Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-14

| To say Il word against the enterprise ol "ur
| friends in the Piedmont section: hut the liitc-
rest of nrr old and leading lines which have
cost the State large amount, and the interest
Of the capital. require some effort To retain the
| travel ami the trade here II, emporium. -
| Our roads were not built for the mere purpose
of hurrying strangers through our domain. hut
for the purpose of development and ronccntra-
ton 1t is not individually the rail road enter
priseS that We wish t" uphold. or the interest
| Of one against the interest of another. but the
purposes for which they were hIilt--thc re-
qlirclmcnts of the State and the people. In
the present instance, We only wish to attract
the attention of the people 10 this matter, since
so many of them are interested in it, IL the
Orange aud Alexandria extension succeed in
divcrting the travel, it will only result in the
benefit of that road and the Virginia and Ten
nc>Scc, prrh"Jv. 10 Il small extent and I" u
very limited degree, since it will disable that
great Southwestern line from bringing in the
vast trade for which il was intended Every
other permanent interest would suffer. The
Richmond. Fredericksburg and Potomac. the
Virginia Central, the Richmond and Danvile,
! the Richmond and Petersburg, and the South
Side Rail Roads, as we'll aS the cities of Rich
would all, to certain extent. be injured. But,
since We cannot consistently quarrel with oilr
friends for exhibiting that enterprise which We
must commend. and since our Legislature gives
everybody so fair chance without regard 10
the profits or advantages Of the State gene
rally. all We can 10 is to advise the citi-
zcn> Of Richmond and those interested.
TO take advantage Of the only redress,
Use the same enterprise, and "cut OIL
our Piedmont friends rs they would "cut oil "
the East If I.ynchburg can shorten the time
between Alexandria and her mountains. Rich
mond can do the same between the East and
Baltimore, and at the same time give the benefit
of such 4 cons,lmmation IL o,Ir friends up
there
The enterprise is not ncrcy V in embryo, with
all the talking and considering yet to bedonc. 1t
is actually commenced. and 4 slliliciency Of stock
subscribed to make the start. 1t is in good and
practical hands and only needs the assistance
Of those who are so deeply interested to carry
it through at once The people of Baltimore
and Maryland, who are provcrbial for energy
and action, arc also interested in the thing
and will give the aid its Importance demands;
but to Richmond. and great portion Of Er-
ginia. it is of much greater Importance than
to Baltimore or Maryland. \ branch road will
connect the line with Washington, and secure
a full share of the vast travel between Balti-
more and that place, creating competing line
with monopoly long felt 10 bc oppressive and
also retain the present great and increasing
travel between the North and South. Severe win
tiers and the occasional freezing Of the Potomac
would not operate against the interests Of the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac line,
or the city of Richmond Yet the splendid
boats now running from Acquia Creek to
Washington would bc continued, and thus
give travellers Il choice between pleasant sail
of fifty miles, on the noblcSt of rivers and by
Mount Vernon aud Washington, or speedy
trip through Maryland 10 Baltimore
The Baltimore and Potomac Railroad will he
built. 1t is only matter Of time; but as that
time is Of great Importance 10 Eastern Virginia
in retaining and attracting trade and travel, it is
'lesirouS that the enterprise be speedily put
through 1t is comparativelya very small mat
ter-only one million of dollars to secure so
great gain, with Richmond, Petersburg and
Baltimore to back it, with great part also of
Eastern Virginia and Maryland. Under ordi-
nary circumstances this railroad .houM he
made, but under present circumstances II mist
he il0.i,