Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-12-14

railroad. by tapping the last named roaGat or near
Paddy iowuu Hampshire county, and IN the mids Us,
Of that caalsregion. The counties through ~ncn
il will pass are among the most fertile, populous
and wealthy in the State, and as deserving OF ac'
of this kind as any other. ASIDE
from these considerations, the construction oi this
road at an early day ia urged by the strongest
considerations. The distance from PaddytOwn to
Aloxandria, as ascertained by actual survey and
careful estimates. will be about lG5 miles, over
fine Grade of less shan So feet TO the mIe-at the
heaviest points, whilst the distance from the same
place 10 Baltimore, by way OF the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad. is POI miles, upon which grade
OF 81 feet to the mile has to be overcome. This
will give Alexandria an advantage over Baltimore
for the trade of the northwest OF 50 miles in dis
lance and the difference between grade OF less
than 80 and 81 feet. These are no small advan-
tages, and especially in competition tor the
heavy coal trade of the mountains. 1t Will shot
ten the route of travel from the northwest to The
capital of the State some So miles, and secure to
Alexandra the benefits that Cumherlandan Bal
tinore have been enjoying from that travel. In
deed, it will be shorter route for all who may
be coming from the west to Washington city, or
going from the federal capital TO the great west,
to take this road , than by the Baltimore and Ohio
road BY the way of Baltimore or the Relay house,
by 81 miles. These are advantages that Alexan-
dria cannot fail to improve. 1t they are properly
appreciated The Chesapeake and Ohio canal is
pouring in its exhaustless supply OF coal. whilst
two of the railroads above mentioned are already
flooding her market with corn, wheat, flour. &C.,
causing her to exhibit an Improvement IN all The
branches of industry. truly gratifying. When
these roads shall have reached their destination,
and the third oae shall have been built, what, But
the want of enterprise or capital, can prevent A
lexandria, possessed as she is OF caprlcous har-
Dor, upon one of the most beautiful rivers IN the
world, from being commercial point OF consld-
erabeif not of the first importance.
= The James river and kauawha canal, whether
we consider the cost OF construction or the value
Gifts trade, is work Of the first magnitude, and
is entitled to the vglan attention of the legisa-
ture. Respectfully referring you to what said
upon the subject of internal Improvements in my
FIRST message. and with increased confidence reit
Grating every suggestion therein contained, again
advise that point be fixed upon (say, at or near
Clifton Forge) as the western terminus OF this
work, beyond which the funds of the State should
not be expended, at least for the present. and that
it be carried to that point, and the grand leading
lines of railroads herein indicated be finished at
the earliest practicable day, and before any lines
or works of minor Importance shall be commenced.
The millions that have been expended upon these
respective lines of improvement must remain COLA
paratively dead capital until the work shall have
been completed Sound policy, therefore. even
in a pecuniary point of view, requires that they
should be pushed through as speedily as possible.
that they may become diridend paying stock and
when that shall have been done, the state will be
able to build such collateral works as may be
found necessary. without embarrassment.
For any further aid these several lines may need
to effect this purpose, respectfully refer you to
the reports of the several companies. and to that OF
the Board of public works. which 1t Is understood
will hereafter be submitted.
As inseparaby connected with this subject in
all its interests and the general benefits to be de-
rived from it. permit me again to call your atten-
ton to the subject of direct trade with European
ports. Ia former message, briefly adverted to
some of the benefits to be derived from the estab-
lishments of such trade, and the subject received
much of the attention of your predecessors lis I'M
portance and the benefits it would secure toVirgn
ia. were admitted by all the mode and the time for
establishing such line were the points tdllierene
To these alone, apprehend, may be attributed the
defeat OF the bill providing for line OF steamers
between our own and the port OF Antwerp. Un-
der all the circumstances, engaged as we were IN
large and extensive system OF internal improve
ments, that perhaps was the judicious course. In
deed how far government should be Identified in
an enterprise of this kind, is question about
which we may reasonably expect an honest differ
ence of opinion; and, as | remarked in my first
message, .'perhaps snnd policy would dictate that
it should be left to individual enterprise to carry
the project into practical operation" And yet, II
it is the duty as well as the interest OF the state
that she should construct or assist IN constructing
a system of internal Improvements, why should
she not assist so far as her aid is necessary to IN
sure success, in establishing an erternaI line that
will accommodate, by direct transit to foreign
mort. the trade and travel that will be brought to
her coast by these various lines improvements?
And especially 50, If this external line will con-
tribute to the profits of the other Improvements
and secure to the State and her people the bene-
fits of an exporting and importing trade. The
ADVANTAGES to result from such trade cannot be
too highly estimated. The Chesapeake ports are
equal to any, if they are not the best upon the At
lantic coast, and the commercial prosperity OF
Virginia must depend apOn their employment.
No state in the Union possesses the natural ad-
vantages for trade and traffic superior to those OF
Virginia. The country tributary to the Chesa
peake is equal to any upon the Amazn coast,
whilst her geographical position could not TAIL to
secure to her. and through her to the whole south,
the benefits of the entire trade between European
ports and the south and southwestern states.
The apprehension heretofore felt by the cities
Of Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Richmond, re-
tersburu and Norfolk, that the limited trade leglt
innate to each might be diverted to some other RI
val. created jeaousies and prevented that unity
of action that was necessary for the success OF SO
great an enterprise. These apprehenslons may
now be dismissed, for each and all are destined to
receive and conduct the Virginia and southwest
ern trade; and upon the completion OF our mag
nifcent scheme of improvements, each Will snare
in the dividends of 4 trade that Will tar surpass
any expense or temporary loss they may lacur-
Now that each has been supplied with line oil
communication, the rivalry which at first appear
ed between them should cease; they having
common interest, because common trunk pears
from the west and south the travel and trade that
are to enrich each Thus it is, that the construc-
ton of the Fredericksburg and Gordonsville road
will make the prosecution OF the Alexandra anu
ORANGE railroad to Lynchburg as important to
Fredericksburg as it is to Alexandria In the
same way the completion of the Central road, the
construction of the Covington and Ohio railroad,
and the extension of the Virginia and Tennessee
road will alike contribute to the interests of Alex
andria. Fredericksburg and Richmond. The dock
connections, the Norfolk aud Petersburg andrthe
Petersburg and I.ynchburg roads. will connect the
cities of Norfolk and Petersburg with the Virginia
and Tennessee road and the James river canal
The other roads in the system answer like pur-
poses; and as a common outlet to accommodate
the immense trade and travel that these stems will
bring to our shore, would contribute greatly to en-
nance that trade and travel, SO 1t must be to the