The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-07-18
YORK RIVER RAILROAD.

We fad in the Enquirer of Saturday pa"
of correspondence between MIR. Jas L,oas'
Mr.. Childs, an engineer of Distinction ano VA.
Shaw. A 10 be continued in the issue u
to-day, we shall not, at present, attempt ~ s''
an analysis of it. ..a
So far as the letter of Mr.. Lyons is cohce'"'''
we agree with him in every partieuis' saw oA1'
w. ,h;nk he underestimate the importance
of clearing out the distractions IN tue '''.'
NJ, ,h., ne belieye Richmond ever can be
rrs., nor, anv more than Baltimore can. tes'
s.,s will never willingly come up this long
accommodated river il they can possibly avoid
II. and there will pretty certainly be found
means to render the trip unnecessary, IL that
remains our sole dependence for reaching the
ocean. But we wish to have as many avenues
for the exit Of commerce as possible. We
would open this To its fullest extent, at the
same time that we would build the York River
road, and give il a double track. II is highly
important that We should be in condition to
ship off produce as it arrives, just as they do in
sea bort towns, and as we must do, If we wish
to save the advantages of our position.
II is our opinion, and always has been, that
the city and citizens of Richmond, combined,
ought to own the contemplated York River
railroad. 1t will be one of the most important
and most lucrative, we hesitate mol TO say, that
the sun ever shone upon. In order to prove
our post ion, let US look little into facts.
The Erie Canal, during the season ending in
December, 1852, transported fraction above
thrso nf far
ductiveness is concerned, the countries drain
ed by the Erie Canal, bear no comparison
whatever to those which will tributary to the
James River and Kanswha Canal as soon as it
shall have been completed. Even should it
stop at Covington, which will be impossible, it
can not bring to this city less than 100000 of
tons per annum, as soon as the Covington and
Ohio Railroad shall have been completed
Now, how are we to get this enormous freight
of our hands 1t cannot possibly be done by
means Of the river, and any attempt to make
the river the sole channel, must result in
a complete diversion Of the trade from this
city.A.It must be done by means Of a rail-
road-of the Ethan railroad, in word. A
double track will be necessary TO disgorge it as
it arrives, for only by the utmost freedom of
passage, can We be placed in situation of
equal advantage with ports which have yes.
sells always ready to take the freight from the
roads and canals as it arrives, and clear with it
at once. Mr.. Shaw has estimated the produce
sent here for shipment by all conveyances,
railroad and canal, last year. at 200 600 tons.
What will it be when our lines are all through?
We have estimated for the canal alone. We
have no doubt that the combined railroads will
bring an equal quantity as soon as they shall
have been completed. This estimate is made
for the first years after the completion of our
works. In ten or twenty years, if we pursue
the right cour se, what will the tonnage receiv
ed be We cannot form the remotest idea.
Mr.. Shaw and Col. Chlds both estimate the
cost of the Ethan railroad, which is only thir
ty five miles long, at less than seven hundred
thousand dsllars. There con be no doubt that
in the course of time, it will want double
track-nay, il we were to say it would take q
qusdruple track to accommodate all the trade
we are sure we should not fall below the mark
We wish we had the money to take the stock
and build the road at once. In ten years we
should have the largest income of any man on
this continent, and in twenty, if we lived SO
long, we should be the richest man in the
world.
Instead of growing at Baltimore. 1--WE have
done as much of that as any body else. J we
ought to follow her example in every thing,
except subjecting the members of Legisla-
tures to certain Influences" She has not
half the advantages that we have. She is si.
tuated on miserable little creek which her
magniloquentc children facetiously style the Pa.
tapsco rirer, as the people of Washington in.
sist on calling Goose Creek, Tiber. The tide
reaches the city, it is true, but as it recedes, il
leaves the little craft that reach her wallowing
in the mud like hogs. Yet by dnt of untiring
energy, within thirty years, Baltimore, from a
population not larger than ours is now, has
increased her numbers to more than 200 ,00O-
What il was possible for her to do, it certainly
IS possible for US, who have so many adyaus
tages which she has not, and never can have,
to accomplish. We see that Baltimore find.
ing that she cannot be seaport, is seeking an
outlet through Delaware bay, for the commerce
that is coming to her through her public i'm
proyements ls not that enough to satisfy
fogydom that the York River railroad is no,
going to hurt Richmond ? For our own part,
wego in for the Charles City railroad too
All three-the river-,he York river road-the
Charles City-will not give US such an outlet
"a Norfolk has, and what constitutes the grea,
advantage of Norfolk Why its facility Of
setnng to sea. And what makes New York
Inc most desirable place on the continent 70,
sending froducei Its facility for getting it to
sea. And yet fogydom would close up all
avenues to the sea except this thread of river
mere Oeiow us when we are in expectation o.
the largest seaport. - '''' sn'pp'ns .
=. w r.non found Mr. Newbegin's monevf Evil
n F. ,eSosfisd tina. about two years since M
~; .sooers Newbegin, Of Biddeiord' NJ i Ls'
n carpet bag, containing, as i, MA. ' 20
?. WE'VE thousand dollars. The o,bs sa a. 'eI
ss,sed the following letter and encio.n uay ~
bostcn, June 90, lS53.-Enci0.ossau
I6G9fyo NM h..-l pleaB