The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-22
WHAT WE WILL LOSE.
Importance of the Richmond and Pc
tersburg Road.

will be interested in always Keeping IL
open to Southern trade aud travel, let him
but cast his eye over the map of the
Atlantic States, and glance will convince
him of its absolute necessity to our future
prosperity. That short line connects the
EXTREMIST Northern city of the Atlantic
coast with the farthest point South.
To give two important termini, it joins
Boston, Massachusetts, or we might say
Portland, Maine, to Tampa or Appalachie
Bay, Florida. 1t needs no prophet to tell
us that iu the very near future the gulf
coast of Florida is to perform mighty
part in the great drama of American COM
mercial development. At Tampa Bay
will spring up city scarcely second to
New Orleans or Havana. 1t will be the
great seaport of the gulf, for in our on
ward march to the manifest destiny Of
this continent, when we shall have secured
the 'isles of the sea-" which we all know
Is but question Of time, the intercourse
between the mother country and her out
living States will be constant. Our people
will be passing to and fro daily, and our
commerce will also take that direction.
Look at Tampa Bay. 1t is the focus OF
the West Indian, of Mexicao, and OF Cen
trail American commerce, of the Tehuan-
tepecian, Nicaraguan aud Isthmian routes,
and therefore the entrepot of the trade and
travel of tho South Pacific coast and Aus
tralia. This is no dream of an enthusiast.
1t is but the plain, practical, common sense
conclusion which all must draw from the
logic Of events.
Well, with this grand seaport opened
upon the gulf of Florida, all travel to and
from the North and Europe, between the
points we have named must pass by rail-
read through Richmond, provided we have
a quick route open and free for its accom-
mediation. Travellers tired of voyaging by
sea will seek the first relief they can fird
on land and then, too, we all know
that the Atlantic coast is dangerous, and
many people are as timid now of the
ocean and its troubled waves as
in the days when Horace declared
that he who first ventured to buffet the
| pillows of the Adriatic in an open boat
had heart encased in triple brass. But
although it may not require the same
courage now to go down to the sea In
ships, aud do business on the mighty
deep. vet it is fact that landsmen pre-
fer to travel on their "native clement
whenever it is possible, ,-and, therefore
with a railroad from the gulf shore of ths
Floridian peninsula, but few would tempt
the Scylla and Charybdis of the gull
stream, and the dangerous shores of Hat
teras.
In view of these facts, will it not b.
suicidal In the people of Virginia, and par
tioularly 10 the citizens of Richmond, t.
throw away for mess OF pottage th'
great advantages which will accrue tt
them through this immense travel ant
commerce? Will it not be the creates
folly and stupidity in them to permit an.
party to step in, and by securing this shor
link of road, cut them off from all com
munication with the South Atlantic ant
Gulf States-to build Chinese wall di
rectly across their territory from East t
|
West-cutting the Union in twain, as |
were, and forever shutting this city ou
from her right to compete for share
the Southern trade !?
And yet this is the object OF Genera
Malone. and those who sustain him in hi
scheme to get control of the Petersbur
road. He needs it, and wants it for n
other purpose but to close it up. Indeed
we know not but he may even conten
plate tearing up the track. He desires
for the same reason the Germans took A
SAGE and Lorraine, and dismantled Met
that he may d estroy our power to interfe
0 in the future with the "domain of his an
bition"
o Are the people of Richmond and of tt
# State prepared to submit to this bio
aimed at the very heart OF their hope'
Will they suffer this connecting link
commerce between the North and Il
South,-a commerce which in the futu
will be thousand times more valuat
to Richmond and Virginia than all t
trade of the great West,-to be wrest
from them, that their course southwa
NAV be forever debarred Will the Leg
lature grant to any man the right to bui
wall across the State to obstruct
trade and commerce of any portion OF
country !? If they do, then as we ha
g said before, they will richly deserve
- - fate that awaits them In the very ne
"a future.
=, Richmond is alive to the vital impo
to ance of keeping this road ont OF
an clutches of Malone aud the Seaboard Co
ha pany, and SO is Petersburg. These t
a heroic cities, which so grandly withste
a. the blasts of war, and became memorial
lv through all time for the fortitude display
,rt by their inhabitants during the four 10
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