The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-02-22
[For the Dlspatcl.] 49,.
Ronsi from Clifton Forge 20 Euchann"'
Suyxesfis1D.

Evervbody pdulits the importance OF con-
s,rnctino n line of communication between
the western terminus Of the james hlVsr uuu
Kanawha canal, Mt Buchanan, ana t'ilon
Forge. The distance between THESE wv
noints is about twenty-eigbt miles, ana the
grade does not exceed twenty feet per mile.
IF this gan were filed up by railway our
chain Of communication by the valley OF the
James river with the West would be unpro'
ten The benefits which would result 10
Ivnchbure. Richmond, Petersburg, ana NOT
folk would be almost incalculable by lurnlsn-
inc the n cans of cheap transportation OF coal,
iron. lumber, and other heavy products Vi
the West, TO eastern markets.
The question OF greatest Interest 10 us ls'
How can it be done?
1t is on this point that propose 10 oner d
suggestion. hoe n ber men .
itentiary three or four hundred aoie-oouleu :.
male convicts, who were formerly nlieu ou'
to railroad contractors, but have lte'y Dee.
returned to prison. These conVlcts canuo'
be probably employed in the penltentlaly
and are q heavy expense 10 tue No.l.ivn,
wealth. Why should not these conIicts oe
empoyed in building this road, wnlch IS ~
important to the best Interests OF Virs.nia
The State would get larger return lot tneil
labor in the vast additions which would De
made 70 the commerce, manufactures, and
AGRICULTURAL and mining interests oil the COM
monwealth. than she could possibly gain in
any other way.
WHY, then, should not Richmond, Lynch
hurn. Petersburg, Norfolk, and the james
River and kanawha Canal Company, (WhoSe
tolls would be quadrupled, by the immense
quantities OF coal aud iron which this road
would bring to it for shipment,) unite and
form company, to be incorporated tor the
construction of this road: Why should not
this company then apply to the Legislature
to allow the convicts TO be employed, free oil
charge by the State, in building this road
under the control of suitable superintend-
emf and oyer.eers2 In two years the road
he'd could be prepared by the labor OF the
conyicts, and they could also do large
share of the work in cutting and hauling
timber for bridges and ties, in heWlng ana
LAYING ties, and spiking down the rails. ana
building abutmcnts and piers for bridges
The only cost that the company would be
subjected to would be the maintenance OF
the hands, and cost OF supervision, and the
nrice of the iron and other material for the
superStructure.
When the road is finished it should belong
TO the company, constituted as above pro-
posed, in which the last-named and James
River and kanawha Canal Company would
be interested 10 proportion to the advances
made by them respectively towards the cost
Of the work. :. =,
The expense of eXcavating and grading the
road-bed, cutting. hauling, and laying Ties
sDiking down rails, and other matters
which could be done by the convcts, WouiC
constitute more than half the entire cost OF
the completed road and as the company
under the proposed plan, would pay nolnine
for this labor, they would secure the con
struction of a work of vital interest to each o.
the cities named, to the james River and
kanaw ha Canal Company, and to the Stale al
large, at less than one.hat OF the usual cost
such works.
The State, too, would make good bar
gain. 1t would get rid Of the cost OF main
tanning a large number of Improbable con-
vcts, and also of the expense of eDlarSlDe
the pententiary, which, otherwise, Will soon
become necessary and it will in lew year,
reap rich harvest Of taxation from the en-
HANGED values of real estate along the entire
lines from Clifton Forge to Lynchburg, and
thence to Richmond, Petersburg, and Nor
folk. 1t is needless to say anything OF the
advantages to result to each Of these cities.
Should this suggestion be favorably re-
ceived, no time should be lost in carrying ii
into effect. The authorities of the several
cities and of the James River and kanawha
Company should act promptly, so as to Sc.
cure the proper legislation before the close
OF the present session Of the General AS