The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-02-09
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Roanoke valley connection.
.srsposprscr or ras RIcaaosD DAILY Dispa-cu


MrcKLEypugo. JaE. 80. 1855
In the D;spafcA Of trtiay. you notice the report
Of the committee Of the senate on Internal I'm
provements, aud you state il suggests that certain
amounts be appropriated tins winter 90 several
important improvements 81 the state: sBd among
them the sum OF S2DJ,g00, to the Richmond
aud Danvilie Railroad The question suggests
Itself to me. u that appropriation Is made to tpas
road where can IL he hest expended. 50 as 10 pro
mote the interest OF that road, the city OF hich-
aond and the State Of Virginia. do not know
positively where 10 should be expended, but can
show where, IL expended, that tho above interests
would be greatly promoted and that In In the con-
uection of the Richmond and Danviiie WIN the
Roanoke Valley Railroad, NJ Clarksvtiie. Inc sum
of s2D0OOo would be more than SUFFICIENT 70 build
one half of the connecting link between the two
roads. aud the remainder of the money could De
raised along the line of the connection without any
difscuify. This Ia not mere assertion, but am
In possession Of facts that warrant me in the
statement. Let us examine the operation oil inns
scheme. II this connection 10 made, you connect
with the Roanoke Valley Railroad at Clarkviiie,
which 10 twenty-five miles and BALI long, ana
runs through a portion OF Mecklenburg sonth vi
Roanoke river, thence through the rich and pro
duetive county Of Granville, Forth Carolina, into
Warren. where you intersect the Raleigh and das-
ton Railroad. The whole way passing through
as fine q tobacco and wheat growing country
as any on the habitabie globe; and that cannot
now get to the market of its choice (Richmondl
without mourning a heavy freight expense, and
going through the hands Of draymen and com
mission merchants Ht Petarsburg-thence fifty
four miles up the Raleigh and CASTOR Railroad TO
the city of Raleigh, passing through Warren,
Franklin and Wake counties, n. C., most OF TINS
country n fine tobacco aud wheat region, and no
other way of getting to Richmond except through
Petersburg, and OF course subjected TO the same
expense parties living on the line Of the Roam
oke Valley Railroad. At Raleigh you intersect the
great North Carolina Central Railroad, and thence
by IIilsboro. Greensboro and Salem TO Charlotte,
North Carolina, one hundred and seyeDty-fiye
miles, which contributes trade and travel to the
sty-four miles of the Raleigh and CASTOR Railroad,
aud would contribute great deal more ii the con-
nection between Clarksvile and the Richmond and
Danyilie Railroad was made; for, by this route
the trip from Raleigh to Richmond could be made
In four honrs less time, and for onetbird less mo.
ney than by the present route, the distance being
several miles nearer, and there never can be that
necessity for the delay that the public is now sub
jected to at Weldon and Petersburg. At Charlotte
you connect with the Charlotte and South Carolina
Railroad running to Columbia, South Carolina,
one hundred and nine mines long, making the
wholes distance by railroad, beyond ClarEsyiile,
three hundred aud sixty miles aud a half, complete
and in successful operation. The mail, the travel
aud freight along this whole three hundred and
sixty miles and half cannot get to Richmond or
Washington, or Baltimore, or Philadelphia or New
York city by any quicker or cheaper route than
by the Roanoke Valley and the Richmond and Dan
vile railroads trust those interested will examine
into this enterprise for themselves; and am sat
isfed that they will eomt to the same conclusions
thas have. | am sure the founders of the Roa-
noke Valley Railroad will be amazed when they
see what is likely to be the result of building that
much abu sed little road and the "lamented Tun-
stall, with his extended powers Of Imagination,
never conceived of getting into Carolina at this
point, and making it to her interest that Railroads
passing through three-fourths of her territory.
should pay tribute to the Richmond and Danvills
Railroad. And this is not all to be achieved by the
connection of these roads am perfectly satisfied
that the proposed Railroad from Raleigh. through
the Coal fields of North Carolina, to Cheraw, South
Carolina, will be built at very distant day, there
being already charter for the road part of the
way. The President of the Raleigh and CASTOR
Railroad, and other officials of that Company have
expressed a determination not to rest till that
connection is made; for by 1t they will not only
be able to get into an extensive bed of coal, Of
superior quality, but also will have 40 air line of
Railroads from Raleigh, by Cheraw, to Charleston.
South Carelinaa distance ofabout two hundred ard
eighty miles: beyond Charleston, a Railroad is un-
der construction to Savannah; beyond Savannah, u
road along the Southeastern and Southern boun-
dairy of Georgia, to the Apachicola River, just
above the Florida line, and intersected by Rail
road from Florida, making the distance, when
these connections have been made from Clarksvlle
by Raleigh, Cheraw, Che rleston, Savannah and
Thomasyille. to the Apalachicola river, seven
hundred aud fifty miles. And from this en-
tire $50 miles o. road a shorter, or quicker. or
cheaper route, for the transportation OF the great
Northern and Southern mail, and all the Northern
duu tTaFei, between tnls country ana
Richmond, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia
and New York city, will fndi it to their nyene zee
and interest to pass this proposed road TO the
Danyille Railroad, and thence by Richmond. North.
have given much thought and attention to this
subject, and am satisfied that eau hardly be mis-
taken ia the views above presented; aud trust
the heads of the Danvilie Railroad Company the
fathers of the city of Richmond and the Richmond
press which is the great wheel by shich the whole
machinery Of State and railroad interest is put and
kept in motiou,) will look well to this enterprise
1t Is of momentons import to them aud u, and de-
mands a thorough Investigation at our hanis
And in conclusion, should the Danvile Railroad
Company get the 100000 suggested 10y the m-
mittee of the Senate, hope if scheme that doss
not promise as much direct aud prospective benefit
as this does is presented thnt sectional or other
influence of any kind shall divert them from look
ing well to this one, and by its merits decide its
fate