Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-05-17
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
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THE CENTRAL RAIL ROAD.

Tho rs,de will find the annexed letter Of Charles Eet Esq,
~ the Central Rail- Road progress and prospects of early
,ompe,on extremely Interesting This road is regarded eve
vvhere ont Virginia of the most important WORKS
Il the continent Such also the sentiment Of probably all
Virginia. except portion of the community of Richmond.
II will connect al The mouth Of the Great Kanawha with
lima Of rail hsads leading thence direct 10 Cincinnati ana 10
s. Louis II will also connect there with line OF ROAD
,ssdng direct to Chicago the Michigan Lake. and win
ne Of road leading also the nearest point OF Lake Erie
f. ,, connect at the mouth OF the Big Sandy with road
leading dec. 10 Lexington and TO Louisville Louisville
hsnp At the great Falls of Ohio river and navigation be-
, 10 New Oteans being constantly open during all sea-
,o Ia the lar 1cst boats The road will also connect at
,h mouth OF the Big Sandy with line of road leading to
tho c,v Of Coyiugton which is Immediately opposite Gin
cjnnati on the Kentucky side OF tho Ohio river.
v means these connections this Central Virginia ran
Road will present the shortest and direct route "
tween Chicago-he heart of the Lake couny-ana "ie ~
sntic; between Cncnnati-the centre OF the o'o a"''
and The Atlantic; between Louisvl!e--the heaa VI
steamboat navigation on the Oho-and the Atisn'lc' o0
, 7 erinotop-the centre and heart of Kentucky-and
M Atlantic; between ST. Louis-the centre OF the missis
, ssn and future centre of the American States popu'
.ions and territores-and the Atlantic Inc virginia
Central Rail Road is the link OF the severai great
chains of rail road, conversng from all those commercial
cso-e upon is lermious al Covlngton or clifton
Fare in The Aieghanies The subscription requested Of
Richmond together with the county subscriptions mat
have been 50 ioeray made fill up the required stock
o The road 10 within small and manageable traction OF ihe
sore amount enable MIR. Elicit TO realize the pre-
r,oo in his letter of completing the entire work during
the ensuing yeaS
II behooyes Richmond to help this enterprise Inc CON-
nv controlng It and work itself Identified with
M in all their conceivable interests 1t will not do tor hef ~
Ia wboa control in all Improvements reaching Easl"au
f,om Coyipston She has such voice IN the canal he
her secure equally potential voice In he Ceh'ra
nv Let her identify herself with this great con'nenai
work aud secure for herself by its means connena n
as she may SO easily do said that rVa roaos
and cities will meet her at Staunton and UofoonsVe anu
he ia urged on TO give up ms Work anu
oomnee unsupported by her powerful assistance with
adverse enterprises Let her rather on that very ac-
conn, ay 10 the of the Central enter The lists
s, rivals over whom she has many and 80 decided cd
,. and brinu 10 her own warehouses the trade which
hs, cities will otherwise intercept from her. The reasons
urged against this subscription by the mid the sold and
bs snpy are the very which should enforce her 10
grantit
By what other MEANS than this road hope 10 pre-
ven, Baltimore and Alexandria from interceptng trade com.
ng in from the Great West? If Richmond takes no stock
n and furnishes of the slnews OF strength and pro
per!ty 10 road but allows 10 struggle along 10 s'o"
ta track and inferior equpmene, OF course trade aud ira
vel will leave it, at Staunton, at Gordonsvie and wherever
else chance escape presents ITSELF Whereas If funds
sutcen, 10 complete il, whole line be supplied al once
and its revenues be left free be devoted perecting ts
rack and appliances trade and travel will be oah 10 lea Se
it, a, any point and will seek tidewater by the naura
route and the point 10 wit by the Central road
wharves.
Richmond has abundant encouragement 10 the example
other c,ies as shown by Mr. Elicit TO lend her means L
this grea, work We have loo much confidence In the In
elsnce and public spirit Of her merchants and business
men, 10 believe 70. that she will hesitate TO accep
The only condition nterposed 10 her becoming city OF th
FIRST class in the Union.
