The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-06
lur Railroads.

.#. "A
war Our railroad managers are using strenu-
,us c1cr;ions 10 make up for the time lost in
the last four years during which many i'm
,,royumcn's were made on the Northern rail
c2dS Ii was alwav. rcma~k tha. the
s-g'. RI reoIle, IN their works of internal
'...ryuteuents, were five years behind the
Yankees. This would put us ut the end Of
Ne war, with its four years, in which we
were going backwards all the time, at least ton
years behind them. But our railroad people
have travcrsed the greater portion of that space
.nllne months and il is be hoped tha, in year .
SINE hey will be able, il 4 measure TO compete
with their " brethren" Of the North in the way
ytcomfort for travellers and despatch for trans
p0rtaton. The war in the g,tonCIm Coniedera-
. was particularly destructive TO horscs-eycn
iron horses" could not stand its rough treat
ugeut, and, like the rest OF their species came
out rather the worse for wear. Those which
were not too far gone, have been repaired
and can now run as we'll as they ever did
Neither could the handsome coaches stand the
:uaa touches Of war; for rs each regiment
was transported 10 n new field of operations
some portion OF their handsome drapery would
disappear, until, at last, they We're completely
strapped. The backs 10 the seats, and the seats
themselves, Were divested OF their comfor, table
,a-prtcd cushions, and had 10 be replaced with
raae benches of plank. These have since been
oycyhuUled and reiitted, and look all tho better
t3r having been once despoiled.
All II the railroads are now in operation
save oue--the York River road. The country
through which this road runs might have
lccn. during portion Of the war, very pro-
perl. called the neutral ground" and when
occupied II was generally by the Federals
consequently il was rendered, i'll 4 great mea.
sar. useless 10 the Confederate Government.
on his account, and from the scarcity Of rail
road iron. much Of the iron OF this road was
taken up and laid down on roads more mpor-
-aut t1r the usrs Of war. That portion OF the
ruad not torn up by the Confederates was
:ah.u up by the Federals, by whom, also, all
The uyligcs and wharyes were burned. Nearly
al tie rolling stock was also taken off and
rut on other roads The Company then had,
NJ ..n close of the war, but little, If anything,
were than the bed of their road.
- officers are now making efforts 10 raise
tE.t- 10 get il III order. The stockholders, in
!.~.t.as IN November last, authorized the
directors 10 borrow three hundred thousand
Goiar-. which loan has been legailz"d by a
la.aac; Of the Legislature. All that remains
10 lo done in order 10 secure the loGn is for
,N. u-rseut bandholders TO release, formally,
,u. present mortgage and give the priority Of
I.g 10 new bondholders Most Of them have
already done SO, and il is to be hoped that the
.,t.ilder will soon do likewise. Such a release
v.ugcriainly be 10 their interest. BY releasing
,hr present mortgage they will eventually get
,l. fun value of the bonds, and insure the
speedy construction Of the road and we are
a>-v-cd hy T. prominent officer OF III" road
,A4r. six months from the time when all The
l..uAoldcrs shall have consented TO II, the
t."rtny viii be able 10 pay semi annually
,a. interest ~ eigh; per cent. per annum.
! IS contemplated to connect this read, uli-
2..atcly. with the Central road, which, IL 1t,
.un, viii connect il with the CornGton and
ono railroad, which will be eventually linlsh-
cl; and We understand that plans and estl'
..l.r. have been made for altering the gauge OF
tA- York River road from four feet eight inches
.gd half 10 Ave feet, III order 10 connect IL
with the Danville road. A line Of steamers is
intended 10 run 10 Liverpool from Wesi Point.
Ii, AarIor IL this place affords abundant ca.
pnaIrv for the largest ships. Lieutenant MAr-
A., # the United States Navy, in 1855, made
-tti"nent OF an examination OF this harbor,
which, coming from one so distinguished for his
scientific researches, certainly possesses much
weight lie stated that there was water
enough ~ West Point 10 pass into sea any
merchant ship in the country except The Grea'
Republic. Even at low tide, ship that draws
twenty feet can pass over the bari when Is
below the Point so that any vessel that COM
l4crcr would require can pass into the h1rbor'
", quote Lieutenant MArRY's own words IN
rl. following: The depth Of water on Goi's
bar. the softness of the mud upon il, and the
.-moo,hness of the water, combine 10 make
West Point the most accessible of ports
With the advantages that this road Will pos
,e.,. II promises 10 become one of great impor-
'4.c. 10 the State, and 10 add much 10 the
l, -rcautilc prosperity Of Richmond.
-1fthe other roads, and their condition atthe
r.rsa NJ the war much has already beeh s'iu
..,.. win however, give \ few facts as Tesafos
tArir present condition
On the Danville road first-class Howe truss
,,ridge has been completed over Stauntoh
and the people living on the road beyond
The river are no longer subject TO the incon'
,uaience resulting from the want OF bridge.
The work Of tearing up the old strap iron on
that portion of the road lying between tue
Junction and Meherrin station, and re-layihG
Ihc same with heavy rails, Is being pnshed
steadily forward, and will be completed al m
early day The workmen who have been en-
Gagged on the Staunton River bridge VIII no"
commence on the Richmond bridge, which, IL
is expected, will be completed early in the
Spring The road has purchased several ne"
engines and magnificent coaches, and the ac-
,ornmcda1ions for travellers are very good.
On the Richmond and Petersburg road every
,ling seems 10 be progressing very well. ana
but for the late action Of the City Councii OF
Petersburg the Company would have no oll'
neatly in carrying out their plan OF con-
A.ction with the Weldon railroad. That body
H.. refused 10 allow this connection 10 be
,.adr until connections are made between the
fredericksburg and the Richmond and Peters
bur. road in this city This seems 10 be rather
sn!ash on the part of our neighoors IN 'he
Cockade City," when we CONSIDER 'hal 'ney
own three hundred thousand dollars OF the
sock Of the Petersburg and Weldon road,
which has Welded them an amount which very
c.uch d!minishes the expenses OF tho city. Inc