Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-08-24
RICHMOND WHJC.
To the Editor, Of "a. Eaquirsr.

To the Editors Of ns Ea9uirer.
RIcHxoxD. July Is, isss.
GENTLEMEN ;-on behalf OF the friends OF a railroad
from Richmond to York River ask the Yor Of you 20
publish in your excellent paper the accompanying letters
upon that subject.
Believing with Mr Peyton and our enlightened ,o-n.
man Captain Ommock that the subject l. one Of pr;m,r
Importance To this city. object to call the sttenton
OF me people TO IT, aud to impress them alo with sense
OF that Importance.
VI the writers Of these letters il cannot be necessary IN
say much Mr. Childe Is an engineer Of high rank A.
any IN Shs country Mr. shaw Is the principal engineer
OF the Covngton and Ohio Railroad Mr. Peyton is ma,
i've OF this citya young OF very fine talents nov.
holding prominent post as engineer the Lynchbu
ana tennessee Rtilroad-and all know Captain Dim
mock as Test Point graduate man of science and.
practical engineer enjoying he deserves the
OF this community. VIII not the people Of Richmond
the men who are interested in the generi prosperity az
the city, and not interested in the success of apv
lar calling craft listen TO the advice OF such men In
preference TO the croakings Of those who find their
ar personal interests in conflict with the general ooy
In addition to the facts mentioned in these lo,te sn
especially In that of Captain Dimmock let me call ,h
attention OF my fellow citizens OF Richmond to a few
other iacts and after considering them all appeal Tn
them to say whether there ought TO be one moment a.
lay in constructing a Railroad to York River AZ ann.
point near the confluence Of the PAmunkey and Malta
pony.
Richmond Is now the terminus Of the canal the DAN
vile Petersburg and Central Railroads each of vhicb
sorlngeg large number o. passengers and large a.
mount o rade-and the quantity Of both Is rcreasn1
and expected toincrease very largely When ,hs ,a
to the Ohio and to Tennessee completed the
& WI. oe Ssyoad any present means of calculation Sup
posing the attractions OF Richmond prevail over those
OF Alexandria, Norfolk and PETERSBURG and ,rada 80
travel md their interest here for what nnr
pose VIII they come: Not to stay-but for the purpos
OF reshipmeut to foreign markets of all die n,o,. Gs
cannot be consumed here. How will Il get rom bers
IL mas Ou one outlet TO witt the lower James River un-
less t shall he returned upon Que Of the Southern su
roads to the Norfolk railroad when comnls,sd a. H.
sent 10 Norfolk and thence to sea And what Kind of
QUITE. aoes the river afordr The worst for the
amount OF commerce in the world One hundred and 6f
mics long extremely eircuitous and filed with bars
and shoals It affords at Richmond not more than eeveD
eet OF water, 80 that nothing be shipped d,reetv
from Richmond IN any vessel larger than those ad.nted
20 the eoasng trade. The consequences Il that IN ,h
hour and tobacco from Richmond las 20 he sLnnJ
IRON me Cat Hole, on the ADpomattox or sent by light
es 10 City Point, or some other point down the river
there 70 be reshipped larger a.roinp
these larger vessels, and all the smaller ones have 20 Ia
toNed down by steam tugs What the tax Of this lighter
age hi ese steam tngs IS upon the trade OF RchmonJ
may he understood from the fact that the rowing
makes large profits, and the New York steam combanx
mases large profits, and yet pay- informed upwards
OF 200 per annum for lightcrage
In addition this, recollect that line Of raiIroad
from Louisville in Kentucky Norfolk is in process of
construction, and another from Lynchburg to Alexandria
soon VIII be- and then answer the question will the trade
come here when it 20 directly the sea AT NorET
or directly to Alexandria, where vessels OF the rge,
Ta e ready TO receive it, and carry over tie world
WI come here to he away by schooners or Tgb,
cred down James River, back again hy railroad m
Norfolk Every candid must answer thar Il viii no.
anu II does not then tho opening Of The road 10 the
west ana Southwest SIll have ruined, not enriched
Richmond ioS where their trade goes will 60 the csni,S
T and nj, the hopes Of Richmond.
hha then - the remedy for this ey thus STARING ns in
ihe iice, while the who interested in few sail
ug craft or lind their nteIes to make YOU nav tow,
and lghteraga, advise you de- nothing about is TS
oH} answer -open port for Richmond hysrti through
when Richmond and It's trade win be placed within f
LoGrs OF We sea masking then your lice Of co,pn,pnc
I Union. Va '"S
Agaiathe county Of Gloucester, and an the country
wing within the eninsular in which Gloucester s is no~
oreign to Richmond-pouring all its rich products into
baItlnOTe, and distant from by mail facilities six
days. Open road 10 York River and YOU bring them
within ie" hours Of Richmond it requires two te-
d'ous days 10 go to Norfolk Old Point and return
/ ilen you can go and return in a day. Nov Won can't
trade with the West Indies procure any of her eio,
fruits except through Norfolk because they can stsnJ
tie navigation of james River then YOU can trade i,b
them freely a Norfolk.
Again. II a railroad il not bull. from Rirhrr al -
York River, will be built from the Junction 20 ~
River, not touching Richmond. What will b. bsr .o,J
ton then, with Railroad the South 20 NorEpIkon
tue North To Alexandia-in the middle 60 York River
But, say the river craft croakers; iYo, ril hiil 49,
town on York river. Did such people ever her -
Norfolk and City Points II they did will tbey nb,ss 10
TIL Why no town was eyeS built at CITY Point and how
Town on lork River, there il not house man
j. TO outrun Norfolk, already large city, and hone to
large as New York or London
Let Us turn out then, feow-ciiizens and build this road
The Legislature have subscribed $500 900 TO IT, leaving
only 100000 20 ne raised complete t. and Of that hs
good oid city OF Williamsburg alone has subscribed more
than Richmond. have no interest In the work no, -
to every citizen OF Richmond urge YOU tberesA
only for the public welfare and mine hi common a. citi
zen Of Richmond when urge you to build this road
With great respect, your friend
JAMES LYONS,