Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-07-16
COMMUNICATED
The Alexandria and Lynhcburg
Rail Road.


called on to give his views to the public Of It's
great importance. acknowledging his inability
10 do justice to the subject. must content HIM
self Will what he acknowledges 10 he mea
gre view, and beg pardon Of the more erilght
ened for the trouble of reading this his essay.
Some years ago. he was thinking much on
the important subject of improving Virginia
and our common Country, aud of the great
destiny which awaits them. On consulting
The map, he found that the straits of G .bratar.
which open into the Mediterranean sea. the
Chesapeake Bay. Memphis. the Bay of San.
Francisco and Bengal were on a direct line.
The United States had just acquired Callfor.
MIA, and IFS acquisition seemed TO be hailed
and greeted with lively interest by all our peo
pie, and he then formed some conception of
the vast importance it would be TO the world,
could there be great travelling route by steam
from Europe TO the Chesapeake, and then by
Memphis TO San. Francisco. and thence to
Bengal and China. But he saw. that. as Bos
ton, New York and Philadelphia were gen.
orally sought as ports of entry hy emigrants
from Europe. it would be a considerable time
before they would make the cities on the Ches
apeake Bay their ports of entry. if ever un.
less great travelling route was opened from
the Chesapeake Bay TO San. Francisco ; and
ifso then the cities on the Chesapeake would
become the ports of entry for the travel of the
world through the centre Of our vast country.
He believed that great exertions would be
made for "A route from ST. Louis TO San Fran.
cisco aud In time there may be such road
but by way of the Chesapeake and Memphis
great advantages in climate. and probably in
distance, and pretty certainly Of grade may be
secured. He was, and Is Of the opinion, if
proper exerlions shall be made, thut means can
be procured for the route by Memphis; and, if
so, then the road thus located at some day in
the course of fourth of century, will be
come the great travelling road Of the world
Should this ever happen. then it is impossible
to conjecture the amount oil travel and of trade
in light goods, which would pass over it. But
II the route never extends 10 San Francisco,
yet it will certainly be extended to Memphis,
and up he valley Of the Red river, and into
Texas, 10 the Rio Crande. and probable
up that Valley to Santa Fe. There will
be a track from Memphis to New Or.
leans, and probably TO the Salt Lake-so that
it is vastly important for the benefit of the
country, that this route should never be lost
sight Of Now whether this road shall ever be
made the travelling road of the world or not -
yet fit shall be extended to Memphis only it
will be the great travelling route from North
East to South West and from East to West,
provided the link between Lynchburg and
Gordonsvile be made. If this link shall re
main unconstructed, then the travel will seek
other routes. Ba timore and Philadelphia by
their railroads will receive the travel of the val
leys Of the Ohio & Mississippi; and the south
ern travel will remain as 1t is-ltIchmond can
not get the Western travel, whether the route
by Charlottesville 10 Gordunsville be opened
or not; because the difference Of seventy miles
by way of the Southside rail road and Rich
mond 10 Alexandra, over the route by Char
loitesville to Alexandria, will necessarily d.
vert an immense amount of travel to the other
routes North or South of us. But fill the link
and then all is secured. And let rail road be
established from Lynchturg through part of
Campbell, Bedford, Franklin, Henry part of
Pusy lvana, or part of Patrick, into North
Carolina--which after little will be extended
through North Carolina and meet some one of
the Southern roads; and then Lynchburg will
be the recipient Of vast amount of agricultur.
oil products, which are now seeking for a
cheaper and qnickcr route to market. This
route will add greatly 10 the Canal interest,
and the interest of the South side rail road ;
as it will be a travelling. as well as "a market
road. The James River Canal will profit by
the construction OF this link, because-as
Lynchburg is the best Tobacco market in the
State. nearly all the Tobacco made in Amherst
and Nelson will be sent there, and Afterwards
will be sent off again by the Canal, as the cheap
est route.
The Cumberland Gap road. leading into the
heart Of Kentucky, will greatly add to the BEN
e6ts of this road. and Lynchburg, being tie
funnel through which all this trade and travel
will have 10 pass. must become large inland
city. The trade will go to Richmond. Peters
burg and Norfolk-the travel will be divided
at Lynchburg THE Alexandria road will get
that portion going North East. to Wash
ington city. Baltimore. Philadelphia, N. Y FORK,
&c. Now unless this link is constructed,
then, as there will be loss of about seventy
miles in going by Richmond, tie travel will be
diverted, and that Of the valleys of the Mis-.
sissippi and Ohio will pass by Wheeling to
Baltimore. or to Philadelphia, New York, &c
AMI the Tennessee route will be deprived OF
mora than half its legitimate trade and travel