The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-12-06

lance One section of this line ca about Is miles
consists & the Blue Ridge railroad, which was I'm
and with state means. A part Of this section en-
brfce the tunnel through the Blue Ridge. work
OF ext, enc difficulty, causing unavoidable delay in
fhscompfetion Of the section. The tunnel is 324s
feet In length, snd 1t iscpnfdenty expected that Ii
will pc compfefei BY the 1st OF Januafy 1856. The
perfora ION on the 1T of November last was 23i1
feet leaving 1881 feet TO be. CUT There bad been
paid for the construction OF this section up To the
SAND time Ss74 SIS 10 and 1t h estimated that the
expenditure, for the year ending 1st Jaauary 1855
viii be s195G50 aid for the year Gliding LIST Janu-
sry 1885, si6 300 making the totalcost Of the sec
tbs when completed. Sf,2o5,s25 TO-.
The Virginia and TenEessee railroad p being
pushed forward with an energy that reflects credit
upou those who are intrusted with the management
OF the work. ard in the benefits It will confer and
toe revenue to be derived thereffom, 1t promises TO
fulfill the utmost expectations OF Ice most sanguge
friends Its importance link In the great chain
OF railroads which il to accommodate the travel
from the south and southwest cannot fail to 5ecure
the necessary aid for its completion. t.5
The !Soutbside railroad Is progressing and will
soonlunite the cities OF Petersburg and Lynchburg
securing benefits to each.
The Richmond and Danville road, which has
beenlcarried on with so much energy over every
obstacle is lust entering the most fertile and pro-
duc;ive region through which twill pass, and pro-
misses to fulfill al reasonable. expectations. 8fss
The Richmond and Petersburg, the Petersburg
and weldon the Seaboara aud Roanoke, and the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac roads,
completed some fine since-are in successful ope-
ration and the tracks of such were not originally
laid with heavy u or T iron, haze since been
laid i'm whole or in part with that improved rail-
The Norfolk and Petersburg railroad company
has been organized and preliminary steps taken
towards the construction OF the WORK, winch pro
nisclto be successful.
regret to say that but little has been done TO-
wards the construction of the Richmond and York
riyef railroad, underline provisions of the act OF
last session OF the legislature. When We consider
the vast importance this road In ITSELF and It's con
nection with many Of the other works of improve
ment in the state is it not surprising that little
concern should be rnapitesed by those who are
directly interested in its compietions Surely, as
the arious lines of Improvement (which converge
to Richmond and which will pour into her lap their
inexhaastible stores, are being completed those up
on the line and the termini OF this road cannot fal
to see the advantages to be derived from its con
struetion, and at once begin the work. For the
same reasons emnently entitled to the favor and
patronage of the state ! !e3} 1 40! L Il
But little as yet has been done towards the con-
struction of the fredericksburg and Orange rail-
roadI 1t is obe hoped however, that the energies
of the high minded and patriotic people OF Frede.
rick sburg, and thosepon the line Of the proposed
road will soon be aroused TO the ipe rtanca OF se
curing the Improvement, and that this, together
withlthe Rappahannock canal and her natural adj
vantanges Of waterpewer, may yet resuscitate aud
build up the townfo that grade of commercial i'm
port which her citizens so richly deserve.
