The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-02-16
FOR THE nTSPATcR. !

TpHC0NTENPLATED EXTENSION OF THE RoA.
NOKR VALLEY RAILROAD FROM CLARKEs-
YIl,LE To kEYsvIbLE.
II is very much 20 be regretted, Mr., Editor that
cnr fellow citizens, under the influence Of great
good nature. should append their signatures 70
memorials with 80 little reflection aud exauina.
toa in'a the merits of the object sought TO be ae
compiiShed, a. they have displayed in the applica.
tau addressed 70 the Couneii OF Richmond on the
subject Of subscription OF SioN 0oa by tho city,
in its corporate capacity, for the purI ose of &c
fompjishjag an extension Of the Roauoke Valley
Railroad from Gainesville, in tie county of Meek
lenkurg. to kpysvii|e. point on the Richmond
aea paCyiijc RasircSd, in the couaty of Charlotte
In consequence Of this want of proper reflection
en- the part Il many Who signed the application
in oues'jon, the CoUuct Of the city has been con-
strained - o der the polls 'e he opened on Sats
rr3sy next the 29tb instant, Ia order 10 aseer-
tain ths sense oi our citizens on the snhiect and
Z, anccnuter a 3 the expense and anrnvance Incl,
den. to the matter; and perhaps, by reason of the
AYathy ot our people be compelled, in the end 10
increase the already heavy debt of the city $fc 900
1ye for the puT pose Cf obtaining an avenue for
tbe trade Of "A seStian o. country with which We
are now actually connected by railroad, and that,
too a railroad connection shorter, by several
miles than the ore III he-u heneyer completed
to which the city Of Richmond is asked to sub
scribe an smoGnt equal % oDe-tventie;h of the
present heavy debt. Let us examine the facts o:
the case: From Richmond to keysviIe is 3 miles,
and from Kevsviiie 10 ClafkesgIile is computed at
- mii,s aud from Clarkesyiile to Riigewsy, where
the present road Of the Roanoke Valley Il. r. Co
terminates n the =. aud GsstOn Il. L, is @l miles,
thus making be entire distance from Richmond
to Ridgwsy. i2i miles by ihis new and direct
route when As She present moment We can reach
the same rout. ~ rairosd every foot Of the gay.
and not have 20 travel more th an ll2 miles, il
mnch, va: TO Petersburg - miles, Petersburg to
Utck sford - miles. and ltcksford 10 Ridgway &
niics--What theB are We to gain on any aspect of
the case hy the subscription contemplated No
fhips whatever. according to NY comprehension
OF the matter. II il is argued that, by the pro
po,ed extension, we shall meet the trade at Ciarks
willie and draw it ieom Ejdgwsy, We are then very
little better of. ia fact only SO TO the exfeut Of
the distance between Rdgway aud Ciarssville,
though tits problematCal II even then trade and
travel could he diverted from its present direc-
ticn over the Ra'eigh road, which will have a
strong Interest il its conveyance. at least far
as CASTOR, where 1t connects with the Petersburg
rsiIr5ad. Asaiu--what security have We that the
snbscriptiou conteG plated will the obi ect
In view 1t ia conceded that 500. .eO0 will be ne
Cessary 70 build the desired road aud this amount
IS sexptcteG to he raised by the city of Richmoud
20 The cxteu, OF 900 COO. the country in the ycin-
ity Of the road to the extent OF another 800 QJt
snd tie State for s5Co,ooo. The State may, bow,
ever, decline any sub bscriptios, and RssuredIy shs
will II the city Of Richmond is in fer it 10 the ex
tent OF 500 900 already aud il S. what then are
We 20 do Why nothing else but abandon the en-.
terprise and the money already subscribed OF
foot the entire subscription which will be necessa
~ 10 complete the road.
Great Fesuits have been portrayed and brigh
calculations on pGper made, in relation the vas
amount OF trade aud travel 20 be realized from
the contemplated Improvement All fudge
The entire gross income. during the past year
n the road, at present in operation between
EdE"sy and Clarksyflle, amounted to but sls,
rl": and can il believed for q moment that tn,
trade Of section of con8try, which now pays 81
little over short route TO market, will or can d,
much for another route of greater length merely
beraBse the new route does not go through Pc
teTsAufGf lG addition, GCes it not display to
much q a GraspiBg and monopclizing spirit il
Richmond, 10 step in and attempt TO wrest from
our epterprislng BeiEhbor Little Petersburg. til
trsde for which shewas the first to move, aud Il
which she is SO legitimately eatitlsdf 1t seem
to me so. She lie nog, hy railroad connected
with kidEway. he short distance Of % miles, snt
We eyirce a Opposition to expend hundreds O
thousands. in order to grasp trade and travel a
tie same point distant from us l2l miles. Thes
Sre fscts. SIS a glance at the maps will show Peo
pie Of Richmond, look TO this matter. Other in
terosts mag bc at work. for which a sacrifice O
yours may to convenient and profitable.
IAN PAYER
2 S-Since writing tho above. the additiona
tact has occurred to me, that ;be connecting road
10 meet which We may lie required to increase ou
prCreIt dett tu The Extent of hsif million of dol
lars Is OF itterert Cuage with that OF the Rich
mODd aud Danvile Road: consequently if th,
friends oi tbe extension succeed in accomulishinl
their object tie EingUisr anomaly viii hs pre-
scented of read, u miles Of which will bs lee
:, inches in width ami the remainder - mile.
VIII he . feet. A TAX PAYER.