Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1868-09-25
lcoMNuS1CATEDl
CiIRYsTAL SrRINGs,
NEAR EsTILLv1LLE, Va,
September 22th, 1865.
rs hi IA Brielol NelrS

TO he Editors Of The Bristol Ee,ns
Gentlemen-I am glad TO see that pa
per has been established at Bristol with
proiaise of success, which avows It's purpose |
to advocate the interests of the Virginia |
aud Kentucky Railroad. In my humble |
judgment there is no Improvement in con-
temptation, Of such immediate Importance |
to tile people Of Virginia as the completion |
OF this line OF road from Bristol to Cumber-
land Gap. That part Of the country through |
which it passes is not surpassed in natural
resources by any other section of country
south Of the Ohio River. Here we have
marble OF very good quality and ineXhausti-
BILE in quantity cur forests and mountains
are covered with timber Of the finest quah-
ty, Of great variety and of the most valua-
Die species our hills and mountains TEEN
with the finest quality Of Iron and other
valuable ores while in Wise, Lee, and por-
tions Of this county are found immense beds
of Coal of the very finest quality, both BIZ
luminous and Camel with little trouble
| by the ordinary mining operations it is
reached and found TO be ineXhaustible in
| quantity. This region has the finest iacili-
! ties Tor water power in the world, while IN
! der scientific culture and management our
| lands would astonish the world with the i'm
mense yield and vast variety OF our agricul-
| tural products.
what more is necessary TO make this one
| of the weathiest and at the same time one
/ Of the most delightful and pleasant regions
| of Virginia, or evel of tho American COuti-
nent The answer is nothing but the com
| pletiUn Of the line OF Rail Road that has al
ready been located through our midst, fol-
| lowing, as it were, r. line marked out by the
| finger ct nature herself from Bristol to the
| Gap. There is scarcely formidable i'm
pldment. Our long ranges Of hills and
mountains offer no opposition whatever.
You pass through the Cliuch Mountain at
Big Moccasin Gap without any perceptible
ascent, then passing on 10 a range Of hills
north Of Clinch River we pass with perfect
case and little work through the natural
tunnel then the next Tauge is POwelPs
Mountain, and passing up the Wild Cat
Valley or Gap this mountain is passed with
out difficulty, and then comes y range Of
Walden's Ridge at Loyelady Gap, which,
suppose, will require a shOrttunnel thence
on without further difficulty or interruption
through Lee County and one of the most
fertile and productive sections Of the State,
TO Cumberland Gap, distance Of 95 miles
| fIUm Bristol.
We are there met by Kentucky with a
road from Louisville. This road is not
complete, but will DO by the time we can
complete ours. This will open mp immedi-
ate and direct communication with the Mis-
sissippi Valley and the Great West, which
will pour ia upon us her vast productions
OF marketable produce, which will find a
market in our cities all along the line and
in Norfolk, which, with the completion Of
this Road and the permanent establishment
of a line Of steamers from Norfolk to Liver
? pool, viii, in few years, build up that Old
Virginia city, aud place her among the fore
most aud most tlOurishiug commercial cities
! Of this continent. Complete this short link
from Bristol to Cumberland Gap, and from
present indications a very short time will
! announce the completion Of the great Pa
cidc line. Then we will be situated on the
great National highway leading from Liver
4 pool to the Pacific coast, running as it does
| through the very heart of the richest and
= most fertile region in the known world. De-
= velUpiug as it goes the natural resources OF
e the country along the line iC would re-awak-
.. en- the sleeping energies of our people, in
Y troduce capital with an enteTprising pOpu
lation that would soon make Southwestern
i Virginia the most wealthy, interesting and
f delightful portion Uf the whole State. In a
| snort time after its completion IL viii re-
quire q double track to transport the freight
# and travel that the pubic interests vii de-
- mand Of TINS line Vt ROAD, for az 10 distant
i period In the future, (when We look to it.
q position ana its capacity for transportation
al ell seasons) this road must become thu
% great carrier OF tnat immense trade between
= Inc East and the West. We from this sec
ton can furnish coal and iron sufficient 20
c keep the steam motive power OF tins natiou'
q machinery IN operation one hundred years
. While the single county OF Lee with an or
Is binary season caa furnish grain and provis
b ions above her home consumption sufficient
10 supply AL the cities OF Virginia. 4
u present, all tits mineral and surplus lies her,
d without increasing the wealth OF its pos
r. SCISSORS or that oil The StaJe.
: have only been living here about egh
% or nine years, and since / have become &c
l. quainted with the natural advantages of thi
country, IL is matter Of great surprise q
mo that this road has not been built Ions
| since. / regard il as n matter Of interest
le not only to Southwest Virginia, but 10 TN
le whole State, uud | do not believe that /
S. would be eXJrayagaut to say that il is Ma
d. tlunal measure u certainly is III connect
+ ing Norfolk, which has the lne,t harbor il
IL the world, with the Great West, and, il
er fsct, reaching TO the Pacific coast.
ID We cannot attach too much importance L
,. this great measure. 1t should be, as | hop
10 will, one OF the leading subjects, befor
j. the convention That is TO meet at Norfolk il
ne October. We all should devote some atten
o. ton 90 this measure and never cease taikin
~, and thinking about II until We shall discoyc
- some JauglUle plan, by which the work ma!
W be again resumed and pu he'd through to
nc speedy ana early completion. We owe
ID great deal, / tbiuk, to the uutlIing enegge
de Of Col. RubJ. W. Hughes, who has deyoteO
90 a great deal If his time and means to thi
important project. We must co-Operat
OF with him and sustain INN in his manly ei