The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-18

nass ON by d through railroad to Norfolk
without breaking bulk. To transfer u.
Lynchburg TO the canal viii cost one !:
and :. n,Iarter cents per ton, and II
Won add TO this the delay In making
tho transfer. and the slow mode OF trans ).
nortation by canal, 1t Is easy to see that all
this trade win find its way to Norfolk by an
aI;.rai, route, without break OF bulk, Win
ont the cost OF transfer, and without the
loss OF time on the old canal. ny, we
have striking illustration OF TINS aversion
Of trade from the canal at LyncnpuFS.
Wf,el, the Virginia and Tennessee road was
first opened 1t delivered most OF is 1IelShs
to tho canal at Lynchburg, ahd the lnso o1i
OF the canal was nearly double Wnat is's
to-day. The receipts on the canal were
then about Sa0o, 600 a year, and to-day it is
about one half that sum. 1t was caused by
the opening OF the Southside road from
I,ynchburg to Norfolk, which furnished an
aiIrail line from Bristol to deep water at
Norfolk. A railroad from Lynchburg to
Richmond then would have prevented this
diversion. And shall we commit the. same
folly again by repairing the canal TO Lynch
burg TO receive the freight from the Clifton
Forge road, when there will be- an all-rail
line through to.Eorfolk?
SUUH FULLf BURDENS hAuNESSs
Let us run a railroad through from Rich
mond to Clifton Forge, and then we shall
be able to compete fairly for the trade. that
shall come from Clifton Forge. We shall
do more; we will destroy the Valley rail-
road, which crosses the Clifton-Forge road
one mile above Buchanan, and is seeking to
tap the Virginia and Tennessee road at Sa-
lem, and ut the same time will furnish the
at To Of
Mt the capital OF their State, or at the great
seaport at Norfolk within her limits. And
by putting on the road from Richmond to
Lynchburg third rail, at small cost, we
can have track with tiye-foot gauge to
receive the cars from the Virginia and Ten
nessee road and bring them to Richmond;
and by this means we shall receive some, OF
the trade of the Southwest, which we once
enjoyed, but which has been lost to us ever
since the opening of the Southside road
to Norfolk. And all due to your slow
canal, which drove the trade to seek
a more rapid transit by railroad In
addition to these advantages, such rail-
road as we propose will give the city Of
Richmond the entire trade OF the valley OF
James river-the richest portion OF the
State. It has been established by the testi.
mony Of practical miners that the valley OF
The James river for one hundred and twen-
ty mites east OF Clifton Forge has iron ore
OF the very best quality, OF inexhaustible
quantity, on the banks OF the river, capable
OF being mined at the smallest cost, and
needing only the Goals Of the Kanawha.
This will cause the coal to come east and
the ores to 60 west, yielding heavy freights
both ways. This will fill the valley OF the
James with manufacturing industry, and at
the same time furnish an enormous COM
merce to our seaports, and yield large
revenue to the State by increasing the taxa
BILE values along the line Of the road.
1t will not do in
THIS AGE OF RAPID TRANSIT,
when time is the great element that enters
into every enterprise, to think OF building
a canal, or even repairing one.
The great. argument heretofore used in
behalf of the canal is its cheaper rates OF
tranport; but the fact has ceased to exist,
and the argument falls with it. The great
improvements in railroads and in their adj
ministraton has brought about greater
economy in operation and largely reduced
the cost Of transport, until the cost by rail
is less than by canal. In an able article on
the Erie canal in the November No. OF
Scri0ner it is stated that the cost of move
ment on tie leading main lines Of railroad
is six and half mills per ton per mile, and
on the Erie canal it is six and three quarter
mills per ton per mile; and it adds that the
rail possesses other and obvious advan-
tages.aThe time occupied in transit is much
less; shipper can transact much larger
amount OF business on the same capital;
bills Of lading are more negotiable; the
risk is less and insurance lower; no change
oe &c
stoppage in winter; grain can be sent in
smaller lots; it is less apt to heat, and ar
riyes in better order. For these reasons
am in favor OF a railroad to Clifton Forge.
But If we give $4,000 to repair the canal
we shall never get charter to run rail-
road along its tow-path. The Legislature
will never permit it to be converted into a
railroad 80 long as the city OF Richmond
will continue to keep it in repair at her own
cost and allow the Legislature to manage its
affairs. The people along the line will be
quiet If it be repaired; and then there will
be no one asking for railroad but the peo-
pile OF Richmond, and they will never get
it. But If we let it remain in its present
condition, deteriorating every day, the peo-
ole along the line will be clamorous for a
railroad, which the city is willing to con-
struct. Lynchburg will unite in making q
more direct connection with us by railroad.
II all these interests combine the Legisla-
ture will give us a charter with the right to
use the bed or toW-path OF the canal, the
State retaining voice in its management.
know there are some Of our merchants
who will suffer temporary loss and incon-
venicncc by this brief delay; but better
bear this partial loss than postpone for an
indefinite period the immense benefits that
| will flow from q through line of railroad TO
Clifton Forge. The trade OF the valley Of
James river belongs by nature to the city
Of Richmond. Let us not part with it for a
temporary benefit. Let us not sell this
great birthright for mess of pottage. >
He next referred to Mr.. Stearns's estimate
Of the cost of the road and Mr. w hitcomb's
"a distinguished engineer) endorsement OF
it, and said that in looking at the subject in
in every way he thought now was the time
for the city of Richmond to build this road
a most favorable opportunity. and he hoped
we would not let it pass from our grasp.
TIE PLAN ENDORSED BIZ THE BOARD.
Mr.. Meredith moved to add the following
to Mr.. Todd's resolutions in reference tc the
railroad: -. - =. III. 49,
Resolved (the Common Council concur.
rine), That SO soon as. a charter can be OBJ
tained to construct railroad from Rich.
mond to Clifton Forge the Council Of the
city should forthwith appropriate 5000 to
repair the canal to Lynchburg, as means
OF facilitating the construction Of said rail.
road, as proposed.
On the question Of agreeing to Mr.. Todd's
resolution with Mr.. Meredith's amend.
ment, Mr.. Cannon demanded the ayes and
,,oon o,, n hop r. Talon no ras olutin no yynrn