The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-22
,Tr,e ,rar,scn.Rixcr Railroad.

IL
a railroad to be built by the city Of Rich
ro,,d offers the best possible Eolution OF tne
difficulties surrounding the James River
and Kanawha Company, and ii promptly
carried into effect by putting a railroad on
the tow-path will be OF incalculable Vaiue
70 Richmond and TO the whole valley. AZ
will also. by the increased and increasing
taxable value OF property along It's bne,
rr;ve TO the Commonwealth the fullest In
demnitv and the speGdicsst return Tor all
tse money she has expended upon the
canal. This road would be "the grand
trunk railread0 Of Virginia, and would do
more for the State at large, and especially
for the city OF Richmond, than any other
possible line OF transportation.
One thing has now been fully established
as fact-that ihiS canal can neoer sustain
itself. III it were put in complete. order
again, and the company again freed from
debt las it has been several times In the
past) by outside parties, in the light OF its
history there is no reasonable expectation
that sufficient surplus would be saved
from its current revenues to repair the ave-
rage damages from high water during the
next five or ten years. Then, why waste
work. It is a reflection upon the intel-
gence of the people OF Richmond to ask
them to appropriate their money for such a
purpose. Temporary repairs OF the very
cheapest kind between Richmond and
Lynchburg can be speedily made By the
company with the aid Of the convicts, and
W i'll answer all the purposes Of trade till the
railroad can be built. Or the river might be
opened again for battcau navigation. Many
people on the river think it fully equal to
the canal for all purposes Of navigation.
But do not propose to discuss the canal.
The railroad is the subject Of interest now,
and Richmond is moving in the right direc-
ton with reference to it. Ii it is to be built
in any short time Richmond will have to do
it; and il she builds she ought TO own and
control il. A charter should without delay
be obtained from the Legislature author
izing the city Of Richmond and such others
rs may unite with her to buy the property
and franchises OF the canal company, and
to build a railroad along its route to Clifton
Forge. AS soon thereafter az practicable
the canal and all the rights of the company
should be sold. A decree for this purpose
could doubtless be had in the suit now
pending before Judge Wexford. Richmond
should, OF course, become the purchaser,
thus getting rid of the State as a controlling
power in the management.
A million dollars OF her siX-per-cent. city
bonds would buy it. The dock and water
power are worth double that amount to the
city. These works should never be under
any other control than hers, connected as
they are so closely with her commercial and
manufacturing interests. These should be
cut of at once, and not be permitted to con-
stitute any part of the property Of the pro-
posed railroad company, though the plan
now before the City Council would seem to
look to the dock and watef-power both be-
coming the property Of that company. 1t
We're far better not so. ..........
Having cut off the dock and basin, the
city could transfer the tow-path and other
property OF the canal company along its
line to the railroad company for Il certain
amount OF the capital stock Of the latter.
According to the estimates made before the
Board of Aldermen last Monday, little
more than 81 ,0O0,0 900 would be sufficient to
complete the road. That sim Richmond
should subscribe to the capital stock, unless
vidualS should desire to become owners OF
stock. In that case they should have the
right to subscribe.
This scheme is believed to be entirely
and within the means OF the city
OF Richmond alone, should she receive no
assistance from other interested parties. A
railroad built along the James-River valley
according to the plan suggested would as
sure to the city of Richmond that control
which she ought to have over this great
avenue OF trade and travel.
While the railroad is being constructed
the people along the valley above Lynch
burg should not be deprived of the means
OF Transportation which nature provided
before the canal was thought of. The dams
across the river above Lynchburg should at
once be removed, and under no circum-
stances should they ever be rebuilt. Wing
dams can be made to serve every purpose,
and thus leave the river free and unob-
structed for batteau navigation.
This is Richmond's pportunity-sucha an
opportunity as she has not had for many
long years. If-she throws it away she will
show herself unworthy OF success, and
would deserve to be lett behind her sister
cities in the race. Indeed, it is time for all
Of our people to begin to help themselves
and cease to look to others. Richmond hes
the ability to do this work before another
year passes away, and she only has the abil-
itv. Let her begin to act at once. To delay
action will be confession Of weakness and
timidity unworthy of the capital city OF the
Commonwealth. Unless she puts her Shout
der to the wheel this Improvement, so es-
sential to the best interests OF our people,
must languish perhaps for many years. Let
tue work begin at Richmond as speedily rs
and rushed ON to completion.
December 20, 1877. PIEDMONT.
FLOR the Dispatch.I
NJ n