Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-16

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THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
BY RITCHIE a. DCNNAVANT.
'rUEsDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 10.
The Democratic members of the Legislature are
I souested to meet n the Hall of the House of De
iegate this evening, at o'clock, for the purpose OF
nominating candidates for the ofioe of First Auditor,
and the several offices to be filled by election Of the
General Assembly on the 18th instant.
VIRGINIA IMPROVEMENTS CONVICTION
AND OHIO RAILROAD.
In our last We endsavored to show the necessity Of
the Covington and Ohio Railroad to the commercial
independence of the State. We might have enforced
orr position, and indeed, made it absolutely conciu
sye by sdverting to the fact of universal notoriety,
tbs, not single State city on the seaboard ID pos
sss.ed of any commerce worthy the name that as
not in some form or other connexions with the grea
West There lies the great back country both for pro
juction and consumption which every State seeking
commerce. in its dign6ed sense, must resort to- and
form diec, connexions with, or forever give up the
boon.
We verify believe that to secure the trade in sim
gs article Of Western production, it would be wise
policy to construct the Covington and Ohio Railroad
We allude to the article of camel coal
Tho article OF camel coal is destined, whenever
convenient and cheap outlet is opened for its transit
to the seaboard, to become very large and most inn
portant item in the commerce of the country. 1t is
not only the best fuel taken from the bowels Of the
EARTH but 10 susceptible Of many practical and valua
BILE uses. From it are made Beuzale, Paraaue and a
superior Intoxicating and illuminating oil, all articles
of extensive consumption and commerce.
Besides the osnnel COAL there are in the valleys of
tho kanawha and its tributaries, exhsuses, beds of
what s called splnt COAL said to be the best article
for steam purposes yet known.
These beds Of camel and splint coal We regard Of
more value 10 Virginia than would be the gold mines
of California. They will be to her, in the form Of
the article, and the manufactures Of which it is
the basis source of vast and constantly increasing
wealth.
The only question is, will these articles bear trans.
portation from the GOAL fields in the West TO the
boardi
On this point, We take the judgment of those who
are we.informed on the subject, and from such
source Of information We learn that camel coal can
be delivered In Norfolk at IS per ton and the pnt
coal at somewhat less. II this be 3d. it is manifest
that Norfolk will become great GOAL depot, from
which will be shipped supplies to all the points Of de-
nand The value Of such an addition to the trade Of
Virginia 10 too manifest TO require eucidation. We
believe, have already intimated, that to secure
this trade in all it's branches would be worth, of ITSELF
the building of the Covington aud Ohio road. Re
sides the commercial profit Of the trade, would
upon the railroad and the canal an immense amount
of freight and thus materially aid the revenues OF the
state.
There are other considerations no less potential,
that demand the instant f possible) and the vigor
GUS prosecution Of the Covngon road not the least
OF which is that the financial policy Of the State rem.
ders II matter of imperious necessity.
We have a large investment in improvements
which, without the completion OF the Covington ard
Ohio Rail Road will be, il not worthless certainly
not very important contributors to the Treasury.
We have in the canal State interest, in stock and
Otherwise of more than eight millions of dollars and
in the Central and Orange and Alexandria Rail
Roads an investment of several millions more. Ali
three Of these improvements are in'eparably coz
nscted in their business and revenue with the Gov
Iuston and Ohio Rail Road. They are zone, indivis.
Bile and inseparable."
What will the canal be worth, az rource Of reve'
nue., without the Covngton and Ohio Raj Read as
feeder7 What will 1t not be worth, if 1t shall have
that feeder pour upon its bosom at Covington the
p,oduc,s of the Weetl Iu what other way can we
make our large investment in the canal available as
a aourcs Of revenue than by making contnuou
line from tide water to the Ohio1
And so of the Central and Orange and Alexandra
Rail Roads Shall We not, by completing the GOV
layton and Ohio road, and thus forming continuous
line of railway from the Ohio to Alexandra ano
Richmond respectively, and throwing upon them
largo amount of throuGh '-svo r'ao tho Stateo IN
..siment IN those improvements certain source Of
profit and revenusf
Verify, the I'll ancial as we'll as the commercial con
sderstions, moving us to the completion Of this
greatest of American thoroughfares, are conclusive
and irresistible And do not see how, in the face
ot such appeals TO the patriotism and good senss OF
.ss Legislature, it can pause for moment in helping
ga the great enterprise to contamination.
Cnlees appropriations be made Immediately, too. a
hesvy loss must necessarily ensue by the process Of
dspidaton.
Nor will the credit Of the State escape The deeteri.
Gus effects of procrastnation. We verify believe
that the exhibition Of firm purpose the part OF
the Legislature to consumms,e with all possible de-
cpach this great State and national enterprise-the
Ere; railway Improvement not in Virginia only, but
IN the Union-an improvement that must give us
both commerce and revenue-the immediate effect
would be confidence In securities and the speedy
restoration Of a sound public credt-a ''consumma-
ZION devoutly to bs wished by every proud and
patriotic Virginian.
There is another great reason Of Slate policy,
which forbds the postpouement for single hour, Of
efforts to Garry on the Covingtou and Ohio road
adverse interests are springing up every day. An.
,sgonistic schemes are on the wing. Baltimore and
Baltimore interests, backed by almost inexhaustible
pecunary resources-the necessary result Of the CON-
peton of their great thoroughfare to the Ohio river
every hour the look out for through
State to draw of trade, and TO exhaust the very es
blood of our body polite. She is struggling-we
mean Baltimore-for a railway transit through the
valley Of Virginia, and for like connexion between
tie North Western Railroad and the valley of the
Kanawha-a scheme that would be utterly and Ger.
,any fatal to all the hopes Of Virginia. These nd
verse interests gathering strength as time rolls
mud our greatest safety is in that prompt action and
decided policy which shall secure oommtis TO cur
own, before foreign interests shall have become too
strong for resistance.
AN INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT INvEN.