The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-12-22
TheCentral waser-Line.

IF the Federal Government properly APP
nrec,a,ed this grand project It would MOI DC
long before 1t would be accomplished. In
the light Of politics, the powerful iSauepee
&c sneh tboroughsare upon the relations OF
The states Of the Union % one another, ana
in promotion of the unity Of osr natiosa
commerce, 1t forces itsaf upon the puotlc rs
one Of the grapdess measures eees proposed
70 the American pedpie. The sroposeosine
lies ia the s,iddle of that 5c1efcent ana
magic belief the globe which produces the
greatest amount t6 the subssantias oi lie
and Affords 10 man-at least, tie Superior race
Of men-the greatest degree0 healtbend Wig
or. Open shattlne 1t is highly important tnas
this corxstry should have an artery OF COM
muaRation that would for the'lopgest period
Of the year asford an easicient >csannel q
trade; for then 1t would be the artery tthe
greatest amosnt of trade during the year,
and thus be the most eenefeest agent OF
distribution of the necessaries of life. 10
msSe such.a line south Of the'looatson OF the
central line would be 10 ,encuanter the'dts-
advantages Of climate, and climatic diseases,
and climatic enervatiug influences. Totnake
It north.of this line would bring 1t 'disas-
trously,Hnder the effects Of severe frost.
So the Central water-hneis the just mid
die line OF greatest advantage to commerce,
and therefore the line that would do tie most
in the promotion Of the views and objects
OF the statesman and phianthropistb 10y the
distribution Of the means Of subsistence
withthe greatest success. ~
If We look at the Union with desire for
its prelongation, to what agent cali we look
with greater hope thsa toa grand thorough
fare which shall bind together the western
aud eastern divisions.af the u niop iesit were,
with an indestruetibae chain? The COM
merce of the East and Of the West BY such
line would be all sympathetic and mutual.
" advantageous. That would govern the
social relations and bind the 'Uniontogether
with almost inseparabIe cords. AlPeady the
Mississippi and the Atlantic unite tise South
with the North. Tie the East and the West
together by this bond Of the wateERne, and
the.endurance of this Union will be secured
for so long time that there would be hard
" ground left to found a speculation upon
concerning the end of 1t.
tits national work Of unlimited @agni-
tude and value. Incidentally, Virginia
would be one amongst Its especial bene-
fcIaries. She is one OF the oldest OF the
States, and no other has sacrificed more for
the peace and endurance Of the Republic.
But as her benefits would be due to her lcca-
tion and incidental, the advantage that would
flow to her should not by auy means pro-
yoke the hostility of the most Mhberal. We
know that if the Central &ateE-liae were
built she would soon be able to pay her
public debt; and all who know anything of
Virginia know that nothing prevents her
from paying her debt but inability to do SO.
The moment that the thrift that would fol-
low this great Central water-line eaEse TO her
she would prove 10 the world her Integrity
and good faith, and as first mark Of her
grateful sense Of her good fortune pay off
the claims of those who hold her obliga-
tions. The building of the Central water.
line would be the prompt solution Of all her
troubles. ..