Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-02
n. Esllors Of thc En9nrer:

did net, for want of time, elaborate the subject
important as it is. But to supply the dencisnrf u,
NV own reasoning, and 10 furpleh what teehro Az
Irresistible and overwhelming argument IN favor 81
the important measure now pending IN mo Hons. III
Delegates--the Gordonsvi!le and LynehnuFg e1.eh,
eioI-I send you for publication ic.ler aI1eess't
me, on the subject, by VIM. nj. Bur"ell Esq" CT
Bedford To all who love to contemplate the orosd
philosophy and scope, and the ultimate oes.i'y o'
The Virginia system of Internal improvements, 'h's
letter Of Mr.. Burwell will be rich treat. 10 those
who desire the commercial and polltical advance
,nent of the South, it will be peculiarly interesting,
for il foreshadows one of the mos, remarkable rev"-
lutions in travel and commercial intercourse tnht mas
ever taken place in this on any other country, AND
yet the beneficial consequences OF u, WIN he ,ost
10 Virginia, and 10 the South generally, the Cor
donsyille and Lynchburg connexon shall no: be made.
A link will be wanting, which makes inc "hoe CHAIN
comparatively worthless.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JOS. SEGAR.
BEDFORD, VA Feb. llth. lS.'S
NV dear SIR: It is a subject of pride TO behold.
even 81. tstor, the gallant efforts mace oy VIZ
gina 10 carry and TO carry out, despite oi every
obstac!e, that system of Internal development ~h,ch
has already broken the ethargy which mas pound her
for half u century.
Already within few short years hos Railroad eS.
tended from Norfolk 10 the Mississippi at Memphis,
distance Of nearly one thousand miles. Baltimore mas
brought to the Chesapeake an immense trauo from
the ssms direction, whilst the Central Rail Road
must inevitably conduct the commerce OF Cincinnati
10 the ports of Virginia. All these will converge az
common outet-the capes OF Virginia-an amount Of
commerce which will command the commercial ma ,,
tre of all nations Whenever these radia lines shail
have been completed, the Chesapeake will be III
single night covered with thousand sail, seeking the
rich cargoes of this new debouchure. which they now
carry from other outlets. Before that period, howev-
er any effort 10 establish commerce by act of Assem-
A. 10 headed K.
tend our roads into the interior, will be unnecessary
AID ucwise.
Another Office Of our railroads will be to open a
communication between Virginia and our racine
POSSESSIONS This will cross the Mississippi, and pass
ing slong the best continental locations under the
most favorable climate, and across the lowest sum
miis, il will turn from FL Passo, upon the boruets OF
Texas and pass through our new Territory OF Arri
zona enter Sonora lone OF the most s,u"s
OF Mexico) and terminate upon the Cult OF cantor
MIA the Chesapeake Of the Pacihcand there plant
the Empire of The Old Dominion in region worthy
OF herself. This is, however, o work Of time ana
labor; and though inevitable may no. DC immeaa,s.
A third, and scarcely less important consequence
of tho Virgins railroads, will be 10 convert and con-
solida:e tile Southwestern and Southern states, to
afford them REORGANIZATION, and open the Gull
ports and the Southern trade to their common enter
prise.
1t is 10 this last point ofvew you desire to know the
prospect Of connecting the Virginia
one TO which have devoted much consideration, and
in the success Of which am personally interested
You wish 10 know the connection between The rail
roads of Virginia and the State OF California, by way
of TebuantePec in Mexico.
In reply have TO state that the political and legal
difficulties which have heretofore prevented the ope'-
ing of that sthmus, have BEEN IL. effect adjusted by
the release of one grant, the annulment OF anotherd
the grant OF the exclusive right OF way by the Mexican
Government to the Louisiana Company domiciled IN
New Orleans This company is now engaged, un'
d-rstand, in making contracts to open carriage way
across the ls.hmus. -
This transit will be made by river navigation fifty
miles, and by coaches seventy five. The country
through which it passes has summit level oil about
$50 feet with maximum Rail Road grades Of sixty
feet The river and the COACH rosa are expecleu u W.
lit for use in May next.
And now it will be proper to explain the conner
ton between our own State Improvements, and h's
way of communication with California. Take your
map, and trace the present route between tbe Ata'c
States and California 1t leaves New York, traverees
the Atlantic coast for 200 miles and touches At
Havana. 1t threads the Caribbean sea lO75 miles,
crosses the Isthmus OF Panama, and coasts the
shores Of the Pacific for three thousand four hundred
miles making an aggregate distance OF hve Thousand
seven hundred and eightyfour miles between New
York and San Francisco.
