Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-07-24
Capacity Of Mountain Top Track 10 Ca1-
ry Freight,

ry Freight.
We are glad, al this iuncture to receive
from the President of the Central Read
the following statement of the amount If
| business which can be done on the track
which has been built over the top of the
Blue Ridge TO accommodate the western
trade uniiI the tunnel is completed, which,
owing to the difficulties Of that work, will
require three years.
But whilst our patience is taxed in
waiting for the achievement OF this noble
undertaking Of the Legislature, which so
effectuany untes us with the valley, and
is the great agent for opening the way to
the trade of the Ohio, Richmond ought TO
feel her sympathies for the Central Road
doubly excited, in consequence of the
readiness with which the Company has
taxed itself with the expense of building
this SO called temporary track, which is,
in point of fact, one OF She most solid and
permanent tracks III the United States.
The company have at the present time
two locomotives Of great power, construc-
ted with general reference to the nature
of that track They have no tender or
separate carriage for wood and water : but
there is a continuance for taking these on
the back OF the locomotive, thus dispensing
with the drausht Of the carriage, and at
the same time increasing the adhesion and
consequently the power Of the machine.
One OF these engines was built by Bald
win Of Philadelphia, and the other by our
enterprisins citizen, J. r Anderson. The
Bald" in can carry over the mountain three
cars loaded with either freight or passen-
gers; tae Anderson is the more power
fal Of the two and can carry more, but
under the influence of the rigid system OF
prudence that characterizes the manage
ment, the load of that too is limited 10
three cars.
The net load OF freight in three cars is
about ~ tons, and each engine can with
ease make two tri,,s-three If pressed
each way. Tith two trips to each en-.
CINE, there would be carried eastward 80
tons per day, or Of produce, in 300 days,
"a 600 tons.
The company are expecting daily an
other engine of equal power, and fourth
Of somewhat less for these add only one
half of what the two present machines
carry-1200 tons-making, with the two
present engines, $4,000 tons-equal to
366,OO0 barrels of flour (ten barrels to the
TOM This is for tonnage only one way,
viz: eastward.
Suppose the estward tonnage to be
only two-thirds Of this amount, we have
merchanize, going west, "a, 900 tons, max
track is capable of transporting of SIXTY
THOUSAND TONS.
We ask, is not this an amount of busi-
ness 10 be gained west of the Blue Ridge,
worthy Of the most earnest efforts of Rich
mond? Would it not then be suicidal to
withhold aid from the Company until the
Tunnel is done? If Richmond does net
step forward at the present crisis the
Company may be overcome by the dis
heartening cold of the city.
The is one view of this question which
cannot be urged too often, or with too
much earnestness. Richmond ought to
press the Central road up TO Covington,
teto,e The neri meeting Of the Legislature.
Let her but aid the company to accom- plish
that, and with the work performed by
the State west Of that point, SO little will
be left of the disputed line that it cannot
be abandoned.
II, on the contrary, the Central road is
found, by the next meeting OF the Legs
lature to have made but little progress. the
motive will be a powerful one for attempt
ing to stop it. To the polls then, fellow
citizens of Richmond, on Monday next,
vote the $1,000 which obtains from the
State s l30, 600 more, and secure to your
city the overlooking benefits of the Yves
tern traee.-Dispatca.