Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-01-31
Railroads,

1t will be perceived from the Legislative pro-
ceedingS, that the South-Side Railroad bill, the
Central Railroad bill, and the Manassas Gap Rail-
road bill, have each passed the House of Delegates
by the Constitutional majority, that is, majority
of all the members elected to that branch The
first of the above bills loans to the South-Sde
company the sum OF 100000, for the purpose of
securing the completion Of the road. The State
owns three fths of the capital stock Of this COM
rpany. The Central Railroad bill authorizes the
Board ofPublic Works to construct road from
Covington. in the county Of Allegheny, to the
Ohio river, on State account, and approprates
S1,0o0,0O0 for that purpose. OF course, this is
pledge of the State, 10 make the enti,e road, and
we believe it is SO regarded by the members. The
Manassas Gap bill increases the capital stock of
that company, 100000, and subScribes for three
ffthS of that amount State account. As the
Manassas Gap charter originally passsd, the State
took only two ffths of the stock, but whether its
subscription has been subsequently enlarged, we
not remember.
All OF The above roads are regarded as importa MT
Improvements. The South-Side Railroad extends
from Petersburg to Lynchburg, where it connects
with the Lynchburg and Tennessee Railroad, ex-
tending TO the Tennessee line, and contemplating
connection with Memphis and the Southwest.
AT Petersburg, the South Side road connects with
the Railroad now running to City Point, on the
James River, some 60 or 20 miles below Richmond
where very large vessels safely approach. 1t al
so connects with th- great Southern line extending
from Boston. almost uninterruptedy, to New Or
leans, and also, crosses the Danville ruad.
The Central Railroad extends from Richmond,
in the direction of Covngton, passing through the
counties of Hanover, Louisa, Orange, Albemarle
and Augusta. Az the junction in Hanover, it con-
meets with The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac Railroad, and at Gordonsville, in the coun-
ty Orange, it connects with the Orange and
Alexandra Railroad leading to the Potomac, at
Alexandria. 1t passes the Blue Ridge, at Rock
Fish Gap, by tunnel about 1000 feet in length.
and thence passing through Staunton, extends to
the town of Covington, wfiere the present bill
takes it up. II is now in operation to the Eastern
base ofthe Blue Ridge, and the tunnel and the
work West, are actively tending towards compile
ton The Manassas Gaproa extends from Alex
andra, i'll the objection of Harrisburg, in the coun-
ty of Rockingham, passing the Blue Ridge at Ma
nassas Gap, and looking ultimately TO a connec-
ton wiki the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at ROM
ney, in the county of HamShre, or some point in
the county o: Taylor We have also heard it pro-
posed to extend this road up the Valley in the d.
recuon of Stauuton, but do not know whether any
thing has been done towards accomplishing that
end There are few roads In Virginia, promising
more permanent advantages tu the State, than these
three, and their connections The completion Of
some road connecting the two former, Central and
Soath Side) with Norfolk, or the seaboard, mould
addmuch 10 the growth and prosperity of our COM
monweath. We have heard it proposed to ex-
tend the Central 10 the head of York river, while
it also proposed TO connect Richmond and York
town bv a Railroad. Upon the whole, Virginia is
looking upup, her House, ofDelegates have stood
by her. and it devolves upon the Senate to say
whether she shall advance, or lie dormant forever.