The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-01
and Trans-AIleghnny Nar-
rou-GauRe Railroad.
INTERESTING MEETING YESTERDAY.

.e ~~~-------- 4
An informal meeting Of number Of the
members Of the City Council and other citi-
zens, was held yesterday afternoon, in the
Council chamber. Present Messrs. Brazle-
man, Bright, Christian, Foster, Oliver, Pull.
liam, Purcell, Walker, Curtis, Gilman, Metz
ger, Jenkins, on the part of the City Coun-
Gil, and Messrs. 4. L. Pridemore. State
Senator for Lee county, w. P. NJ. Keliam,
Of the Board of Aldermen, Messrs. j.. u.
Maury, DR.. Blair Burwel, MIR. Thomas w.
McCance, president of the Chamber of Com
meSe and q member Of the Board of Alder
men, Franklin Stearns, r. Fl. Maury,
John Enders, George S. Palmer, Gen
erai J. D. Imboden, Colonel W. ?. Burwell.
At $50 the meeting was called to order by
Mr. John Purcell, and, on bis motion. MIR.
Franklin Stearns was invited to preside.
On motion of Mr.. Purcell, the meeting re-
solved itself into meeting of citizens.
MIR. Christian, member Of the Common
Council, said it had been the desire Of
number of the members Of the Board Of
Aldermen and the Council to have joint
session, in order to hear General Imboden
on the subject OF the Richmond and Trans
Allegheny Narrow-Gauge railroad, and he
therefore moved that he be heard. Agreed
to.
General Imboden commenced his address
by making brief statement Of the history
of the enterprise and aluding to those coun-
ties in Southwest Virginia which are not trd-
versed by any railroad. His very deep IN
terest in Richmond and those counties, and
the knowledge Of their great wealth, resulted
in the application 10 the Legislature for
charter for a narrow-Saugc railroad from
Pound Gap to Richmond. During his ABB
sence in Europe the first year OF the appllca-
ton it was not granted, but upon his return
the subject was again revived, and last ses.
sion the Legislature granted most liberal
charter to the Richmond and Trans.Alle-
ghany Narrow. Gauge Railroad Company.
General Imboden continued his remarks
by saying that 4 company OF gentlemen IN
England would undertake the construction
of this road il the counties along It's line
would agree to subscribe S3,0OO per mile.
The fact that there are ten or more counties
through which there is not mile of railroad
passing struck him as being alone sufficient
to induce the building of this road to Rich
mond. Powhatan. Cumberland, Bucking-
ham, Floyd, Bland, Tazewell, Buchanan,
Wise, Lee, Scott, and Franklin are now lock.
ed out. Powhatan, it is true, has about
four miles Of railway in one corner, but
what is that? The country through
which this road passes is equal to any
in Southeast Virginia. 1t abounds
in mineral wealth for more than one hum
dred miles along the line Of the proposed
road, where iron abounds in great ahund-
ance. rich coal-ields lie close at hand, and
of easy access There is no place OF the size
of Richmond in this country so completely
throttled as it now is. Cut off at Weldon
and DanvilIe, Richmond is also damaged TO
an immense extent by the tapping of the
Chesapeake and Ohio road at Staunton. In
short time he believed that nearly all the
produce coming over this road would 60
down the Valley from Staunton to Balti-
more Then, too, General Mahone's line
is about to be tapped at Salem. What
will be the future of Richmond II
this great Clinch River valley is not utilized
and this road not built? The people OF that
section will not suffer themselves much
longer to be shut out as they are now.
When tue Legislature meets next winter
they will demand charter, and will appeal
to Baltimore or to other points for help. lie
thought that the City Council ought at its
next meeting subscribe $4,000 towardsa SUR
yey, and later he hoped that the vote of the
city would be taken on the question OF sue.
scribins 100000 to the road, which would
undoubtedly secure its construction.
Dir. Pridemore, of Lee county, who was
present by special invitation, was next In-
troduced and addressed the meeting. lie
said he had had nothing in the world to do
with General Imboden's scheme. lie had
heard more of it this evening than ever be-
fore; but his heart warmed up for the
mountain region from which be came Dut
even the General had not the least idea OF
the richness or value Of that country. One
little county furnace turns out some OF the
best pig metal made in this country. This IRON,
would you believe it, gentlemen, Is hauled
to market for fifty cents per ton, and tue rlch
iron which the mountains yield is sold for lG5
cents per yard. Would you believe it when
tell you that all the products OF that Sec
ton which brings any money to our people
are transported down a little stream over
which you can toss q stone as easily as you
can whistle stream which is never naVi-
takes TWO heavy freshets to swell
but when the boats are built and
loaded and sent down they can never re-
turn? He was amused to-day when he went
into retail grocer's establishment In Rich
mond and found very inferior quality of
udulS SGilluS iol GHSu'y CCht' Pei pouuQ.
when in bis country far superior article is
sold freely for tea cents. The country
through which the road is proposed to be
built abounds in coal and iron, the best
quality of limestone, the most beautiful
marble, and an ineXhaustible bed of plaster.
Mr.. Pridemore, continuing his remarks,
said that be did not believe that the Cum
berland Gap extension would ever be built
under the present management unless CON-
pelled by the courts that the building oil
the Richmond and Trans-Alleghany Narrow
Gauge road would, in bis opinion, be the
salvation of Richmond, and that country
will he opened which teens in wealth and
abounds in minerals well-ngh ineXhausti0ie.
In conclusion, he said that he would like 10
know whether it was the desire of the Rich-
mond people that Kentucky should unite
with them in this great road, and connect
with them at Cumberland Gap. Ii so, he
thought he could use the information to
great advantage in q visit to kentucky IN the
interest of Southwest Virginia, which ne
proposed to pay in short time.
Mr.. Burwell said be fully endorsed all that
had been said by Generals lmooden ana
Pridemore of the vast mineral and agrlcul-
tural wealth Of the southwestern counties
now laud-locked, which would be opened up
to Richmond by the construction OF this
Narrow-G Gauge railroad. He stated that Rlch-
mopd presented the most anomalous situation
of any city on the conuinent-situated 10 toe
heart of great State, State when ougnS
to be the common carrier between the Mlssls-
sippi valley and the Atlantic, she was yet