Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-07-19
From the Charlottesville Advocate.
To the Stockholders Of the Orange and Alex
andria Rail- cad Company

To the Stockholders Of the Orange and Alex
andria Railioad Company
1t Is now well understood that several of the
snbor mate engineers engaged in the extension
of your road from Charlottesville to L.ynchburg,
have recently given il us their decided opinion,
that the route by Nelson Courthouse, if careful
ly located, will be the cheapest, if not the near
est. And the writer understands that such D
pnnon Is founded IN part, on the fact that the
distance from Lynchburg to Tye riyer-the
Dutch creek route. is increased over thous-
ana yards, ana must be increased more before
they reach Ame's Gap: while it is their opinion
thet tho Gourthoaso route can he considerably
shortened. And here | remark. that some of
these opinions having reached the ear of Wa.
I. Rlves before the Nelson June court. he in "A
speech there on that day said, he had heard of
those opinions, and while he did not believe they
were CORE ct, yet if it was correct, the road
would yet be made on the Courthouse loca-
ton.
Mr.. Lives said his preferences were all for
the Courthouse route, and he had great regrets
that it could not be made there owing to there
being such great difference in the cost of CON
strucuon as ascertaned by Mr. Atkinson's re-
port. He said he was aware that but little CON
iidence WAS placed in that report by the friends
OF the Courthouse route; but for himself he had
great confidence in Mr.. Atkinson's skill and COR
RICHNESS as an engineer
Since, however. the friends of the Courthouse
have a. they think abundant cause, not only to
doubt, but to condemn the report of Mr. Akin
son, as they think they in that report the
most palpuble evidence of pmti ility TO the
Dutch creek route, but in all this it is possible
they may be mistaken, aud Mr.. Atkinsons re-
port right. Nevertheless ii has the tendency to
keep up excitement, and to prevent the people
of parts Of Nelson & of Amherst from subscribing
individually, or fayoring county subscrbtion to
and in max inp this much desired work Now
stockholders appeal 10 you. # it is not alike
due to yourselves and to your road, as well as
Mr. Atkinson and the friends OF the Courthouse
route, TO have this question settled in such a
way as to show beyond doubt the real difference
III the cost ct construction and we suppose it
would not cost much, and people along the
Courthouse line are willing to bear part of the
cost if our suggestion is adopted by you. 1t is
ihls' let the Company employ an impartial, com
pefent ana sklllful engineer; wholly mconnected
with MIR. Atkinson, and free from any sympathy
tor, or prejudice against him, and let such en-
gineer locate and estimate the cost of the road
from Ame's Gap to Amherst Courthouse ON each
route, and the Company pay one half the expen
be made up by the friends of the Court
house route, and if it turn out that the
Courthouse route Will not cnst more than @l2O,-
90 over the Dutch creek route, then LET the
road be made on the Courthouse route if its
iileiuS VIII subscribe S3oO,O00 but should it
tnin out that the Courthouse route will cost anv
ihlng Ike as much what the Dutch creek
route will cost as estimated by Mr.. Atkison.
then the friends the Courthouse route ought
ana think would subscribe TO the Dutch creek
route and use their influences and votes to car
~ county subscription; and they in that event
ought to retroct all they have said against Mr.
Atklson and ask his pardon, 1t does seem to
me that such course would promote the inter
psf oft f4tat = / 4
ed.