Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-11-16

William BurweIl, of Virginia ecntle,o,r
of ability and experience as a legislator and
newspaper writer, is furnishing the National
fntelligencer with 6 series~of very interes,ing
letters on the Resources and Prospects of yir.
gina, His No. 6, now before us, written a,
Knoxville, Tennessee, gives the reader a view
Of the condition of portion Of South Western
Virginia and East Tennessee We extract two
paragraphs, remarkiag that we well renne,nber
the earnest efforts made by the friends Of inter-
nal improvement before being able to consun,-
mate the work -
We might remind Mr.. BurweIl, however
that, some years ago, during the Administrator
of John Quincy adams, when survey for
National Road was made, from New York 10
New Orleans, the Shenandoah Valley, from
Harper's Ferry TO Knoxville, was set down as
on the direct line.
"a 81 KNOXVILLE, Der. q, 1865.
" This route passes through the Bavaria rath-
or than the Switzerland of the Union. The
features of the country are more undrlatory
than bold, and though the Allegheny is cross
ed at an elevation of moro than 1000 feet the
traveller is nowhere made sensible, by the alb
ruptness of the activity. of the exalted region
which he traverses. Almost the whole route
from Lynchburg to the Georgia line--a distance
of more than 400 mies--lies through success
sion of fertile valleys. 1t thus presents an
abundant and salubrious region, with ahund-
ant provisions-whe under proper cultivation
Astounding water-power, and extraordinary
mineral resources As the traveller offers al
most the only market at present, the hotel
tables and viands offered al every station evince
the profiision Of nature. Perhaps no tract Of
country Of equal extent has produced more live
stock and cereals than East Tennessee, while
none offers greater attractions Of location and
climate.
"The railroads are doing much to revive the
commerce of the country. They have been
sorely embarrassed by the injuries Of ware de-
pots, bridges, and tanks have been destroyed;
locomotives worn out and rails rendered use
less; the productive energies Of the country
have been suspended. The mdoubted resour-
ces of the roads, and the indomitable pcrseyer-
ance of their managers. have given them credit
with capitalists, and the sale of Government
carsand engines has repaired their rolling stock
These reads have not, however, kept step with
railroad progress elsewhere. They have been
disconnected, and seem to have been rather run
for the supposed benefit of local interests than
for the public. Passengers aud goods have
been subjected 10 frequent and unnecessary
transfers, aud through freights have been a.
most extinguished by The absence of proper
facilities The example and competition Of
other routes has, however, produced lis effect
Through tickets are now sold ~ all The princ-
pal cities. and arrangements made to express
goods from New York to any poiuts South
In fact, the route by way Of Knoxville is des-
tined TO constitute The GREAT Tno8oCGnTAaE
BETwEEN NEw ORIE-Ss, WAsmNGTcS, AND
New York, since il has been shown by astron-
omical observations to approximate most near
ly the geodetic line between those commanding
points Although the Tennessee roads have
recovered wonderfully. there are other causes
which greatly impede their success