To be, or not TO bel
That's the question.
PHILADELPHIA, MAY TO- 1853
Fos1AsE ESQ. President Of the Central Virginia ka'
Dear Sir In compliance with your Wishes send yo'
herewith list Of such municipal subscriptions TO rsi roae
uocks as am able to furnish satisfactory authority
the subscription the Sunbury and Erie road, on tht
pat of the cy Of Phiadephia which have Included has
bsn suspended account OF come disagreement between
he company The city authorities and may not be
ultimately perfected.
The proposed loan by the city of Baltimore to the Con-
nelsye rail road which have also included awaits iegsla
live sanction and cannot therefore, be regarded YET as an
y available fund.
Of the subscriptions been made by cities
corporations the great East and West thoroughfares,
that has failed reward the enterprise ano
hopes that prompted The measure and that has not been
fully justified by practical results.
The success of the three primary nes leading from
the Atlantic board the West vz the New York and
Erie the Central and The Baltimore and Ohio
rned doubtful not only during their early struggles but
up the time when they actually reached the waters OF
ne Ohio aud Lake Erie Since then however, the entire
energy OF each the companies has been put 10 the test
provide track room, machinery and eonvenences fast
enough 10 accommodate the growing trade The increase OF
each Of these several lines has, far this year,
oten at the Of about million of dollars per annuni
II over That OF the last year.
The revenue the main stem Of the Baltimore and Ohio
Toad M The month OF March, 1853 exceeded by s97 600 the
revenue for The corresponding month of 1852.
month February 1883 exceeded by sl2sOoo for Fs
That o' March, 1852. The results these roads for
ApI nave not yet been published But can hardly be
supposed That this rate OF increase will be maintained
ne revenue The New York and Erie road Ilst return
,So apll 1858, exceeds by the sum OF s02OOO that for
"s corresponding month Of 1852.
lhe month, Of this road although it Is only Two
years since the line first opened through Lake Erie,
now closely approaches half mioa of dollars. It's annual
ae cannot be expected hereaerto fall below OOOOOO
T" mere M tean SlOO0O per mile per annGm.
oohihs al the results obtained the great lines Just
Vpenea from New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, to
m western Trade We find the most abundant encourage
@ " push o. your Central line, with the utmost vigor,
% he nenr@ II passes through better couatry-riche
sssus'actions and it will be easier cheaper line
SMNGel maintain and work. than either of those which
I'M s.saed ;hese iucipen. results am glad find that,
N means be furnished there is nothing the
nsace Of equally gratifying and quick relurns. 90
M track with the exception OF the portion embraced IN
s Blue Ridge division, will reach Stsunon This summ
section Of miles West of s,aunon NAV b.
psnst time 10 accommodate the summer travel of n.y
year The residue o: the line extending from Milbooueh IN
Cnn Forge, is difficult, and will occupy sea
son But by adopting temporary track over space of
~o miles where heaviest work this division al
nmay brought into use and fitted tor the accommoda
on The trade before the close of 1854 This temporary
acS ihouehit will have grades sleeper Than our limit
conveniently traversed by locomotive engines and will
made sufficient for the transportation of the business
ne and the same time facilitate the execution OF TIT
n main work
cy ny resort 10 this expedent we may, think, safely
on using The road through to Jackson's river before
'ns close OF next year
pmhS informed by The engineer OF the Board
Thar o motS Mr. Shaw that hopes be ready to lei
Coypp,oO " 1n nus hne extending from Clifton Forge to
eton S M ~ 'uy-and therefore, simultaneously with the
,ounS ~ G Tuf contracts the Central road from Mbo
Co,no,on aiong Jacksons river from Clifton Forge TO
readS or Is -" n0' difficult and msy be- and doubtless will
Ssys ~ ~ Hie iron before work reach Clifton
due ,,%on with the State officers and making
cepl, on our part having the entire line, with the
h rol lhe Blue Ridge Tunnel open 10 Coying ton be.