The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-11
1,ha .Iarnes-R,yer Ratlroad.s

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Fellow-citizens OF Virginia and hich-
mond, the proposed railway fso ~ Richmond
to clifton Forge is the grand measure Tor
The liberation 0. Virginia from the tyranny,
Of railroads--a tyranny which has ocen
ma;ntaiped through fraud and trickery'
anu connived as by sectionalisms tnat were
as absurd as unpatriotic, end. stimaiates i-Ds
homes OF local benefits that have turned 70
dnst and ashes while all their work mas
rone into alien channels. Yes, first-ciass
railway along james river will set Virginia
free and bring the railways to terms.
We do not 'ovcrestimate the advantages
Of this grand project. Not atJall. we can
not do 80 II we would. Fancy itself can
not, in It's widest mood, exceed reality, as
time will show. That the line is important,
all must agree; that i. should be built as
soon as possible, every man who wants to
see Virginia prosper, and to see the fearful
drain upon her wealth that has been going
on for years through alien agency and ras'
cality ended, will heartily affirm.
Now Virginia cannot, because Of the con-
stitutional introduction, give dollars AID
to the buidingoi this noble railway, SO vital
to the Commonwealth. What thcn9 The
credit OF Richmond can build it. To her II
is eyerytling-to Virginia Richmond IS, IN
respect OF commerce and interior PROSPERITY,
nearly everything. Let Virginia untram'
mel the energies Of Richmond upon plan
OF liberality and Justice and she will buiio
the road. In being liberal and fair to Rich
mond the State is out liberal and fair to her
self. ..,..,, .... .G.
The topography OF the line, the cana
bank, the bridges and culverts, aud all tha'
NAV be utilized by railway, considered its
cost, will be wonderfully small. TWO mil
lion dollars or thereabout it is believed bJ
practical men may be sufficient to build the
road. What an amount OF. profit would be
Welded by road that cost so small a SUN
of money! The canal with all its disad
yantages-its disasters, its incomplete con-
dition. and the railroad frauds that have sc
greatly injured it-has had an annual tom
mage OF 1000 tons. The railway would
draw to itself tonnage of which this is
but limited example. The profits upon
the road must exceed those upon any
other railway Of like, length in the United
States. ~ ;.-.~: 49, 'i;G@ a.. 1'..t.s
We are not extrayaSant in our expecta.
lions: but we do not hesitate to say that
the profits upon the James-River railway,
divided between the Commonwealth and
Richmond, would go far towards support
ing the State and city governments. But
the State will have a double interest
in the road. because, besides her reye-
nues from it, she. will derive revenue
from the increased wealth and popu-
lation of Richmond that will be due to
the railroad. That built, and there. will
never afterwards arise dispute about the
State debt. The improvement will turn out
to be the grand opportunity Of Virginia
the tide in her affairs that, taken at the
food (which is good word hereI will as
surely as that the sun will shine upon her
lead to triumphant fortune.
tits q scheme all for Virginia-all for her
beneficence-and one that should have no
opposition. The appearance Of antagonism
towards it should be as impossible as it
would be to change the bed Of James river.
Richmond pays one eighth OF the whole
taxation of the State. With the James
River railway to protect and to swell her
commerce there will never more. be any
trouble about the pnblic debt. ...