Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-03-01

Between 1910 and 1850 Massachusetts constructed
than thousand miles OF rail road Her property there
by augmented in from 1929 575 229 1897 936 1896
and her population increased from 1869 to s9i27l.
During the saue period New York constructed nearly fl
hundred miles % rail roads, and her property
augmented S639 ia 700 $50 500 2l6 and her popu-
lalion Increased from 2,l2s, 92l 10 3,090022.
Tho rail- roads for which the present Legislature OF Viz
gnia has provided the OF i'm mediate completion will
measure more than thousand miles; and viii produce
our the magnificent results augment
ed wealth. population and polite power, that have been
realized from the magical agency by New York aud
Massachusetts,
Whoever will examine the system of works. whose early
completion provided for by Virginia will be struck
with prodgous of country which they will COM
mand From Alexandria chain Of rail roads is planned 10
reach out, by connection with the Baltimore and Ono
Rail Road and The rail road system of Ohio, the
Lakes over which Alexandria will be 200 and
Norfolk 100 miles nearer Chicago, the !chef :ci.y OF
tho Lake country, than tho city of New York
From Richmond, stretches another great chain OF
railway, the State TO Cincinnati whence
another road polongs ST. Louis the Genre of the Mis-
sissppi Valley by which Richmond will be 400 miles
and Norfolk $50 miles each Of these emporiums OF
Western trade than New York. From Richmond and Pc
tersburg also extends chain of railway nearly all oil
which either constructed provided for the South
Louisville Kcntucky thence I" be continued by proposed
rail roads entirely in territory ST Louis By which
route Louisville will be 10 Richmond aud Re
tersburg than TO New York By 400 miles, and nearer
TO Norfolk than 10 New York by $40 miles BY this
chain of railway also, s.. Louis, The emporium OF The
largest Western Slave State will have connection will,
Norfolk tho seaport tho greatest slave State a!ns;
enev through slave territory by route SO miles shorter
than The shortest route between ST. Louis and New York
andr MIA
roads which converge Lynchburg, in another grand
chain Of railway leading Memphis the Mississippi,
every foot Of which provided for aud much OF compile
tod which will bring ht; c"iiminilns point OF western
commerce. in direct communication with tho cities OF Fir.
pioia bv route shorter than those nm Memphis North
,rn cities by the distances which they lie beyond The cities
al Virginia From, Richmond and Petersburg also extends
two lines of important railway, n! them due Soul,
over the eastern portions OF the Southern Atlantic States
connecting ~ tl.cir an! rail road systems and ano
Their reaching wariy in s southern course and
waiting but short xlcnsion into North Carolina 10
meet by union with Southern raj! roads the hcs'
cotton and tobacco regions OF the Union with the cities
Of our State
Such the enterprises which this winters Legislature
has committed Virginia 10. and r",3ced certain OF speedy
completion They worthy Of the appropriations thar
have been made Ii evidence of the surprising od-
van,ages Of State geographically and commercially,
that 90 large results h. accomplished for her by
incommensurate When the mammoth results
Inevitably 10 flow from the recent legislation 10 the
Slate and every interest in The State, conteuipla
red and the extraordinary efforts that all other States cities
und communities making accomplish the like impo
tnnt results for themselves ecolectcdt legislation
81 fa being considered bold and Adventurous BE-
regarded IA cautious mud ccumspec in the That
hese important objects should have been secured by
means which only avoids nrteral augmentation Of
taxes hur prevents the appropriations heretofore made !"
great part .ir. charge upon tax on l. al Al
..itIonai source 81 cpa.rinlI lion among people.
The system of ,dhIic works which recent Legislation
ss placed beyond pale Of conjecture will bring Virginia
ots communication with eleven States of tho Union the
chief cities in ten OF which will be Norfolk than
New York. BY Of the system continental lines
of railway leading by the shortest and direct
from the largest commercial cmrnruu,s Of the West ana
South will be made upon the James river.
The popua ton of these cities thst say, Chicago,
Cincinnati Louisvie ST. Louis Nashville, Memphis New
Orleans Mobile Wilmington, and of .ynchhurg Richmond
Alexandria Petersburg ard Norfolk exceeds 100000 The
trade of these large populations will find more accessible
poin. of departure Europe from Norfolk, Than from any
other port and will reach New York, Should il seek
shat city) readily and cheapy the system OF
roads by Virginia. by way Of Norfolk than by
any other !on,ra
The question again arises shall Virginia content herself
with drawing the trade of these wealthy, thriving and mi