Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-04-27
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

TRAVEL TO WAsHINGrON.-Though the Fed
eral Metropolis can enjoy no commercial advan-
tages of importance from the construction of
railroads, no other American city of the same
population is so likely to be benefited by such
works leading directly to it. Travellers rush to
Now York, purchase goods stored but not man.
ufactured or grown there, and rush home again.
Those who come to Washington stay longer with
US, and spend much more money in proportion
to their stay. They come here either on bust
ness usually requiring considerable sojourn,
or for pleasure; and in the latter case are sure
to remain in our hotels or boarding houses as
long as possible. Thus, Washington city reaps
far more money from the travelling public than
any other city of its size, in proportion to the
number Of strangers passing through or sojourn-
ing here The construction of railroads that
increase the facilities for getting to Washington
from different quarters of tho Union is, there
fore, matter of prime interest with property
holders here.
In another article to-day we comment briefly
on the ascertained increase in the value of the
lands in Western Virginia, growing out of the
construction of the Lynchburg and Little Ten
nessee railroad and we are reminded OF the
fact, as we reflect the subject that that far off
work is destined, in time, greatly to increase
the value of Washington city property inso-
much as it is an important link in the chain of
railroads to the Mississippi, with connecting
works branching off or crossing at right angles,
extending from the Atlantic at Savannah, the
Gulf at Mobile and New Orleans, and the great
lakes at Cleveland and Chicago, whose tide
water debouch is at the neighboring port of
Alexandria. In two years from this time this
most splendid and stupendous system of con-
Meeting railroads will be completed, when a
stream of travel will be poured into and through
Washington city equal to that which is being
| emptied hourly into Buffalo, N. Y, by the rail-
| roads and steamboats, for which that city is 50
famous, and to which she owes so much of her
remarkable prosperity. At Buffalo the travel
| er's aim is to rush on as speedily as possible
Here his aim will be to tarry some days, if not
weeks or months.
On thinking over these facts the Washing
tonian will comprehend why it is that we 50
often recur to this subject. While we rejoice
over the prospective increase of the prosperity
OF Washington city from this source, we no less
surely rejoice over the fact that these roads are
| destined to be perhaps more profitable to those
owning stock in them, than any other railroad
chain in the country. The reasons are obvious
| While they must do an enormous passenger
business, they are secure against the possibility
of competition by rival lines and are located
in States wherein the prices of passage and
freight per railroad are kept up to the paying
point by public opinion. The Orange and
| Alexandria Railroad Company, whose work is
the eastern and Ito Washington city, most i'm
portant link in this great railroad chain, have
recently changed the name of their corporation
to that Of the Alexandria and Lynchburg Rail-
road Company. In a publication of theirs they
briefly describe the condition of their work and
its connections soon to be opened for travel
We quote it as follows, that our city readers
and the travelling public may comprehend that
our antleipations concerning the future effect
OF those roads on Washington city's prosperity,
| are rational and within prudent bounds:
The Alexandria and Lynchburg Railroad con-
meets Alexandria and Lynchburg by a line of l6s
miles, which can be passed over in six hours
Charlottesville, which is on the road about two
thirds Of the distance from Alexandria, is now
reached daily in four or four and half hours
" At Lynchburg it meets the Virginia and Ten
nessee Railroad. which is finished and i'm success
full operation to its junction with the East Ten
nessee and Virginia Railroad. There is but one
gap now from Lynchburg to Memphis, which
VIII De closed In the course of this year placing
that important point on the Mississippi within
16l miles Of Lynchburg, or 81 hours travel
. At the same time, the whole system Of roads
In Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama; will be
reached
The lines extending to New Orleans and
Mobile will be opened simultaneously with the
Alexandria and Lynchburg Railroad, or with no
great interval. To the former which is the most
remote, the distance will be ultimately reduced
to ,2OO miles, and at 25 miles an hour travelling
ume which is usual on main lines, peIs IN may
pass between w ashington city and New Orleans
in AZ hours. Nashville will be reached in 81
hours from Washington, Memphis in 81 hours
and Mobile in A The same expedition cannot
| be found by any other route.
| Passengers coming North from most Of these
roads will be waiting the completion of the Alex
andria and Lynchbnrg Road for one year, and in
the mean time will take the circuitous route by
| Richmond. At Charlottesville there will be a
| large accession from the Virginia Central Rail-
| road. coming in from the West. The large num-
Der OF passengers between Washington and other
cities to the North, and the numerous celebrated
| Virginia Springs, which is increasing every wear
will contribute materially to its revenues The
Ohio and Kentucky connections of this road,
through the virginia State WORKS, will present an
outlet to the North and East, comparing favor
ably with any other. The large population TO be
| sustained by the mineral wealth Of the Kanawha
valley, must always take il between their homes
and Washington when dispatch is an object
To the people of Central Georgia there is no other
that can offer such advantage of directness. The
| interior of North and South Carolina will also
| prefer il for the same reason.'
! FREE WOOL.-Thc New York Times pre-
diets that the wool market is to rule at high fig
ures this season, basing that prediction on the
state OF the wool market on the other side of the
Atlantic, where, owing to peculiar circum-
stances the prices Of the staple cannot fail to
Keep up While the American wool growers
may justly thank the Times for this, to them,
really valuable information, they will surely
comprehend the fallacy of its argument that the
change in the American tariff on wool has aupbt
to do with these anticipated higher prices
more especially rs all who are now seeking to
purchase the new clip for American manufac-
tnr ck-