Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-01-04
To the Legislature of Virginia.

For the Wbig
VIII you allow an humble ndy idual to make fer re-,
To you in reference the extension of the Orange
ana Alexandria Railroad to the city Of Lynchburg. 10
not propose To discuss the question: whether or not this
extension will he made for regard that as inevitable
Yet while II mus, nHd win inevitably be made on ndi
Sidua or joint account, the aud three -fnhs sys
TEN, 10y individuals and the State il NAV be postrooed
Tor several years, unless it receives favorable consera
ton by you this Winter.
Surely H you make any appropriation for Internal Inn.
provementa this Winter il onght be for this work Al
low III" TO 90 farther aud ought by all means 10
make an appropriation from the State Treasury of three
hiths oil the stock necessary make this extension ma
yided individuals will subscribe two Ghs and this hay.
no doubt they will do promptly when YOU shalhaye pass,
ed law providing fora subscription OF three ths on tho
part OF the State for the counties Of Abcmarle Nelson
aud Amherst and the city Of Lynchburg by their citizens
have already subscribed 100000 and by individual
or III their corporate capacity subscrib. 900 more
provided you will provide for athreebs subscription on
the part Oh the STATE Thus that have
confidence in the utility OF this road which will cuutc TO
It's early completion, provided You will give helping
manu- nye sad you ought to aid in this important
WORK. now undertake to show why, rs statesmen YOU
cannot fail TO do In the first place suppose ndyi
duas would take the whole stock there wonld he difficulty
in reference To the tolls the road Gordonsy lille being
on JOINT accounts but from there Lynchburg il would
he wholly on individual account still would all be u,
road under the same officers and yet owned
self
TO induce you To pass bill providing for State subscrp
tion more especially you satisfied that this will be
nteiespayiDg stock. And am sure no member or rour
honorable body will Tor mcnt, doubt IT, when you look
10 II as connecting link between the city of Lynchbutg
and Alexandria, which will open most direct and near
est route rom the South and Southwest the North and
Noath-east, that be opened and will OF necessity ac
commodate the largest of travel Of any raood in
TIT United States. And again is t not manifest thai
this link when completed will OF ITSELF be very pro6ta.
to the State. But think there no sane ma WIN nm
der'tands the Geography Of the United States and the
connexion Of continuous railroads which are made and
being made but will admit that to make this conncctn
link will increase the tolls the Orange and Alexandria
and the Virginia and Tennessee railroads at least two fold
rms being set down certain, may not with confidence
appel to III nhtIntcrna Improvement members TO eyo
this extension their aid as means of roplcnishnp tbo
treasury to considerable Of what il has been and
sun IS beng drained Of for the purpose of building local
ana unpIohtaolo plank and turnpike roads And again
appehI To The Legislature to aid in this work because
Nelson and Amherst although they have willingly couiri-
bhed 10 all the Improvements in the State and received
nohngmore thar the james river canal which washes the
southern extremity Of each of those countics The writer
mas always been IN hvOr of cautious and well dgestcd
system oil Internal Improvement but opposed the lanes
RIVER Canal at s then in favor of
railroad from Lynchburg to the Tennessee line hut after
te canal was commenced aud every scheme made t, give
place to tat, wa IN favor Of pressing 10 its compo.
lou ~ rapidly as possible. Net because expected tbe
socs to be worth anything but because desired TO SEQ
completed "a order that other and important
works might be commenced SILL such was nv want OF
confidence in the work that never could be induced TO
ikc one share Of that stock Not 20 with this extension
nave confidence that will he the very best stock In
t' STATE hdeiorc, have taken shares in this al
houSh may have to sell property paw H. md am
willing my county shall lie taxed IN her corporate cnacty
MY thousand dollars TO make this road. Let inc trsce
you ~ conclusion, not TO postpone this work to auoher
session OF the Legislature, but grant tho appropriations
ana et us buid the road il order that the profits NAV
begin to dow into the treasury by the time YOU meet
again. EOCEFIcU