroad connection with
the cities OF Cincinnati and Louisville In connec-
tlon with this line, recommend that every proper
aid should be given for the speedy completion of
the Central railroad from Richmond to The point
proposed as the present terminus of the canal and
that from Alexandria to Gordonsvllle. The rail |
road from the canal TO Loup creek shoals would not
exceed $50 milea, TO which point steamboats, are now
accessble.) and from which to Guyandoe, should |
tnat point be selected as the terminus, it wGuld be
about 80 miles making 232 miles of railroad. The |
water lineby the Kanawha would he about 80, and |
strike The Ohio 40 miles above Guyandotte-hus gi- |
wing The section Of road between Loup creek shoals
and Clifton Forge the double importance of being con-
neced at both ends with water aud railroad lines
The best energy oil the state should therefore be turned
10 the speedy completion of this division Of the work.
There is little doubt tina: the Alexandra and Orange
railroad and the Blue Ridge tunnel may be comp sted
and the Central railroad and the canal be carried to
Clf on FORGE by the time the railroad from he latter
place to the Ohio river be finished.
These works will give line of railroad (should
Guyandotte l27 miles below the southern terminus OF
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, be the point seec-
ted of 44s miles to Alexandra; of 417 to Richmond
and 800 to Fredericksburg, if we include 40 miles of
plank road from Gordonsve, designed ultimately to
be laid with rails. From the head Of steamboat nav.
CATION on the kanawha we shall have line 10 Rich
mond of 3S2 miles, consisting OF $50 oil railroad and
232 OF canal, and also railroad line of 343 miles; to
Fredericksburg line of 30s mles, consisting Of 26s
ofrailroad ard 40 Of plank road and TO Alexandra
800 miles Of continuous railroad. The advantages of