Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-04-02
For the EnqIno
LETTERS,


LETTERS,
oYTsP IMPROVEMENTS. RkSoURcESAaD CON-
MERGE OF VIRGINIA.
NO vi.
OCH RAIL ROADS COMPLETED AND IN fRooRxss.
No great enterprise was ever successfully carried
through by Aalf seasurss When the cost of design
has been counted, and its prsotlcsoiiity ensured
when We know we are right, and have determined 10
commence and to execute, how foolish and runous'
n not wicked It would then b. to doubt ana rear ana
work without confidence or zeal. How insignificant
and unworthy 10 that spirit which shrinks before
difficulties. and IL elated only With success But, on
The contrary, bow much TO be admired that nature
vhloA rises above doubt and uncertainty and seea
only the end. II 10 early enough TO despair when We
ara met BY Representatives,. But when We are sure
we srs right" will never do to grow faint hearted
under temporary difficulties which exist more 10 the
imagnanon than in reality.
Therefore we coy that no great enterprise, no pri
vste or public undertaking, was ever 'uecesfuHS
carried ont and completed, by dllasory action or hall
measures. This we are cory to say sppes forcioy
TO the State works, 90 miserably neglected oy our
Legislative body. Indeed they seem to have grown
tired of tho business, and ready to abandon II, after
having spent millions Of tho peoples money and de-
oades of time; aud that too at the moet critical mo-
nsnt, when the work 10 more than half flushed ano
the objsct, 70 be gained sti more desirable sno
valuable, than when those works were hrst projected
The results are not uncertain, for Others arc reaSnR
that which we have only anticipated
Not single ono of tho many important works Of
tho State 10 ye. actusy completed and connected, &C
cording to the ultimate and 10 many cases the origin
al Intention and yet they have realized more than
many anticipated and as much a. any practical man
could hope for.
Ths paper will be too short TO review the whole Sci
o! internal improvements We will therefore condne
oursslf for the present, to those which seeking
the Western trade as an utmstum, aud the Ohio Is
ssmini.
TIE Vrxinia General and tke coviaste. and ORC
R. Roads forming one continuous llne are the frs,
which we viii consider.
This may justly be considered one OF the greatest
rail road enterprises In the Uriop, and will take rank
whom completed with the chief rail- roads of the age.
It pssses through or drains. nearly onefhh OF the
whole State and no. only opens way to the celebra-
ted and fertile valley Of Vlrgiuis, but penetrates
new region where the sound Of the Iron horse" has
never been heard and terminates one of the great
Highways of Western trade AID travel aud near one
Of Its greatest er1.tres of commerce.
We may safely calculate that on the completion OF
this line. 5000 600 Of scres. which now return but
little revenue the State and but little profit the
proprieors would be equally valuable the lands
along the recently built Virginia and Tennessee line
(which now range from 10 to 500 per acre. But
say heir aggregate value would be increased 10 dollars
per acre. and we have an increase OF assessed value
equal to $50 00O 000 or than all the proposed
Sts.e improvements will cost when completed, IF ju'
dioious means are taken TO advance the work.
through the mountains, aud consequently, the most
inpor.sn. miners. regions, the James River and IA.
nawba Canal will traverse the couutry parallel with
the railroad. Here It lie evident those improvements
will aid each other Canals DO not afford the means
of rapid communication and travel now iudispen
sable to communities; therefore, though the Canal
could convey the heavy freight to market, cheaper
than the railroad could do it, it would not be likely to
induce the rapid growth of towns upon it's bsnks,
q would and will be the csse under their combined
influence.
Fer the Canal, we clsu the capabi.Y Of taking
and retaining much Of the heavy and cheaper products
of tho West and we must and do sill unhesitatingy
state that without IT, the most vital object TO be OBJ
tanned in pushing our works Westward, would never
be realized. Still, /, does not follow ths, The railroad
will not have it, mission to perform. think We do
not hazard much in saying that will be as ipdis
penssble Is the other in promoting aud securing
successful trade. Where there Is trade, there must
DO traders, and both producers and consumers. Be.
tween those there must be constant aud rapid com.
municsiou. Without II, In tbsse days Of steam and
electricity, when fortunes made lost by the fast
or the ,lor, it would be impossible to maintain trade
between Richmond and Cincinnati, on The Csnal alone
without the aid Of railroad connections.
Blu, 1t s not alone the produce Of The West that We
want to pass through our hands, We want also to cell
them our merchandi.e-,hat which they now get from
Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York; but this We
canno, be sure Of doing without communication by
rail- for articles of value will generally take the rail
road routes, einoe time, With them, is of moro import
snee than frsiEhtR ye. probably the mos. uportan,
item on our central ne Of rails will be the travel be.
tween the West and the Atlantic cies.
All the river trscei coming Esst will and Il to their
to take the Central route through vrginia
since it would DO the shortest way to Washington by
% uiles and to Baltimore. Philadelphia aud New
York by 81 miles. Between Cincinnati and Wash.
lns on, Richmond and Charleston, the distance BY
rail- is also 10 favor of the Central route.
From Cincinnati to Washington through Virginia by
railroad, 597
From. Cincinnati to Washington via Baltimore, by
railroad, 6U2
From Cincinnati 10 Alexandra, via Virginia, by
railroad, 500
From Cincinnati to Richmond, via vi-glnia, by
railroad, SIS
From Cincinnati to Baltimore. via Baltimore route
by railroad, $50
From Cincinnati to Philadelphia, via Baltimore
route by railroad, on
From Cincinnati to Philadelphia, via Pittsburg by
railroad, us
tits thus evident that the Virginia Central rail road
IL the most feasible for travs whilst the Central
water line 10 emnently calculated for frsights. With
hose two lines completed We have nothing to fear
for the future Ten millions from the State, with the
help OF private enterprise could do It IN five years.
Richmond, March 25th. 1858. 8. H. DEB'".
$R%
For tks Enquirer.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WILLIAM L.
JACKSON, ESQ.
Messre. Edltors-Tne Democracy of this norton