The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-07
dreams 81. tine Rrisor,s.

s2 kQCKBR1DGE EQUkTIss On JAMES fhifEk, g
January 2, 1878.
EDITORS Dispatch The scheme for q rail-
road from Richmond TO Clifton Forge is
gery acceptable 10 the people OF this yicin-
sity, but the proposal to abandon the canal
west or Lgnchburg is depressing. a petit
ton wilt soon be laid before the Legislature
from the people of kockbridge and Bote-
torrt stating our grievances aud entreatlng
that body to consider our condition and
give us the canal in the mean time.
In that part OF Rockbridge which is COM
mercIaIly contiguous to the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad no cry for relief is heard, and
|if elf-intercst prevails there will be opposi-
ton to any increase Of taxation in this
county for the reconstruction OF the canal
from the mouth of North river to Lexington.
But when 1t Is remembered that Lexington
itself Is thirty-six miles from Staunton and
twenty-five from Goshen, and that very
large part OF the county is farther removed
from these outlets, and separated by long
distances, bad roads, and heavy tolls from
the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio railroad,
our isolation may at once be easily per-
ceiyed. s.:
Since. the freshet wagons run from Lex
ington to Staunt0n. Goods are carried at
S7s cents per 100 pounds, and -four at 30
cents per barrel. These rates are as low as
can be expected, but 1t is evident that they
are serious to the merchant and to the
farmer, thelow prices OF produce being con-
sidered. Yet afarmer residing In the south
ern part OF the county-say in the vicinity
Of the Natural Bridget he sends his flour,
&C., by way OF Lexington to Staunton, must
incur the expense Of at least another half
| dollar per barrel on his foHT, and proper
~ ,uth ;ror ole at
desire so transport.
We are, therefore, shut up to Lynchburg
and rough roads of Amherst, and the fol-
| lowing may be fairly set down as the cost
| of, for instance, load Of -four: The aver
ace distance from the vicinity Of the Natu-
raj Bridge to Lynchburg is forty miles; the
| time required to send twelve barrels OF
| -four, in wagon drawn by four horses,
will be five days. Estimating theseryiee OF
wagon, team, and driver, with incidental
expenses and wear and tear, at SIS per day,
the sum is 1926, or S2.OS5 per barrel. II the
farmer finds it necessary to call in the aid
Of commission merchant in Lynchburg
the expense will be increased by various
charges, and the net price yielded by bis
-four will be about So per barrel. Apply
this calculation to all our products, and it
is easy to see that money will soon be a
thing almost unknown in this part Of our
Commonwealth. Since the great disaster it
is scarce beyond the conception OF any one
who does not live here. for there has hardly
been n single load Of anything sent to
market.
1t is confidently asserted that if the State
will : furnish convicts. and the James
River and Kanawha Company mules and
carts, the canal from Lynchburg to the
mouth OF North river can be repaired at an
expense. in money, Of not more than $10,-
900; and the correctness Of the calculation
is illustrated by the fact that the damage of
the fresh in 1870 was repaired at an eX-
pense of $72, 0G0-Gklin money. Then locks
and dams were seriously injured, which is
not the case now.
Rockbridge county is expected to repair
the canal from the mouth Of North river to
Lynchburg at its own expense.
+. From the mouth of North river to
Buchanan would require an outlay OF only
a few thousand dollars in money If the State
would furnish convicts and the company
its carts and mules. One VINO ORGANS.