Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-02

lions nf god should he trnn.lor:ed over this nn'
their .g:,ts might BIZ estimated al "ne eighth oil one
per cent or SD 900. Tie inrrrns' 81 mail pay may
BE- placed at s75 per mile, or So 'o,
Her. ia an aggregate o! revenue IRON these sources,
sr,,untinp TO Two hundred aud twenty two tbulraud
dollars per ansum. These roads will have cost.
think about thirteen million of dollars. The reveni's
estimated from the California mail, gold and travel
will amount 10 about two per cent. of their Whale
oost. You will perceive that have left out of the
estimate any allowance for the Interested tranrprta
ton Of merchandise, either from ,hs Pacific or from
the cities of the United Slateslto California. For The
three items, yoar own personal observation WIN sails
fy you that have made No ex'rrvngant hllO" anc-.
The States OF Tennessee, Mississippi, ARbulna and
Louisiana will share III WHATSOEVER additional bu'l-
ness may be- done by the through lines of Virginia.
1t is proper 10 state that the success OF the Ieiu
antepec enterprise 10 by NJ means dependent upon
tho completion of these lines. Already tho ms,l u
carried along the coast route to New Orleans. The
Richmond and Fredericksburg, and the Richmond
and Petersburg Railroads. will therefore participate IN
the increased mail pay and travel anticipated.
It will be for the Legislature OF Virginia TO deter
mine how far it will be the advantage OF the States
TO make the appropriations aeces@ary to complete The
Alexandria extension to Lynchburg, that being Tue
unfinished portions Of the through route Indicated ~
ing within the territory OF Virginia.
do not mean 10 say that New Orleans must ne
cessarly be pom the line of communication between
the chief commercial points i'll the Union and Inc
Ishnus Of Tehuanepec. There may be a line COAST
wise from New York, crossing the lsthmus OF Flor
d. or lines through the Southern States, passing the
morris of 81. Joseth's, Pensacola or Mobile; but 81
long as New Orleans shall continue to be the point OF
departure for Califo.n Virginia offers the most d.
rect route for the transportation OF the national NAL
and travel between New York and that city. This
was demonstrated 81 years since, by federal survey
between Washington city aud New Orleans, showing
geodetic distance Of only g6O miles between those
two places and recommending poata route, which, IL
now occupied by continuous raiiroad location The
portion Of this route which passes through Virginia IL
represented by the Alexandria aud Gordonsville and
Virginia and Tennessee rni oaGs. Owing TO the in
complete condition Of come Of these roads the III
tional mail is carried upon the coast route; and
unless they shall be completed and worked with
through schedules, losing no mail lime, II isoy M
means certain that they VIII command the mai ahC
travel.
ltmsy be proper 10 cay that the Incomplete sections
upon the most direct postal route between New orb
and New Orleans, are the Alexandria and Gord0Ds
vile extension 10 Lynchburg seventy mlles tho Eas
Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, twenty-five miles
and The Mississippi Central, about one hundred ant
ffty miles. These unfinished sections, it is under
stood, are all under construction. There are othe
railroads in tbs States of Alabama and Mississippi
which will when completed, reduce tao distance anc
improve the time upon this route until the running
! mail time between New York aud New Orleans vii
| be reduced to about one hundred hours.
! But ! look to the opening oil the Iehuantepe'
transit as decisive Of the communication between TIT
S0utnerQ States anu tile Quasi VI II WI
break down. in part, the injurious and oppressive
monopoly which New Yorl: has 60 long enjoyed, ant
if tho Federal Government will abrogdte the unwist
and entapgling conditions OF the CIayton.Buwe
treaty, and nerdict all European Intervention eiihe
in the affairs of Central Alnerira, in Mexico
cannot be long before the Southern States will escape
from those tolls which have been 30 artfully sprest
around them, and find prosperous and powerful tn
ture 10 the spread of their principles and Ia accession
to their coufedsracy from the beautiful aud productive
territories which adjon them
As an aeeut and conduit for ihess important re
suits, the opening of a way OF communication will
California by the route Indicated; would be invalua
BILE. At all events one may now dare to say. whou
being ridiculed as an enthusiast, that the dreams
the earlier founders Of Virginia will be realized, ant
portion of the golden harvests of the Pacifc-per
hapa of the spices und teas, and tissues Of the fl
East, will find their most eligible direction to til
marts Of the world through the territory and ports
Virginia.
TO have contributed even by suggestion to a con
summation of much consequence To our belove
Commonweat would be an abundant reward 70
time or labor devoted 10 produce it.
| You're, truly, WIN. NJ. BuRWELL:
Joa SEGAN, ESQ.