The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-08-19

,Itseems to me that Virginia occupies. lu
relation to this subject. the position OF tnan
who had at great cost built nine spans OF ap
important bridge, and then let the iWhole e.
main comparatIyely useless by reason OF his
failure 10 complete the tenth span' "hi'n
was necessary to finish the Work.
Let us pause moment to consider sone
Of the important Virginia interests "n'eh
would be largely benefited by this com para.
,iyely inexpensive work. l VIII glanee a.
them under the following heads: n,-,d
1st. The Chesapeake and ONO ha''io'u
sd 90 The iron and agricultural interests
from the Allegheny to Richmond.
Adj. The James River and hana"ha eoni'
pA a,h The diminished cost of coal along the
entire line of improvement from Cll,tou
,Tnrce to Richmond, and the impulse "hicn
you'd be given to the manufacturing ana
commercial interests, especially OF: Eyncn-
bmrr and Richmond, by cheap fuel for tnelr
inhabitants, and making them entrelots Oh a
'e s,h It's Influence on Norfolk by making
her an important coaling station Tor ocean
9Th G.h, The effect of the improvement in in
creasiug the taxable value of property along
the entire line, and the augmentation Oh tne
revenue of the Commonwealth.
have already stated that the steam power
which is sufficient to draw TWENTY-FIVE cars
from the Ohio river to Clifton Forge can
draw but twelve cars over the hea7y graues
10 be encountered eastward OF Clifton forge
il crossing the ranges of the North mountain
and Blue Ridge. 1t Is useless, therefore, 10
the present condition OF things, 10 attach
more than twelve cars to an engine, because
they could not be carried through. But II
the canal were completed to Clifton Forge
the full complement OF twenty-five cars
could be brought to Clifton Forge, where
thirteen could be left to discharge their
freight iuto the canal.boats, and the engine
would pass along the line with the remain.
ing twelve cars. In this way The. capacity OF
the Chesapeake and Ohio road to transport
freight eastward would be doubled, and its
earnings in transporting the thirteen cars eX-
ira as far as Clifton Forge would be so much
clear gain. .
As the State is still stakeholder in that
road TO the extent Of two millions of dollars
It will be seen that she has direct interest
in everything that tends to increase its in
come. ....
need hardly add that the indirect interest
which Virginia has in the prosperity OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad greatly ex'
ceeds her direct interest in it.
9. The effect of the work on the iron and
agricultural interests Of the State.
Every well-informed man knows that the
country extending from the eastern base OF
the Allegheny mountains through the coun-
ties of Allegheny, Craig, Botetourt, Rock
bridge. Bedford, Amherst, Campbell, Mel.
son, Buckingham, Albemarle, and other
counties lower down the river, embraces one
| OF the finest iron-producing belts on the con.
tinent. The great resources Of this section
| remain uudevrloped mainly for the want OF
cheap fuel 10 smelt the ores. The compile
| ton Of the canal to Clifton Forge will at
once remove this difficulty by bringing the
cheap Goals OF the West into immediate con.
tact with the ores of the James River valley.
1t needs no gift of prophecy to foretell the
consequences of this union.
1t is true that under the Influence Of a
vicious monetary system, established in The
| interests Of capital and ruinous to labor, our
country is suffering under partial paralysis
OF her industrial interests; but L tblnk the
public mind is fast being awakened to "a sense
of the oppression which has been practiced
on the people, and The day Of deliyerance is
not far OF. When that comes, We shall Wit.
ness an extraordinary change in the condl-
ton of things in Virginia. She, instead OF
Pennsy lvaniu, will become the centre OF the
great iron interests of the United States; and
| West Virginia, with the aid Of our freight
lines, will successfully compete with Pennsyl-
vania and Maryland for the coal trade Of the
| United States.
Furnaces, and forges, and rolling mills, and
| nail f.ciores, and fOundries will spring up
all along the line from Coyington to Rich
mond. and. unless l am greatly deceived.
| Lynchburg and Richmond will, at no distant
dsy, contest with Pittsburgh for supremacy
in the roc-manufacture. But it is useless 10
cularge on this topi". The advantages OF
bringing together the coal and ores OF our
State must be patent TO every thinking maD.
pass on, therefore, to the
Bird head. The effect on The interests of
the James River and K4nuwha canal.
This great work, ia which the State has
expended ten millions of dollars, is now of
very little value. 1t is merely local work.
1t hardly sffords revenue enough to pay cur
rent expenses and ordinary repairs. The
large investment Of the State in its stock is
so much dead capital. Ityields no interest.
Why is ,hls9 1t is because lis terminus is at
village which supplies no freight. 1t has
no connections from which it Can draw the
amount of transportation necessary to make
it prosperous. By extending it 10 Clifton
Forge you give it q direct connection with
the Chesapeake and Ohio road under circlm
stances which not only invite. but l may
add almost constrain cordial cooperation be-
| tween them.
The railroad and canal cannot be rivals.
They will be mutually dependent on each
other. Each will minister to the prosperity Of
the other, and common interest will insure
harmony and concert of action between
them.
Every train that travels eastward from the
coal fields of West Virginia will switch eft
thirteen Of its cars to tranship their cargOes
to the canal, and every Westward-bound
canal-boat will carry to Clifton Forge freight
! to be forwarded to the West by the Chesa.
paake and Ohio railroad. Without interfering
with or at all diminishing the freight now
| carried over the eastern section Of the Chesa
| peake aud Ohio railroad, that road will find ii
to its interest to send one.half of its entire
coal.lreight by way of the canal.
The iron trade, aud the heavy grain trade
of the West, will also find their outlets east
ward by the canal, and all freight destined
for the West from points above Richmond
will pass up the canal to Clifton Forge, and
there take the cars of the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad for the West.
1t is easy to see that in tots way the ton
mage Of the canal, after business shall have
resumed its wonted activity, will be in.
creased probably three. or four-fold. In this
way, too, the dead capital which the State
holds in tie canal company will be Vitaize6
and rendered productive.
4th. Need say anything to the cities o.
Lynchburg and Richmond Of the vast ad van