Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-11-17
The Norfolk R..olulio.s Again.

Tuesday, upon the subject Of "the recommended
change in the guage Of the Central Railroad" The
special request that shall be auxiliary its circu
laton. implies that embraces the in full why
the Central Railroad Company NC thus far resisted
the execution Of this recommended change. We
therefore submit to the public views of the policy
which it is alike the interest Of Richmond, Virginia
this and all other companies to enforce.
1t is rally source Of serious regret that whenever
The people Of Virginia propose the accomplishment o.
any great improvement, having in contemplation the
restoration of her long lost power and prosperity
all unity Of action should be defeated by the dscor
dant claims Of some other and smaller improvement,
which fancies that the promotion of the public in
tercst at large is inconsistent with its own peculiar
advancement. We hope will not be misrepresent-
ed We mean not to be misunderstood We
not the enemy but the friend Of the Central Railroads at
We arc the friend OF every line OF Improvement,
whose progress promises to uplft the power and
,velop the strength Of Virginia. IL to do this is
were necessary to parazc the operations Of any ONE
improvement We confess would feel constrained to
advocate that comprehensive and republican policy,
which involved the good Of the many, to the di,ad-
vantage OF the few. But in the subject now under
consideration, glad to see an entire harmony
of interests, aud therefore to recommend an entire
unity Of action. We therefore, sustain the adoption
Of no policy Of improvement war with the nteres,
OF any other, and advocate system which basis its
hope of success upon the ruins Of any other existing
line. We welded to no particular company but
t. awo the advocates OF all in general and none
in particular. We therefore claim for our opinions
at least a dispassionate regard
While we do not impute to our neighbor or any
body else, in his peculiar advocacy OF single improve
ment, any embarrassment in taking liberal and an
enlarged survey of the general good and public well
fare Qor we know the Post has this profoundly a.
hearp, yet, if We did not SEE or think we see, an
identity OF interest with all the improvements which
contemplate connection with the one great improse
saenf, the Covington and Ohio Railroad we would be
At loss to sscrbe the OF the Central Railroad
and It's friends to any other account than limited
sectional and ungenerous policy. As it is, we COM
bat the errors Of their judgment and not their
motives.
We do not propose to follow our neshbor, in all
che details OF the statements he exhibits for the pur
pose OF showing the mprsctcabiiy of reconstruct.
ing the Central railroad upon the plan of the five
foot gunge. We could not If We wouli-we would
not II we could because do consider it neces-
sary. We have high regard for the intelligence Of
our friend, but if his statistics had come from prac>
teal, experienced and skilfu engineer willing to
hazard his reputation upon the sounlness Of his
views, we would accord them much larger prestige
than we are now willing to do. We confess to con-
slider 1t not little strange, that this modification
which has heretofore been resisted upon grounds OF
eIpediency and fairness should now be rejected be.
cause it is not susceptible Of practical execution We
have heard that it would be nconvenient to the Cen.
trail railroad-that it would occasion that company
Urge losses, many delays ana many sacrifices; bu
We have not heard from any other serious direction
that the execution of the plan proposed in the III,
resolution Of the Norfolk Convention. was uia.ter
Of actual, physical imposSbli;y. We take it, that the
position oil the Central railroad was accurately d.. |
nhed by lis representatives in the Norfolk Convet
ton. Ii was then earnestly and ably argued by |
fhem-not that the plan could not be executed but |
that its execution would be to the sacrifice OF the
roa1, thereby admitting its prac,icability; but con-
tending that it would be attended by tine imposition
o. an ungenerous burden upon this company. Nvbiy
contends that the reorganization OF this roa wouli |
not be mater OF time, delay and Expense. Blu; the |
Nh resolution proposes, 'that If the Central railroad
company fhal heem II cxpedicnt to change he guag
OF their road to corresponding width tine Leg sa,ur,
ought 10 provide for direct subscription to the stock
OF that company to an amount necessary to pa,
them Inc cost "i such change of giage." Upon this
proposition the Ioh argues, that II is but hirm9n.
sing oil conflicting interests, by approprating the sub,
ject mater III dispntc-that the Norfolk Convention
Recommend the Legislature 10 permit tue company to
ruin their road at their own expense-,hat they do
not advise the Legislature TO advance the money for
the operation. Now, 1t is unnecessary to veil long
upon these sarcastic gems of our neighbours edtorls
Tor u Is well known to he part Of the public pr0>
Gee iings oil the Norfolk Convention, that when the
lesiIng representative OF the peculiar friends of the
Con'ral railroad company was debating the su'iect
oeloro That body he was asked by one Of the ters.
onrg delegation, II the Convention would q, for
J9H Te"nouTsed'o7t to tbs company, for every er-
pen'e 70 which 1t could be ected in re IN I'd lelnz
its road, 40 as, in every respect to cover them by
fnli Naturalization, would ne then agree 10 the Eve
loot suase, and the g9ntem (Nr Lyons) answered
no-and stated, that under 40 circumstances would |
ne yield the narrow guage. Thus see that it is |
not the mere expense Of 70 laying tho road upon |
Wu'ch TINS objection IL grounded. They refused to
hsVo the I'VE foot guago as donation they said
" was gwen TO then as gratuity they would not |
nave it-thst IT TIA. company were placed In tho !
POSSESSION and cnioyment OF the wide guage they |
would not have IT, How, then, can their opposition
DC v'nicalcd or jus,iied upon :he ground that they
viii lose money by the operaiion' n they refuse 10
have wiloit OK ense, how can il be said that thew
are right to refuse Il because it is an esoensey 10
say, then, that there Is objection beyond the con-
n ieration OF this expense and delay would Jc TO
accord to that company laclious and unme,itorious
resistance to great public measure. What is tina
Interior consideration We confess we can see none
worthy Of great Incorporated company.
Let W. take biaG review OF The history Of this sub
Ject. Duting tho setting Of the last Legislature it was
deemed highly important To the interest o the State to
ms>. ~ appmpat IN for The construction Of the Gov
io2t'n I'd Oho Is,iroad. There wefo various rail-
oids 10 tho STATE. built aud being bn. which con,em
p'"i'd conn'cImn with this ruad--sfne " these we're
cVane'ed upon lho broad guageothers uppn the mar.
r'w. The PetIsoufs, South. Sdc--lhe virginia aud
I-"nesses---i,c h'r inold snd Ddnv,lle upon the
bt'sd; the Pctr0arg aud Norfolk required by law to
br b"it or "a t0e road he 4, nt,I " uroad saI q h
'fs "a' lie NuiIh sy'e Upm the naIr,S. IL The we.