Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-02-05

of what has been said Concerning it, is
equally applicable to a branch Of the vir-
ginia and Tennessee Railroad, which might
he extended from New River at the Horse
shoe bend, through Lexington X ntucky,
to the Ohio at Louisville. connecting with
Railroad already constructed. seventy
five miles in length, between Lexington
and Louisville.
| The fourth and last work cited. as rest
ing upon the base line described in the be-
ginning, is an extension Of the Manassas
Gap railroad, from its present western
terminus at Strasburg. to point upon the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, equi-distant
from Baltimore and Parkersburg. and a
bout seventy five miles west Of Strasburg.
This road, the Report says, would place
Alexaudria in direct communication with
the Ohio river at Parkcrsburg, and thence
with Cincinnati and all the works of i'm
provcment radiating from that point.
The report closes its references to these
works, with the following imposing, but
we do not think MISUNDERSTANDING up:
"Such is the system ofrailways progress
sing in our State With one branch reach
ing into that rich tobacco and grain grow
ing region of country lying in Southern
Virginia, and in western North and South
Carolina, at the eastern foot of the Blue
Ridge, upon the headwaters Of the nume-
rous streams that rise thence and flow into
the Atlantic; with another branch reach
ing far out through the southwestern por-
ton of our own State. across the entire
length of Tennessee, into the heart of the
chief producing country the world,
and tapping the Mississippi river al point
where pass S235 ,000, 900 Of wealth per an
nun; with another branch reaching over
the entire width of our State, into the val
ley Of the Ohio, to the eeatral emporium
Of its commerce, and touching the Ohio
liver at point which enables it to com
pete successfully for the trade of that entire
valley with all rival works at every season
of the year, and to monopolire the trade
of several Of those works during consid-
cradle portion Of the year; with still another
great arm reaching through our northwes-
tern coal beds. into this same great valley,
at more northern point, nearer the lakes,
and nearer to the centre of that prolific re-
pion of country lying between those lakes
and the Ohio rivera region of country
which is entirely covered over with canals
and railways-wih all these improve
mcnts uniting themselves TO our eastern
longitudinaline of railroads, " hich traverse
the whole length of the State parallel with
the Atlantic, and convers'ng by IT'S means
upon the most spacious harbor in the
world, where also converge the navigable
waters Of FIVE entire States-it is improba-
BILE that Virginia shall fail to become, in a
short period, the first commercial State OF
the Union, or fail OF securing her proper
share of the great trade of the West. or be
disappointed in the expectation that her
system of works will produce large reve'
nues TO the Treasury, and immense wealth
and prosperity to her people"
The report maintains that there is not
and cannot be rivalry between these lines
Of Improvement, because they severally
penetrate great distinct section of the
State, and are no, only secure in the mo-
nopoly of the trade oft the localities through
which they pass, but are destined TO share
largely in that immense trade of the West
which multiplies in geometrical proper
ton with the means Of transportation af
forded it. They look as well TO trade be
yond the limits of the State, as that within
its borders--neither is to be computed by
the amount now produced. There is no
limi, 10 the productive capacities ola coun-
try ike ours, but in the means oftranspor-
talon.
The report next refers to the inealcula-
bic amount of water power with which the
State ahounds--enough it is believed to
manufacture for all Eu. ope and America
Upon many of our water courses, are
also found the ores and materials for manu-
features Of every variety. Minerals of al
most every description abound. Our iron
is already proverbial for its excellence
Our coal is equally superior in quality and
inexhaustable in quantity. The salt mines
ofthe Kanawha and Hoston valleys are
capable Of being enlarged in productive
ness to any extent, whilst the gypsum
beds upon the latter are equal in quality
and extent to any that are known to com
merce. Tnaddiion to these great physical
| advantages, the soil where these minerals
are found-unlike other mineral regions,
is highly fertile and capable of supporting
heavy population.
Such are some of the natural resources
Of Virginia. These, together with her vast
water power, are destined at some day
to make her the chief manufacturing State
Of the Union. Recent scientific expert
ments have demonstrated that Virginia
grown wool Is superior in fneness and
strength oftexturc TO any other. The eli
mate Of the North is too severe, and the
atmosphere too highly charged with elec-
tricity. for the easy manufacture of wooden
and cotton fabrics-while that ofthc South
is too encrvating for continuous labor in
the mills and workshops. Under the ope
ration Of works of internal improvement.
and BY the inevitable laws of industrial
economy, the manufacture of these fabrics
will concentrate in our latitude.
AS german to this matter the Report
urges the great importance Of direct steam
communication from the ports of Virginia