The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-06-22
4ichutonG Aispahh.
The Straight Shoot.

in SupDOSing Gnat not uOttai h''S WV o..''
subscribed to the straight shoot y from
Richmond to Lynchburg, and erring in tha'
statement of course the Wing crrs rs 10 .h'
cause of the "fact which does not eA's'-
viz, That the straight shoot won'" III" ~
near the Southside road as to make IL an
uunnronisins investment In lSoo con-
siderable subscription to this straight shoo'
$3.50 in this city, and to this the coun'
t;es ON the line added something; n"' just
before the company was about TO be organ
i ;zed came ono of those bombs from WASH
;noton CITY which have been flying from the
Federal capital towards us perlodleaily
since that time. and put damper upon all
enterprise and nearly all hope. As far rs
we know, the really practical and energenc
men of Richmond have never for moment
doubted the Importance and absolute ncccs>
city or a road as direct rs it can be made
from this city to Lynchburs.
WHY should they? When the late Mr.
DGAYE, of Lynchhurg, was thuhderlhg
in the Capitol in behalf of straight hhe 10
Norfolk-backcd by an irresistible comDi-
nation based on mutual asslstance-lt was
ureed on behalf of this city that the line
sbould take Richmond in its route. The
idea was secuted as positively too absurd 10
Inc considered. We were showed OIL WIN
the canal as n thing quite sufficient 'or Us ;
and after the proposition succeeded, It's
friends defeated in the Legislature for sevc-
20, successive sessions an application for a
simple charter for road from Lynchburs
70 Richmond. to be built by private means I.
This was the justice then meted OUT 10 thls
c;tv-tbe largest taX.paying community IN
the State, and the only one then dong any
thing towards building up commerce III
Virginia! Now, can it be contended that
Richmond should be expected to make
sacrifice of distance that it would be UNJUST
tn cxpect of Petersburg and Norfolk: Is
s,,ch a sacrifice reasonable on one size anu
unreasonable on the other! Let IL DE con-
s;aored unreasonable for either to make II.
and we are content. We helped to bulld
the line that was built we arc paying taxes
for it now. 1t does not answer the wants
If this city. and we cannot see how any
one--least of all. citizen of Richmond
can object to the construction OF anoth'f
road bv which Richmond shall avoid the
socritce of distance which it was considered
most unreasonable to ask OF smaller towns.
No. we believe the opinion of Richmond
will be unanimous on this subject, including
the Wing. The proposed Improvement Is
not DIR project more than ii is anybody
e,se's. We do not claim to be its champion.
1t is the improvement of Richmond, ana
we hope to see all supporting H. ana All oe
serving the credit OF sustaining Il WORK
which is absolutely demanded in that great
struggle in Virginia which rests upon the
directness and the expedition oS our high
ways.
our friends of the Wing have favorlte
scheme, which is straight railway from
this city to Clifton Forge, passing by Lex
ington, in Rockbridge county. we belleVe
there is charter for it, and we shall De
pleased to see its route surveyed. But we
have had doubts about its practicabillty, as
have many gentlemen who are familiar with
the country through which it must he car
ried. independently Of that question,
however, we know that the tar-Seelng gen.
tlemen controlling the Chesapeake and Ohio
grades of their road east OF Clifton Forge,
and that their present opinion Is that TINS
cannot be done except by hugglng the
James River valley cia Lynchblrg. We
hardly think the result of the survey OF the
yh,g's fayorite route will present facts thai
will afford cause to change this plan. The
company is aware that it will have al I'M
frai
success and profit of its transportation Will
depend upon easy grades, and they want 10
have none over twenty feet to the mile COM
ing east save at the Allegheny, where the
grade is twenty-nine feet. or course II the
Chesapeake and Ohio road follows the river
route that puts and end to the straight
shoot by Lexington.
1t does more. 1t makes the independent
STRAIGHT road to Lynchburg, if possible,
still greater necessity. We are sure the
Who will ultinstely concur in this, and
that we shall all give our assistance TO eXpe-
dite so great a work-a work that must
make this city great, and confer immense
advantages upon Virginia
We are sure no railroad man will dispute
the proposition that the distance between
hero and Lynchburg may be likened to the
uuarter-stretch in the great race across IT,
einia for travel. which is the key TO com
merce. A trst-class road, with hrst-class
rolling stock, us it must be, will put the
traveller from Lynchburg into this Guy III
three hours, or little over. He may mus,
wherever he is going, pass through kieh-
mond without loss of business time ana
without diverging materially from his way
Richmond has attractions - commercial,
manufacturing, Typographical, historical
and social. Therefore, what between busi-
ness and interest,-curiosity, il you will
travel will be drawn this way, ana Rich
mond will gain fame, and who will not say
business? Will any one say she Will gam
either without travel?
Now, this improvement-this increased
expedition In communication between our
people and the people OF the SouthweSt-is
not ONLY important to Richmond but to Nir-
ginia. Next to building the Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad, 1t will do more to swell
the trade Of Virginia than anything we can
now undertake. Of course we vii all JOIN
in its accomplishment.
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State Interest.