Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-02-09


ing issues of thi. journal. We are pleased to oh
servo that several Of our cotemporsries OF the
pressseem to be alire to the Importance Of promp
action upcn the part Of the Legislature. aud ar'
urging that body 70 afford relief.
We have read the memorial Of the Comrany to
the Legislature, as also the TILL now pending IN
the House Of Delegates and can perceive no good
r.a.on wbv the prayer Of the petitioners should
mo, he granted as provided in the bill. II some
thing is NOS done, and that speedily, wiz We I'M
possible for the Company to keep the work in
necessary, state Of repair. aud navigation upon
il Will from the very nature of the case be aban
doned-
perhaps. in the view Of some prejudiced ana
.,.;,sormed nersons, this would not BE matter OF
: rre.. ar .;,sl importance for we are aw.no that
..,y .ocb regard canals as being behind tho age;
.1;,,,,. If communication that did well enough
rnd.- the old slow-coach system that prevailed IN
IN. davs of our fathers. but not up to the accele'
rated pace with which everything moves on at the
prt-ent day.
We cite oil such persousto single statement
and cpmparison found 10 the memorial Of the Com
pany to tue Legislature. There are Tour Railroads
having their terminal depots at Richmond io'~t
Tho Danvie, the Central, tho Petersburg and the
Frederickshurg. These roads are MI so well
known that we nced not speak OF them '"r'hor'
except b REMARK that two Of them penetrate far
into the int, Of the State. IN diverse directions
bringing the products Q, those tegle regions to
Richmond, which is their natural market Well,
with an aggregate length OF 453 miles these roads
transported dur.ng the lasi yoar 2o3, 't2 tons.
whilst the canal. in its crippled and unfinished
condition, with a length Of only 2l2 miles, trans
,porled 206 205 tons: thus, with less than half the
length VI the combined railroads spoken OF. and
with The impei,ments which operate against na''-
CATION in the winter season, the canal transported
1888 tons more in enc year than nj! these rail
road. together. Another example may be gwen.
According 20 tn. reports ftbe Virginia fenncs
SEC the oraase an Aie1aadria, the Manassa Gap
the Winchester and Potomac, the Norfolk and Pc-
tersbu-g and the SeaboarJ and Roanoke Railroad
companies representing su aggregate length OF
562 miles OF rail-. their tonnage for one year lex
cep, the Norfolk aud Petersburg which was in OPP
Grafton but eight n'onihsl aa"untsJ to 1921
tom, which Is exceeded by the tonnage OF the ca
nal f,- The same period. 33.3Gi tons.
The freight bnsisss ni the ten rnilroads above
,sIDe1 announced 70 year !" $685. tons, for
sta,ch they received Si.493, 5e164. while tie
ife4fl. business of the canal amounted TO @G.:29S
stns SRI ,rAsepsrrrng siiica II received Sl,2s49
& ". 10 rev1~wing cheese figures, II be asked
2G, Aoai. Al TIA, tat CANA nAs tras-p5rioi such
"a; tszuss. a. iVv rAie,--fsics thai are merely
ts,,ua. e -,sgasr~1 VIII tba-e which we have
5ts&4 AZ uytsl.,-< ss,sH ,,ea the effect has been
H. "a -.se1 ~ ne Sora,-sg and render them
atse - keep thesr E5Eks IL order We answer,
Aszs. la rssses r~JA-sp Nnc distinct ifum any
suTi ~ ia tins eue.tu5 hate ss3ntr!butei 10 pro-
eeee -, ea. barIassDsri; cau-ss which We have
nn LIZ delaa- ~ tie second place We re-
znafs tAat ii,e business Of the canal aud its ton
nsg- CO ,s& be increased almost Indefinitely --tho
Is1pabY say, at loast ten fsll--wabout augment
ing its expenses one dollar; and hesein is strong
arganout in tavo- Of ats ce,npe6@. If the work
were now ey tended with is branches To the OHIO,
the cost oil general administration would not DO
greatly iocrensed, whilst the tonnage would DO
multiplied {. hundred folt
But leavasg THESE genera. i,ste Interests ont Of
view. we Of L.nchburS have large stake in the
canal and it lie more Than iEimGtot ia the me-
moral 10 which we have adverud that, if relief
is not afforded tberc il not oslJ danger Of al
most entire interruption of the .ssdc II the line
certainly OF the threSgh tradc--bv4 danger also
of ,reuuphng the sHply IF rate, .tor tic use Of
the Cttg q LyacAbte." This world ~, serious
draw back to us; and together Nslh che loss OF
trade ana employment in various wey,- which the
canal afesds, Wanld p.atstiall Gfo the interests
OF our city We ere euro that orr or izcns aud
representatives in the Legislature ~iAtaly weigh
these important considerations, and nj according
ly.
In a future article we shall notir. more fully
the bill new pendipg for thu relief d the canal
company together with the propositions OF certain
Fre"ch capitalists, to.purchaxe and >enlpletc tho
canal.