The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-11-28

- Railroad Schemes Richmond
Re situation Of Richmond ID, beyond
INA, critical, and . decided effort on tho
bart Of her citizens ID necessary to avert .
lasting and irretrievablc injury. Schemes
the effect or which viii DO to continue her
isolation are constantly projected and press
ed with zeal exceeding any we see as
played by our own citizens. we nave 70.
Gently hsd our attention called to a,pro,ect
TO construct continuous line OF roao from
Louify,l,e and Cincinnati, cta Cumberland
Gar. Bristol. Danville, and GAINESVILLE, In
.h;. s..,. ON the Roanoke river, to Nor
folk. n would DO route not much TO be
nreind,ced by comparisons Of length with
a,b,r, and very favorable and feasible as
a GRADES. From GAINESVILLE to Norfolk
the road Is, We may say, made, and the
distance from GAINESVILLE along the
Roanoke to Danville Is short, and the coun-
try admirably adapted to railroad route.
west Of Danville the line along the upper
Dan is very favorable, at least until the
mountains are reached, which we suppose
offer no great obstacles; for the route across
them 70 Abingdon or Bristol has long at
tracted attention in connection with the
Danvil1e railroad to this city.
We think il not improbable that road by
this route will be made ; and the time Of It's
construction will depend very much upon
the movements Of this city. If Richmond
rises upout Of the "Slough Of Despond -
into which she seems now rather quietly to
rest, making far too little exertion to ex-
tricate ,hersslf-if she rises up out Of this
condition, and by united and grand effort
establishes the routes which will put her
in direct connection with the Southwest
and West, then this scheme for debouch-
ing the great Ohio and Atlantic route upon
the Valley Of the Dan, and thence con-
tinuing It along that Valley and the Roa-
noke to Norfolk, will be postponed in
definitely. But rely upon it, if there is
not some exertion made here, the people
of Cincinnati and Louisville will concen-
trste'upon'this or some other route calcu-
lated TO draw of the commerce from the
line of the James river, to the everlasting
injury Of this city. Charleston, S. c., has
become point in the plans Of connecting
tia Ohio with the sea, and the road pro-
jected from Bristol through Cumberland
Gap is intended to meet and connect with
the. great railroad which is now in progress
towards the Palmetto city.
Need we call attention to the far-reach-
ing ssgacity of Baltimore and the great
plans Of that immense corporation-that
Briarens, whose arms are now stretched
to the Mississippi-that Baltimore and
Ohiorailroad, whose construction displayed
so much enterprise, SO much energy and
courage of community who are now reap
ing the rich rewards of their constancy,
fortitude, and public spirit We just
now learn that this great corporation has
leased the Ohio Central road, which gives
Baltimore not only uninterrupted commu-
nication to the Mississippi, but the abso-
lutte control of at least three-fourths of the |
distance. Thus we see what community |
may do by judgment, energy, and intre-
pidits in opening to themselves highways
to the sources of production and wealth.
Baltimore had fewer natural advantages
than Richmond; she was the most isolated |
city, in reference to the main current OF
commerce, on the Atlantic border. For
tunately she was located in small State,
which could not be torn and weakened by |
sectional dissensions and jealousies. Mary
land knew no city but Baltimore; and there
were no small towns and incipient cities
at crossroads and upon sand-banks to Vex
and confuse her legislation, and defeat, oy
legislative strategy, measures intended to
build up her one great city. But better
than this, that city had population OF
wise, stout-hearted, and intrepid men, who
were determined to have share of the
trade of the great Valley of the Missis-
sippi, and they did not fail.
.#.s ~ q ms #
Had Richmond moved when Baltimore
did, with railroad towards the West and
had her people, like those Of Baltimore,
worked harmoniously, following the lead of
their ablest and wisest men, formed into
boards and committees, which constitute
the eyes and arms Of city, Richmond
would now be. great. She, too, would be
her lines Of improvement to the
Mississippi, and by the power of her cor
porstions would be giving that direction 70
the vast commerce of the West which
would pour into her lap unlimited wealth.
These facts and reflections admonish rs
now, late Is 1t is, that We must do what We
can to avert the evils that threaten us, and
to secure for Richmond that trade and pros
perity to which sheis entitled. AS one Of
the means Of accomplishing this, not one
day should be allowed to pass before rails
ing tho stock necessary to organize the
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