Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-05-02
DAILY IlRGlNIAN.
TUESDAY MORNING. MAY :. ls5i
reR THE yIReISIAS.
Va. Y

Hessrs Editors I'm my last, gave many
reasons which Justify the Inference that Norfolk
wien once her great lines of railway shall be open
ed with the West and South west will rapidly
increase in wealth and population, and become
large commercial city and that the line IN qnes.
tion. more than any other. will be the channel
through which she viii draw from the great val
lax,.world of the west the aliment of her CONNER
eial greatness.
These reasons might be increased in number,
for they are rs 'plenty as biaekberries," but
enough have been stated to waken the minds OF
yirrinans to think upon this subject, +" see
whether these things be 50.
In coming to any just conclusions, as to the a.
mount Of through business which may he claimed
Far this line. several things should be consd
cred.
l Thu extent of the whole line into the inte-
rior of the country.
. The number and extent of branches which
will augment its business.
2 The character and productiyeness of theooun-
try through which the line and its branches eS-
tend after passing bey ond the state.
The facilities of the line TO secure the trnde
of the country, as compared with other eompe-
ting lines.
First. As TO the extent of this line il has al
ro.av been shown to be so miles in length; but in
resneet 10 through business il may be regarded as
extending much further BY continuous lines sew
eral of which give an uninterrupted railway eS-
tension from Norfolk of nearly 900 miles.
To Cincinnati will be 66i miles, in direct
line.
To st. Louis $50 miles. To Cairo through
Louisville about 900 miles.
From Cincinnati two lines extend through the
richest portions Of the North west to Chicago
one through Newcastle and Logansport' aud the
other through indianapolis So also two great
lines stretch from Cincinnati TO St Louis-"ne
through Terre Haute and the other through YIN
oennes. Bv the time this line IS constructed to
the Ohio valley. Kentucky viii no doubt have
made her connexions, both down the valley
through Mnysyille to Cincinnati and also tir' ugh
her rich interior districts to Louisville through
Lexington and Frankfort. With tie great lines
of railway passing through OHIO eastward Nir~
ginia will connect her great Norfolk and ONO
line. through Point Pleasant, Gallipohs, through
the valley If Symmts Greek Just below Guyan-
dot,e. through Ironion aud Pcrtsmouth-Ab er-
deem &c.
Thus. by means Of these lateral ronds coming
into the immediate valley Of tire Ohio the whole
interior of the state of Ohio will be furnished with
routes pacing them in easier communication
with Norfolk than with any other Atlantic port.
\ glance at the railroad map Of the West
will speak to the eve and at once show with, what
ava Il web Of railways thu. Ohio arm from Nor
folk will connect N we'll us wi h The 10000 miles
OF canals and nasigable steamboat waters of the
Great West Indeed il would seem that the to
biography of the country would attraet the Nttcn-
ton OF every enlightened citizen of Virginia, to
build this great Norfolk and Ohio arm soon as
possible, not only with single traek with uni
form gauge. but graded also for a double track
through the entire line. From 81. Louis, the
most important commercial centre the Mis-
sis sipp, as well as from the Queen }ty upon the
Ohio the great southern DETECTION of the rivcro
fering the nearest approach to the Al auto; aud
the vhllies of the Great kanawha and the James
River, with the low depression OF the Alephanics
between them, all seeming to indicate this route
through Virginia as the best from the Ohio TO
the Atlantic.
On the other hand. the great Southwest ex-
tension of the Virginia and Tennessee railroad,
with its numerouse aud important branches and
connexions with all the railways of the South
west,w gather in an immense amount of bust
ness from all of them and turn it upon this great
trunk line TO the harbor of Mort TX, as a more
desirable market than Mobile, Charleston or New
Orleans This, in the sequel will, it is believed,
be made TO appear no more than what may be
Justly claimed for Norfolk
In the extent therefore of the main trunk
lines which be may regarded rs connected with
this base line to the Ohio, il will certainly bear
favorable comparison with any other railway
in the United States-and if it be not the avenue
of vast trade it will be owing to the short
sighted policy of Virginia in not opening it
speedily, and in manner compatible with its i'm
portance. 1t may be affirmed without fear of
contradiction, that no railway in the world has
better prospects for immense business than
this Norfolk and Ohio trunk line through Nir-
ginia. So much.in general, for the main trunk
line or lines of this great railway, considered as
base of Virginia roads, and as having one great
trunk line from Norfolk to Christiansburg, and
thence one arm to the Ohio and the other to the
Mississippi, at Memphs-of uniform gauge
The second consideration connected with the
through business of this great line to the Ohio
the number and extent of its branches has been
already anticipated in speaking of the main trunk
lines. The name of these collateral roads is
legion. They are webbed over the whole West
and South west, embraced within the vast region
included within two lines from Norfolk as focal
point-the one 10 Cleveland ON Lake Ere, and