The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-19

The exigencies Of the James-Riycr canal
and the exhaustion Of the patience OF those
who have had to bear not only the heavy
expenditures required to repair ehe ever
recurring damages upon 1t, but the long
suspension OF navigation and OF trade fol-
lowing ,he injuries by floods, have brought
.,,non the State Of Virginia all epoch that ID
worth all that Il has cost her. This epoch
"a that which compeis the people interested
to build railroad as substitute LOT tue
canal, and equally comrels the state 20
grant the needed facilities for this purpose
in order to make properly available her no.
hest resources, and to utilize the properly
which has cost her SO many millions, While
It has returned directly nothing. and indi-
rectly but a poor tribute in proportion TO the
vast outlay that was exhausted in creating It..
This is IN epoch, and it is as happy MS 1t
Is remarkable. The valley in Virginia
which is its finest, and one that Is all hers,
and whose trade should never be in danger
OF alienation, is the James-River valley.
This valley is her main artery, leading to
her very heart. Her great cities are in this
yallev-her cities that must have charge
OF her great commercial interests; her
cities tla: must cherish her commerce,
or, in their default, she must have none
worth estimating. These are Lynchburg,
Richmond, and Norfolk. In their union
in the integrity of the commerce OF the val
lev in which they stand-Virginia has her
chief hope OF power, and wealth. The
epoch which forces the abandonment OF the
canal and substitutes for it a railroad is the
yery thing needed to secure to the COM
merce Of the valley the integrity absolutely
indispensable to the welfare OF Virginia.
Looking upon this valley Of the upper
/ James in its local character, let us say word
about it. This valley is the richest in the
State. The social peculiarities that distin-
guished it in past days, the popularity OF re-
finement, freedom, independence, princely
hospitality, and cbivalrous bearing, were in
measure due to its natural featureS-lts
fertility, its lovely landscapes, its grateful
atmosphere and general brightness, that
never failed to elate the heart.
The building OF the canal along the upper
James gave its people an improvement upon
the old batteau navigation, but it impart-
ed not to the locality and people that life
and animation that are inspired by the rail-
way, which became the ruling mode OF
transportation after that canal was begun
and was slowly crawling towards the noun
tains. Being left to such life and develop
ment az that could create. the splendid val
ley has gradually become less and less
known. less and less the object OF public
interest, until it was seldom spoken OF, sell
dom visited, and never the object OF specu-
lation amongst newcomers, and never in
terestins to men OF means who desired to
buy a fine location for 4 snowy and happy
residence. And why? Because for the want
OF railroad home there would be accord
ing to the prevailing ideas absolutely mac
cessble. And yet along this very valley
there are the finest lands and finest loca-
tions for elegant and happy homes in the
State OF Virginia.
How have the refined and hospitab!e peo-
Die along this fine valley suffered? We
will tell you. When the war was over they
had lost their slave property, were in debt,
and had much land that could not under ex-
listing circumstances be cultivated to advan-
fage. To pay tax upon it was the utter
most within their power. while their in
debtedness accumulated with time. Finally,
mortgages, like the floods, spread over their
fair lands. Their dilemma was fearful.
The slow canal and its terrible reputation
cut them off from the world. Men Of
means seeking homes turned not their foot
steps to really the choicest district in Vir
ginia because OF its gloomy and impenetra-
Bile Isolation. It is not hard to see to what
end these good people OF the valley tended
utter bankruptcy.
Had there been railway from Richmond
to Lynch5urg in '65 the lands Of the upper
James would have been the most priced,
the most sought. They would have sold at
the highest prices, and the landowners there
would have received enough for their spare
lands to have enabled them to meet their
losses in the terrible social revolution, and
to have retained their homes and enough
lands to continue their happy lives, and
with some tolerable restriction upon their
liberty and splendid hospitality to have
maintained the happy customs Of social life
and congeniality in spite OF the consequences
OF war. '.'.
But what was the case? No relief came.
The rich lands only declined in value, and
the noble citizens grew poor and more and
more respondent. Many have given up
and gone into bankruptcy; others, hoping
almost against hope, are lingering and
waning. What sad picture, when we all
know that railroad built ten years ago
would have rescued these people and given
them that delightful liberty from debt
which those only who have felt it, after
having borne heavy pecuniary burthens,
know how to appreciate. q
Even now q railroad rapidly built along
James river will bring recovery and conso-
lation to hundreds who are on the brink Of
ruin. Shall we not go to the rescue Of these
admirable citizens? For in all Virginia
there was not nobler or o more refined
and honorable people than were those
dwelling in the valley OF the upper James.
This is as true picture as ever was writ
ten Of valley and its people. Now, then,
IL railroad would do so much for so i'm
portant a valley and its inhabitants, see
what advantages would accrue to the State
from the same grand cause. The enhanced
value Of property mnltiplies the public