Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-08-21
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REPLY TO "EASTERN -VIKGlNIAS."
Conn. cisn OF Tds-war In yirrni. with the pre-.
duel tate. lying tbs Ohio End Mi.-l.-pPi
The reply the various numbers OF Eastern Yrgiban
which have designed make, has been postponed from
that the discussion, and therefore
unnecessary to mention and do not propose to
follow the example Of writing succession Of articles th
msst be very brief
We sgree in the necessity Of making this great CONNER
cia connection through Virginia. The question be de-
cided s on which line shall lDbe made.
eastern Virginau recommends the line properly cal
led the ousrn be au,s skirts the Southern border
OF the State viz From Norfolk by Petersburg Lynch-
burg. and Chrsansburg thence down New River the
mouth of Grseubrier River.
We prefer the line properly called the Central" be-
Il passes through the Of the State viz con
sspg Of the James River Canal from Richmond to Gov.
mouth Of Greenber River from which point the mouth
Of Sandys the Kentucky line these two competing
| are the same.
let distinctly understooj tina, these are the com
petng propositions viz: will the productions Of the gre
Yves. be likely to take the South Side the Cen
trail lines The trade Of the West Is what to en-.
rich Virginia. Dividends the stock Of any Railroad
will not make Virginia great State; the travel Is only
important a by which q line afford to trans
port tonnage low rates which, without that source
profit would be compelled to charge high Of
portation.
We SHALL however omit the subject Of travel as We
think in that view OF the question: well as the simple
capacity for transporting tonnage, the Central line has
the advantage.
eastern Virginan has devoted good deal of effort TO
establish propositions that will DO controveed because
they admitted to be true. and applicable the
Central line than TO the Souihan.
ls That it is Of vital Importance to Virginia. to open
some communication with tho States bordering on the
Ohio aud Mississippi rivers.
end. That the advantages Of Virginia route and
shipment from Virginia port will secure an immense
Srd. That there should be no petty jcalousnes as this
is an Improvement proposed for Virginia Common
! wealth.
4h. That should adopt that line, best calculated to
bring the trade Of the to Virgins markets.
| We will add 9Th proposition which ought to
mand the approval Of every traeheared Of the old
| Dominion.
5th. Couceiing Tor the sake Of argument, (which We
cannot admit that either Of Tho lines would command
the western rade That should be- adopted which would
impart TO the Commonwealth OF Virgnii the greatest
good-which would distribute its benefits through the
widest circle to the greatest number OF citizens be.
this is question Tor Virginia alone and not for
section o! the Union, embracing her only part.
| THE GUAGE QUESTION
We shall devote very little time this branch Of the
discussion the in dispute ia only the difference
between feet, the Virginia aud Tennessee gulge and
feet l-2. the guage OF the Central RDri, viz: l..
inches We propose scientific comp ARSON Of thcs,
tgo giigeI much has been written about bruI1 aud
narroS ggiges Le. It be remembered that whatever
have been claimed for the wide guage dos apply
In this ease, IA feet belongs really the class
guageS From & feet 7 feet arc the " lie eulg.-
II va 10 adult, which indeed deny that thu
wide Cuaga had any aJv!ntlge IL is plain the most
ordinary thinker, tat an increase ui l2 inches in the
width of Rurold rack mus; make very uuimporau
difference. The importance these few inches
dis that At the mouth OF ssenber, the other
these nss supro'ng both made. labor under the
disadvantage VI having the lrcghLs rehanrj aud chang
cd irnm SCI uiclr. 90 the other; which will be
riOus obstruction ~ ualc. II c';I fish coat-
dcndy .Spir', that the Icaual line. is the
true Vusul- luz, then / feet L. inches
shOu!i t,S adopted bcL uso thus secure unbro-
KEN connections With the states oi Ohio Kentucky
by their rods Of INT width. A far are informed
those roads coming to terminus whose qua
grs ixei, adopted that Width tho Maysvc and
big sand, the most important, certainly has; IL
should be- adopted iOr another rcasou il will correspond
with tue Virginia Central Road, which il supposed will
carry the Passengers an light goods whilst the heavy
| tonnage will tlke the canal.
by adopting l-2 for the CovinRton aud Ohio Road
We secure oil the advantages OF unbroken suage
only within State but Cincinnati and Louisville in
deed may say, Saudusky on the Lakes aud to ST.
Louis the Missouri.
We promsed To attempt present scientific views
this gauge question bat The facts conclusive
that there objection that be properly urged the
width of s | ..
lat In England an elaborate discussion took place be-
tween Mesrs Stevenson Brune two of their most dis
tinguished Enginees aud also patient enquiry be-
fore committee OF Parliament, determine whether the
ge should be abandoned in favor of the wide
| gauge. The result adhering to the 4 s l.9.
2nd. comparison of the acull power OF Locomotive s
ihe two guages taken from the everyday working on
the Erie Road, in Ney York. which is g feet WIDE and
several narrow guage roads publshei by 2rah Col
burn distinguished machins during the last year. In the
columns of the Railroad Journal showing that the mar
rowguage locomotive possessed the effective power
and remained unconlajcted by the officers Of the Erie
Company.
sd very large proportion of Railroads In This country
which are doing the heaviest business both IN freight
and passengers, have tho guage viz the Grea
Western from Boston Albiny-the Pennsylvania Cen
trail from Philadelphia TO Pittsburg-the New York Cen
trail from Albany TO Buidlo-the Baltimore and Ohio
Road, and the Hudson river Road this last built since
the discussion OF the gu'gc question has excited much
interest," and constructed with special reference cOmpe-
on with imb0is the Hudson for freight and
sengers These narrow guige roads doing the largest
business OF any in this country there surely then be
objection l2 inches indeed we arc satisfied tina,
il is the best There will no dispute on this pont viz.
that its reduced width will cost in the construction
OF tunnels and the general excavation OF the roadway
much Of which encounters rock.
| THE NEST RoprE poR VIRGINIA
Let rs discard, "Elstern Yirginan advises all local
jealoises, aud in the true spirit OF Virginia patriotism
enquire which OF these lines will be most conducive
to the great Interests of our State aud in doing this we
must determine whether each may be relied on to lra
TO cities the vast productions of the Wesi-wheher
there DO grave aud serious doubts whether the New
River line can command the business and il can weth.
the Instruction Of the Coyiugton line will not secure
business to greater number OF our citizens.
| DISTANCES M rae ROUTES IRE FONT WHERE LARGE
VESSELS WOULD MEKr THE TRADE.
| Southern Line 10 Norfolk
We assume the distances stated by Eastern Vrginian
for this line, although he has made them a. seems 10
u', little short certainly in the of Iynclburg to
Cnrsansburg, thence to the mouth of Greenbrier less
by IA miles than Col GIrnett made the same distances
| 10 n recent report.
J Noi'k aud PETERSBURG railroad, 10 miles
! Petersburg TO Lynchbutg, 100 miles
LYncnouFS 10 oh'isuansouTg 81 miles.
oh'stlah-Onrs 10 lnonlh OF Grecnircr, n miles.
Mouth oi Grtenbrcr to Big Sandy 100 mice.
Iotal' 800 miles.
Cra'rdi Line BY Raiirodi 10 Richmopd
from bg Siudy " toe mouth OF Greenhrer, 100 miles.
ON ne mouth OF "Feehbrier TO Covington, 6I miles.
| COyiugton TO StluntOn, 10 miles
stanton 70 OhaH9ne,''Ic' 80 miles.
| vlIe, (css - oy short triok.) ~ miles.
Total an .,
Richmond to Ethan, as mile.
| Total