Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-07-15
DAILY IIRGINIAN.
SATURDAY MORNING. JULY Is, 1854.
We publish below an interesting lelter from

subject of our great Southwestern improve
ment. The success with which many and grave
Obstacles have been overcome in the vigorous
opening of the Virginia and Tennessee road as
the pioneer line of steam communication with the
magnificent South West and the brilliant pros
pect which is opening before il of prosperity and
of created wealth to the State should afford to no
one higher sense Disqualification than to the elo-
Quent author Of this letter. In the darkest hour
of the improvement interest of Virginia, he was
ever at his post as its advocate and it champion.
Even the oyster fed apathists of Underwater
were aroused to partial action BY his persuasions;
and the graphic pictures he then drew of the
wealth that would follow in the train of the steam
car, in its rapid course amidst the rich vallies of
the South West, are even now realized a. pro-
phetic verities To Mr.. i. a. the colleague in
the Legislature, cooperating with the reprcscn-
tatives and no less active advocates OF the mca-
sure from this city. the State. we believe. in the
results of the work, will yet confess a debt of
gratitude for its seourcment such New York
has acknowledged to her Clinton.
VIRGINIA, July 6, 1854.
Another section of the Virginia aud Tonnes
see Railroad opened On the 18th inst, aud
Virginia has now pushed her line Of commercial
communication, with few incomplete intervals,
from the cities of Norfolk. Rich nond and Pc
tersburg, across the Alleghany. and is turning
those products which naturally tend to III eMis
sissippi Valley, TO her own Atlantic outlets
The reversal of the existing Ira le, Is, however
insignificant in comparison with the inevitable
development of IA region of great fertility here
tofore too far froi1 market ior agriculture South
western Virginia combines perhaps rs many adj
vantages as any country Whatever. It, climate
is equable, healthy, aud adapted 10 the produc-
ton Of tobacco or the cereal grains; il is, be-
sides, natural grass country and raises an irl-
mense amount Of beef cattle. But thu effect of
tho Railroad has been to convert 5 nth western
Virginia and Eastern Tennessee into an agrieul-
nj instead OF pastoral region, and lands have
risen 10 the price which their great natural fer
tility added 90 their sudden aud artificial prox-
unity to market, has justified. Indeed Il line of
more magnificent commercial consequences could
not well be traced, than that destined 10 brngin
great part the products Of the South. western
States to the ports of the Chesapeake. Depart
eng from the port of Norfolk, uniting in its west
ward course with roads from Baltimore, Alexan-
dria Richmond and Petersburg. this follows the
Divide between the james and Roanoke rivers
posses into the valley of the james river, AT the
hourisning and prosperous city of Lynehburg-
crosses the Blue Ridge without u tunnel or II
maximum grade, and gains the beautiful valley
OF the upper Roanoke. following this to its ter.
miuation, II descedds TO the llnlsion, aud by its
Tennessee extensions irnverses the Central
South west-~-opcns direct commnn cations with
the Gulf ports, with thoronghinre to Central
America aud the Pacific Ocean This line is all
under charter, in great part under construction;
aud It's cofnpletioni is inevitable Indeed the de-
Honstration of ENERGY and kill in the eonstruc-
tion of artificial works of improvement by the
people of the South west entirely upsets the the
DRY that intelligent industry depends upon lat-
tude. The whole completed line of road has
been constructed with slave labor chiefly under
local contractors The ancient opposition to
works of artificial transportation has Welded To
an experimental conviction of its ynst alyanta-
ges, and the whole region traversed by the sys-
TEN, seems like country awakened by the sud
den discovery of some valuable mineral. The
celebration TO which reference has been made,
was singular evidence of the social as we'll as
commercial revolution which railroads occasion
The city of Petersburg has with astonishing en-
ergy opened connecting line # road about 100
miles in length. Upon this road came to celebrate
the progress OF the common enterprise, the peo-
pie and politicians of the Tide-water country
Some of these gentlemen bad been trained 10 de
nounce tale works as an imposition upon one
section for the benefit of another. They had
been educated TO look upon Western Virginia as
the enemy of Eastern Virginia, and 10 npprcheud
from its growth the establishment of IA dominant
and oppressive power. 4 few hours transported
them from the fogs and feyers of the terra calen
te, through region clad in corn, wheat, and to.
bacco-adorned with forests, meadows aud herds
animated with lofty mountains, aud with limpid
streams, they met among the enthusiastic thou
sands assembled to greet til, m able aud educated
men, accomplished aud beautiful women. They
found wealth and elegance accompanied with that
hospitality which is born of generosity and album.
dance. Ii was explained TO thes gentlemen that
these were their fellow citizens and that this wa,
part of their own Virginia. which having beer
by narrowipolicy shut ont from access to tn.
family hearth, had been growing in isolated anc
restricted prosperity. They were assured that
the productive and social commerce of that coun.
try would be borne upon tint iron way &c
the broad ports from which their visitor.
came, aud that the shouting thousands who
alhed the hills TO witness the advent of thai
great missionary Of concord and prosperty--tht
locomotive, would nj the sunni ons of their com
mon country, come in that mighty war o,.ariot I,
chastise any invaders. Then these gentlemen
could not contain their emotions. but made mos
magnanimous admissions of ancient error. will
the most sincere declarations that il was renoun
eed forever and the humane missionary yhiol
had accomplished what Calhoun, Hayne, and ia,
whole school OF chiyalry and metaphysics was un
able to do, stood shining in the sun; seemingly
conscious OF It's pc eeful triumph, CONTEMPLATING
the scene of fraternal affection, and extnguisheS
alarm, which had followed in its iron path an,
which lad been evoked by its fiery breath, an(
then departing like an iron shuttle weaving to
Igether distant interests and affections into al
harmonious, and indissolublo fabric.
There were present on this occasion some o.
the enterrprising of Baltimore who prefer explor
ing the distant ii terror to the luxury of soft crab
and the pleasures of perfecting themselves il tn,
scien''fc amusement of tenpns. These gentle
men looked with delight upon region which SEN,