Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-02-20
Sl,66l.O27 II
l,4ij,9gl l9
Increase pres't year, S2ls,O35 93
$l,445,Dl -

81 ,66i.O27 II Sl,44599l -
l,4ij,9yl l9
Increase prest year, Sals,O35 90
These figures show healthy and regular increase
during that portion of tho Year in which the business
o the road is nosf subcc TO delays, obstructOns and
drawbacks The same ratio of increase on the large
receipts of the remaining quarters at last year would
make the increase equal 81 900 00O and carry the
aggregate receipts OF the Year ending with September
next, very nearly TO six million of doars. With an
early opening nt The Ohio liver, the completion of
the Pakershurg road and the opening ot the Mari
eta and Cincinnati and the Ohio and Mississippi
roads. decreasing, exieI ding and completing our con.
necfions with the West, have a right to look for
perhaps larger increase than is indicated by our
nnlectural figures.
The transportation eastwardlv into the city Of Bal
timore during the month o January, of the prlucl.
pal articles, WIS as fOiiows
Bark 10 IONS, Coal 26Sl7 tons, Fire Brick SO tons,
Frewood 81 tons, Flour 81 ,s3 Lbls. Grain 7S5 ons
Granite G6 tons, Iron ITO tons, Iron Ore ard M&Iga-
5l2 tons, Lard aud Butter 0i3 Leather SO
tons Cotton - bales Wool 270 bales, Flaxseed -
casks Soapstone - tons, Lard Oil gu tons, Lumber
352 tons Lime - TONS Live Stock, viz: 1882 hogs
3,2S9 sheep, horses and mules .247 horned cattle
Meal and shorts 81 tons, Pork ANA Bacon | 69S ons
Tobacco 3S3 hhds, Whisk-y 4,52O bbls., Miscela
neou- $40 tons, Hay - tons Hemp 40 baes, Flour
from Washington Branch $50 bbls.
u
timorc american and publish it for the benefit of our
Virginia readers We beg that they will read it and
ponder we'll its statements and figures. Proba.
bly, the effect upon them will be similar TO that pro-
duccd on us by it- perusal: feeling of shame and
modification that Virginia lag allowed herself to be
fur oustrpped in the race OF improvement by her
nergetic neghbor, and that, even now, with 60
much of experience and interest and duty to urge her
forward, she stands with her hands in her pockets
apparently doubling the proprety Of another step in
advance.
The Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road is three hum
dred and seventy-nine miles long, two hundred and
forty of which through the territory Of Virginia.
The grades this road very heavy and it's West
ern terminus s the city of Wheeling In the North
Western corner OF Virginia. Nevertheless, its re.
cepts immense and constantly increasing
to such an extent, indeed that they are ex-
peced this year to run up to SIC millions
Of dollars! This is not the only enterprise in Vir-
guia that has been projected and consummuted by
the aid of foreign forecast and capital The North
Western Virginin Railroad going through another
portion of our territory for one hundred and four
miles, tapping tho Ohio river lower DOWN, at Par
kersburg, has been completed, and is destined TO be
most important feeder to the first named improve
ment. These are the results, in Virginia, of Mary
land enterprise energy and capital-buildlng roads
and making markets for our people, which markets
are beyond limits!
What have we dOnel What markets have We
built upl What great thoroughfares have we con.
structed' These questions which now direct
themselves forcbIy TO interest," and should ava
ken us to a sense Of the lehargy and indifference
that have characterized our movements. While no
State in the Union s blessed with greater variety
and multiplicity of natural advantages probably no
Sia,e has been more unruindful of them. With cli-
mate SOIL productions minerals grades, all in her ia
vor and all pointing out the feasibility and ncalcu-
Liable advantages of great taoroughtare to the
great Matchmaking her to rival successfully all
compeors-she is asleep, Or if not asleep dragging
her slow length along" mournfully, 30 suggIshIy'
TINT the hearts of her most hopeful gradual
ly sinking deeper and deeper into the slough OF de-
spair. They are almost afraid OF looking INTO 'he
future, so uncertain is The policy which obtains IN
Virginia respecting the progress ~ OF internal I'M
provements. At one session Ct the Legislature, a
fresh impetus will be given to enterprises oi hs Kind
approprations of somewhat liberal character VIII be
made and the hope engendered that I'M few years at
most, Virginia will be in condition to retrieve some
of her heavy losses and become successful compe'
titor for trade which legitmatey belongs 10 ner
as the waters of tho James do TO the Chesapeake Al
subsequent session. however, the tide VIII oe snu
denly reversed the purse-strings Of the Common
wealth will be tied up into thousand knots, and the
great improvements of the dag will be suspended IN
the tangled web of scheming log rollers. Past ap-
propraons are sorely regretted, and further berali-
ty-ast is improperly erned-is fairly hooted at and
renudiated Debt. debt! taxes taxes! enconomy
economy are the appalling words shouted vocifo
rously in extenuation of a policy which has done
more to mpoverish the Sate than all her other con-
ce,yable Ills If any be inclined 10 doubt the ialln'
fulnes, of the picture We have drawn, let them
refer for q moment to the history OF the Covington
and Ohio Railroad.
A.. early as March, 1850, tho Legislature adopted
a resolution directing the Board OF Public WORKS
"to employ competent engineer and such assist
ants Us he may need, to survey the nearest ana pest
route for n railroad, commencing at some point
at or near Covington and terminating on tue Ohio
river"
That survey was made, and the Engineers report
was submitted to tD6 LeSlslatuie III oo"""'J ~ 'O~'
1;s estinats Of the cost was little over i've millions
OF dollars.
On the 18th February 1853, the Legislature passed
aap act to authorize the Board OF Public Works to
construct n rail road from Coyugtou to the Ohio
river. On STATE account" and for that purpose the
ann of one million of dollars was appropriated. This
,,ok al very muoh like earnestly beginning the work
which was TO be constructed "on State account" but
n u,ya an additional assurance to the people living
IN the entire line OF the projected road that it would
bs prosecuted and completed thi, act directs that in
the construction OF the road the work shall "com.
nencs and continue" from sits Western terminus
East at the same time that operations arc extend
;ry "from its Eastern terminus West"
In obedience to this legislative injunction and in the
udlment of this Legislature promise to the people, the
work was promptly commenced at both ends, and
| prosecuted with vgor and energy. The contractors
with their large forces made quite an impression upon
the country. People at last came TO the conclusion
that the road would be made, that their long defer
| red hopes we're about being consummated, that the
great event Of connecting the waters Of the Chesa.
peske Bay and the Ohio river would be accomplish
I'd in their day. and that they would realize some OF
| the benefits resulting therefrou. Lands along the
line of ths projected road Immediately advanced IN
value, capital commenced flowing in to the hereto
fore almost neglected regions Of coal. and salt anu
gypsum, and citizens of other States began to look