Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-11-01

& Tenn rail road. Nor can this condition "i
thin-s be changed by any future improvements
for our road is defended by impossible mountain
barriers from all competition.
What q brilliant future this opens to US ana
what prominence it giyes Ia the Virginia ana
Tennessee rail road as the Highway OF eomlnu
nication between the two great sections Of the
Union
There is yet one other point 10 examine into.
1t is the effect which the projected Rabun Gap
road is to have on in competing for the nade
at Knoxville--our travel it cannot affect.
The following are the distances:
l. Knoxville to Charleston 1oi
2 Knoxville TO Richmond i39
g. knoxville to City Point 500
l. Knoxville 10 Norfolk o3l
Richmond is miles nearer 10 Knoxville than
Charleston; CITY Point is mile farther and Nor
fork is 20 miles farther. When it is remember
ed that any ship can float at City Point, which
can cross the Charleston Bar and that any yes.
sci engaged in the coast trade can approach
Richmond, no one can regard the competition at
Knoxville as formidable. There are other CON
sderations which must turn the scale decidedly
in our favor.
At Lynchburg which is 40 miles nearer to
Knoxville than Charleston is, the cheaper agri-
cultural products will take the canal, commen-
cing this cheaper mode Of carriage, by water
300 miles before it reaches Norfolk
Norfolk has been repeatedly pronounced the
best harbor on THE Atlantic by competent judges.
Again. Norfolk is about 10 of latitude North
and 10 of longitude Enst Of Charleston, or about
$50 miles nearert to the principle markets with
which we trade This difference not only en-
sures that economy which results from superior
expedition; but there mnst be great saving in
the insurance on n vessel stopping at Norfolk,
over one which has to encounter the desgers OF
Cape lIatteras Cape lookout and Cape Fear
1t is clear, therefore, that we have nothing to
fear from this quarter circumstance OF no
small value in our case is, that it must be years
before any of the routes, which have been thus
compared with ours, can be completed giving US
all the advantage of being first in the Geld. When
the relations of commerce once established in
any particular channel, il requires causes
of great force to change them. 1t Is only
necessary that we should avail ourselves full
~ of all the advantages we possess, and secure
the prize before we can have a rival i'll the field.
And now geulcmcn,as intnated in my letter of
oct Ist, our official connection is about 10 ter
inmate | came back to Virginia with the ear
nest desire to aid,however humbly,in accomplish
ing this great enterprise. | looked upon this work
Ms calculated to do more for tile social, political
and commercial independence of the State than
any that could be undertaken. My views are not
changed-t is The great work of the State.
have remained, not without personal saerit-
ces. until every difficulty, except such are
purely financial has been overcome.
There beats not heart in all Virginia with
deeper interest in your success, us the sure
precursor Of the prosperity of our common
State.
Respectfully,
CHAS. +. NJ. GARNETT,
chief Engineer