The Orange and Alexandria road is nearly com
pleted toe ordonsJlei and saiflsopn} be open fer
trade and travel to that point This connection
with the Central road Isl an important one, as IL Sc
cures continuous road between Richmond and
Alexandria, whenever the Potomac river shah be
closed with ice. But when this road shall have
been carried from Gerdonsville to Lyuchhurg, Qor
which The, preliminary surveys have been made
under the act of the last session. it Ill complete
that line ofrailroads above referred TO, which must
acco nmodate the travel between the southern aud
ndrthernstates and secure to alexandria all the
adv utages to be derived by intermediate peint
from sueh travel, and bring to her mart the trade
and treasures of fertile and highly cultivated por
ton of the coInmonwealth. In ippurtaace, there
fore, this road is scarcely inferior to any in tho
state. ----
The same maybe said ofthe Manassa gap road,
which, by rapid Strides Is stretching itself into
OF the most fertile and s3roductve sections of the
conlnonwealth-on that is rich in almost every
thing that could contribute either TO the conartor
wealth GIFTS entefprising citizens Il is very desi
rable that this work should be completed a. the
earliest practicable day. stht sv
Something has been done towards the location,
&c OF the alexandra, Loudoun and Hampshire
railroad, but what apdhow much, am not authent
cally informed. This road is designed to connect
MeSandria with the Baltimore and Ohio railroad,
by tarping the last named road at or near Paddy
town in Hampshire county, and in the midst OF that
coal, region. The counties through which it will
pass are among the most fertile poputous and veal
tions of this kind any other. Aside from these
considerations the construction of this road at an
early day is urged by the strongest considerations.
The,distaucc from, PaddytoWn TO Alexandria, as
asceTtained by actual survey and careful estimates
will be about los miles, over fine grade of less
than 50 feet to the mile at the heaviest points, whilst
the same distance from the same place TO Baltimore,
by way OF the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, is sol
miles upon which grade of 81 feet to- the mile has
to be overcome This win give Alexandria an ad
vantage over Baltimore for the trade Of the north
west of IS miles 10 distance and the difference be-
tween grade OF less than Sd and 81 feet. These
are no small advantages and especially in compea
titioh for the heavy coal trade OF the mountains.
1t W III shorten the route of travel from the north
west to the capital of the state some IS miles and
secure to Alexandria the benefits that Cumberland
and Baltimore have been enjoying from that travel.
Indeed it will be shorter route for all who NAV
becoming from the west to Washington city, or
going from the federal capital to the great west to
takethis road than by the Baltimore ans Ohio road
by the way of Baltimore or the Relay house. by 81
miles. These are the advantages that Alexandria
cannot fail to improve ithey are properly appreci.
ated! The Chesapeake and Ohio canal is pouring
in it5 exhaustless supply of COAL whilst two of the
railrpads above mentioned are already flooding her
mar ket with corn, wheat flour, &c.--csusng her to
exhibit improvement in all the branches of in
dustFy, truly gratifying When these roads shall
have reached their destination. and the third one
shall have been built, what but the want OF enter
prise or capital can prevent Alexandria, possessed
beautitul rivers in the world, from being CONNER
cial poiut ofconsiderabie if not of the fret mpor-
tance. a.N
The James river and kEawha canal, whether we
consde the cost of construction the value Of It's
trade. is a work of the first magnitude and is eni
lied 10 the vigiant attention Of the legislature Re.
specially referring you TO what ! said upon the
subject of Internal improvements in my irst mes
sage. and with increased confidence reterating
every suggestion therein contained again advise
that point betixed upon (say at or near Clifton
/ Forge aste western terminus of this work, he
yond which funds of the statelsheadl NOT be ex,
pended, at Ieastfor the present and ghatit be car
ried TO that point, and the grand leading lues of
RAILROADS herein Indicated be finished at the earliest
practicable day. and before any new lines or works
of minor importance shall be commenced. I he
millions that haze been expended upon these re-
spectve lines of Improvement must remain com
paratively dead capital until the work shall have
besncompletcd. Sound policy, therefore, even in
pecunary point of view, requires hatthey should
be pushed through as speedily as possible, that
they may become .dipidead paying stock; and
wheH that shall have been done, the state viii be
able to build such collateral works as may be found
necessary. without embarrassment il. 1855
Fsf any further aid these several lines may need TO
effect this purpose, respectfully refer you To the
repefs of the several companies and 10 that of the
Board of public works, which is Is understood will
hereafte be submitted.
Aslrseparahly connected with this auhj sca mall its
INTERESTS, and the general benefits to- be derived
from it permit again TO call yeur attention 10 the
spbject of direct trade with European ports. ln