Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-12-17


Railroad, is col miles, upon which Il grade Of
81 feet 10 the mile has to he overcome. This
vii! rive Alexandria m advantage over Blltl.
mo.e for the trade Of the northwest, Of JG miles
in distance mud the difference between grade
Of less than 80 and 81 feet. These are no small
advantages, and especially in competition for
the heavy coal trade of the mountains II will
shorten the route of travel from the northwest
10 the capital OF the State some e. miles, and
secure TO Alexandria the benefits that Cnmbcr-
land mud Baltimore have been enjoying from that
travel. JUDGED il will be u shorter route for ii!
who nav ho coming from the west 10 Washing.
len CITY. OF going from the federal capital to The
great west, 10 take this road, than BY the Ba!s.
more aud Ohio road by the way Of Baltimore or
The Relay.housc, by 81 miles. These arc ad.
ygntarcs tina. A!cx1ndra cannot fail 10 improve,
if they arc properly appreciated The CheSnPraS
and Ohio canal is pouring in its cShOus,!ess sup
ply Of coal, whilst two ni the railroads above
mentioned are already flooding her markets
with corn, wheat, hour, &c.,-caus'ns her 10
cxh;b, an improvement in all tho branches ot
industry, truly gratifying. When these roads
shall have reached their destination, and the
third one shall have been built, what, but the
want Of enterprise or capital, Gun prevent AleS.
andrin, posscysrd as She is Of 4 cspaCicns har.
hor, upon onc Of inc most beautiful rivers IN the
world, i.nn being commercial point OF con'
Siderable il not ei the FIST Importance.
The James River and Kannwha Canal, wheth.
CT We consider the cost Of construction or the
value OF It's trade. is work OF the first magGi'
,udu. mud is rntitltd 10 the vigi'anl attention oil
the Legislature. Respectfully referring you to
what said upon the subject Of Internal improve.
ncnts in ny first message, aud with increased
confidence Ieiterutiug every suggestion therein
contained, again advise that point be fixed
upon isay at or near Clifton Forge NJ tho Yves.
tern terminus Of this work, bCvund which tho
funds Of the State should not BE- expended, al
least for the present, and that il be carried 10
that point, and the grand leading lines Of rail
roads herein indicated be finished at the earliest
practicable day. and before any new lines OF
works of MINOR Importance shall BE- commenced.
The millions that have bcea expended upon these
respective lines Of Improvement must remain
comparatively dead capital, until lhe works
shall haze been completed. Sound policy there
fore, even in pccuuary point of view, requires
that they slroGIl he pushed through as speedily
as possible, thu; they may BECOME dividend pay
ing stock; end when that shall have been done
the State will be able 10 build such collateral
works as may be fauni necessary, without cH'.
ba;rassncut.
For any further aid these several lines may
need to effect this purpose, | respectfully refer
YOU to tie reports Of The several companies, and
to that oil The Board of Public Works, which ii
is understood will hereafter be submitted.
/ IS uscp1raby connected with this subject in
all It's interests, and the genera! benefits 10 BE-
derived from II, permit me again TO call your
attention 10 the subject Of direct trade with
European ports. In former message, briefly
sdvcrled to some Of the benefits 10 he derived
from the establishment Of such trade, and the
subject received much Of tho attention Q! your
predecessors. its Importance aud the benefits
, il would secure to Virginia, were admitted by
al: the mode and the time ior establishing such
line we're the points of difference. To these
alone, apprehcnd, may be attributed the defeat
Of the bill providing for line OF steamers be-
tween our own and the port Of Antwerp Under
all the circumstances, engaged Is We were IN
( large and extensive system Of internal improve.
mentS, that perhaps was tho most Judlc!ous
course. Indeed, how far government should be
! identified in an enterprise Of this kind, is
question abuUt which We may reasonably expect
IN honest difference Of opinion; and, as &c.
marked III my fist message, "parAaps SOUND
rolicy would dictate that it should be |e'. 20 NO.
yidaal enterprise 20 CART? the project INTO PFac'
Z tcal operation" Aud vet, il it is lie duty rs
wei as the interest Of the State that shc should
construct ar assist in constructing system oil
Internal improvements, why should she not assist,
50 fur as her aid is necessary to sure success,
IN establishing un external line tia, will accom-
molutc, by direct transit TO foreign port, tic
tsadc and travel tia: will bc brought 10 her coast
BY these various lines Of Improvements! And
especially so, if this external line vii! contribute
/ to the profits Of the other Improvements and SC.
cure 10 the State and her people the benefits OF
an exporting and importing trade. The adSan'
iagcS to result from such trace cannot be TOT
highly estimated The Clesapcak ports are
cgnsi to any. If they atc no: tho best upon the
I Atlantic coast, and the commercial prosperity
Of Virginia must depend upon their employ
nicnt." No State in the Union possesses the
Natural advantages for trade and traffic Superior
to those Of YiTginia. The country tributary iC
the Chesapeake is equal 10 any upon the American
coas;, whilst her geographical position could mo-
fail 10 secure 10 her, and through her TO the whoi'
South, the benefits Ci tic rntIrc trade between
European ports aud the South and Southwest
Crn Statcs
The apprehension heretofore feit BY the cite:
ofAicxanlria, Fredericksburg, Richmond, Peters
burg and Norfolk, that the limited trade lcgll
mate to each might be diverted 10 some other II
val, created calousics aud prevented that unit.
OF action that was necessary tor the success
50 great an enterprise. These apprehenslons ma!
now be dismissed, for each and all arc desi!nGI
to receive and conduct the Virginia and south
western trade aud upon the compietiOn Of on
magnificent scheme OF Improvements, each vi
share ~ the dividend o. trade TIA! "!!l 'lf sur
pass any expense oF temporary loss ;hcy may 10
cur. Nov that each has been supplied "ilh
line Of Communication, The rivalry WHICH AZ lf!
, appeared between .hcm should ccasGi they nav
IL. common interest, because a cOn'lAOh l!ah'
bears from the west and south the lrHvc! AM
trade that arc to enrich them. Thus i; is, tina
the cous,ruulOu Of The Fredericksburg aud Coz
/ Gunsvi.lB road will make the prosecution oil ;h'
Alexandra and Orange railroad to LyGchburg a
impor,antto Fredericksburg as it is 10 A!exlndri
Ia tho same way the coiDplcilon !the Cen:rl
road, the construction ofI!C Coyinston and Ohi'
railroad, and tho extension Of the Virginia anC
Tennessee road, will allie contribute to the in
,crcsts Of Alexandria, Fredericksburg and Rich
rnond The dock connections, tho Norfolk All
, Petersburg and the Petersburg aud Lynehhur:
roads will connect the cities OfSorlolk and Pc
,orsDarg with the Virginia and rcancsso road aa'
the James river canal. The Other roads in TIT
system answer like PURPOSES and as common
outlet to accommodate the immense trade anS
travel that these items will bring to our shore
would contribute greatly to enhance iha; trld'