Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-11-13

To the President and Common Council
ofthe City Of Lynchbug:
We have heretofore cndeavored to point out t"
you some of the objections to your contaminated
improvement over Black Water. We will now
suggest some further objections. BY referring to
the petition made you upon this subject we find
the following, viz: IAN inspection of the present
thoroughfare and bridge across Black Water
creek, will satisfy any one that it is dangerous,
because of its relation to the track Of the Virginia
and Tennessee Railroad, along which locomotives
and trains are frequently passing. The approach
of train cannot be seen in either direction, until
the passenger is on the track Of the Road. The
present thOroughfare is inadequate to the business
which ia noe conducted ON the cast side Of Black
Water creek which business is entirely dependent
upon it for access to the city. IL satisfy you oi
the correctness of this statement, We have on y 10
call YOUR attention to the fact that two Of the lrg
est Coal and Wood Yards, the largest Lumber
Yard, the largest Machine Shop, one of the largest
Foundries, one of the largest Tobacco Factories,
and the largest Mill for manufacturing Flour IN
or near this city, are situated upon the east side
of that creek The Brick making of the city ls
mainly done on that side of Black Water. The
operations of these establishments, and the busi-
ness incident to them, involve large amount of
drayage all of which has to he done to and from
the city over that bridge and the bad road To and
from it."
We admit the above exhibit is correct and
know the interest referred tn calls ur-
gently for relief But it is II most significant
fact that the very interest which our kind friend
80 truthfully set forth, is not satisfied with the
yery convenient arrangement which they propose.
Hear what all that interest says extending from the
Acoueduct over the canal Mt Black Water, to the
Water-Works Basin, embracing all the L"mbel, all
the Coal, all the Wood, all the Foundry all he
Brick, all the Milling. all the Machine interest,
which has been paraded before you. and made the,
basis of the petitioners claim--ths interest,
which furnishes nine-tenths Of the drayage upon
the east side of Black Water. Speaking for them
selves, and not by proxy. they say- ,a..
LYNcuBURG. Oct. 90 1853.
To the President and Common Council
ofMe City Of Lynhharg:
Tho undersigned respectfully request that your
Honorable Body will adoptthe improvement along
Hares' Alley in preference to the one on 9th Al
lev. believing the first will subserve the largest
interest, and knowing it will be more conducive
to ours"
Who 80 we'll qualified to speak advisedly of the
benefits arising from the two Improvements rs
they are? Away then, with the fimsy pretcNt
that YOUR object was to benefit this interest. 1t
must be apparent to you, TINT it has been made n
4cat's paw of to advance different one. We
would again ask, what interest the Improvement
subseryes? You must admit, its Dement'S only
apply to the extreme end Of Main street. and
property on tho suburbs
such magnitude as to justify an outlay of $500
at present and an indefinite amount for the fu-
ture? Ask your constituents if they will submit
to such wasteful expenditure to develop the pro-
pertv of a few 1t is claimed that Sj0O0 ct pri-
vate subscription, in addition to yours OF S,5oo,
will complete the improvement-that is for dirt
road. Now gentlemen, be good enough 10 tell
me. If this road commands the travel which yen
claim for it. what will be its condition in wet
weather running through stiff, clay soil, with II
deep fill its entire length. 1t will simply be iin-
possible. To remedy this, you will be called upon
to pave, gutter and sidewalk it; these items are
not in the bill. You first APPROPRIATION is but
the entering wedge. You may expect te~ more
before you are through.
We will suppose you have completed your I'M
provement to the Road OH the east side Of Black
Water. Have you any direct communication
with the Basin from that point? You have no
such outlet. You run a zig-zag alley, and can
only approach the Basin by going north Of the
Gas Works or running down to llarcs' Ally
Upon the first of these routes you encounter rs
steep grade rs you find anywhere upon hares
Alley. Place yourself upon Main street. where
your improvement terminates. You find if You
20 up that street, you encounter as steep IL grade
as the one YOU SO much complain of in 1larcs' Al
lex-the same when you get to Cox street. fyon
wisl, to 70 to Church street. the grade is still
worse.
The only advantage you have, then, in your fine
grade, is to turn, at right angles, and run down
Main street in the direction of your starting point
Will your contemplated improvement avoid tic
danger Cf crossing the Railroad track? BY no
means. Instead Of one crossing, the bulk of your
tray ell encounters two. All that interest laying IRON
the Acaueduct on Black Water to the Water
Works dam, embracing q Railroad Depot, your
Canal Basin, your Lumber, Coal, Wood, Brick and
Milling business, in order to avail themselves OF
your contemplated improvement, must pass over
the track Of the Orange and Alexandria Road.
You propose relieving them Of the dangers of our
crossing. by supplying them with anothcr-this
crossing will be avoided by improving liares Al
ley.
On the llth Of June last, We find the following
resolution which was adopted by your body
Resolved, That the Street Committee be in
~tructed tn enquire into the expediency OF impros-
ing 5th Alley, from its inter ecion Of End Street,
Main Street,) to Black Water, at this time, by
obtaining the written estimate Of competent en-
gnecr as to the expense. and lest mode of making
said improvement and said Committee be further
instructed to ascertain from private individuals in
to- csted in said improvement, and others. what
sums If Money they are willing u contribute to-
wards its construction. and make repnrt t. the
Council: and the said Committee be authorized to
report any other route for a connection between
2nd Main Strect) and Black Water Greek, deem
ed BY them more practicable than the 5th alley,
Together with an estimate of the cost thereof"
We wish ~ know how this resolution Of Your
Council was acted upon by your Street Committed
to whom it was referred Was that Committee