Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-05-06

ten miles west of Estillville--and more
than one-third of the entire distance from
Bristol to Cumberland Gap, at a cost OF
more than 100000. Virginia was inn
poverished and desolated by the war and
was unable after its close TO afford mate
rial aid to the construction Of the Vir-
ginia and Kentucky railroad. But her
people have never for q moment lost
sight of the great Importance Of this
road, and from Norfolk to
Cumberland Gap the people have long
looked for work to be begun on this line.
So profoundly are the people impressed
with the inestimable advantages to be
derived from the building of this road,
that they, through their representatives
in the legislature, have at all times re-
ceiyed with great favor every PROPOSE
ton looking to its completion.
have said this much to prove the i'm
portance of building line of railroad
from Bristol to Cumberland Gap; and it
appearing that the completion of said
line is believed to be of very great i'm
portance by the people and by their rep
resentatives, | come now to ask the ques-
tion-Can this line of railroad from
Bristol to Cumberland Gap be built?-
This is simply a question of business
which address to the business men of
Bristol. All | ask, is a calm, unbiased
consideration of the facts and the situa-
ton, and then if there be found no merit
in the present charter, | shall not ask
your citizens to subscribe their money
to crude and visionary scheme.
The original act to incorporate the
Bristol Coal and Iron Narrow Gauge
Railroad Company was approved March
27th, 1875. The 10Th section of said Act
authorized and directed the Governor of
Virginia to furnish to the said company,
free Of hire, as many of the able-bodied
convicts, male and female, from the PEN
itentiary, as are on hand, when applied
for, and can, in his opinion, be spared
without detriment to the interest of the
State, upon such conditions as to safe
keeping, as may, in his opinion, be nee
essary. Though this was regarded as
very liberal, the legislature, pursuant to
the long cherished desire of building this
line, at its next session amended said
section so as to read, "The Governor of
the State is hereby authorized and direc-
ted to furnish to the said company, free
Of hire, as many able-bodied convicts,
male and female, from the pententiary
as are on hand when applied for, and
can be spared without interfering with
the mechanical or skilled labor employed
for manufacturing purposes, under such
conditions as to safe keeping as the Gov
ernor may prescribe, to be used in con-
structing said railroad. And the said
convicts shall be fed, clothed and guar
ded by the State whilst at work for said
company" Was ever n more liberal
charter granted? TO begin with, we
have SO miles, reaching from Bristol to
Clinch River in Scott county, half grad
ed. aud now we have hands to complete
this work offered to us upon the paltry
condition that we will furnish them tools
to work with. What town or city in all
this broad land, with one spark of enter
prise in 1t would not Jump at such an Of
fer? 1t is estimated that ono hundred
conyicts will grade the road from Bris-
tol to Estillvillc, IS miles, in ono year.
The cost of bringing that number of
convcts from Richmond to Bristol would
be about 500. This amout with the cost
of buying the tools is all that is required
at this time. We could begin work with
reasonable hopes Of success, II we had
$4,000 to begin with; and come now to
ask what is this sum to an entcrprising,
aspiring, growing town Of 1000 inhabi-
tants? 1t would be 80 cents per head.
Let us see what other towns and cities
do to expand their trade and build up
manufactures. New York with pop
ulation Of 100000 has already spent
$4,000, 900 on East River Bridge, and 1t
is still estimated that $s,0OO,OOO more
will be required to complete 1t. Thus
we see that that this city is not afraid to
spend $22 per head Of population to build
a single bridge. Philadelphia is taxing
herself $4,000, 900 to build n city court
house--about $l4 for each inhabitant.--
When we look to the West, we may take
almost any town and prove by It's hlsto-
ry, that the road to commercial impor-
lance and wealth can only be reached
by steam. From Lynchburg, Va, to
Knoxville, Tenn, distance of $50 miles
and from Lexington, Ky, to Whining
ton, N. g., a distance of more than 800
miles, there is not single city of any
great manufacturing, commercial or mcr-
camille importance. Within this vast
area, there are at least 100000 people
who would purchase their goods directly
or Indirectly, could the proper induce
inents be offered, at Bristol. But your
merchants can never be able to offer them
inducements until Rail Road be built
80 az to make certain of the back coun-
ties Of Kentucky, tributary. II Is folly,
In this age, to talk about wagon trade
building up or sustaining the trade of n
city of any considerable size. Beyond u
distance of 30 miles, friction will not al