The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-01-14
The James-River Valley Railroad.

|
fore the people of Virginia in view OF the
severe incemency OF the winter. Inc ICE
blockade has intercepted all communication
with the valley-social and commercial
for several weeks, and may for several
weeks to come. Let US suppose there was
tirst.clsss railroad in operation transport
ing passengers and freight with punctuality
and rapidity along the valley from Clifton
Forge to Richmond, can any businessman
tfail to see how greatly such communication
would promote the welfare OF the people OF
Richmond and those along the line over the
present awful condition OF obstruction ana
paralysis? Assuredly not ..s..
In times past, when the canal was in ope-
ration and there came upon us weatner-oaa
weatber-We all know how the people OF
Richmond were concerncd; how they
dreaded the ice BLOCKADE, the flood, and the
SUSPENSION OF navigation on the canai.
Times have indeed changed, and the canal IS
given I'D as a. proper means OF Transports
fation for the Valley Of James river. But
still the old fears and gloom OF other days
are not an exaggerated show Of the misior-
tune to us all OF being deprived OF commu-
nication and transportation along the finest
and most productive valley in the State. We
beg the legislators to consider this point,
and think what debt Of gratitude they
| would confer upon us all by putting an end
| to the terrible yicissitudes Of canal .naviga-
ton and giving us in lieu OF it that way Of
trans portalion which would be independent
of the weather, and which would maintain
at all times facility and regularity in the
transportation Of passengers and freight.
The disadvantages of the one condition
and the advantages Of the other require
figures of millions TO enumerate them.
1t is not Richmond alone that is interested
in this. Lynchburg and Petersburg and
Norfolk, and. above all, the State, are deeply
concerned. What does Richmond feel an in
terest in the matter for? She wants no
suspension OF sportation-no stoppage
of travel. She profits by active commerce
Ealong the James River Valley, and the la
inentations that used to rise upon the echoes
lin other days were logical and justified.
Should not other cities OF the James River
Valley also be grieyed at the apathy in the
James River Valley caused by untoward
weather or inefficient transportation I'm:
|donbtedly. s.s. gas
In the case of Norfolk: Is it to her a
great matter whether passengers and trade
down the valley come by water or raii
Would it be better former that neither. pas
/ sengers nor freight should come by water
than that both should be rapidly brought
ltby rail? Would she be. better content witt
the existence Of a nominal water-line tha
transported neither passengers nor freight:
than with railway that facilitated thu
rapid transportation frem end to end OF The
ifine Of all that the country afforded g. Sh'
cannot object that what was transported by
frail would do her no good, because by ca
+ nal there would be nothing for her or an.
| other place, and some city would profit b!
what would come By rail,
All let Norfolk and Petersburg and al
places in this valley remember that 8 liyel!
TRADE and travel down James river. mus
] give thrift and prosperity tosthat valley
4 while the abandonment OF that valley To-
! the want OF ashighwaY tWould d be liisastrou
i to alliuterests that existed witbinits bound
i aries We, want ali its, people and ,al 1T
cities to remember this grand point tina
| no good can come TO them from an: uttera!
4 inefficient means .of trims ertatl on,s hill
4 with a highway that can never be inter
4 rupted for any serious time, and that per
forms It's service with expedition and eff
Iciency, all their! interests will be promoted
ifand their trade and thrift win gooii multi
/ plying aud extending until they viii reasl
l q magnitude and power That viii zexcees
1 their most sangsiae axpectatio nsgG e 20
This,i is exastiy the field pi though a III