The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-12-05
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
.oIp1Y MORNING. De CEMsER :. 1858
7M,EETTNG or THE LEGISLATURE.

=
The session of the Legislature commences
to-day The former members OF tna' pop'
viii be welcomed back with great p'ees"e
to our city, and the new members OF "ho"'
there is a large number. will be gree'ea VIZ"
n cordial and hospitable hand we nope TOT
a session useful to the State, aud personally
a.~noah,o ;, ,lo gentlemen who compose the
legislative body.
wh;Is, a i not probable that as great an
- ,,.r;ety of business will demand
..,on,;on NJ this time as in the session "ieh
Inn, a,,iateiy succeeded the adoption oil the
C-.,.,;,u.;on theiegislative action ofthls WIN
,o- win vet have an important bearing upon
,ho fn,ure welfare and prosperity OF the STAKE
Tha onward march which Virginia has com
,,onned in Internal Improvements, may be
arrested or FASTENED to speedy triumph, by
the legislation of this winter The true IN
to,os.s Of the State. and regard to the requisi-
t;o,s of the most rigid economy, it appears
>, ne dictate liberal appropriations to the
GREAT leading lines of Improvement which are
,,o,y IN an unfinished and unprodnctive state.
The true policy clearly is to complete them at
the earliest practicable period, both on &C
count OF the pecuniary interest of the State,
which is embarked in those works, and OF the
general prosperity of Virginia, which is still
derived of all railroad communication with
the great Valley of the Ohio and Mississippi,
whilst other States are reaping fromtheir con
nec,ion with the West, a rich harvest OF in
calculable wealth. This consideration be-
comes the more important, when it is remem-
hered tina. the sessions of the Legislature sire
now held but once in two years. q period OF
time which, in this go ahead country, is an
age, and which, if we neglect to seize the OPP
portunity of energetic and jjudicious action
which this winter presents, VIII DRIFT US still
farther, if not irrecoverably, behind rival
States.
To consummate that great purpose, the
Improvement of Virginia, which is the com
mon desire of all, we must Danish all section
81 jealousy. that eternal bane of the welfare
snd prosperity of the State. Or If there be
any strife between section and section, city
and city, country and town, let it at least be a
generous emulation to build up and not to
pull down. A section or town which can
only rise upon the ruins OF rival, gives the
best proof that it has no intrinsic merits ofits
own, and has therefore no claim to legislative
aid. Virginia can never obtain her full de-
yelopment, and fill the sphere of power and
prosperity to which she is entitled, till she
gets rid of senseless and suicidal local and
sectional jealousies, and till the vociferous
professions of pride and affection in Our old
Mother" are demonstrated ia some other
manner than by the constant chickering's and
lealouses of her sons.
The subject of federal relations viii scarce
ly occupy much of the time of the present
session If Virginia had hitherto attended
less to that barren and improbable subject,
and more to her domestic interests, she would
be at this moment not only more prosperous
at home, but possess more power and lnttu-
.nce in the councils of the nation.
EXTENSION OF THE CENTRAL RAILROAD.
On Monday last the Central Railroad was
extended from Meechum's River to the
Greenwood Tunnel, a distance OF etght mu9s,
the whole of which is upon the State section
of the Read. The Editor of the Charlottes-
vile Je6ersoniap, who was passenger, or
rather, with several others. guest Oh the
Road on the occasion, states that the track was
in fine order. After reaching the Greenwood
Tunnel. lie and other gentlemen explored the
unfinished track for q mile and half be-
youd. to the second Tunnel. There is great
deal of heavy cutting, he says, in this dis
lance In one place, $4,000 cubic yards OF
rock have been taken out, and yet the work
is incomplete. There are other deep cuts
through the hills and rocks, some 100 feet
deep, and fearful looking. This prevalence
of slate occasions tendency to slides, and
several heavy ones have taken place.
The second Tunnel is 900 feet long, and IS
feet high. $50 feet are completed The re-
manning $50 feet it is believed, is of the
hardest kind of rock. The temporary track
across the mountain leaves the main track
at the Eastern end of this Tunnel. Between
this Tunnel and the Blue Ridge Tunnel,
there is some very heavy work. including
a third Tunnel, at Robinson's Hollow, of 100
feet in length. The Jefersonian says =
when completed, the whole route from
Meechum's River to Waynesborough, viii be
one of the greatest achievements of the age,
and the glory of Virginia. Col Crozet in
formed US that all the Tunnels will be finish
ed. and the road travelled over in two years,
and the expense to the State OF constructing
IL, viii be 100000
The Editor of the JebersOniaa states that
Col Crozet says he will be ready with his
connections with the temporary track, as soon
as that is completed; but he the Editor
thinks that viii not be earlier than April
next, in which opinion we see the staunton
MceseReeF concurs.
We were very much interested in the
Charlottesville JeGcrsoata.'s account OF the
opening Of the Central Railroad from Nee
chun's River to the Greenwood Tunnel But
we confess to our friend Alexander, that the
ssas,-a "a adordad nc was somewhat married