Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-05-02
rso. 2 I


MrssRs EpIroRs The great central trunk line OF rail-
usys from the mouth OF the Chesapeake TO the Ohio
through Virginia, which should and doubtless NJ conc
future day, will form consolidated line, under one
direction at present broken up into several distinc,
roads, as follows: Fli E7T
The Norfolk and Petersburg railroad from Norfolk
The South Side Railroad from Petersburg to Lynch.
burg-l2o miles.
s. The Virginia and Tennessee Railroad from Lynchburs
TO Christisnsburg-54 milss
Z. The New River Railroad, branch from Christians
burg to tho mouth OF Grecnbrer-77 mes Aud
b. The Covugton and Ohio Railroad from the mouth
OF the Gresnbrier to the mouth Of the Big Sandy-lsO
milcs.
This computation makes the whole distance Of this
great trunk line from Norfolk the Kentucky line In the
valley of the Ohio $50 mies-the whole distance within
the Sate and which, n under direction, and
With liberal aud enlightened policy, would be uusurpsss.
ed by any in the United States dividend paying road
and its collateral advantages to all the great interests
the State.
A few years since It the professed desire of the
Baltimore aud Ohio Railroad Company reach tho Ohio
as to tap the currents Of trade flowing through this
great artery Of the West The aud enter
prise displayed by that Company in pushing their
noble work, worthy Of all praise, and the rapid
most unprecedented growth Of the Monumental City, is
practical commentary upon its Importance. The great
valley Of the West having been reached, the same en-
ghened policy which first looked to the Ohio, is now
extending the iron pathway the river aud peuera
ing the fertile regions of the West Cincinnati ST. Lou.
is and other great centres Of trade in that wonderful
gion.
sdelphia are the great compeers Of Baltimore, and the
Immediate completion OF this great line OF Virginia will
place the Old Dominion in this honorable rivalry.
Any enterprise short OF this Is unworthy the great in
of the Commonwealth; aud yet mere local or sec
onal roads to have occupied the attention of the
people and of the Legislature of Virginia Few
have looked far contemplate the trade Of the
West which is crowdng the western border OF the State
aud which would, il this great trunkn were opened
passed through the centre Of the Commonwealth the
tide waters OF the Chesapeake Many even Of the friends
10 Al 4 in othe vie
than as road to accommo daie the part of the
State and have expressed great doubt whether the
ness, beyond the domestic trade of Western Virgins,
were matter of much Importance Such iberai and
short-sighted views at least ty years behind
age.
Immense as would be the domestic business spripsins
up along the whole line of this road when the snd
varied resources of the State developed still, a.
have before said IL the whole of country from The
Ohio to the Chesapeake were barren waste, the osogn
business which will pass this road, would justify
immediate outlay of double its whole cost in order
cure its construction.
No matter what may be its cost the honor the wea til
and prosperity Of the State demand its mmed cons,c
ton. Not that there will not be left large business to
be done upon this road whenever il shall be built hut
the danger of delay is that the collateral
rents OF trade which would naturally tbs
,iu channel being turned into other rival ch
cannot hereafter be easily reclaimed This line from Mr.
folk TO the mouth Of Big Sandy, has been show
will be $50 miles, but the main river depot will probably
be located ten miles short OF the Kentucky line 30
that the actual extent of this great trunk line of Virginia will
be about $40 miles and will be the only great line wholly
lying within State, which opens from the great West
To the Atlantic and next 10 the Illinois Central will Is
longest in the word-when completed il will be one Of
the most important in the United States.
No State in the Union has much stake in her raj
roads as has Virginia and in other road has the Sae
so much at stake as in this great work. aud yet public
tenon is sought TO be d, erted from it. while merely L.
cal roads pressed upon the legislature with gene.
aS about in the inverse ratio of their real Importance
On the constr uction Of this line depends the pto,
periy OF Norfolk, as the commercial emporium of tie
State, and OF the whole southwest portion of the Unto,
Upon the building up OF great commercial tn
mouth of the Chesapeake depends the concentration
mary great lines OF railways in course Of building
which If turned upon Norfolk would make the local cen
re on the Atlantic, of the largest system of railways in IT,
world, and which alone raise the Comm nwealth
Virginia TO the first rank among the Atauc States.
On the other hand unless Virginia pursue. such poll
cy she will have commercial centre and the great line
OF railways which might be concentrated upon Norfolk
gill be turned off in various directons drawing all bu.i
nes enterprise out of the State and leaving the Old Do
minion alone, not in her pory but in her poverty and
commercial degradation
AN EASTERN VIRGINIAN.