The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-02-09

ii, !. .s,,re & DE.s

thew CERTAINTY sssostSsS - -
c,asa Is MAGNITUDE fsOas their painful ex- |
nericace. IL ii Che dagger OF q repetition a
Of Inc r,.inous diversion OF the course o.
trade towards this city By what we may
,,soperly term a sscut-offs OF Lyncnpaag.
The term Is well known Ia the alltiyiai dss.
S,riess on the Mississippi river, where over
flowing waters make new channels and
often divert vosxminous currents, converting
then, through lateral waysof TO the basyo Us
near The ocesa. It suits the case here espe-
ciaIlv.; for tke g cntsofi y at Lynchoarg Dy
i railway that ran from Lynchburg 10 the
sea took away commerce from Its raghtiuis
flow and anptied it into the sea, absotuieis
doing ne material good to any Virginia lEta.
city, and rendering the millions expended
br the Ssatc of no advantage to her. The
virsinis and Tennessee railroad was pro-.
iecfed Is d line to find its eastern terminus
at Richmond, and so satisfied were the peo-
ple OF Richmond that this plan would De
carried out that they subscribed hoeratiy
to the construction OF the Virginia ana
Tennessee railroad, though it all lies beyond
Luncabusq. They were sadly disappointed.
at that point the continuous line was turn
-, axyay from Richmona and conducted
STRAIGHT to the sea. This was " Cutoff :
No. /, and it was an eifectnal "cut-off : OF
the rich commerce we had SO long enjoyed
and profited by from Southwest Virginia 1ll''.
For the loss Of that commerce to her prih-;
cipal city Virginia has received no compen-
sation worthy OF consideration. On the
contrary. she lost six millions OF dollars in
the process OF the adroit schemes OF that
consolidation OF railways from Norfolk $ 10
Bristol, which brought to her nothing but
discontinue.
Now there is danger OF Cutoff" No.
9. growing out OF the propositions relating
TO opening communication for our fellow
citizens between Lynchburg and Clifton
Forge. This is vital question TO Rlch-
mond, and her people cannot better employ
themselves than in carefully studying 1t,
and seeing to it that their interests shall not
be doubly impaired by stCut-oif" No.
The terrible .injurysto the canal by the
great fall fresh involved; the necessity OF a
large sum OF money for the repair OF that
artery OF commerce along the richest val
lev in the State; yet SO much money had
been expended in repairing the canal. that
n question arose whether it would be wise
to appropriate any more money TO that OBJ
iect, and wEether'instea twerc not better
TO substitute a railway for the canal. the
great majority seemed to prefer this latter
eSpedient. But the president Of the canal
company, Major JOHNSTON, with commend
able activity and perseverance. pushed his
cxertions to repair the canal, and finally
succeeded in doing SO from Richmond to
Lynchburg.
Re made an earnestapplication for aid to
the Councils of Richmond, which have re-
fused, upon several test votes. to grant the
aid desired. The people upon the line OF
caual beyond Lynchburg come with an APP
peal, which deserves the public sympathy,
for way to market. They ask for canal
or railroad, and certainly they should be
gratifed. 1t is one Of the highest rights Of
a free citizen that he shall have an outlet
from his farm to market. We are clear for
this right being secured in real and SUBJ
stantial manner.
And now President JOHNSTON confesses
that he cannot raise the money for the re-
storation OF the canal to nayigable order be-
tween Lynchburg and Buchanan, and pro-
poses to try to build railroad. He assumes
that while proposing to obtain for the COM
pany of which he is president charter
for railroad from Richmond to Clifton
Forge, along The valley Of james river,
such railroad must be promptly constructed
between Lvnehburg and Clifton Forge in
order that the people deprived OF way to
market shall have relief at the earliest mo-
ment. The draft of charter which he has
caused 10 be submitted to the Legislature
gives entire liberty to the company to begin
the road beyond Lynchburg, and complete
the same between Clifton Forge and Lynch;
burg, and to make such progress upon the
entire line below Lynchburg as their means
NAV enable them to do. ,.,I i5:-.
Now, this privilege would ensure the
completion OF the railway between Clifton
Forge and Lynchburg, and should the
improvement be suspended there for any
considerable time there will be established
:. Cutoff - No. 2, which will impair the pros
perity OF this city immensely by drawing
the trade Of the mountain section Of the
James river, once ours, and also possibly q
considerable business from the Chesapeake
and Ohio road, and conducting it all to the
ocean. -
We mean to say nothing that tends to any
disiayor of the just claims Of our. fellow
citizens Of the mountain region; but we
can say with entire truth that this second
"cut-ofr'' would be exactly the thing that
would crafty powerful interest alien to
Virginia and Richmond, and deeply iniure
both. Rather than it should take place
Richmond should move every energy she
possesses and employ her best influences.
In this she could not be considered as doing
any wrong TO any of the people OF OF the
interests OF Virginia.
Tt is matter Of vital importance that all
Virginia Interests should be considered and
promoted in this matter. We lay down
proposition universally considered as wise
when we say that the construction of great
railroad should begin Mt IFS most impor-
tant terminus. AS progress 10 made from
that terminus freight and travel aecumu-
late, and are hurried to the objective point.
Thus receipts begin with the road, and in
crease geOmetricaiIy as t. IL aytended and