The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-03-23
SUBSCRIPTION 10 THE STOCK OF
THE CENTRAL RAILROAD.

SUBSCRIPTION 10 THE STOCK OF
THE CENTRAL RAILROAD.
In former articles upon this subject, we
have assigned the necessity of this second
application for aid to the fact, that the Legis.
lature adjourned without extending to this
Company the assistance which they sought in
the form of loan, for completing their road
having at the previous session authorized a
loan to every Company in the State which
asked it.
The subscription made by the city last
year, though of itself inadequate to the com
pletion of the road, was sufficient to induce
the Board to place under contract all the
heavy work as far as the Valley of the Jack
sons River, near Clifton Forge. This was
done because it was important to get into
progress this section. containing several tun
nels and bridges, besides other work requir
ing considerable time for execution.
As soon after the city subscription was
made as practicable, the line was located for
contract and, on the 18th of july last it was
let out by the Board, with the firm reliance
that the Legislature would loan on mort
gage of the Company property, as they had
done to others, whatever sum would be re-
quired to complete the road. The result is
known: not one dollar of assistance was Oh
tanned in any form.
Now, we submit, was it an unreasonable
expectation that the Legislature would gran
the Company aid? Had not the Board the
right to expect the same favors to be extend
ed to this Company which had been granted
to others under similar circumstances? We
think all win agree that they had and that it
was not an injudicious act on their part to
put under contract, as they did, the gradua-
ton, bridges and masonry of the whole line
to the Valley of Jacksons River, with the
exception of very few light sections. In
addition to the obligations then incurred of
more than 100000, large amount of pre-
vious contracts, between Waynesboro' and
Miboro', distance OF so miles, had to be
met, besides providing additional depot room
in this city, rolling stock, &C., &c.
1t is under these circumstances, wholly dis
appointed in the just reliance of the Central
Railroad Company on the Legislature, that
think, is far more deeply interested in the
prosecution of the work, than any other por-
tion of the stockholders can be- Richmond
is appealed to, because her interests and
those of the Central Railroad Company are
most closely interviewer with each other
because this Company has always been iden-
titled with her by associations both social and
cia1- CHI hoe ali
ances that the ener yies of the Company will
be exerted to secure to her merchants the
benefits of all the trade committed to them
from the West, and that the advantages
which are enjoyed, will be sufficient to defy
all attempts to divert business from this
market
The Central Railroad Company appeals to
Richmond Tor sympathy and for aid at this
time, because the policy which defeated their
application to the Legislature, and renders
this necessary, would be highly injurious to
the prosperity Of the State and prejudicial to
the interests Of the city, so far as the trade
of the West can affect it. Within a few
days Of the close of the session of the Legis-
lature scheme was developed proposing to
of Bath county, and to direct the appropria-
ton for the Covington and Ohio Road to be
expended west of the mouth of Greenbrier
that being the point where the connection
with the Virginia and Tennessee Road is to
commence.
The scheme of stopping the eastern por.
ton of the Covington and Ohio Road and
&c tbo ..
designed to turn the business of the West on
the south side of James River. 1t was de-
veloped in the House of Delegates by Mr..
Garnett, of Essex with the avowed object of
building up Norfolk. 1t is true it did not
succeed: there was not time to perfect its de-
tails. 1t ought to be enough for our citizens
to know that it was suggested, and that it
will be renewed at the next session, if their
own Indifference about the Central line shall
encourage its advocates.
Now, we have no objection to building ND
Norfolk; nay, it would delight the heart of
every true Virginian to see her second New
'rk, the Empire City of the South. But,
MS scheme must, in point of fact, be as iniu
rlous to Norfolk as to Richmond. We main.
tam that the Canal is the great Improvement
Tor that city, and that every plan which over
81 'ughs the Canal, as this does, overslaughs
the interests of Norfolk, perpetuates the
commercial ascendancy of Baltimore. and
VIII prove Chinese shoe, crampine and
awarilng the growth of the State, and ef1ec.
tuhiy srresting forever its future deyelop.
ment
H,ehmond must suffer from this policy as
Wen as the State at large. Is she prepared 70
SIT tameiy by and witness the perfection of q
seheme teeming with injury to her. r,
withhold aid from the Central Ra;,rooa .,,d
merely incur the hazard of its heinz .rre
ed is exactly the policy which would no A.
.@'eu ny ''iose who are DESTROYS of closing
a., aa "ssnues TO her market, and drawing of
.,'o very nie.piood OF her existence A,
uha da@.