The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-19
The Pittsburgh Scheme.

| Judge WILLIAM DANIEL, who has re-
Gently returned from the West, attended the
convention On the 10Th instant at Lynch
burg, and brought to the attention Of that
body scheme projected in Pittsburgh for
| railroad to Charleston, passing through
Virginia. The Judge, believing that the
best route for such road would pass
through Lynchburg, and THENCE by the
| Lynchburg and Danville railroad, preached
the question in the convention with the
view of opening correspondence with the
| authorities Of Pittsburg, and committee
was appointed at his suggestion far this
purpose.
The first allusion we remember to have
seen with regard to railroad from Pitts
burgh southwardly through Virginia was IN
| an essay from the pen Of Mr.. DADD' who
| was we'll known in this locality just before
the war under the name Of DE Bow: The
first name, we have understood, is his real
name. Why he adopted the second we kno"
not. He had considerable knowledge or
geology, and wrote frequently upon the geo.
logical features of Virginia, of which he
had made very extensive superficial e1ami-
nation. His suggestion looked to supplying
Pittsburgh with Virginia iron ore, and the
route indicated by him followed the Monon-
gahela and passed from its head waters to
those of the Greenbrier, and following that
to New river assembled that river into North
Carolina. Last fall the Pittsburgh Council
took up the subject and extended the
scheme 60 as to connect the proposed road
with Charleston. Judge DANIEL, conceiying
the best line for that road would be by
Lynchburg, arouses the interest OF the peo~
pie of that city on the subject.
He is right. The junction Of the Pitts
burgh road with the Chesapeake and Ohio
at Greenbrier river near the White Sulphur
Springs, and making that road part OF its
line to Charleston, would be the shortest and
best direction it could take. 1t would di-
verge from the present line at Clifton Forge,
and come down James river to Lynchburg
by such line as may be built along James
river, either by the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad or such other corporation as may
do that work.
The interesting feature of this PROPOSE
ton is that it is in the direction of ten
dency (which will hereafter be more appa-
rent) of the natural inclination of the peo-
pie dwelling to the north and south of the
middle temperate latitude to concentrate
upon that latitude. We look forward to the
day when we shall be az intimate with the
Ohio River cities as We are with Memphis
or Knoxville. The gentle temperature, the
fine waters, and easy access to the sea, will
draw the commerce, while the natural
wealth of this region will attract enterprise
and industry from both extremes, and
especially from the Northwest, where hui
man energy is paralyzed and housed six
months in the year.
Pittsburgh is a great city, and can build
the proposed road very easily, SO far as it's
pecuniary power is involved. AS for the
practicability of the road, that is beyond
question, Notwithstanding it was 80 ridi-
culed by gentleman from Norfolk in the
Lynchburg Convention. There is hardly
ten miles of distance between the head
waters of the Monongahela and those Of
James river. The work is altogether a
practicable one.