Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-05-04
TO DIP j. Il. RICE.

| TO DIX y. Is. Nllf.
Dear Sir:-The relations existing between You ana
IN, rail road leading from Richmond TO Danvile, III
its iuripient embryo state, induce Inc 1" call %"
YOU As the most tit person to answer some lew ihlerro-
gatories for il ia well known aud reco"ced ny every
Ipember OF our agricultural club, ihu the scheme hhd
| hseu acted on and thrown overheard, to sleep the
| sleep of Rip Van Wrinkle, until scratched up ont Oh
tho ashea where il was stnoudering SOLITARY ana
alone, by yourself; for You were the only member
that had faith enough To believe It could ever be con-
| summarized. And yon not only obtained pledge
| of a liberal subscription from every member oil
tho club but moved in that body. and the In"on pre-
vailed, 10 call Convention to provide means ana
measures To ronsuninatc the scheme. Tho place de-
signatcd for the Convention WINS Charlotte Court
House, and, well rs memory serves me- II was su5-
gested by other member that 1t would embrace
larger interest to tack the Roanoke Company IA
a secondary consideration, which you accepted
Consequently, two parties sprung ul-the ono tor the
navigation. the other for tho road. w. L. TunstH
aud 7. =. Flournoy wers the knght.crrnnts for the
different partiesMr. T. advocating The interest OF the
road while Mr. F., with equal zeal supported tho nny
CATION. The contest warm and we'll sustained 10y
each party. Mr.. Tunsull i'll several well directed 10
rays against cUnbataEts not at all Gespshoie con-
Quoted himself with great fsaliantrv, bore oil the
palm of victory, and established the scheme "t the
road permanently, not without rchortng to every mr.
gumcnt his fertile imagination cohd invent 10 sustain
him. He drew moot gloomy picture OF the decline
| of this portion OF the Statr, nnd illustrating Il by
| facts proved that wheat in PusylvaniR, after de
Quoting freight, worth only - cents bnshei, aud
Irish potatoes were actually IL cents less IMAM h"
thing, all OF which results lie alleged were produced
By want OF CONVEYANCE Ia market. His antagonist
had you know, to meet and reintc this argument rs
| best he cuulH.
| have now come +" the point OH which wish you IL
be explicit arcorn the best oi your recollection
not voluntarily but due 10 Justice and the commit
nifty In which you live, III answer the following inter-
| roGat0rles
| First. AZ tho meeting appointed at Your i'll
| stance and the place Your selection, what was the
nrIn1 md La ~ M lItfID
To improve the navigation 10 take measures tn con-
struct rail road between tie two points, 10 wit
| Richmond and Danvlel
In the next place, wish you to state 10 me what
were the sentiments conveyed 10 your mind by Mr.
Flournoys speech, in rcfutation OF Mr. Iunstas IT,
marks on that Occasion!
In answering the above, You will confer a favor Oh
| u TREND. VIM. BAl-DNl IN
Dear Sir II received yours by servant on yc,cr
day, and noted It's contents You request 10 know OF
me- something of the early history of the Richmond
and Danville Kali Road, | being ono OF IFS earliest
! and most Jealous friends.
! As far a. | know or believe, the first action ever
taken Oh this subject, IL this neg hhorho"d. y
few gentlemen met tor the purpose O. discussing the
| prcpricty Of constructing ra road from Richmond
10 Danviile and came to the conclusion, among other
things, 10 have county meeting at Charlotte Conri
House, for the purpose III learning Tue scise oi Tue
| community on The subject. Notice was given to thai
|
Farmvillc, suggesting and insisting on Cos"f"t.og
a; ua' iaacc. This subject was a COOL deal dis:
cnsse,' and 1t WINS finally settled that the place ct
meeting sh"wd be Charlotte Court House. ind the
meeting " convention of all the interests concerned.
mere were ON the day, number of delegates present
| itHeseuiuS tarmviiie, Rielus'd, Petersburg. Dau-
is, aua al .he intermediate country. There were
ho'hPortan' .stions discussed before this Cunven'
iHn ono the R'chmond and Danville Rail Road
Sasl'' euf"Sated by our lamented and respected
| uenu w. T. iunstal, and others The other the
sack,Wn'rr navigation scheme of the Roanoke aud
its tr!Gu'arcs' thu Dan and S,uuntun rivers, adyo
and others. '"'1''''
Twas present during the whole of these discussions
in Convention Mr.. Tuus,all gave LIS II lively and
striking picture OF the deeneracy and fallen fortunes
of Old Virginia, aud attributed it 10 the war of ra.v
safe and cheap transportation and gave the Instances
you alude to- with others I" prove the onero.4 char
acter o: the costs and charges upon produce made in
| Pittsylvsni and the counties above.
Mr.. I. :. Flournoy, Of Halifax county. took part in
these discussions and in reply to Mr. T. in regard to