The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-09-06
The Canal Extension.

The Lynchburg Republican takes up o
rather surprising sentence in an editorial OF
the Bristol Ncrs, and comments upon it
fairly and properly. We make an extract
below from what the Republican says:
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
We clip the following item from the last
issue of the Bristol Ne,cS
"a New MovE.-Thc Petersburg NetoS
says there will be brought to bear on the
next Legislature heavy pressure to have the
conYicls Of the penitentiary to complete the
canal from Covington to Clifton Forge. We
don't see any great good to be done by COM
pleting the canal to the Forge. The Chesa-
peake and Ohio railroad will not make fair
pro rating schedule with it, and no through
businessman result"
We had thought that if there was any one
line of policy upon which every man, wo-
man, and child in Virginia was united it was
that in regard to the great importance-in-
deed, we may say the neceSsity-for the early
completion of the James River and Kama
wba canal. II is scheme that originated
with the father of this country himself, aud
(which eyery>sta.esEan OF Virginia from his
time to the present has commended, en-
dorsed, and approved, and longed to see
! eonsummated.
What authority has the NeacS for making
I the statement that "the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad will not make any fair schedule
for pro rating"s Unless it speaks with au.
tborty, which is not at all probable, we think
| ills mistaken.
bat really there would be no necessity at
all for pro rating. The eastern terminus OF
tho email and the Chesapeake and Ohio rail.
| road is the same. aEd as the canal is free to
all parties 10 ruu their barges by paying i
Uniform rate of tolls. the railroad could own
its OWN boats, AMI transport its heavy
freightF5y the canal sfrom Clifton Forge to
Richmoad cheaper than over its heavy
graded road between these two points. We
have bsSetOfore sh6@r that an engine can
tlraw more than double as many cars from
HHntingtEn to Clifton n orge as it Can from
the latter point to Richmond. So the canal
Movld afoSd additional facilities to the gail
roas, and be in fact better than double track
Far these Geasons We think it very evident
there would be no coD6i0t of interest be.
tween the railroad and the canal, aud the
Neass nust seek some beutdr reason for it's
opposition to tie completion ,od the canal to
Cliftoa Forge. As to the employment OF
convicts on the work, We cannot STE what
reasonable objection there can he to doing so.
since they are q dead expense 10 the peniten-
tiary. and the State is already hiniag out all
she can to other internal improvement COM
panies in the State. If put to work on the
canal the company would OF course be re-
quired to board, ,colEe, and guard them;
which would relieve the State Of that heavy
burden which she is now compelled to tear,
and at the same tiaae their labor would bestoW
1pon her citizens q great and permanent
blessing.
We confess to feeling of disappointment !
md Eegret at the position taken by the |
Ne,cs tecause its cGitor is prominent eau
iidate Cor the House of Delegates from
Washington county, and We had hoped there
would be no diversity Of sentiment on this
important subject In our next Legislature.
We trust that be will yet reconsider the
Jews he has expressed on the subject. and
axe his stand along with us and nearly all
be other Journals in the State Ia advocacy
{ this scheme, WHICH we believe would
rove more advantageous to the State than
j others that are HoY agitsted combined.