The route from New York by way of Nicaragua is
about four hundred mile, less; with more extended
transit aoroSs the Isthmus.
seas, pass through foreign countries, and amongst
other consequences Of national importance, expose
our citizens to constant collisions with the war vessels
and authorities of other nations.
The whole travel Intercourse between the Southern
States ard Cs!iiornis, first goes to New York and
then encounters the delays and perlls referred TO-
The California mail ia transported upon this Pana
me route q. Al annual cost TO the United States OF
SSJ0,q9l per annum.
If yuu will trace the Pacific coast line from Pana
ms, ebou. ons thousand miles North, you find the
Isth,ngs os Tehusntepec, in Southern Mexico. II
you take New Orleans as a point of departure from
the United States to San Francisco, you hnd the dis
:ance across the Gulf Of Mexico elght nandrea mites
the Ishmus crossing $780, aud the Pacific coast naS'
CATION = 49, miles, The entire dlstance from New
Orleans 20 San Francisco, is 3.3O2 miles. The time OF
tran-it will not exceed twelve days. Inc iars VIII oe
$40 for first class and $6O tor second class passsn
eers. The saving TO be effected Oh inc transPorta'
lion of the mall nay be inferred when It ia remem.
bered the. the United States already pays for the mali
uoon oil ha through iines to New Orleans, and upon
n ssmi monthly line to Vera Cruz, loo miles from
Tehuantepec.) The additions! mail pay required,
would be- therefore but little upon this part OF the
route; aud the Government could save the cost of
transportation upon nesry half the sea voyage be.
tween New York and San francisco. We cannot e.
innate that saving at much less than S3uo,oOO PER
annum Tho diminished ssa risk upon lie and The
saving Of insurance aud interest upon treasure Win
tbe reduction Of time and expense, Oocasloned by
opening this new route, need not be extended 10 de-
tail.
As this comparison Of time, outance, and cost de-
monstra;es that change OF route 10 inevitable, you
will pt rmt me TO call pour attention to some OF the
to Virginia and the other Southern States
which must result from II.
Under the present monopoly possessed by New
York the whole gold product CT California, amounting
annually 10 at least fifty mi!lions OF dollars, passes
into the Golfers OF t6st city, 1t is in great art e1
ported to Europe. That portion TO which tho West
ern Southern and South westerp States are entitled Is
paid them in merchandise, exchange at premium.
or in their own currency at Discount. tRe goid oi
A.. to pail MT fAI
balance created by committing the expectation OF the
whole Southern staples 10 New York.
Th. travel movement between New York and San
Francisco Last year about Oo passengers upon
the steamers. Is the fare of first class passenger
upon this route is abGut x325 and OF u second class
about S:,.j the Aggregate receipts from this source
cannot have fallen much sos, o four millions oil dol
lara. The mail pay has beer aifasdy stated al
Ss50OC0.
OF the vaue Of finding, fitting out and repairing
vtsse!s, together with the amount Of merchandise
which accompanies the monopoly so well en-
lowed by the Federal Government, can offer no
Innate. They all 10 to foster this enterprsing aud
tarored city.
i,atu. see Whist would be the most obvious results
Of The proposed chaege. The gold would be brought
10 New Orleans, large part would be of course ex-
ported; the balance deposited in the mint and dis:
trbuted through the Sts.es according to their several
interests II is by ,oeans pretended that all tins
gold would remain in The interior Setas but certain
y more Of it would bs left than is now brought back
from New York. THE continuous stream must leeTo
some alluvon either In circulation 10 deposit aud
the banking system ofthe South and must
be- thus rendered sounder and better prepared for
than at present.
As for the expenses Of travelling to Cahfornia-tle
people of the United States could spend the sans
money in going TO New Orleans that they would do IN
going to New York, and would find, ut the former city,
cheaper and lees perious means OF participating in the
national treasures of California But it Ia the advan
mi al IN railroads
from the opening Of this Isthmus, that is of moot ese
cial interest tou us.
1t proper to remind yoa that have not said tina,
Virginia will take a monopoly Of this California in
'ercourss., Look sgaln at the map, and you will
perceive that various leading lines drawn from the
principal points in the Western, Middle, and
Coas, States will converge either at New Orleans or
st Tehusntepec.
lst. FROM Chicago to New Orleans 1850 miles.
just about the distance from Chicago to New York
: Nm. O.laana milan