Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-05-31
DAILY VIRGINIAN.
wFpyIspAY MORNING.. MAY 81, is5l.


md fhe advertising columns OF our paper 'oa'
From, to- morrow, the cars will run regularly 70
the Central Depot, on New River, and 'ha' ine
,,,,a.sny Of the Eastern Division of this grea'
work is 10 be inaugurated by an excursion ana
free barbecue, given by the gentlemen in the VI
c;n;fv of the Depot. We cannot doubt that
large number of our citizens will avail themselves
of the opportunity to psrtske OF the hospitality OF
our friends in the CREST basin OF the Mississippi
The occasion is one of great interest, not only
e this community, bat to the State at large ana
to the cause of Internal Improvement IN the I'm
ted States We do not wish TO indulge IN sen
,,lorification and shall, therefore, allude IN the
most obliaue manner possible, to the oomplaeeh-
CIV with which Luxembourg may reasonably con
temnla.e what has been already achieved and
an,,cinate what another year may accomplish
towards the realization of scheme, the conoep.
ton of which was an epoch IN her destiny aha
gaye a new impulse and consistency to the great
cause of Improvement. No one familiar with It's
history can denv that the Virginia and tennessee
R.;lroad l. ms much the child of Lynchburg, as
tho baltimore and Ohio Railroad is the child of
the noble city at It's eastern terminus. When we
consider the relative population, wealth ana re-
sources Of the two places, and reflect that par
taking nj kindred difficulties the one road Is half
ms long as the other and that it will be compile
ted within less than six years from ITS commence
ment. whilst the other has tasked the energies OF
a spirited people for quarter OF a century'-We
have no reason to shrink from the contrast when
we associate the name Of Lynchburg with that of
the most enterprising city in the Union. But rs
we have intmated, desire TO be modest aud
pass from this topic,to brief notice of the dlYis-
ion of the road now brought into use.
The whole work Is of the heaviest character
nartioularly the first five miles from town and
Tho thirteen in which the ascent of the Allegheny
is accomplished. There are parts OF this latter
section which cost $50 200 per mile. The pas
sage of the Blue Ridge was, at one time' looked
upon as something of bug-bear. The work, 1t
is true, was heavy, but the traveller is not sensl
bic, by diminuton of speed or any other elrcnm-
stances, that he is overcoming the barrier which
once made almost distinct political and social
communities of Eastern. and Western Virginia.
The tunnel near town is $50 feet in length. Be
sides this. there are three others on the eastern
slope Of the Allegheny, the shortest 300 feet, and
the longest $50 The route from this city to the
Tennessee line measures two hundred and four
miles. The Central Depot, as Its name Imports,
is about half way the distance. Here, very ex-
tensve freight and engine houses, as well as an
extensive machine shop, under construction.
A couple of miles beyond, the road crosses New
River-one of the most beautiful streams we ev-
err saw-by noble bridge of six spans and seven
hundred and thirty feet in length. Whilst indi-
vidual miles have cost immense sums, we are glad
TO say the whole road, when completed and fully
stocked with locomotives and cars sufficient for II
very large business, will not exceed the original
ly estimated average cost of s25,0O0 per mile
The road is throughout admirably located and
constructed. The rail is Of the heaviest kind of
the U. shape. The maximum grade, encountered
by produce seeking an eastern market, is but60
feet 10 the mile, while that going west is % feet
The difficulties presented by the hysical features
of the region which is traversed called for all the
resources of science and experience. PROBES
sional men only can fully appreciate the triumph.
which have been achieved; but laymen, at Il
glance, can see that no ordinary skill has beer
displayed. No road in Virginia nor in the South
can compare with this in the obstacles overcome
We do no more than our duty, when we shy tn,
work reflects the very highest credit upon tn,
chief Engineer, CHAs. +. NJ. GARNETr, Esq.
who has brought TO bear upon it the skill and ex
perience acquired in other states of the South
We cherish no unworthy sectional prejudice, bu
il may be allowed us to dwell eompacently upol
the faet, that the greatest work in Virginia In
been executed by one of her own sons. Ihi
confidence in native talent does not seem to char
acterze the directories of other improvement
companies, since, if we mistake not, there is bu
one other native Virginian employed as Enginee
in Chief in the State. Col GARNET stands il
no need of the puff direct, collateral, from Us
but, whilst calling attention to work with whcl
his name must be indissolubly connected, com
mon justice requires that we should bear on
feeble tribute to his high professional attainment
and reputation
The great difficulties overcome. Tn
route beyond New Riveris comparatively fayora
bic. The work will now advance rapidly to com
pietion The cars will reach Newborn by Is
July, and Wythevle, 1876 miles, during tn
month of September. All the heavy work i
done as far as Abingdon, and nothing will pre-
vent the laying of the iron at the regular rate d
progression. As the rails are supplied, of course
from this end only, this rate cannot be aceelera
led. There is no reason to doubt that, by tn
middle of the autumn of next year, the cars vii
reach the Tennessee line.
And this prompts usto correct very genera
misapprehenson-viz. that this great work ha
been carried on with less yigor than the pabli
had a right to expect. Now, we venture to as
sert, without the fear of contradiction, that II
enterprise of any thing like the same magnitud,