The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-03
Some Railroad Views. s.

- Some Railroad Views.
It ia surely time that al Virginians
should perceive the folly Of the forcing
system of railroad transportation. And it
| is time, also, that we had considered the
importance Of compacting our interests and
cherishing industries and enterprises al
ready established within the State and fur
nishing mutual commerce between the
rural and the city inhabitants. Through
transportation does little for the country it
traverses. The local business-the local
Recommendations that which benefits the
country. Railroad operations striving after
through business not only fail to impart
local benefits, but they impose burthens
upon the local population without compen-
sation.
Now what we must have here in Virginia
is the straightest and most expeditions COM
munication between the sources of produc-
ton and the largest manufacturing town in
the State, which is this city. The welfare
of the Commonwealth demands this. The
farming interest wants large central
manufacturing and commercial population
to give the farmers market for their pro-
ducts. The State wants population and in
crease of wealth to enable it to pay the pub
lie debt and ultimately extend the public
improvements. Give Richmond the direct
lines that will best enable it to compete with
outside interests there is really no rivalry
between it and any other town in the STATED
and that large community necessary Tor
fourishing agriculture, with variety OF
| productions, will soon grow up here in the
centre of the State.
Two things are indispensable for the at
tainment of this object: The straighten-
ing and shortening of the Chesapeake ana
Ohio railroad from here to Clifton Forge OF
Covington, and straight road from TINS
city to Lynchburg. Give us these and we
need fear nothing. We are ready to enter
the ring upon this plan, and will take care
of ourselves so efectually that few years
will build town here upon James river
that will be the pride of the State ana her
source of greatest prosperity. /
Give us the best ways to the mines ana
rich producing regions Of the West--shorten
the ways and expedite the transportation
thither, so that the travel may without
loss of time pass through this city-and
all we can ask will be accomplished. We
have o right to oil the advantages OF dis
lance which We have in our Typographical
relations to other places. We ask no more.
We should be content with nothing less.
No town can successfully struggle with ri
walls when placed at disadvantage by
roundabout railroad communications and
delays. 1t must have travel-it must have
communication free from delay.
The whole State and every town in 1t
should demand this fairness for Richmond,
and the people of Richmond should never
rest until it is accomplished.
The proposed straight road from Clifton
Forge to Richmond is one that ought to be
made, if not at the expense Of grades too
heavy for the trade that it is intended to &C
commodate. The question is one that a
survey alone can settle.
We should also have the straight road to
Lynchburg. We should never surrender
the fair heritage of Southwest Virginia.
We know that the company now having
charge of the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
ore aware of the devious route of their
road from this city to Clifton Forge, and
will be happy to straighten it at the earliest
possible moment. This is demanded by so
vast western interest outside of this
State that the road assumes u national
magnitude, and is vastly more deserving of
congressional assistance than many that
have received it. We conjecture that
proper effort might secure for it this assist
ance, and with that the road could soon be
made exactly what the western people de-
sire it to be-the shortest and best way from
the Ohio to the Atlantic.
An incidental benefit to come Of the con-
summation of these important schemes will
probably be the opening of the Upper James
river valley to railroad communication.
At this time, on any railroad leaving this
city, there is dearth of localities within
any reasonable distance for the location of
manufacturing towns or fine residences.
The Upper James abounds with the best Of
sites for these purposes-streams emptying
into the James, water-power, beautiful
elevations, and fine landscapes. To give
railroad communication between Richmond
and such valley would be of inestimable
value to her, for country residences of her
wealthy people, and for manufacturing
towns tributary to her trade. The canal
could transport the ponderous freights-the
railroad the passengers and light trafaes.
Our means Of growth and happiness will
never be complete until we can 60 up and
down that Valley b rail.