Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-12
70, 1896.
Tho Durham Railroad.


In considering the claims OF the Durham,
Biue Wing and Clarksville Railroad Com
psny upou the city Of Richmond for sub
scription 10 their projected road from
Clsrksyille 10 Durham, we naturally Degin
IN look over the State 10 learn, IL we can,
whether or not 1t has any railroad system.
We find that there is an absolute want OF
sys,em and order In our railroads. II is
unprofitst lie 10 grieve over the past,--over
apy blunder that can't be remedied,-and
vet when we reflect upon what Virginia
threw away years ago, II is enough TO make
some OF us gnash our teeth.
IN. instead OF allowing the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company TO construct Their
road through this State, our Legislature
had denied them that privilege and con-
structed railroad Of our own running into
Northwest Virginia, and so on to Fits
burgh. this old Commonwealth would
never have been divided, and Richmond
would to-day be rs large as Baltimore Is,
and much larger than Baltimore would
have been without the connection with the
West which that road gave her. The Bati-
more and Ohio railroad Is responsible for
the division Of Virginia into two States.
II Is hardly too much to say that. wanting
that railroad, the United States Govern
ment would never have conquered the
South. The dispositions OF the armies, and
the concentration OF troops, and the result.
ing consequences, would have been 80
changed that possibly the Confederate
States would have achieved independence.
We trust that that is not disloysl utter
ance. We are glad that slavery was abol-
ished, and 1t does not yet appear that 1t
could have been abolished otherwise than
nv a war successful! on the part OF the
United States.
Think, too, what was lost when forty
wears ago the Legislature rejected scheme
for a railroad to the direct West with
branch leading from Lynchburg TO the
Southwest. Had that scheme been carried
ont. there would have resulted a system OF
railroads In Virginia. The South Side road
would never have been built. Our Norfolk
friends, however, enjoy the advantages OF
that railroad, and so we will say no more
on that point. We are only picturing what
big city Richmond would be to-day il
railroad to the Kentucky line or the Ohio
river and the one TO Southwest Virginia
had been built forty years ago.
Look over the State, and see railroad
from Charlottesville TO Lynchburg and
Danville, running all around Richmond,
n railroad from Winchester to Salem, and a
railroad from Norfolk to Bristol, and we
perceive at once that Richmond is indeed
handicapped in the matter OF railroads, and
cannot afford TO fail TO befriend any new
railroad scheme which promises either TO
bring her new trade or to prevent portion
Of her present trade from beng diverted
from her.
The Durham, Blue Wing and GAINESVILLE
railroad promises TO do both these latter
things. And il certainly asks for very
small subscription on the part OF this city.
One hundred thousand dollars IL small
sum, omparaiively-only double the
amount which Durham proposes TO SUD-
scribe. Shall we encourage this scheme
OR shall we remain idlei Shall we aid our
friends and well-wishers OF the South side
in constructing road that shall bring the
bright tobacco region into closer connec'
ton with Richmond, or shall We refuse The
subscripton and trust to luck?