Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-08-21

would cost 0OO which less than ago 900 per mile
nave not the slightest intention Of rejecting Oh Col
Gsrnet but knouledge OF the character OF that country
along The ccsosted Nsu river ch fotbids the idea Of
building railroad there for $40 900 Der mile Even sup
posing that Col Garpet msed by the usual de.
sire to make u: eos' as small az possible |, be
thss be was estimating the expense Of road
when the prices lron labor and provisions were nearly
100 per cent lsss than now
We will assume land believe the concession too
great that the Covng,on line may per cent per
mile more :han the New river line Mr. Fisk estimates the
Covngton at 600 which Is 900 per mile for 81
mies On The allowed difference, tho New river must be
put at only $4,000 per mile costing t2 900. being
rail- q difsrssts Of only $685., 600
Now, wo -, VII any msn recommend that the State
shall make Ne sacrifice which will follow the abandon
ment OF the spgton line for the hope of saving 1900
600, ,ha, viii -. probably DO realized, II the Coving-
ton Road supphnted BY the New river line Il will cause
State investments 20 the amount Of $4,000 become
dead capital What will the James river canal west Of
Lynchburg b worth The receipts will not pay the
repairs and salaries OF officers What will the State
&c, for the outlay 10 the Central Railroad west Of Sun
ton! There Is the Blue Ridge Tunnel too aud the work
contracted for the Covng,on section These sums
may be put down follows:
Expended 90 Canal west Of Lyuchburg in
GLIDING he completion Of contracts. q, 900 900
States portion Of Centrd Road west of
Stauntop, 100000
Expended On cas-. end Of coviug,ou and
Ohio Road, 100000
Blue Ridge Tunnel say, 100000
Total, $sOOOOOO
Tho substitution Of New river for the Coving ton line,
will render I'll this expenditure the part Of the State
unproducavs, and in consideration thereof IL should be
held accountable for part Of its cost We think ia
fairly dsneoststed that proper adjustment Of the
account OF COST the Southern line will be far the eI
ensive TO the State besides the loss Of immense benefits
that might certainly be expected om the ssucon OF
the other line.
The results, therefore, of thus inquiry are
LIST. That the Southern line Norfolk Is &c miles
longer than the Central line TO Richmond $50 miles OF
the Central line being canal
3D. That is lle miles longer, by railroad Norfolk
| than to Richmond.
3D. That it is 81 miles longer than to Ethan, all the
way by railroad.
4th. That it is 90 miles longer than by railroad to deep
water % James river, below Harrison's bar.
9th That between the mouth OF Greenbrer and Lynch
burg, distance Of l6S miles, 60 feet grades occur fire.
quenty, while the Other 90 feet grades the highest
opposing the heavy trade and that engine
will carry freight this for nearly one-ha Of its cost or
the New river line.
9th That owing to the Southern location Of the line
and OF Norfolk, It's terminus the outskirts of the Com
monwesth, IL cannot (even If successfully benefit CIT
izens as much as If the line passed through centre
the State through the whole cluster of our Minera
Springs, and terminated at central point like Redmond
which dfuses its benefits in every direction.
7th. That the actual of constructing the two vi
differ but little and il the Southern supplants the Contra
line that SSOOOUOO of State investment will have beer
rendered reproductive to which should added its
cost, making upwards of slOOOO,OOO.
sth. That owing u the ncApicty Of the New Rive
line Jr transporting low rates and its ina riy TO ge
large travel to sustain its transportation Of rcieh.
must fa in bringing the Western trade through Virginia
9Th. That the CcntrA line 10 Covingon and thencs b,
water TO Norfolk is the reliable surprising the obec
TO be to build up Norfolk, II being onIy 81 miles arhe
than the Southern line, the Central line having the al
vantage OF only 20 feet grades coming down. and mile
OF water transportation.