The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-11
The Railroads,

The railroad fever is risen very high'
The "Southsidc" is full Of excitement
Norfolk and Lynchburg took the fever ana
It has spread and become continent between
them and gone up the James river 10 MOCK
bridge. Various meetings have been he'o'
and enthusiastic and confident resolutions
have been everywhere adopted.
This manifestation of the public spirit Is
encouraging. and we would not say word
I, aepress it. But the interests involved IN
the discussion arc very extensive, and MOI
everywhere exactly the same. For instance,
we do not see why the "souths'de road
20 called. should be extended mp James
river beyond Lynchbure. crossing TO the
"No-hsidc, where its name is misno-
NOR Nor 90 we see why, as some argue,
. Richmond should wait till the s'Southside "
rc.s to prisoners base before she plays for q
direct and speedy communication between
her and Lynchhurg, and thence with South
wrs, Virginia, of whose trade she has been
robbed by the mannuvres on the railroad
chcss-board in this State. Nor do we think
this city intends passively to await all
these events and permit the consummation
Of projects not promising benefits for her.
whatever their authors may intend. This
city should certainly, not less than any
other in the State, have the shortest and
spcedicst possible communication with the
importaNt points of production and con-
SUMPTION in the West and Southwest.
Every interest in the State demands this
much, and Richmond should be content
with nothing less. Her most popular con-
nection with the west at this time is by the
longest route from here to Lynchburg-
nineteen out Of twenty passengers going
by the Chesapeake and Ohio and the
Orange and Alexandria railroads to
Lynchburg. That fact settles the ques-
ton. Richmond may take that route as her
guide in considering the necessity Of o
straight road, managed in her interest, to
Lynchburg. 1t may be said that the South
side line brings the freight. But freight is
no great matter without passengers. We
want the travellers TO come this way, that
they may see lis. and if we offer induce
ments, trade with us. And we tell these
people of Richmond they can never get this
travel as long as the railroads remain as
they are-neyer, never!
But to return to the main subject: The
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company is
fairly entitled to consider this james River
route from Clifton Forge to Lynchburg as
Us line for shortening its road and i'm
proving its grades. 1t cannot justly be
seized by the Southside until the Chesa-
reake and Ohio Company decides what it
means to do. On this point Richmond may
not suffer vitality if she with her straight
line strikes the point of junction with the
line from Clifton Forge at LynchJuug. Fair
play. and we will take care of ourselves.
It is proposed TO straighten the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railroad by line as near
direct as possible from Clifton Forge to
Richmond Such line would take Lex
ineton in its course, and crossing the Blue
Ridge east of it, traverse the hills of Nelson
to James river, crossing that, and making
lis way in direct line through Bucking-
liam, Cumberland, and Powhatan, to Rich
nond. We repeat what We said before,
that the question of building the road along
this route is to be settled by cost and by
grades ascertained by survey. 1t is a
route Icset with difficulties involving the
holdest engineering and heavy costs.
Whether or not grade such as the heavy
transportation on the road will require can
lie had, can only be settled by thorough
survey.
Certainly it is very desirable that such
straight road should be built if the proper
conditions can be secured. The county of
Roekbrdgc, as our readers know, has de-
c,ared very emphatically i'll favor of this
line. And We take pleasure in acknow-
icdging the very proper and credtable sem
,;lucnts of the late meeting in Rockbridge
relative to the interests of the State and
this city.
ton is to be held in Lynchbulg. and we
think this city should by all means be re-
presented i'll that convention. 1t would
have a good effect. We could at least con-
fer with our Souhside" friends. If we
may not agree with them there can no
harm grow out Of disrassionate and civil
exchange OF opinions with them. But we
DO not see that we must disagree with
them. In our opinion, they know more
about the "through freight" war than
they did ten years since. The forcing
SYSTEM" as the people of Boston land
Boston is big ethyl have learned, is
not the great affair it was expected to be.
And maybe other people are not far from
the same conclusion. There is no reason
why the James River towns from the noun
tains to the sea may not be in entire har-
mony and cooperation; and let us show by
sending delegates to Lynchburg that We
feel that we may enter the convention there
as friends.
On the 23d another convention will lie
he'd al Powhatan Courthouse. Let Rich
lnoud be represented there, too. Let US
consult with our people on these railroad
projects. They are deeply interesting to
Us. We should discuss matters freely with
.hcm, always keeping in view the vital ne
cesslty Of straight Richmond "South-
side" line between US and Lynchburg.